Being a student at USC is about the entire experience – from the neighborhood and the locals, to the exposure to some of the best academic programs in the world, to the unparalleled athletic tradition. “
There is an immense amount of pride at USC. People love going to school here. We love the fact that the university is well above average in every aspect of the collegiate experience,” writes a senior economics major. The school’s urban setting provides for an interesting dynamic between the city and its students. "
USC is an amazing campus in the middle of South Central Los Angeles. This makes it feel like a bubble at some times, but also opens the university up to the city's culture,” says one junior computer science major. Athletics are enormously popular and students could be said to bleed cardinal and gold. “
There is SO MUCH school pride, especially during football season because our team is one of the best!” boasts a sophomore architecture major. The community at USC is composed of students from all corners of the globe, all there to learn from one another in a fast-paced, bustling environment.
Because of USC’s size, introductory classes are large and students mostly deal with their TA’s. “
The large lectures usually have smaller lab sections, so it is normal to have TA's who know your name and are interested in your work,” writes a freshman. In addition to the usual concentrations, USC offers a variety of unique interdisciplinary and career-specific majors. Students can also tap into the exceptionally well-connected Trojan alumni network to land a job. “
USC grads run LA as it truly is a 'professional' university with alumni who fight for their companies' recruiting classes to be filled with Trojans,” shares a junior accounting major.
USC boasts a huge international population, indeed the largest of any US university, however, there isn’t always mixing. “
There are plenty of International students. The problem, however, and why I think the diversity at USC is overrated, is that these groups are very socially segregated.” says a sophomore journalism major. Politically USC is pretty much right of center. “
USC is not an extremely liberal college. Many of the students are from the more conservative part of California but there is so much diversity here it won't faze you at all.” says a freshman pre-med major. Students enjoy being involved in organizations, both for social and academic reasons. “
It has been my experience that students at USC are intelligent, hard-workers who dedicate a lot of time and energy to their schoolwork but also enjoy an exciting social life that includes membership in a wide variety of clubs and organizations as well as a lot of partying,” writes one sophomore creative writing major. “
I would say a student whose only focus is schoolwork would feel extremely left out here,” adds a junior engineering major.
USC’s party school reputation, which stems mostly from the robust Greek system, has died down significantly the last few years, thanks to administration efforts. “
While I was there, the school was (and still is, to my knowledge) going through a period of significant change as the administration is working to play down USC’s reputation as a ‘party’ school and vault it into the top tier of American universities,” shares one alum who majored in business. There is still, however, a healthy amount of partying. He continues, “
Despite all this, though, the social scene at USC has proved highly resilient, and although the campus may not be as fun as it used to be, it's still a great place to spend four years.” Greeks continue to maintain a high profile on campus and “The Row” is a party destination for many undergrads. But a senior economics major best summed up the Greek system when he said, “
Fraternities and sororities are important to those involved in them. To those not involved in them, they're not very important.”
The university seems to be evolving, and redefining itself, and that feeling of change is palpable among students. “
The attitude towards and character of the school is evolving into one befitting an honorable and prestigious institution, while still maintaining its relaxed Southern California feel,” observes a freshman history major. What makes USC unique is just that – a large, high-caliber school with a distinctly Southern California flair.
