On my last blog post, I talked about the build up of me applying and getting into USC. In this installment, I want to talk about my experience visiting USC and why I ultimately choose USC.
After getting my white package in the mail, the next step was visiting USC of course. I booked a flight and soon enough I was flying into LAX (queue Miley Cyrus). I remember when I first got to the campus I was overwhelmed, the buildings were massive and there were so many things going on. There were so many students walking and skating to class, there was a student org selling krispy kreme donuts, and people taking photos with Tommy the Trojan. At that moment, my only concern was finding the Campus Center so that I could check in and figure out what tours to join. I took me a while to find the campus center because I neglected to read any signs for about 15 minutes (lol), but I eventually found it and toured the campus and did some activities.
Eventually, we were paired with students and went off to eat dinner. Eating dinner with the students was one of the most memorable moments of my campus visit. I remember my host sat me down next to his friends, and I had a super casual and fun dinner at EVK. I had a great conversation with them and they were super receptive to answering my questions, we even shared memes and had a ball! The next day, I walked around campus with a friend I met and we ran into the startup career fair that is run by the org Spark SC. We ran into one a student who was in the club, and we had a great conversation there and he told us his raw unfiltered opinion about his experience so far! We did some more activities around campus but after that I had to fly back to the bay.
After visiting USC, I had a very favorable opinion of the school. I had so many great interactions with the students and I really felt a sense of connection that I couldn’t describe. I finally understood what it meant to find a “great fit” for a school. I got into some California public schools and some private east coast schools, and my choice eventually boiled down to a more prestigious east coast school and USC with a merit scholarship. It was a really hard choice to make, and there were many factors to consider. Old established prestige is very alluring, but to me the promise of all the opportunities and connections I could make with peers at USC seemed more important. I felt a real sense of community and care at USC, and that’s something I couldn’t see at other schools. Fast forward a couple years, and I am perfectly content with my choice and couldn’t see myself being happier at any other school :).
