The clock is ticking – you grip your laptop and scout for a spot to take your Zoom meeting. Your meeting starts in a few minutes, so you don’t have time to reserve a room in Leavey or rush back to your room. Where are the best spots to plop down, plug in, and join a Zoom at USC?

Have you ever come across an interesting class during registration but felt unsure if you wanted to take it? USC has a wide array of electives to choose from, and many of them have attention-grabbing names. But, sometimes, there’s a little voice in the back of my head that gives me doubts on whether or not I should take that class. We’ve all been here before, but I’m here to tell you that you should always give the class a try.

When I first arrived at USC, I knew I wanted to have a minor, mainly because I thought it would be cool to have a longer title when people asked me what I studied. But I also wanted to be able to explore as much as I could during my time at USC. I just wasn’t quite sure what route I wanted to go down. I am a business major, which is broad and provides a wide variety of opportunities. Since I’m not exactly passionate about my main field of study, the option to branch out into a minor was exciting.

Putting anything in a vending machine instantly makes it more interesting, so the new gold vending machine sitting outside of Trader Joe’s up against the elevator bank immediately caught my eye. Actually a revival of a project started in 2019, the USC Pharmacy and USC Student Health have installed a “wellness-to-go” vending machine in the USC Village to give students 24/7 access to over the counter medication.

While finally figuring out your study abroad plans is exciting, there’s also a fair bit of stress as the idea becomes a reality. One of the most common causes of this stress is packing. Whether you’re studying abroad for one month or six months, it can be quite challenging to assess which items you’ll absolutely need and what’s a waste of precious suitcase space. Here are a few must-haves and tips to help you pack for your time studying in a new country.

Before coming to USC, I knew I wanted to travel abroad during college, whether that be a personal trip, a semester abroad, or an internship. About half way through the fall semester of sophomore year, my transfer advisor notified me of the TIE program. I was definitely hesitant at first and did not know what to expect, but I decided to attend the info session to see what it was all about.

One age-old piece of college advice is that you should never under any circumstances enroll in an 8 AM class unless you want to hate your life for an entire semester. Even though I’ve always been an early riser, I’ve done my best to heed this warning. Throughout my college career, I’ve started no earlier than 10 to keep a safe distance from the dreaded 8 AM. It made sense. I liked my quiet, slow mornings even though I regularly woke up early enough to make it to a lecture at the crack of dawn.

Now in my last semester at USC, I’ve learned college doesn’t end all at once. Instead, college ends in stages and phases. Because of this, each new semester and every new year is a chance to start fresh and reevaluate what you want to get out of your college experience. For me, this means approaching my last semester differently; my goal is to spend more time outside of my comfort zone.

Navigating your first few months in college is not an easy task. Take it from me – as a freshman, I struggled to stay motivated in classes and fully engage in university life (not to mention that my first year was 100% online). As an English major, it’s unsurprising that I turned to books for some solace. Whether it be self-help guides, literary classics, or new fiction, books have the power to inspire every era of your life. To guide you in the right direction and set the mood for your college experience, I’ve compiled a list of a few books I believe every first-year should read.

The thought of owning a pet during your college career has probably crossed your mind once or twice. Having a little, cuddly friend sitting on your lap while you're studying or having a pet to come home to after a long day of classes seems like the perfect way to beat the isolation of finals season. However, with the hustle and bustle of school and the never ending assignments, owning a pet can seem impossible.

In the new semester, you may be at a loss of how to reconnect with the USC community. You might have a general awareness that USC hosts events and activities for its students but not know where to find them. If you’re in this position and looking for events you can attend this January, I have compiled a list of notable cultural, political, and fun events you can attend for free on campus.

Looking for a new read? Here’s a list of book recommendations perfectly tailored to your USC major.