When I started at USC, I hadn’t toured the campus or even stepped foot in the area before I accepted my admissions offer. I was about as clueless as I could be. I’m not from California, and certainly not from Southern California, so it was definitely an adjustment in every possible way. I distinctly remember buying chapstick during my first semester and my jaw actually dropping at the price. Here’s what I wish I could’ve learned from my online research about USC and student experiences before I got here.

The thought of owning a pet during your college career has probably crossed your mind once or twice. Having a little, cuddly friend sitting on your lap while you're studying or having a pet to come home to after a long day of classes seems like the perfect way to beat the isolation of finals season. However, with the hustle and bustle of school and the never ending assignments, owning a pet can seem impossible.

Last semester, I wrote an article titled “Why I Decided to Minor in Digital Studies.” Meet her older, slighter wiser sister article, “Why I Decided to Drop my Minor in Digital Studies.” I recommend reading the prior article before this one for extra context, but if you enjoy a good TLDR: I am a cognitive science major interested in working in product design. I declared a minor in Digital Studies because I thought it would include courses that would help develop skills for a career in product design, while also allowing me the benefits of being a SCA student.

USC’s new Sustainability Hub marks a significant stride in its commitment to the environment. This multi-use space is designed as a physical embodiment of USC’s “Assignment: Earth” initiative, aimed at cultivating an eco-friendly campus and planet.

While people often make lofty New Years resolutions that quickly fall by the wayside, there’s also more sustainable adjustments we can make to kickstart the new year. Here’s a guide to making quick, affordable, and healthy recipes to support your wellness year-round from the comfort of your dorm microwave or apartment kitchen.

As December and Spotify Wraps start rolling out, people start talking about their New Year’s resolutions. Commonly, these resolutions focus on diets or exercise. Although these are both great resolutions, I have formulated a list of more college-related resolutions for the 2024 New Year if you’re looking to establish some better habits for the spring semester!

Here’s a roundup of my favorite courses I’ve taken at USC, as a (December) graduating cognitive science major.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to direct a film – especially a documentary? I’m here to tell you all about my experience taking CTPR 474: Documentary Production and the process of creating a 15-minute short documentary over the course of a semester.

Every semester, the USC School of Dramatic Arts puts on a variety of performances. During the first two weeks of November, they ran a production of Hit the Wall, which I was lucky enough to attend. The play follows multiple perspectives during the night of the Stonewall Uprising in the summer of 1969. Anthony Guerrise, a sophomore who played Newbie during the second week of performances, sat down with me to talk about his experience.

Every year at the end of the fall semester, college students search for housing for the next year. The politics behind finding housing are difficult as students try to find the perfect group of roommates without hurting anyone’s feelings. This gets even more difficult when each roommate has different priorities for their housing; some want the cheapest place and others the closest to campus. Many people want to live in the Village but don’t get an apartment that fits their group. Off-campus housing is a great option if you don’t want to have to pay for a meal plan or if you’re looking to be closer to the south side of campus or the row. Or, of course, if you’re an upperclassman and don’t have the privilege of living in USC housing. To help ease the anxiety that comes with searching through all the housing possibilities, I’ve compiled a list of some of the most popular off-campus housing options.

Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re well into the college application process or waiting until Thanksgiving break to crank out your essays (which is perfectly fine, that’s what I did!). You might be frantically watching endless TikTok and YouTube videos for advice on choosing the right major, deciding which colleges to apply to, scholarship deadlines to keep in mind, and how to write a compelling personal statement or the UC’s Personal Insight Questions. It's safe to say I was very overwhelmed with the ocean of opinions that sometimes clashed with one another.

As students, it's easy to walk past the historic buildings that have been on campus for over a century without noticing them. USC, founded way back in 1880, has a deep history hidden within its grounds. We often forget to be curious about the people, events, and changes that have shaped our campus; yet, there is so much left to uncover.