UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
STUDENT BLOG
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Navigating Your First Year as a USC Trojan
by Lanie Brice
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Navigating Your First Year as a Spring Admit
by Lanie Brice
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How to Balance Your Social Life During Finals
by Donal Buckley
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Study Tips and Habits to Get Through Finals Season
by Lauren Liang
looking for something to read?
Where to Use Your Meal Plan Swipe
By: Hannah Skinner ‘23
2021 has brought many new changes to campus, one of these being the meal plan swipes! On top of the three residential dining halls, there are now other on-campus options for those with a meal plan - like some restaurants at TCC. So if you are looking to dine somewhere that is not a dining hall without spending coveted dining dollars, take a look at this list so find some of my favorite options!
How I Started My Own Podcast
By: Antonia Le ‘22
I’ve had a lot of time to kill over the past few Zoom semesters, so I started listening to a lot of podcasts. Podcasts are perfect for long walks around campus, running errands at Target, and my all-too-dreaded weekly chores.
As an avid podcast listener, I started thinking: “Why can’t I start my own thing?”. I’d like to say that I had a noble reason for starting a podcast. Truthfully, though, I just wanted to see if I could do it…and I did. With only four episodes out, I wouldn’t consider myself an expert, but I hope talking about my own experiences can show people that you don’t have to create something groundbreaking to have a lot of fun and learn a lot!
How to Get Ready to Move to Campus
By: Sydney Henry ‘24
The end of the semester is finally here and everyone is eager to get ready for the day when we get to move onto campus. At least, I know I am so ready to move-in and get to see all the internet friends I made over the past year. But, I also know that many of you may be scared and unsure of what exactly you need to know or do in order to make such a big move. I am in the same boat; I have never moved in my life, and now all of a sudden I need to move cross country. So, this will be a learning experience for all of us, but hopefully some of the research I’ve done can help you figure out what you should and shouldn’t do during this big move.
3 Reasons Why Parkside IRC Is The Best Freshman Dorm
By: Justin Negash ‘22
Getting Parkside IRC was definitely my last choice on the housing portal. Everyone I knew in USC was telling me how IRC was antisocial, dark, and “away from all the fun”. I thought my freshman year, for lack of better words, would suck. Instead, I got an experience unlike any other.
Here are 3 reasons why Parkside IRC is the best freshman dorm.
DIY Room Decor
By: Claire Wong ‘23
During the quarantine, I spent a lot of time on Pinterest and Tik Tok getting artsy, but so many of these crafts had no use. I was trying to figure out a way to make those crafts practical and with the new school year, room decor is a perfect way to create a fun piece but also destress through creativity. Here are three unique DIY room decor ideas to add to your room this school year:
The Freshman Dorm Guide
By: Claire Wong ‘23
It’s housing season and there are so many options! There are so many to chose from and so many different styles. Here is a guide to all the reputations, amenities, and everything you need to know about each freshman dorm!
Reviving Tommy’s Place Trivia
By: Talia Walters ‘20
If you’re anything like me, you haven’t been to Tommy’s Place at all since your orientation when they hosted a party the one night you were there. In all honesty, with the introduction of the Village and the sheer fact that we’re in LA with hundreds if not thousands of different clubs and restaurants, Tommy’s Place isn’t usually anyone’s go-to on campus despite its easy access. And I always saw that chalkboard right outside RTCC with all the events at Tommy’s Place for the week and wondered what they were really like since I know no one who chose to go to them. However, this little experiment that was supposed to take me three days has now taken me three weeks, and even at the time of writing this article, it’s still an ongoing challenge. And I need your help. Thus, this is the story of me attempting to Revive Tommy’s Place Trivia.
A Historical Scavenger Hunt Through USC
By: Camila Grases ‘21
As everyone starts to settle into a constant routine — to class, back home, eat at this dining hall or that one, take the same route there and back every time — it’s really easy to miss some of the amazing things USC has to offer. If you really take a look around, you might find some pretty amazing things that will make you realize USC is full of history, good or bad, that’s worth taking a look at. I have compiled a list of some neat places you should visit while you are here, so grab a friend and take a look around!
How USC Met Josh Radnor
By: Ann Nguyen ‘22
Haaaaaaaaaaaave you met Josh Radnor, a.k.a. Ted Mosby from the popular sitcom series How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM)?
If you were able to join the USC Academic Culture Assembly’s special speaker event as part of Mental Health Awareness Month on October 24 at Bovard Auditorium, then you did! If you weren’t able to, here’s a recap of the lovely experience, in which Radnor shared his thoughts on passions, personal development, success, struggles, and self-image. It was absolutely legen-wait for it-
Updated Explore LA: Smorgasburg
By: Sophia Pei ‘22
Every Sunday from 10AM to 4PM Smorgasburg LA can be found in the oddly gentrified factory lot located at 777 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90021. This is the perfect place for foodies to bring their friends to try some of LA’s signature food fusions. Not only is there great food, but it’s also a great place to just canvas shop and enjoy aesthetic lifestyle stands (after all, admission is free!). Looking for fun weekend plans? Keep reading!
7 Reasons You Should Go Thrifting
By: Karla Leung ‘22
If you’re a broke college student who wants to shop, thrift stores are the way to go. Not only can you find super cool items, but you can save both money and the environment.
Life Lessons from Jameela Jamil’s Talk at USC
By: Antonia Le ‘22
On October 28, actress and activist Jameela Jamil came to USC and spoke at Bovard Auditorium in a discussion moderated by Dr. Stacy Smith, of USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Jamil’s talk at USC was sponsored by USC’s very own SAGE (Student Assembly for Gender Empowerment), working with USG, USC Speakers Committee, ISA, and SCIA. During the event, Jamil spoke about self-love, being an activist, and staying strong in the face of criticism and adversity. If you had to miss the event, here are some bits of wisdom from Jamil that should be heard by everyone.