Student Perspectives: 5 Things that Make USC Distinctive
Hello everyone! I’m Lauren Moreno and I'm a current Sophomore majoring in Law, History, and Culture with a dual minor in Fashion and Themed Entertainment. My time at USC has been so exciting and I can't wait to share some of the features that make my second home so incredible!
Unique Learning Opportunities
I entered USC as a part of an artistic portfolio program. While I ultimately realized the program wasn't for me, I was nervous about enrolling as a humanities major because I feared that many of the school's creative endeavors would be withheld from me. However, over the course of this year, I have found this to be the exact opposite. While USC offers a diverse range of majors and minors across its entire course catalogue, I have never felt beholden to one field of study or another. This flexibility has given me the chance to pursue my passions in history in conjunction with my love for fashion and interest in immersive storytelling. I actually discovered my interest in themed entertainment in an elective class I took to fill out my schedule. I fell in love not only with the coursework but also with the incredibly passionate students who I was surrounded by—and it was all thanks to an elective! Students can also participate in research opportunities such as the Student Opportunities for Academic Research (SOAR) as well as the Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF)—which allow students to help faculty members conduct research projects and get hands-on experience and training in their field of interest. My friend is currently working in a research lab with one of her professors to understand how the brain processes narratives!
Global Perspectives
While the campus's location within Southern California is one of my favorite aspects of the school, I really like to emphasize that studying at USC can take you anywhere. The Office of Overseas Studies and individual academic departments offer extensive study abroad options, which are available in over fifty different cities. These programs can range in length, so students can choose the duration that fits them best, whether that be a full year or just a few weeks. As a student who wants to participate in study abroad but also doesn't want to sacrifice too much time on campus, USC also offers Maymesters and Julymesters—which condense a typical study abroad stay into a single month. I really think this is the best of both worlds, giving me the chance to go explore another country on my own without giving up any time back on campus.
However, even if you choose not to study abroad, global perspectives are still woven throughout campus life, with students from over 130 countries studying here. I personally really love seeing how this melting pot of identities materializes in the design lab I'm currently taking. The smaller class of about 15 students relies heavily on collaboration and has offered me unique artistic insights I would have never considered before. This fact also makes it so I can officially say my art is enjoyed by a global audience.
Vibrant Campus Life
Being located in one of the busiest cities in the country, that energy is definitely carried over on to campus. While USC is known for some of its larger events—most notably our football games and our tri-annual concerts that attract names such as Saweetie and Don Toliver—it’s really the smaller and much more niche events that I adore. From people teaching slack rope in the middle of Founders Park to the small improv shows being held in the middle of Trousdale, it’s these smaller moments that I believe make the community feel so strong. A lot of these smaller meetups are held in conjunction with student clubs, which can range anywhere from pre-professional organizations to more casual social organizations with weekly meetups. Currently, I am a part of two very different clubs on campus. The first is our Fiber Arts Club, where we meet every Thursday night to knit and crochet while watching a movie together. It’s a wonderful de-stresser for the end of the week. The second club I am a part of is the Underground Trojans, which is a post-prison advocacy group that aims to create a more streamlined path towards higher education for formerly incarcerated individuals. While these clubs are very different, I once again feel really grateful to have the chance to delve deeper into my passions, no matter how wide ranging they are.
Location in Los Angeles
If I had one word to describe my hometown of Los Angeles it would be vibrant. Located in the heart of a dense urban metropolis, USC provides students with the unique experience of having the entire city as their campus. As a history student, USC’s location within Exposition Park has given me the opportunity to work and intern at the Natural History Museum within the same neighborhood. From my apartment, the quickest route to the Natural History Museum is through the park's Rose Garden and it always feels like the most fantastical way to start my day. The school’s close proximity to the Metro also makes it incredibly convenient to explore the city, whether that be taking a beach day with friends at Santa Monica or having your own La La Land moment at the Observatory at Griffith Park. USC students are also granted a free tap card which makes all public transportation, buses, subway, and etcetera completely free. Venturing into Downtown, students can find a plethora of activities—with some of my favorites being The Last Bookstore, one of the largest second-hand bookstores with themed areas for reading, Grand Central Market, an emporium which encompasses over 50 unique dining locations in one central hub, and the entirety of Little Tokyo, where me and my friends go to eat Taiyaki, a chocolate filled fish-shaped cake, and shop for cute stickers after a long week.
The Trojan Family
Over the summer, I was lucky enough to visit Spain with my family and, while wearing my USC hoodie and exploring the city, I heard a loud “Fight On!” from across the street. To my surprise, a fellow Trojan had found me halfway across the world. And, after some brief chit chat, he even gave us a recommendation for some of the best churros I have ever had. I bring up this story because I truly believe nothing is more emblematic of the Trojan Family that you are entering when you come to USC. The alumni network truly is like a second family with members in every corner of the world looking to uplift other Trojans. This can especially be felt in the professional world, with many alumni searching specifically for fellow Trojans to hire. This sense of community is really fostered into every student and makes campus life feel inviting and inspiring at every turn. I wish I could endlessly write about how passionate, funny, caring and driven every single person I have met on campus is. Despite being just a sophomore, some of my friends are already completing the first draft of their screenplay, while others build and race cars with their Viterbi engineering team. From that “Fight On!” across the street thousands of miles away to the lifelong friendships I have made in Los Angeles, I know that the Trojan family and alumni network are always there to support me.