It’s that dreaded time of the semester again. As classes draw to a close and many of us book our tickets home for Thanksgiving, there’s one thing in the back of everyone’s minds — finals. During this period, it’s natural to feel stressed, overwhelmed, and agonized by the amount of work professors expect us to do in such a short amount of time. Hearing the same four study tips certainly doesn’t help.

Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re well into the college application process or waiting until Thanksgiving break to crank out your essays (which is perfectly fine, that’s what I did!). You might be frantically watching endless TikTok and YouTube videos for advice on choosing the right major, deciding which colleges to apply to, scholarship deadlines to keep in mind, and how to write a compelling personal statement or the UC’s Personal Insight Questions. It's safe to say I was very overwhelmed with the ocean of opinions that sometimes clashed with one another.

Finals season is in full swing and winter break is almost here. As we wrap up our last weeks of the semester and prepare to go home for the holidays, it can be a stressful time. December is a time for giving, family fun, and making memories. When you find moments of downtime, use it to take a break and have some fun. Here’s a list of festivities to do with your friends, family, a partner, or by yourself.

As students, it's easy to walk past the historic buildings that have been on campus for over a century without noticing them. USC, founded way back in 1880, has a deep history hidden within its grounds. We often forget to be curious about the people, events, and changes that have shaped our campus; yet, there is so much left to uncover. 

I recently visited the First Generation Plus Success Center (FG+SC) to begin this mission. If you’re like me and you are unfamiliar with FG+SC, here’s what I learned during my time there. 

The school year always starts with a bang for new students at USC, and this August was no different with a thrilling Welcome Back Concert, electric Splash Bash, and triumphant debut game day. The Trojan Welcome Experience brought thousands of first years into the Trojan Family through unforgettable events big and small — forging new friendships that will last the next four years and beyond.

Believe it or not, Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Many USC students are preparing for a long drive or flight home for the break, but if you are planning to stay on campus or live in Southern California, here are some perfect day or overnight trips nearby to get out of the hustle and bustle of Downtown Los Angeles.

In my time at USC, my experiences with roommates have ranged from neutral to super positive to extremely unhealthy. Having gone through what many people fear coming into college, my story can serve as both a warning to incoming freshmen as well as reassurance that, ultimately, I found great people to help me through. And I haven’t lost faith in finding good roommates.

As the fall season is in full swing, temperatures are cooling down, and Thanksgiving is around the corner, which means there are many fun festivities to take part in. Fall is the season for pumpkin spice, football, and a reminder to be thankful for our loved ones. Bearing in mind everyone has different holiday experiences, I know it’s common for students to stay in LA during Thanksgiving, so here are a few potential events and places you can visit to incorporate some holiday goodness into your busy college life.

Happy Rivalry Week! On November 18, the USC football team will play our crosstown rivals, the UCLA Bruins. Rivalry Week is a special time on campus – from Sunday to the Saturday game, students take part in several traditions to celebrate the 90-year rivalry. 

Finding a summer internship can be a very overwhelming process, especially given the difficult job market for various industries. However, as USC students, we have so many networking opportunities that help make this process a little bit easier. 

ANTH 202: Archeology: Our Human Past ranks among the favorite GE-C options for fulfilling one of the two Social Analysis requirements to graduate. This likely comes down to the beloved professor at the helm of it, Tracy Mayfield.