Student Profile
Michael
- Class: Sophomore
- Major: English
- Gender: M
- High School: Arcadia High School
- Transfer Student: N
Big Picture
USC has the perfect blend of academics, extracurriculars, social life, and spirit. Whatever you want to do or see, you can find here. I would want USC to be a more residential campus because so many students commute, it feels like you lose touch with people once classes end. There is no centralized campus feel. The school is just the right size, but there are a lot of grad students. People have mixed reactions: the people who are up to date are impressed and the elitists are arrogant and smug. I spend most of my time in my apartment with friends or studying. There is no college town, but hopefully that will change. Certain departments are more susceptible to hearing students opinions but for the most part, Sample has us going in the right direction: up. There was a riot after a party. USC is one of the most spirited campuses in the country. If you don't wear something cardinal and gold once a week, you're out of the loop. USC has an unusually strong party scene. I will always remember freshman year when my professor said "I'me not going to spoon feed you what the book says. I'm going to teach you from my experienced. If you want the book read to you, go to Cal State Dominguez Hills" and that's when I realized I was in college, and a great one at that. Our gym is too small, too crowded, and doesn't have enough equipment.
Academic Life
Professors know your name, even semesters after you've taken them. My favorite class was American Literature because the professor knew how to relate everything we read to its own time, the present, and the personal lives of himself and the students. My least favorite class was Biology and Chemistry. Being pre-med sucked. Students study fairly often but there are still slackers. The same people will participate in class. In the right circles we discuss materials outside of class. Students are competitive in certain departments like science or business administration. I took a class in the Thematic Option Honors Program about conceptual systems that had reading ranging from Hawking's Universe in a Nutshell to Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury. The English department has some standout professors and some arrogant intellects, all of which seem to be qualified. Each professor is allowed to interpret the class description how they see fit and so no two classes are ever alike. I try to spend time with professors outside of class and most are open to it. USC needs stricter GE guidelines like Columbia's because every students graduating from this university should be culturally literate and as of now, they are not. I think it depends on the majors and the professors.
Student Body
There are a lot of special interest groups on campus so that few are unrepresented. I think non-party-going people would feel out of place. The social scene is so dominated by alcohol that you'd feel awkward if that's not your thing. Student attire is very casual and often involves flip flops and USC paraphernalia. Different student types do interact and often in classes, especially if discussion is allowed. Four types: normal group of friends, students involved with building government, Greeks and party-goers, and socially awkward/weird/smart students. Mostly from Southern California, Northern California, and Texas in that order. I think upper middle class is very well represented. Students are politically apathetic. Those who speak out are usually left. A lot of students are very chiefly concerned with their future income.
The Best Things
The opportunities that are available in every facet of student life.
The Worst Things
The social scene's dependence on alcohol.
