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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Ranking All the USC Housing I’ve Lived In: Century, Parkside, Troy Hall, and Gateway
At USC, most freshmen live on campus in freshman specific housing structures like Birnkrant and New North. Sophomores then have the most ease and choice in their housing because of the sophomore housing guarantee. They can choose to live in a suite-style unit in the USC Village or one of USC’s apartment complexes on or off-campus. After your sophomore year, you lose priority in USC’s housing assignment system, so most upperclassmen that previously lived in USC housing move to independent housing near campus.
A Q&A on Navigating Work-Study at USC
During my time doing work-study jobs at USC, I have gradually learned many useful things about navigating work-study that I wish I had known from the beginning. From learning how to obtain work-study to balancing my work-study amount between two jobs, I’ve obtained so much knowledge of the process of pursuing work-study. So, if you’re just beginning to look into work-study allow me to save you some time and effort by answering some of the questions you may have about work-study.
Best 2 Unit Classes for Fall 2024
This might be a controversial opinion, but course registration is my favorite time of year. There are so many possibilities for your schedule and it’s fun to complete the puzzle of all your classes to craft ‘the perfect schedule.’ 2-unit classes are a great way to add in an elective or raise your GPA. If you have space in your schedule and are looking for a 2-unit class to fill it, these are the 2-unit courses I recommend for Fall 2024.
The Struggle of Work-Study at USC
I often joke that getting work-study at USC is harder than getting in, which isn’t entirely untrue. I’ve spent hours completing work-study job applications. I started with high hopes when I arrived my freshman year. Before going to college, everyone told me, “Just get a library job, you can do your homework during it.” Seems easy enough when you put it that way.
I Ran a 5K! Why I Did It and Exploring PHED Classes
I am exceptionally bad at all of my hobbies. As someone who leans towards perfectionism, this has always frustrated me. Activities that were supposed to be fun quickly turned sour when I stagnated in my progress — how could I have fun when I wasn’t improving my skills in a productive way?
Navigating Your First Year as a Trojan: A Quick Guide for Your Freshman Fall + Tips from a Graduating Senior
Congratulations to our newest Trojans on joining the family. I know you’re eager to get to campus, choose your dorms, and make shopping lists for the big move. Or maybe you’re just arriving in the Fall unsure of how to meet people or how to get to your classes; which dining hall has the best breakfast?
My Experience Joining a Dance Team at USC: Breakon2
The night of my audition for the dance team Breakon2 was a Thursday. I decided to tag along with my roommate because I had nothing better to do, making a very spur of the moment decision to even try out. We learned the basic salsa steps and a short combo before filming two pieces with members of the team. When I was filming my second clip, dancing with a member of the team, he reminded me to “just have fun,” and that’s when everything clicked. The dance team recognized an energy in me that I’m only now recognizing in myself after spending so much time with my teammates. Even though I was nervous about committing to the team, once I joined, I felt like my talents and personality were truly desired for the first time in a while at USC.
How I Studied Abroad at a University That Wasn’t Pre-Approved for my Major
A year ago today, I was studying abroad at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, gallivanting across different countries in Europe on the weekends and spending time with the incredible friends I made through the program on the weekdays. It was an incredible experience to say the least, and I have an immense nostalgia and longing to go back in time and relive those adventures all over again. While the experience itself was magical, getting approved to go to Edinburgh was a complicated process.
How I Keep my Relationship Happy and Healthy in College
The conversation surrounding dating in college is muddled with conflicting opinions, with some strictly opposed to the idea and others fiercely for it. Whether to date in college can be a hard choice for many due to the unpredictable nature of school life. With the constant deadlines, club responsibilities, recruiting, and general adulting, a relationship often doesn’t fit into the college student lifestyle. Romantic relationships in college can also be daunting. The idea of seriously pursuing a partnership with someone can be scary as a young person. It can be difficult to forge your own identity and life plan while also hoping you’ve found your “forever person”.
Motion Picture Editing CTCS 335: Class Review
CTCS 335-Motion Picture Editing is the first class I took for my upper division Cinematic Arts minor credits, and it did not disappoint. While I had no particular interest in editing before the class, I left it with a deep knowledge of Avid Media Composer, the production process for films, and truly gained an appreciation for the number of people involved in bringing a film to life. This was a very fulfilling course that showed me a different perspective on the film industry.
The Power of the Reset
If you wake up scatterbrained and anxious about the day ahead, a daily “reset” ritual can really help you organize and center yourself. As a person who lives alone, sometimes holding myself accountable can be really hard. I try to keep my apartment clean and organized, but every now and then, I slip up and suddenly clothes are scattered everywhere, my sink is full of dishes, and I have an enormous pile of laundry waiting for me. Creating a daily reset routine has helped me feel less overwhelmed and keeps me organized both mentally and physically.
8 Easy Meals for Lunch or Dinner
Sometimes cooking in college can feel overwhelming, especially if you share a kitchen, or maybe don’t have a kitchen in your dorm at all. However, there are many simple and healthy recipes that you can make, and some only require a microwave. Particularly, Trader Joe’s has some great microwavable meal options! Here are some meal ideas from my kitchen including favorite recipes from my mom.