By: Kristen Adams ‘25

Hopped off the plane at LAX with a dream and my cardigan! After living on the East Coast for 19 years of my life, here’s what I’ve learned from attending college in Los Angeles, almost 3,000 miles away from home.

By: Hannah Skinner ‘23

Studying abroad will already be one of the most enriching experiences you have as a student, but there are ways to add even more value. Looking back at my experience at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, I felt like I adequately prepared myself to go abroad, but there was still plenty I learned along the way. Here’s some tips I implemented that helped me make the most of my time in South Korea.

By: Lanie Brice ‘24

While HBO often loves to play up shock value and larger than life plots in their popular shows, The Sex Lives of College Girls is a refreshingly down to earth, hilarious, sometimes ridiculous, honest portrayal of what it’s like to stumble through adulthood for the first time. Schedule a Thanksgiving/winter break binge session to catch up on this delightful show that’s now back for season 2.

By: Nancy Aguilar Sanchez ‘22

Once you finally have the time between classes, exams, and homework to go explore LA, it’s often hard to find activities that are free or affordable. Here’s some inspiration for the next time you want to go out without blowing your budget!

By: Nancy Aguilar-Sanchez ‘22

I’ve lived at The Lorenzo for two years now and can say with certainty that everyone’s experience and the value they get out of it is different. Most freshmen and sophomores live on campus because housing is guaranteed but once you reach junior year, it’s a lot less likely that you’ll get on-campus housing; lots of students find themselves living at The Lorenzo.

By: Ngai Yeung ‘23

Having grown up in a city with excellent public transit, I didn’t know a thing about cars—my automobile knowledge was so lacking that I didn’t know there was more than one pedal until my first driving lesson here. Here’s what I learned from my bumbling journey to getting a license in California.

By: Ngai Yeung ‘23

Like many people, I’ve never been to an observatory before, nor did I have any plans to do so. But when I saw the Thematic Option honors program’s latest field trip to Mount Wilson Observatory in the San Gabriel Mountains, I suddenly had a new bucket list item to cross off.

By: Chia Okwaraibekwe ‘26 (USC Student Life Guest Blogger)

Every time I found myself at a hospital or clinic, I desperately searched for people who looked like me. As I grew older and started to become more knowledgeable about the hidden truths in life, I began to realize that being both Black and a woman would make navigating the medical field more difficult than I anticipated.

By: Kathryn Aurelio ‘25

It’s the summer before you move to the city of stars and into the 12ft by 12ft dorm of your dreams! Save your time and money with these do’s and don’ts for what to bring to your freshman dorm!

By: Hannah Skinner ‘23

Los Angeles has an impressive brunch scene, and no, it’s not just avocado toast. If you are looking to try some good brunch food but are overwhelmed with options, don’t worry! I’ve recently tried five new brunch spots in LA so you don’t have to.

By: Tamanna Sood ‘24

Last semester, no matter how hard I tried to take care of myself and go to the gym, I found myself making excuses. I hated going to the gym and felt like I didn’t know what I was doing. Knowing my struggles, a friend suggested I try out PHED 104A. It turned out to be one of the best classes I’ve taken at USC! 

By: Kristen Adams ‘25

Whether you are a prospective student interested in learning more about the BCA program, or a USC student nosy about what our 50-student BCA cohort does on a daily basis, here are my experiences, insights, tips, and opinions about USC’s BCA program.