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?
Reviving Tommy’s Place Trivia
By: Talia Walters ‘20
If you’re anything like me, you haven’t been to Tommy’s Place at all since your orientation when they hosted a party the one night you were there. In all honesty, with the introduction of the Village and the sheer fact that we’re in LA with hundreds if not thousands of different clubs and restaurants, Tommy’s Place isn’t usually anyone’s go-to on campus despite its easy access. And I always saw that chalkboard right outside RTCC with all the events at Tommy’s Place for the week and wondered what they were really like since I know no one who chose to go to them. However, this little experiment that was supposed to take me three days has now taken me three weeks, and even at the time of writing this article, it’s still an ongoing challenge. And I need your help. Thus, this is the story of me attempting to Revive Tommy’s Place Trivia.
Why I Recommend A Social Media Detox
By: Talia Walters ‘20
Two months into the new year, and it’s a good time to reflect on many of our New Year’s Resolutions to see how it’s all going. For me, I’ve given up on most of mine (which is true of almost every year – I’m not a fan of change), but one that I’m still going strong on is a social media detox that I chose to do pretty suddenly. It turns out when your resolutions are things you need to do for yourself, you’re more likely to stick to them – who would’ve thought! Anyways, here’s a review of my experience detoxing social media apps from my life and why I’d recommend doing it.
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:
Reading Web Reg: A Visual Guide to USC’s Class Scheduling System
By: Talia Walters ‘20
As we’re all buckling down for finals season, sometimes we just need to take a break. And what better way to spend that break than to schedule your classes for next semester! We’re deep into registration season already, but as we get to the last students’ registration times, it might be helpful to look back and make sure we’re getting the most out of our lovely web registration system. If you’ve ever been unsure of how to best use Web Reg to your advantage, this is a step-by-step visual guide to getting the most out of USC’s Web Reg system.
What To Do Post-Graduation (that isn’t getting a 9-5 job!)
By: Talia Walters ‘20
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been asked what I plan on doing after graduation almost nonstop since the beginning of my senior year. My answer is always the same – a scoff that’s the mixture between exasperation, terror, and immediate anxiety – which usually prompts a sympathetic laugh in response. We all focus so hard on getting into grad school or making sure we apply to all the right jobs, that no one really stops to realize we don’t have to do those things. No one is forcing us to go to Med School or Law School, and no one is making us get a big person job. If it doesn’t seem right for you to send in application after application, sealing your fate until you retire, then don’t. Nothing bad is going to happen to you. Of course, you still need an answer to that dreaded question. What would you do after graduation if you weren’t doing more school or going straight into the workforce? Well, friend, do I have a list for you! Below, I’ve compiled a few different routes for post-grad life that aren’t just going to grad school or getting a “real” job. They’re all entirely unique options, and maybe you’ll find the one that’s right for you!
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.
Outside Your Comfort Zone: Fully Experiencing Study Abroad
By: Talia Walters ‘20
I want to make it clear that the “standard” study abroad options aren’t bad. The key is that your comfort zone is something that only you are able to measure, and decisions based off of that are yours alone. I just don’t think the image of a great, vast world filled with billions of people who aren’t the cookie-cutter USC student is well-presented to students traveling abroad.
2-Unit Classes for Linguaphiles
By: Talia Walters ‘20
As class registration periods are quickly approaching, we’re all in the middle of the frantic search for classes that meet our GE requirements, finish our majors, and aren’t at 8am. Each semester we settle on four classes that meet our expectations and get us a little closer to graduation. However, we’re always left with those pesky two extra units. We’ve already paid for them, so not using them is a waste, but they’re not enough to take another full class. And when you start looking at all the options, you have almost 20 pages of classes in hundreds of different departments each with their own focuses, pre-requisites, and grading systems. But I have some good news for you! I love digging through WebReg for very specific classes, and you’re looking for a place that has very specific 2-unit options. Thus, I present to you: Talia’s List of 2-Unit Classes for the Average Linguaphile!
Resources for Survivors and Those Affected by Sexual Assault
By: Talia Walters ‘20
In the face of recent events both on and off campus, it is necessary that we open the conversation about Sexual Violence not only with our administration but also with each other. The problem is pervasive and growing. Among all undergraduate students on college campuses, 23.1% of females and 5.4% of males experience sexual assault or rape. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of the conversation surrounding sexual assault, I’d like to instead focus on the resources and advocacy groups available to USC students. While justice and retribution is necessary, conversations with a focus on healing and prevention often get pushed to the wayside despite being an important aspect for many assault survivors. Below is a compiled list of resources depending on your situation. It is important to remember that assault can happen to anyone; these resources are available to you regardless of gender, sexual orientation, and experience, so please reach out if you feel as though it may be helpful.