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
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How to Mentally Recharge After Finals
By: Celine Vazquez ‘24
This semester has been far from easy, and pushing through finals season has seriously taken a toll on all of our mental health. After finals are finished, it’s important for us to take a step back and take care of our minds! Here are just a few ways you can mentally recharge after finals, so you can be ready to have a wonderful, relaxing break. Let’s get started, Trojans!
Why USC? My Common App Essay About a Bus
By: Sophia Pei ‘22
It’s that time of year: college applications. SATs and ACTs may be canceled by the Common App essays are not. Keep reading for my college essay and my reflections on it, the college application process and time at USC.
Cheap and Easy Breakfast Ideas for College Students
By: Celine Vazquez ‘24
College comes with tons of responsibilities, and finding easy breakfast recipes shouldn’t be another thing you have to add onto your plate. Luckily, this go-to guide with some of my favorite breakfast ideas has got your back! Stop skipping the most important meal of the day and try these 4 cheap and fool-proof recipes. Let’s get eating!
An Inter-vlog About Stress
By: Nathan Vogel ‘21
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been stressed. And I stress a lot, but this semester has hit harder than I’m used to, and I think that’s been the case for a lot of us. So, I reached out to Dr. Dave Lavond and Dr. Ruth C. White (who have been USC profs! #fighton) for some tips. For all of us stressed Trojans.
How I Use My Bullet Journal To Stay Organized In College
By: Celine Vazquez ‘24
Let’s face it — online college is rough. It can be easy to lose track of zoom meeting links, class times, and what assignments are due when. Luckily, bullet journaling has come to your rescue, and can keep you organized in a fun, creative, and aesthetically pleasing way. Grab your colored pens and Mildliner highlighters - it’s time to get our lives together!
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:
Revisiting The Basics: Self-Care Checklist
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
Well, 2020 has been quite the year, or I guess I should say “is” since even now, we’re still going through it. Staying on top of schoolwork in a condensed semester would be a struggle regardless, but on top of our current climate, at least for me, “tough” doesn’t really cover it. Finding a balance between work and self-care is extremely difficult, but it’s also extremely important. Essential, really. Which brings me to this post: a checklist and a list of resources. Listed below are reminders and tools to so you can take care of yourself and help you get through this crazy time. If you feel you haven’t been taking care of yourself as well as you should have, this is your sign to turn it all around.
USC COVID-19 Testing 101
By: Sophia Pei ‘22
Within the first week of classes, there was an incidence of 104 new cases of COVID-19 amongst students living on or near the USC campus. Awareness of proper hygienic practices like washing your hands for 20 seconds (or more) and social distancing has increased during this pandemic, but it wasn’t sufficient to prevent the parties and gatherings resulting in overall a hundred students now being quarantined at the USC Hotel. If you’re staying in or near USC and living with others, it is strongly recommended that you get tested for COVID every week. Here’s a quick guide on how to get tested.
Meet Adele Biraghi, Film Production Designer
By: Claire Wong ‘23
Director, screenwriter, and producer Adele Biraghi, a graduate student at SCA, speaks on the struggles of production design within the film industry. Adele works to shed some light on the art of production design, which is often overlooked at USC.
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!
Reasons Why You Should Do Work Outside!
By: Vivika Kapoor ‘23
At the beginning of the semester, I started bringing my homework and assignments outside after feeling cooped up inside libraries and study lounges. I began bringing a picnic blanket out to the Great Lawn and doing my work there, which was one of the best decisions I made in college! Now, I want to share with my fellow Trojans why I love working outside. Check out these reasons why you should learn to love it too!
10 Tips For Succeeding in a Different Time Zone
By: Ngai Yeung ‘23
I never expected “15 hour time difference” to be an issue when I first started college; but here I am, just six months into my first year facing a most bizarre academic challenge. After trying out different methods of adjusting for a month, I’ve compiled the following list of tips for succeeding in different time zones – I hope these will help you as much as they have helped me.