Warning: lengthy post ahead. Something asked me this, so I copied my response here.
Oh boy, where do I start…
First off, the campus is simply beautiful. Warm Gothic and Romanesque-styled buildings, smoothly paved flat roads, and comfortable size. It’s a great mix of urban and ‘rural’ in that its quads are so green and add such a nice contrast to the buildings nearby. The freestanding sculptures and structures add a creative, artistic look. The campus is large enough that you can get lost in if you’re new and map-illiterate (haha!), but not so large that you feel intimidated when are you are lost.
The faculty is amazing. All the professors that I’ve met were brilliant, quirkly, funny, and human. They joke and tease their students. They poke and prod you with questions, playing Devil’s Advocate until you end up losing your own argument. They make you think, and laugh when you have that “AHA!” moment. They’re approachable, and unlike professors at other schools (specifically, the ones I’ve seen in MIT videos), they aren’t there to just teach. They’re there to see you succeed. Oh, and at least for the Bio department, only “Rocket faculty” (in other words, the best of the best) teach freshmen, because they have the most experience teaching and working with students. With a 9:1 student to faculty ratio and the promise that professors will teach all your courses, it’s a tough offer to beat.
Speaking with academics, USC offers a really unique major that I’m interested in: Health and Society. In short, it’s a combination of biology, psychology, sociology, and global health; how awesome is that? Plus, it has concentrations within the major, so I could choose to focus in areas like gerontology or motivational behavior. I have always been interested in psychology, but don’t want to give up bio since I really like that too, and USC is one of the schools that doesn’t force me to choose—I can have both!
However, on the off chance that I do want to switch up, USC’s curriculum makes it very easy. There’s no hassle aside from a quick application if I want to transfer to a different college within the university (majors within the same college only require a small convo with a counselor!).
Additionally, USC not only accepts double majors or double minors (or both!), it actually encourages it. No where else have I heard of a student quadruple majoring and graduating in four years. No where else have I heard of a student minoring in four radically different areas and still getting a 4.0 for his major (this guy, by the way, won a Truman Scholarship—one of 60 in the nation). USC provides the resources to make it possible, and if you do well, you get additional funding and recognition as a Renaissance Scholar. For me, this sounds amazing because although I know I want to major in H&H, I know I want to minor in 1-2 other areas: natural science, art history, maybe even global health or spanish. And I know that USC will help me every step of the way.
That tidbit about typically graduating in four years is true, by the way. USC is known for helping students “make it all fit.” Also, since I would be a Presidential Scholar, I would be able to apply for Exceptional Funding, which would allow me to take over 18 units/semester if that is really necessary. It’s insane to think about, but having that option is really nice.
USC also have amazing undergraduate research and study abroad opportunities! I’ve wanted to travel to Spain ever since I began taking Spanish, and there’s actually a USC in Spain program! Not some outside program, but one geared specifically for USC students to make sure they get a maximum number of credits (16) per semester. A lot of USC students are also conducting their own research—even freshmen!
In addition, USC has a Thematics Option, which sounds amazing to me. It’s a reading/writing-intensive curriculum that replaced the USC Core. The students analyze primary sources, and class sizes are incredibly small compared to the average lecture all, with a max size of around 35! Writing classes are no larger than 14 (or was it 9?) students! Plus, there’s a 1:1 writing tutorial system with your professor, and the focus on the improvement of your writing and analysis. TO classes aren’t curved, so professors aren’t afraid to give out a bunch of A’s if a bunch of students work hard and deserve them.
Oh, and there’s a Pre-Health track. Specialized enough to advise me to get to med school, broad enough that if I no know want med school in particular, I can easily switch gears to another health track. Workshops. Internships. Volunteering. Beautiful.
Hmmm…I think that’s it concerning academics. Onto student life!
It may sound a bit surprising coming from me, but I’m really interested in the Greek scene, haha! But really, if it didn’t cost $4000-8000/year, I probably would’ve seriously considered it. That said, I know that 80% of USC students are independent, so it’s perfectly normal to not go Greek and still be social.
USC has more than 700 organizations on campus, ranging from all sorts of interests and honors. There is a napping club, okay. There’s something for everyone!
USC football. Enough said. Even though I’ve never watched a game in my life (nor any football game, in that matter), it’s hard to not feel proud and spirited.
LA. USC’s immediate neighborhood might not be fantastic, but the heart of Los Angeles is hard to pass up. THERE ARE SO MANY MUSEUMS CLOSE BY kjfa;lskfja;sldfja. And, being that I’m interested in health and medicine, the LA Children’s Hospital and other health organizations make volunteering and interning so much more convenient!
USC also has a really strong security system, by the way, despite the outside neighborhood. I’ve walked around campus at 10 PM,and there are still a bunch of students and teachers outside. Plus, you see blue lights everywhere, and the school’s DPS is known to arrive within 60 seconds or less. Don’t quote me on this, but I believe they are top 5 in the nation. So you’ll feel perfectly safe as long as you use common sense and don’t wander off campus at night alone.
Ground Zero Milkshakes. Enough said. It’s heaven in a glass.
Minimum meal plan in unlimited swipes in a dining hall. Birnkrant triples are USC’s hidden gems, though they are only available for P/T/M/S Scholars.
The students. I have not met a USC student who is unsatisfied, bored, or one-dimensional. The diversity is astounding, and all the students are incredibly well-rounded. Where else can you have a chemical engineer who’s also a frat boy who’s also minoring in music? Where else can you have a H&H/Communications double major who’s a USC Tour Guide who’s also a sorority member? Where else can you find so many students who defy so many stereotypes that it’s impossible to describe a “typical USC student”?
More of a personal reason, but USC to me represents an escape from the box my parents have shoved me in for so long. It’s far enough that I have to dorm, but close enough that should anything go wrong, I can always return home. It’s not affected by UC budget cuts.
….Well. I never realized that I had so many (somewhat lengthy) reasons. I will be so, so sad if I have to say good-bye to the school of my dreams come May. (SCHOLARSHIP MONEY, WHERE ART THOU.)
