University of Southern California Top Questions

What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

Leora

The stereotype at USC is a spoiled rich kid, but no, it is NOT accurate

Lena

I think the stereotype for USC is greek life/athletes. On the surface, it appears to be true. Walking around campus, it seems like most students are repping their letters on their clothes, bags, or hats. Freshman year, the majority of students party on greek row, and there is definitely some pressure to join a sorority or fraternity. Greek life seems to dominate the social setting. In actuality, less than 30{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of students are involved in greek life, I think that they are just the loudest, and are obnoxious about it. There are plenty of other groups on campus, not the mention the amazing Thornton School of Music which attracts lots of students whose interests delve deeper than partying and looking good. USC is somewhat defined by its stereotype of being a big greek life/party school, but it's big enough to find lots of other social settings and organizations. if you make an effort, you will find whatever it is that you want at USC. USC is what you make of it.

Darin

The stories I heard of were the usual - jocks, ditzy girls with expensive designer handbags, trust-fund babies, spoiled rich kids, conservative. In reality, some of these stereotypes are true, but at a university with over 17,000 students, you're bound to find someone who fits under anything else than these stereotypes mentioned above.

Tiffany

University of Spoiled Children. School for rich kids. Parties hard. The stereotypes can be correct if you meet the right people, but generally, no. The majority of students I know are on some kind of financial aid. And we not only party, but study as well (especially when mid-terms or finals come around; you'll see the library be crowded with people). But we do play hard and study hard.

Wendi

USC is stereotyped as a university for students who come from families with high-level income. Students are also thought to party a lot.

Aimee

A stereotypical student at the University of Southern California is blond, attractive, smart, and a participant in Greek life. This stereotype is in no way accurate. USC has students from all sorts of diverse backgrounds. The typical USC student is hard working. However, even though our campus is filled with some of the brightest minds, students are still approachable and friendly. Our campus is home to a large number of international students. This gives our students an opportunity to learn about different cultures outside of the classroom.

Thalia

The stereotype of students at USC is that we are all partiers who are way too involved in the Greek system and are rich, spoiled brats. While certain aspects of this stereotype are true about certain people at USC, this is far from the truth about most people at my school. USC is so diverse and different and so full of people who don't just accept these differences but also embrace them. While there are lots of parties and people who really enjoy them, there are certainly people who don't party all the time and people who don't party at all. And while about 20 percent of our student population is involved in the Greek system, that is by no means every student at this school. There are so many other groups of people who do so many other cool things. As for the "University of Spoiled Children" stereotype, while that is the case for some students who go to this school (just looking at our tuition would be enough to tell you that), there are so many students who have financial aid here, whether it's from merit-based scholarships or need-based. Our school is so diverse and accepting! All of the different people here have taught me so much!

Yan

The University of Southern California has commonly been known by several aliases such as the University of Spoiled Children or the University of Super Connections. The university has had a reputation for extremely rich, white kids, parties, as well as the Greek system with many sororities and fraternities as a major part of campus life. While this stereotype may have been true in the past, USC is much more than that now. Our school enrolls the greatest number of international students from all over the world, nearly 18{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of our entire student population. Furthermore, USC is no longer just a party school for rich kids to come to to make connections, but it is now also a top-ranked school and continues to move up college rankings at an extremely fast paced as compared to other schools.

Li

A stereotype will be that USC students are rich kids. This stereotype is largely not true, unless you are referring to the few international students, who are certainly not representative of the entire USC student population. Rest assured that you will not be any means feel orstracized, or left out, if you are just a normal student with little spending power. (like me, for example) And with the amount of financial aid that USC is giving out increasing with the year, this stereotype should soon become nothing but a myth.

Allegra

Christina

The common stereotype is that USC is full of "rich kids" and that greek life is really strong. Of course there are spoiled children here but there's some at every school. At USC they definitely are not the majority. As for greeks, those who are in fraternities and sororities are really into it but you don't need to be in one to be social. There are so many student organizations on campus that you will definitely find your niche.

Emily

People often stereotype the students at USC as "rich," "spoiled," "UCLA rejects." But this is honestly not the case. We are often stereotyped as one specific kind of person, but the truth is, you won't be able to generalize USC students with just a few words. The student population at USC is so diverse. I've met people from all socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. You have to experience the diversity to believe it! The students here are all incredible individuals with capacities to do amazing things.

Marvin

At USC, we are believed to be the University of Spoiled Children. I believe this is one of the grossest misconceptions held of the student body at USC. My experiences within the Greek system and other social networks have revealed quite the opposite. There will always be students, who will fit this stereotype, however, I have found them quite difficult to find in my 2.5 years at the school thus far.

Hanna

When I was applying to colleges the most common thing I would hear about USC was that it was the University of Spoiled Children. With a price tag of over $60,000 you are bound to find very fortunate kids who you may or may not find spoiled, but I can guarantee you, with a student body as large as the one at USC you will be able to find those down to earth individuals who could care less about the latest designer duds. USC is one of the most diverse schools in my opinion...you will find the so called "frat stars", as well as those not involved at all with greek life. Being located in LA, a large population of students are looking to get involved in the entertainment industry, so film students and PR majors are not hard to come by. So with this being said, when it comes to stereotypes I don't think there is one that fits USC properly. It truly is a diverse community rich with culture.

Hanna

When I was applying to colleges the most common thing I would hear about USC was that it was the University of Spoiled Children. With a price tag of over $60,000 you are bound to find very fortunate kids who you may or may not find spoiled, but I can guarantee you, with a student body as large as the one at USC you will be able to find those down to earth individuals who could care less about the latest designer duds. USC is one of the most diverse schools in my opinion...you will find the so called "frat stars", as well as those not involved at all with greek life. Being located in LA, a large population of students are looking to get involved in the entertainment industry, so film students and PR majors are not hard to come by. So with this being said, when it comes to stereotypes I don't think there is one that fits USC properly. It truly is a diverse community rich with culture.

Phylicia

Many students at USC are stereotyped as excessively wealthy, rich, underachievers or even spoiled. USC itself is sometimes described as the "University of Spoiled Children." This is not true however. Most students are accepted to USC based on merit, their athletic AND scholastic achievements. USC prides itself on being very selective in their admissions process. The average GPA for incoming students at USC is 3.9. Students here, though some may be privileged and some may not, work very hard to maintain their academic merit.

AmeyaUpasani

When you think of the University of Southern California, one thing comes to mind: football. Along with football, other athletics are very popular at USC. However, we are not just a "jock" school. With some of the most academically challenging majors, our student body is as diverse as can be. We are known for our athletic programs, as well as our academic programs. USC also caters to a large international student student body. We are one of the most diverse campuses in southern California and use that diversity to excel academically.

Anna-Catherine

The biggest stereotype of the students at USC is that everyone is very wealthy and entitled. This stereotype tends to be tied to the Greek system and all the stereotypes that come along with that as well. However, the student population is far too large and diverse to be stereotyped as one certain thing. Although there are some people who are clearly very wealthy, such as minor celebrities or children of celebrities, there are students from all different backgrounds. This stereotype might have been more true in the past, USC is changing to become more diverse. For example, this year is the first year that USC has both QuestBridge and Posse Scholars, two programs aimed at helping low income students succeed in college, which shows how this stereotype is changing.

Trenise

It is often perpetuated that my school, the University of Southern California (USC), is a school for rich kids to go and play around for four years and "get a degree" before mommy and daddy give them access to their trust funds. People think that USC doesn't take education seriously, and that as long as you are connected to someone rich or famous, you can get in. While that may have been true years ago, USC is definitely not that school today. It started when recently retired USC President Steven Sample took over in 1991. He made it his goal to revitalize the image of USC, and he was very successful in doing so. Today, USC is a Top-25 university, and features an array of schools that rank in the Top-10 for their respective programs. For example, the USC School of Cinematic Arts is the best film school in the country. Not only that, but it is also the hardest school in the country to get into. The Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism is a Top-5 Journalism school, and the Marshall School of Business is a Top-10 undergraduate business school. It is also one of the only 4-year undergrad business schools in the nation (UCLA doesn't have one!). And as for the rich kid stereotype, that's not necessarily true either. More than half of the students at SC receive some form of financial aid for need-based reasons. Of course, since USC does cost over $50,000 a year, there are many wealthy kids that go here, but socio-economics are not something that the students focus on. Once you decide to come to USC, you are apart of the Trojan Family, regardless of where you come from!

Nikki

Everyone knows USC as a school that has a lot of pride. It's known for its athletics, rather than academics and extracurriculars. People also stereotype USC as full of frats and sororities. The 1st part being completely false because USC is an all-around school that succeeds in not only athletics, but academics and extracurriculars as well. USC has very smart and successful undergrads, grads, and alumni. USC is a prestigious school in which all students are very driven and passionate about what they want to do in the future. For the 2nd part of the stereotype, frats and sororities are very prevalent. But, if you don't want to participate in such activities, USC offers many other clubs and organizations to their students. Everything from WuShu Fighting, Indoor Volleyball, SCycling, Environmental Organizations, Political Student Assemblies, Engineering Organzations, Cultural Organizations, etc.

Kendall

I'm sure if you're thinking of attending USC, you have heard of the of University of Spoiled Children. This label may be true for some students, there are bound to be a few at any private university, but overall the campus is full of such diversity it is impossible to say that we are just a bunch of "rich kids". In fact, USC helps students pay for their college tuition with prestigious scholarships and grants that can range from a few thousand dollars to full tuition. Many of the people that I know on campus have some form of scholarships or at least work study. With work study, you can get a job on campus that helps pay for part of your tuition! Furthermore, USC pushes for students who aren't working on campus to get jobs and internships during the school year. You can't be spoiled if you're working this hard!

Kendall

I'm sure if you're thinking of attending USC, you have heard of the of University of Spoiled Children. This label may be true for some students, there are bound to be a few at any private university, but overall the campus is full of such diversity it is impossible to say that we are just a bunch of "rick kids". In fact, USC helps students pay for their college tuition with prestigious scholarships and grants that can range from a few thousand dollars to full tuition. Many of the people that I know on campus have some form of scholarships or at least work study. With work study, you can get a job on campus that helps pay for part of your tuition! Furthermore, USC pushes for students who aren't working on campus to get jobs and internships during the school year. You can't be spoiled if you're working this hard!

Denise

The stereotype that has always followed USC students is that of spoiled rich kids. That is how everyone outside the university sees us: the University of Spoiled Children. The truth is that the only people that seem to matter on campus are the jocks and the Greeks. Everybody else, there is no stereotype for them. If there is, its not really discussed or talked about but everybody has their own stereotypes on the jocks and Greeks. These are the common stereotypes that dominate outside of those two circles. Although, they are not necessarily true. The jocks: Seen as gods (football players). Cocky and arrogant. Stick together. Think they are better because they play on a USC team. Frat boys: Party hard. Have the best parties. Get the most girls. Jerks. Sorority girls: Snobby and stuck up. Only hang out with other frat guys or jocks. Stick together. mean and exclusive.

Lu

When the average American hears the word "USC," images of football often rise up first in their minds. It is true that USC is a big sport school. A huge part of our campus culture revolves around our football team, and game days are always crazy, with current students and alumni alike celebrating all over campus. Another common stereotype is that USC is loaded with rich kids. However, both stereotypes are very limiting and misleading. While USC does embrace its sports culture, the school also boasts its already strong and still growing academic strength. Music is also popular here, with weekly live music on campus, and aspiring musicians holding events throughout the year. Visions and Voices hosts a plethora of arts, music, and literary events, with world-renowned speakers, artists, musicians, and authors. USC Spectrum is another organization that hosts a number of art/music-related events. The stereotype that USC is filled with rich and spoiled kids is completely false and misleading. While the school does have a number of well-off students, there is definitely not a "rich-society" culture. In any class, you can find students from all walks of life. I've personally met students that were very well-off and students who were depending entirely on financial aid. With almost 3,000 students matriculating each year, it's impossible to have a homogenous student population. You can find people from all walks of life here.

Lu

When the average American hears the word "USC," images of football often rise up first in their minds. It is true that USC is a big sport school. A huge part of our campus culture revolves around our football team, and game days are always crazy, with current students and alumni alike celebrating all over campus. Another common stereotype is that USC is loaded with rich kids. However, both stereotypes are very limiting and misleading. While USC does embrace its sports culture, the school also boasts its already strong and still growing academic strength. Music is also popular here, with weekly live music on campus, and aspiring musicians holding events throughout the year. Visions and Voices hosts a plethora of arts, music, and literary events, with world-renowned speakers, artists, musicians, and authors. USC Spectrum is another organization that hosts a number of art/music-related events. The stereotype that USC is filled with rich and spoiled kids is completely false and misleading. While the school does have a number of well-off students, there is definitely not a "rich-society" culture. In any class, you can find students from all walks of life. I've personally met students that were very well-off and students who were depending entirely on financial aid. With almost 3,000 students matriculating each year, it's impossible to have a homogenous student population. You can find people from all walks of life here.

Lu

When the average American hears the word "USC," images of football often rise up first in their minds. It is true that USC is a big sport school. A huge part of our campus culture revolves around our football team, and game days are always crazy, with current students and alumni alike celebrating all over campus. Another common stereotype is that USC is loaded with rich kids. However, both stereotypes are very limiting and misleading. While USC does embrace its sports culture, the school also boasts its already strong and still growing academic strength. Music is also popular here, with weekly live music on campus, and aspiring musicians holding events throughout the year. Visions and Voices hosts a plethora of arts, music, and literary events, with world-renowned speakers, artists, musicians, and authors. USC Spectrum is another organization that hosts a number of art/music-related events. The stereotype that USC is filled with rich and spoiled kids is completely false and misleading. While the school does have a number of well-off students, there is definitely not a "rich-society" culture. In any class, you can find students from all walks of life. I've personally met students that were very well-off and students who were depending entirely on financial aid. With almost 3,000 students matriculating each year, it's impossible to have a homogenous student population. You can find people from all walks of life here.

Peter

Yes, this stereotype is partly true. USC students do tend to be from the wealthier half of the socioeconomic bell curve distribution, but that's usually the case for most decent private schools (even some public). And just because they have money and are white does not mean they are all snobby. I have also met many people who receive money from the school to lessen their burden for paying for school which I think is awesome. Also USC is an incredibly diverse campus with just about every ethnicity represented. I was a big football fan coming in to the school and now am less excited that may be because of the sanctions or just a lack of enthusiasm from the student body which kinda sucks because most people would kill to have a team that is as good currently and historically as USC's football team. USC is in the Ghetto, but it's never bothered me and I ended up calling the area my home.