Choosing a college is a monumental life decision, where you essentially choose where you’re going to spend the next 4 years of your life, not to mention your lifelong friend group. Many of you are patiently awaiting your admissions letters in the mail and if USC was not your dream school (believe me it wasn’t mine either), you’re probably wondering ‘Why USC?” Because of that, I bet you have a list somewhere listing the pros and cons of every school (as did I), but after exploring all of the good USC has to offer, it’s probably easier to think of “Why not USC?”
The five things that influenced my decision to attend USC were opportunity, study abroad, flexibility, location, and the alumni network.
Opportunity:
For me personally, opportunities was the most important aspect of selecting a college. I wanted somewhere that I could get hands on experience as well as be able to participate in research. USC is home to many design teams and with the Baum Family Maker Space set to open this fall, hands on student experiences will be greatly enhanced. Professors also love to work with students on research and it really comes down to if you are willing to reach out!
Study Abroad:
Studying abroad was by far my best experience in college and I may not have had that experience if I didn’t come to USC. I was also able to study abroad during the summer through the Viterbi Overseas Program. Hear all about that here!
Flexibility:
Coming into USC, I had no idea which major I wanted to pursue. I knew that I wanted to be in engineering but didn’t know which one. USC Viterbi allows you to switch majors with ease are you are not locked into your major like at some other schools. You also start taking engineering classes as soon as you arrive on campus rather than your junior year so that you know if it is something you like. The best part about flexibility in course scheduling is that it allows you to fit in a minor, which is why I decided to add a Sports Business & Management minor because I have the space.
Location:
With the skyline of Downtown LA right behind USC, the location of campus is ideal for students and offers plenty of options for weekend activities. Going to a concert is easy as the Shrine Auditorium is right next door and a day at the beach in Santa Monica is effortless with the metro right there. Being in Southern California also is a huge plus as I rarely check the weather since I know it is going to be sunny and I will be fine wearing shorts if I please. I can’t imagine having to walk to class with snow on the ground or it being freezing outside. Aside from fun, being in LA opens up many avenues for potential internships and full time positions after graduation.
Trojan Family:
Lastly, the Trojan Family is like no other. Alumni really go above and beyond to help current students in any way that they can. Many job recruiters are USC alums and come back to USC to hire fellow trojans, making it a lot easier in interviews since you almost always have similar experiences to talk about. Oddly enough, you will find that the trojan family is global! I was talking with a friend of mine, Mahima, about winter break plans and she said that she was going to go to London. A family that lived there overheard us speaking and offered their home as a place for her to stay if she needed, and she took them up on the offer! Correct me if I’m wrong but I have never seen anyone so welcoming to offer their home to complete strangers, with the only thing in common being USC!
These are just a few reasons why I chose USC and hopefully they help you choose the right school for you!
