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?
Learn from your Big SCister
By: Grace Carballo ‘17
The first lesson is that almost every word that has an S or a C is “Trojanized” to have both and you shouldn’t fight it, but rather laugh and promptly accept it. Soon you’ll be doing it, too. I’m writing this post for my biological brother but since we’re all Trojan Family, the whole class of 2020 is more than welcome to my unsolicited sisterly wisdom. As a rising senior, I’m practically of a different generation than you young folks and my life experience is worth its weight in gold. I would give my right arm (dominant hand and objectively a critical component of my “good side”) to be able to have 4 more years of college like you young grasshoppers get to, especially if I could relive it knowing all I know now. In preparation for writing this letter I looked through my old photos from 2013-2014 (a simpler time) and can’t even believe how good we had it/have it at USC.
12 Things I Wish I Knew My Freshman Year
By: Anna Lipscomb ‘19
1. Keep a planner. I didn’t have one my first semester, and things got chaotic when my mental To-Do list grew too long. Moral of the story: a planner/calendar will be your best friend.
Ask a Trojan: Fitness on Campus
Best: Grace Carballo ‘17
Hey! Thanks so much for your questions; it’s definitely one I was asking myself just three short years ago. There’s a lot of options for fitness on campus and it really just depends on what you’re interested in!
Ask a Trojan: Class Schedules
By: Anna Lipscomb ‘19
Hi there! Thanks for the great question - picking classes can be both an exciting and slightly stressful time. Here are my tips for you:
Ask a Trojan: Getting Help from Professors
By: Cole Sullivan ‘18
Hi Isabella! Thanks for your great question. I know you’re considering applying to USC next year and making sure you’ll be able to do your best academically is a really important factor when you look at colleges. The short answer to your question is: YES! It’s so easy to get help from professors when you’re having difficulty with something…all you have to do is ask!
The Smoothest Move-In
By: Grace Carballo ‘17
Moving in with someone is a big step in any relationship, so not matter how well you know your soon-to-be roommate, it’s perfectly natural to be a little nervous. Whether you met through mutual friends, knew each other in high school, found common ground in your generic posts in the USC Class of 2020 facebook group, or both opted for the “random roommate” in an admirable leap of faith, there’s no way you know what it will be like to live with them until you actually do.
SC Spotlight: Musical Theatre Repertory (MTR)
By: Kelly Kinas ‘16
Ever feel like you need more musical theatre in your life? Good, so it’s not just me! Obviously because USC is amazing at everything, we have an extremely strong theatre and music program put on here by the university. But what about the superbly talented students who want to create the production from the ground up? HAVE NO FEAR. THERE IS A PLACE FOR YOU (or a place for you to watch really talented people sing and act while you secretly eat a power bar).
6 Things You Must Do in Your Time at USC
By: Samantha Romero ‘16
Number one, get involved. First things first, the transition from high school to a university can be difficult. Afterall it’s a new environment, new people, unfamiliar buildings, and much more. My best advice is to get involved.
Women Traveling the World
By: Grace Carballo ‘17
When you’re thousands of miles away from home, everyday annoyances can seem like serious dilemmas, especially when they’re harder to solve in a country you aren’t as familiar with. It’s upsetting but not the end of the world when your laptop malfunctions at USC or your credit card gets lost or canceled, but when you’re several countries away from the nearest Apple store and your bank has no branches in your host country, it can be fairly terrifying to say the least. It happens to everyone at some point or another and just like that, the honeymoon phase is over.
LA Guide: 6 Places for A Summer Brunch
By: Samantha Romero ‘16
With Spring in full effect here is an updated checklist for must-try brunches. So grab your friends and brunch away at some of the newest and trending restaurant. Don‘t forget to bring along that Instax camera to capture that Instagram worthy #foodporn.
Questions New International Students Have
By: Ayman Siraj ‘18
USC has the largest international student population on the West Coast. As college decision day approached on May 1st for many of you, I congratulate you if you committed to USC! You’re joining the best family on earth - The Trojan Family (the hype is real). Many of you like me will never have even toured the colleges you applied to from halfway across the world. Naturally many questions arise when you get here, and I’ve put down the answers to a few.
Post-Finals Recovery Guide
By: Samantha Romero ‘16
Late night studying for finals and stress can take a toll on your immune system, so here’s a simple post-finals recovery guide to get you ready for summer.