Category Archives: college

college, friends, Hobby, student life, USC

Joining USC Clubs and Organizations

By Eric Chow

Edited by Natalie Grace Sipula

[3 minute read]

A hallmark of college life is the freedom that students get to pursue what they are interested in. Whether that’s lounging about in the library or going out with friends, the only limit to the activities that you can pursue in college life is your imagination. At USC, one of the biggest things student occupy their time with is joining and participating in clubs. USC offers a wide variety of clubs and organizations for students to participate in, and below, I have listed some clubs I personally recommend and my experience in them!

USC offers a variety of different clubs that range from marketing to philanthropy. Joining such organizations is highly coveted amongst the USC student community, as these clubs represent an avenue for not just your passion and interests but they also can provide valuable connections with other USC students and alumni. Because of these valuable resources and the breadth of experiences that you can gain from joining these clubs, the application process for them is highly selective and rigorous. USC has more than 1,000 student organizations. These organizations are responsible for most of the programs and events held on campus, including concerts, lectures, special events, spirit rallies, cultural and social events, and conferences.

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One club that I have joined is called Troy camp. Troy Camp is one of USC’s oldest and largest student-run philanthropies, providing comprehensive, long-term mentorship for students in South Los Angeles. We engage in educational, extracurricular, and leadership programs to foster personal growth and instill the value of learning. These programs include conducting bonding activities with younger students in the south LA area. I am a counselor for elementary school students, and I really enjoy my time hanging out with the kids and other counselors. We host weekly activities like origami folding or painting sessions. The community is so open and inclusive, and everyone feels welcomed. 

Another club that I recently applied for is the USC American Marketing Association. The American Marketing Association (AMA) at USC is a collegiate chapter of one of the largest marketing associations in the world. AMA provides networking and academic development for undergraduate students interested in the field of marketing and brings national AMA resources to USC students, including training workshops, professional speaker events, company tours, service and networking events, and consulting projects. This club provides unique opportunities for students who want to gain more experience in professional business fields like consulting or marketing. 

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Advice, college, lifestyle, student life, USC

Looking For More Ways to Get Involved on Campus? Join Student Clubs!

By Alyssa Delarosa

Edited by Natalie Grace Sipula

During my final semester here at USC (and as an undergraduate) I did a considerable amount of reflection on my time at USC. In that reflection, I’ve come to the conclusion that carrying over my student club and organization involvement from my time at community college to USC resulted in a time of new growth, relationships, learning, and experience. Even amidst a virtual learning experience, I was able to keep pursuing my goals and forge new connections through involvement and leadership.

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A community college is a two-year college where students complete their general education and lower division courses. Students have many options available to them as to where they can obtain an associates degree (two-year lower division degree), professional certificate, or other certification. Or, they can choose to transfer from their community college to a university – which was what I did in 2020. This was during the onset of Covid-19, which greatly impacted my educational experience.

Before the pandemic, I was determined to be involved as much as possible on my community college campus. I joined and led several clubs and student organizations, as well as joining a newly founded faculty committee on civic engagement. In this club, I was able to develop an internship program for student advocates. When the pandemic hit, it was during my last semester at my community college. I remember how faculty were unsure of the future of student clubs and organizations on campus continuing due to the pandemic, yet I was able to continue my involvement in these clubs remotely. I was even able to adjust my proposal for the student advocate internship program to a remote format accordingly. Though I have long been graduated from my community college, I continue to mentor students and work with faculty through this program.

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Adult Responsibilities, college, friends, L.A. Life, student life, USC

Tips on USC Housing

By Lianne Chu

Edited by Natalie Grace Sipula

[3.5 minute read]

Finding off campus housing around USC is a common struggle amongst many students. With so many different options and factors to take into consideration, the whole process can be overwhelming, especially for students who aren’t familiar with the area. Here, I detail some resources that can help with this search!

When should you start looking for next school year’s housing?

Some students start looking for off campus housing as early as October/November and have their lease signed by December. This is usually necessary for popular places around campus, especially houses on the North side of campus where a lot of people want to live. However, there will still be many vacancies at the start of the calendar year, so do not worry if you start the housing search process late. A good place to look for housing in the spring is apartments near campus who are looking to fill their buildings and may be running special deals in the springtime.

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Where to look for housing?

1. Walk around the neighborhood. Many apartments/houses will have their phone numbers posted in front of the residence. Note the name of the property management and phone number to do further research!

2. This Reddit link features links to many different popular housing management companies around campus and the websites for various apartments. I found it to be especially helpful in checking out the different types of apartments around campus, and determining the different locations of all of the housing options.

3. Facebook Groups: There are a few Facebook groups where students post available listings, usually subleases. If you search for USC housing groups, you will find people looking for potential roommates or looking for people to take over their subleases. This is a good place to turn to if you are looking for a semester lease or a summer lease, as opposed to a year long lease. However, sometimes scams are posted on these groups so use your best judgement when contacting those writing the posts.  

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Where is it safe to live?

Many students live within a one-mile radius of USC. This ensures that the house/apartment will be within the Fryft (free Lyft) Zone. Around this area will also have DPS Yellow Jackets patrolling around the blocks at night. North side of campus near Frat Row is a popular option for students. West side of campus is also popular for engineering students who have classes near that side of campus.

Living in DTLA or commuting to campus?

Some students may choose to live farther away from campus and commute to classes by car or public transportation. Living farther away gives you more housing options, but USC does not provide transportation from DTLA to campus, so having a car will be beneficial if living far away. However, if you do choose to live a little further away, you can take advantage of LA’s public transportation system to get to campus. The Metro and F dash bus are both options to get from Downtown LA to USC fairly quickly.

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Price range

The price range of housing varies depending on the type of room (single, double, etc.) and location (proximity to campus). Houses and apartments on the North side of campus are typically pricier as they are closer to the Village and it is a livelier area of the neighborhood. Prices can range from $800 for a shared room on the West side to $1400 and up for a single on the North side. 

On Campus Housing

USC offers on-campus housing for both undergraduate and graduate students. Check out the USC housing to look at the different options offered! The most popular USC housing option for undergraduates is in the USC Village, but there are off campus options as well. Many of these housing options come with some sort of dining plan and close proximity to campus, which is always a plus, but some of them can be quite pricey.

Finding Roommates

Most college students live in an apartment or house with roommates. Some people share a room with others, while others have their own rooms and share a living space. Usually shared rooms have lower rent than private rooms. When finding roommates, the first step should be to see if any of your friends are also looking for housing since living with friends is usually easier to adapt to than living with random roommates. However, living with randomly paired roommates can be a great option as well. Many people search for roommates on housing Facebook pages and express what they want in a potential roommate, and end up finding someone who is very compatible with their living style and turns out to be a great friend!

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