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
looking for a specific read?
What I Learned From Transferring Colleges Across the Country: Syracuse to USC
By: Ashley McKean ‘24 (Guest Blogger)
In all honesty, there was a period early on when I wanted to leave USC. It was short-lived but it was definitely real and I really wanted to give in and just take the easier, more comfortable path and go home. That’s what I did my freshman year at Syracuse. I pretty much decided almost immediately that I wouldn’t be staying for long. Had there been no COVID-19 imprisoning me in my 103-degree dorm room with no air conditioning, (no I’m no kidding it was actually that temperature in the room one day,) and impeding me from going out and meeting people, and the fact that 80% of the time my classes were virtual, I honestly feel like I may have come to love Syracuse and I would have stayed until graduation. Regardless of using COVID as an excuse, I didn’t give Syracuse the chance it deserved.
The Ultimate Meditation Playlist
By: Ellice Ellis '20
It’s almost spring break, Trojans! Many of us have taken one or two midterms, outlined key term papers, or are gearing up to take a relaxing week off from our studies. For myself, I stress more than ever before winter break, summer break, or spring break because I try to balance relaxing and being productive before the vacation period even starts. If you’ve found yourself in this boat or are just generally stressed about school, work or life — this post is for you.
Best Ways to Study
By: Talia Walters ‘20
I don’t know about anyone else, but I never learned how to study in high school. I was always the kind of person who would cram the night before in a panicked, caffeine-fueled rage before getting to school the next morning, taking the test, and doing mostly fine. Despite the horror of each experience, I never learned my lesson, and then I got to college, and it was down hill from there. So, to save you the trouble I went through, I’ve curated some handy tips on how to study.
Is a Class Right for You?
By: Talia Walters ‘20
We are in the midst of the most exciting time of class registration during the semester: the three-week add/drop period. Over the next week and a half (decisions must be made by FRIDAY, JANUARY 31st), everyone is able to try out classes, switch out of and into new classes, and drop classes they don’t actually want to take. But sometimes, it’s hard to figure out if you should continue taking a class because you just don’t know what the best decision is. Now, I’ve been around the scheduling block a few times, and I’ve made my fair share of scheduling decisions down to the wire of the add/drop period. So, I’ve come to help and share my wonderful knowledge. Here are 8 questions you should ask yourself when deciding if a class is right for you:
5 Lessons for My Freshman Year Self
By: Ellice Ellis ‘20
Here’s a secret about me— I’m a senior. And yes, I’m stressed about paying back student loans, finding a job after college and senioritis has consumed my entire being. Despite the beautiful mess that is the end of my college career, there is a multitude of experiences and lessons to be grateful for. So for my freshman, sophomores, and even juniors, here are some lessons you can pull from my college experience, and hopefully, you’ll come out on top.
Unique Minors at USC
By: Talia Walters ‘20
USC has hundreds of minors in almost every single school, and so sometimes it’s hard to find the right minor for you. There’s so many that it’s overwhelming to try to sift through all of the programs, and often, minors that are really interesting, cool, and unique get thrown to the wayside only because students don’t know about them. To try and combat this, I’ve curated a list of 16 unique and interesting minors (by my standards) below that I’ve never heard someone declare. As always, if you have any questions about if you have room for a minor or how you declare a minor, it’s best to stop by your major adviser’s office so they can…well…advise you in the right direction.