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?
How to Stay Healthy (Physically and Mentally) While Abroad
By: Danielle Collins ‘20
When you go abroad, you’ll start to hear all the usual jokes about the “Abroad 15.” And to be honest, you might put on a pound or two. I mean, let’s face it, there’s a whole world of new foods to try. But that doesn’t mean you should completely let yourself go. Here are some tips to stay healthy, physically and mentally, while abroad.
Oh the Places You Can Go: Deciding Where to Study Abroad
By: Danielle Collins ‘20
In my opinion, study abroad opportunities are one of the best parts of going to USC. I’m currently studying abroad in Madrid, Spain and absolutely LOVING it! If you’re considering study abroad, it can be daunting to decide where to go. There are so many amazing places to choose from…how can you be sure you pick the right place for you? Read on to find out!
So you went to the Involvement Fair...now what?
By: Danielle Collins ‘20
Hopefully you had a chance to go the Involvement Fair last week. Great! Now you’re probably wondering what to do with all the flyers you got, email lists you joined, and information you received. It can be hard to narrow it down. Here are some tips for what to do next:
Flight On! RPL’s Mission to Send a Rocket to Space
By: Danielle Collins ‘20
3, 2, 1, blast off! The countdown is on for USC’s Rocket Propulsion Laboratory (RPL). After the end of the semester, RPL will be heading to the desert to launch their student-built rocket, TRAVELER III, into space. I sat down with Karen Zhu, a member of RPL’s core team, to learn more about the upcoming launch.
Lighten Your Load: Tips for Summer Packing
By: Danielle Collins ‘20
As the year winds down, it’s time to get packing! If you’re not within driving distance of USC, packing for the summer can be pretty stressful (I know it is for me). Let me share a few packing tips and tricks to try to lighten your load! There are 3 things you will need to pack: things for storage, things for your suitcase, and things for shipping! Read on to learn more about each step of the packing process.
Pass/No Pass: Here’s What You Need to Know
By: Danielle Collins ‘20
It’s that time of the semester: registration. Time to find those double dipper GEs, bookmark Rate My Professors, and avoid Friday discussions at all costs. One thing you might be considering is whether or not to take a class Pass/No Pass (P/NP). Here’s what you need to know.
Face Your Fears: Go to Office Hours!
By: Danielle Collins ‘20
Have you been to your professors’ office hours yet? If not, now’s the time! Your professors can help you prepare for tests and papers, understand class material, and share their experiences in their field. Professors hold office hours so they can talk to students: they want you to come! Trust me, they’re cool people, and you won’t regret getting to know them better! It can be daunting to go to professors office hours for the first time, so here are some tips, tricks, and conversation topics to help you face your fears.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Language Learning
By: Danielle Collins ‘20
If you’ve always wanted to learn a new language, starting as an adult can be daunting. It feels like you’re at a disadvantage after hearing for years that the best time to learn a language is as a child. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be done — it’s just going to take some time and effort. I have a double major in Spanish, so I’ve been learning my second language for years in a classroom setting. But I’d still like to learn more languages once I’m finished with my Spanish major. So I thought I’d share some tricks I’ve used while learning Spanish, and some tricks I will use when I learn a new language. Here are the do’s and don’ts of language learning:
Sustainability for Students
By: Danielle Collins ‘20
Once again, it’s time to make resolutions for the new year. This year, why not do more than hit the gym and drink smoothies? Why not make resolutions to do our part for the environment? We’re all college students and have a lot on our minds and a lot on our plates. But there are so many little ways to help the environment that, despite hearing hundreds of times, many people still don’t do. Let me share some of the little things I already do to be environmentally friendly, and some things I want to start doing, or do better. (inspired by USC’s Sustainable Living Guide)
A Look Inside The Suspenders— USC’s Sketch Comedy Troupe
By: Danielle Collins ‘20
Need an end-of-the-semester pick me up? Head over to The Suspenders show this weekend and laugh ‘til you drop! The Suspenders is USC’s sketch comedy troupe, and the show will feature original skits written, produced, and performed by USC students. Tickets can be reserved here. Keep reading for an inside look inside The Suspenders!
10 Steps to Write a Killer Paper
By: Danielle Collins ‘20
You sit down and stare at the blank Word document. The ominous cursor blinks in the top left corner. After you painstakingly type out the heading, the empty page taunts you as the deadline looms in the distance. The moral of this story: writing is hard. Hopefully I can provide some advice to make it easier, and maybe even fun!
Break Out of the USC Bubble— LA Service Opportunities
By: Danielle Collins ‘20
I’m sure you’ve heard someone say it before: we live in the USC bubble. Whether we like to admit it or not, there’s some truth behind that statement. I totally get it— USC is a great place and I want to spend as much time soaking it up in the 4 years I’m here as I can. But you can still soak up USC’s awesome-ness even once the bubble is popped. One of the best ways to break out of the USC bubble is getting involved with service opportunities in the LA area. And, trust me, there are a lot of them. Not only will you become more aware of the community we live in outside of USC’s campus, but you’ll be helping others and have some great experiences to grow along the way.