Like the freshman fifteen, there are a few things you can expect to happen during the start of your college career. At the beginning, I thought that secondhand stories and research about college life had prepared me for it all. I knew I would miss my home and my old friends. I could count having conflicts with my roommates and struggling with balancing work and fun. But during my second semester at USC, one thing I hadn’t planned to encounter snuck up on me— an OCD diagnosis.  

I recently did a student panel for SCA Admissions with prospective students and felt like I was transported to freshman year. I remember what it felt like to be a freshman in SCA. You are fed compliments about how you got into one of the best film schools in the country, itching to be on set, and daydreaming about winning an Oscar. I don’t mean to come off as a debby-downer when I say this, but the reality is that most students enter SCA with a strict plan on where they want to be after college is over and then a few semesters into the program realize that their initial path isn’t what they want anymore.

Dreaming of a career in civil engineering where you’ll design sustainable cities, build essential infrastructure, and lead impactful projects? If you’re looking for a club that brings these ambitions to life, meet the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) at USC. In this Club Spotlight, I’ll dive into everything ASCE offers. Get ready for the inside scoop on how ASCE can launch your journey into civil engineering!

When I was a senior in high school, USC was my dream school. It had been a part of my life for as long as I could remember since so many of my family members were alumni. Unfortunately, I was rejected, and it was a tough blow. It took me some time to recover from that disappointment, but I soon realized that attending USC could still be within reach when I learned about the Trojan Transfer Plan (TTP). At the time, TTP was offered to a select group of students, giving us the opportunity to study at one of five USC-accredited universities in Europe.

You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve woken up just minutes before my 8:00 a.m. class. After rushing through the essentials and stepping out of my dorm, that familiar sinking feeling hits me: I’m a good 15-minute walk from class. If I try to avoid showing up sweaty, it’s more like 20 minutes. Inevitably, I find myself walking in 10 minutes late, awkwardly squeezing into the only available seat right in the middle of the room, having all these eyes staring at my sweaty self.

For those who’ve tried Notion, physical planners, or just Google Calendar, sometimes it can be hard to choose and stick with a platform for that one-stop place for all your tasks. For me, since freshman year, I've created a google sheet listing out all of my assignments and deadlines for the semester and it's been a game changer. 

December is the month of changes—winter beginning (with 80 degrees weather, but so be it), grades coming to a close (scarier in the short-term than climate change), students returning home (although this is probably less exciting if your home is nearby) and the year coming to a close.

The start of the new year feels like a blank slate or the perfect opportunity to rewrite the script of our lives. For years, I embraced the spirit of the New Years’ resolution, partly because it was a popular grade school post-recess activity and partly because I genuinely enjoyed believing I would be a different person in the next calendar year. My lists would look a little different every year but would still be brimming with the same ambitious flavor.

For most people, Sunday mornings are meant for rest and relaxation. But to a small subset of students at USC, including me, the start of the week means it’s time to put on a show. The students, identifiable by our instruments and matching T-shirts, are members of a club at USC called Remedy Through Music. This registered service organization, also called RTHM for short, is on a mission to bring live music to underserved communities here in southern Los Angeles. 

Finals season is upon us—sometimes, this means a few reflections, one big test and maybe an essay. But if you’re like me, this finals season is especially stressful (ten things to turn in during one week?!?) However, the dreaded finals season can be stressful no matter what you have to do if you aren’t taking care of yourself properly. I’m going to be talking about some tips that help me during finals.

Taking 20 units is a lot of work, but it’s doable — and valuable. If I wasn’t taking 20 units, I wouldn’t be able to study everything I’m interested in. It’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make, especially if it means not having to graduate late (and pay for extra semesters). USC is such a prestigious institution, and we pay a lot of money to be here. I figured I might as well make the most of my tuition, and there’s support in place to be able to do it.

At one point or another you have probably had or will have a roommate, whether that be in school or not. Sometimes it can be difficult to navigate living with someone new, especially if you are used to having your own space. From personal experience, I feel it is important to maintain a decent living environment to ensure yourself a safe space to relax and also allowing yourself more time and energy to go into school. Here are a few tips and habits you can utilize to build a mutually beneficial relationship with your roommate.