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.

I got the chance to speak with three current and former RAs to learn about their experiences being RAs at USC and to hopefully help prospective RAs make more informed decisions about applying to be one. The RA Application for the 2024-2025 school year opens on November 15 and is open through January 7.

It’s never too late to find an on-campus job. Trust me, I didn’t hear back from my work-study job until Thanksgiving break of my sophomore year. Over the course of three months, I had applied to dozens of on-campus jobs to no avail. Between midterms and holiday stress, I was discouraged and defeated. I was convinced I wouldn’t find a job at all that year if I hadn’t secured one already. Out of the blue, I landed an interview at the USC Career Center. Two years later, I was promoted to Lead Student Engagement Intern. 

By: Sydney Fiorentino ‘24

As midterm and final bear around the corner, it’s time to study and get assignments done! If you are tired of studying at home and want to get on campus, here are my top 10 places to work!