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?
My Experience in CTWR 431, and Why Everyone Should Take an SCA Class
By: Antonia Le ‘22
I would be lying if I said that I didn’t think about USC’s School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) while trying to decide which college to go to. While I am currently an Applied Math major, I’ve always loved movies and TV, and I’ve always dreamed of taking a class from one of the best film schools in the nation. I’ve made a point to take at least one SCA class a year, and I think that you should too!
The Perfect Tailgate Playbook
By: Ann Nguyen ‘22
By now, you’re sure to have seen tents lined up throughout campus certain Saturday mornings and the occasional Friday afternoon. People are all dressed up in cardinal and gold as kids (and college students, alike) run around tossing footballs back and forth. The smell of delicious grilled food permeates the air, and you’re left wondering, “How can I get some of that?” Well, hopefully, I can alleviate your worries, clear up any confusion, and coach you to become a tailgating pro just in time for Trojan Family Weekend.
Sick Day/Day-Off Checklist
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
Being perfectly honest, I was never one of those people who got perfect attendance. I just couldn’t do it. At some point during the year, I’m either going to come down with something or just completely burn myself out. I’m a believer in breaks sometimes being necessary and that there is nothing wrong with them, but as college students, we do have responsibilities and we can’t just throw them to the wind at every whim. So, before you go ahead and skip that 9AM lecture because you’re feeling a bit off, run through this list and make sure you have all your pieces in place.
No Planning Required: Spontaneous Fall Break Day Trips
By: Sophia Pei ‘22
If you hadn’t heard already, USC is implementing fall break this year! Essentially, we have a 4 day weekend starting on Thursday Oct. 17th. Here are some fun last-minute ideas for fall break. Don’t like planning outings? No worries, I’ve done the planning for you! I’ve listed four days worth of day trips to different locations in LA. For each destination, I’ve covered the basics of transportation, my favorite food places (one meal, one dessert/snack), and a fun activity. Keep reading for a detailed itinerary.
The Trojan Farmer’s Market
By: Alexis M Peters ‘20
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but every Wednesday—right on USC’s campus in McCarthy Quad—is a farmer’s market. It’s honestly such a great system considering that USC is kind of in a food desert. Meaning: it can be pretty difficult to get fresh and nutritious food options around here. The introduction of Trader Joe’s and Target in the village has been a total lifesaver, but it’s so nice to have the farmer’s market to supplement your fridge stash with fresh, local, beautifully glistening produce, and support local businesses at the same time. Haven’t checked it out? Read on to find out what amazing stuff you’re missing at the farmer’s market, and why farmer’s markets are better than traditional grocery stores:
Exposing the Expo Line... a few hidden gems you probably didn’t know about
By: Lindsey Hamilton ‘22
This is a great time to be alive. No, not because of modern technology or vaccines or Bird scooters. The Expo line running from downtown to Santa Monica has connected the beach to the city since May of 2016. That makes it only the third ―the third!― year that USC students have been able to take advantage of all of the fun destinations now available to us. It’s a great time to be alive. But there’s a lot of city in between the beach and downtown. Here’s what I found…
Staying Well During Midterms
By: Sophia Pei ‘22
It’s the height of midterm season and everyone around you is getting sick. The combination of lack of sleep, stress, and lack of self-care can easily lead to you feeling unwell when you most need to be at your best. It’s easy to forget to do the things that keep us well when things get hectic, leading to a positive feedback loop of stress. Here are some reminders and tips for you to be and stay well!
The Education of an Idealist: Samatha Power Discusses Memoir at USC
By: Sumaya Hussaini ‘22
Academic, author, diplomat, and former UN ambassador Samantha Power joined USC students and faculty in Bovard Auditorium to discuss her new memoir, The Education of an Idealist, Tuesday night. The event was presented by the USC Speakers Committee and Power was accompanied on stage by USC Center on Public Diplomacy director, Jay Wang.
Campus Safety: Earthquake Preparedness
By: Karla Leung ‘22
After the recent summer earthquakes — a 6.4 and later a 7.1 magnitude only 150 miles away from Los Angeles — earthquakes have become an even more pressing issue in California. Throughout the Los Angeles area, the quake and its aftershocks were felt and California residents have been increasingly concerned of impending earthquakes in the future. If you’re from out of state and have never experienced the threat of an earthquake, it’s important to be aware of the steps to take in case one hits during your time at USC.
How To Write An Effective Follow-Up Email
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
If you do not write follow-up emails on the regular, you are probably missing out. Networking is a huge part of the college experience and a great way to foster those relationships with future employers/possible mentors is through follow-up emails. Even if you are writing them to every recruiter, speaker, or alumni you meet, you may not be going about it in the best way. So, if you want to learn the most effective method to express your self, thankfulness, and career aspirations through email, keep reading!
ARCG 305L - Becoming Underwater Archeologists
By: Camila Grases ‘21
On Saturday, September 28, I had the privilege of joining students from the ARCG 305L class on a trip to Catalina. The purpose of the trip was to train students to create 3D models of sunken ships in Lake Tahoe— a trip they will be taking during the fall break. The class combines students and teachers from varying backgrounds with the goal of teaching the students how to create photogrammetry models underwater.
How to Stay Awake in Class Without Coffee
By: Antonia Le ‘22
We’ve all been there. You tell yourself that you’ll stay up a little bit to study for your midterm, but when it comes time to actually take the test, you find yourself wanting to doze off halfway through. Or maybe you had a great night’s sleep, but there’s that one professor whose voice just puts you to sleep. However, you might not want to reach for that cup of coffee just yet. Drinking too much caffeine (or caffeine at the wrong time of day) can mess up your sleep schedule and send you into an infinite loop of feeling tired, reaching for a cup of coffee, and not getting enough sleep. Instead, try these tricks for staying awake in class!