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University of California Lives Up to the Hype

There are a few common responses I always receive when I tell people that I’m a student at USC. “Fight on!” from football fans, with the perennial Trojan hand gesture (for those who don’t know, it looks like a over-enthusiastic peace sign). “Partaaay!” from the less academically-minded, and with good reason: the Greek Row during Rush week is somewhat akin to Disneyland on crack. And of course, “I’m SO jealous!” from anyone who goes to UCLA. Or at least, that should be their response.

Ranked ninth on the Princeton Review’s list of Top Dream Colleges, USC truly is the place everyone wants to be. Located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, it is only a half-hour drive from anywhere you could wish to go in L.A: the beach, Beverly Hills, the Sunset Strip, or any of the numerous little hide-aways that only Angelenos would know.

In addition to these benefits, USC has also risen dramatically in academic standing in recent years, and is now no. 27 on the US News and World Report’s ranking for national universities. As an expensive, private university, USC may still retain the title “University of Spoiled Children” with some reason. But today USC is not just a school for wealthy partiers; those who match the stereotype better maintain a 4.0 while they’re at it.

I am currently double-majoring in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing, and International Relations with an emphasis in Security Affairs. Within both departments I have enjoyed a rigorous course load that is both stimulating and challenging. My experience with the General Education requirements has been somewhat less impressive, particularly in the mandatory science classes. However, USC’s policy of including top professors from every discipline in the G.E. staff makes for some truly amazing courses. Given the size of USC’s endowment, the school has literally been able to buy some of the best professors in the country, so this is no small statement.

In fact, USC only admits about 22% of applicants every year, and the majority of those students are in the top ten percent of their graduating class. These students can look forward to a place in the largest school, the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, or one of the seventeen professional schools USC has to offer. Particularly elite are the USC Film School, the Annenberg School of Communication and the Marshall School of Business.

USC is quite a draw for international students as well, with fully nine percent of the sixteen thousand undergraduates coming from outside the country. These students provide a diversity that might otherwise seem somewhat lacking, as white non-Hispanics make up 50% of the student body, while black students are a mere 5%, Hispanics 13% and Asian or Pacific Islanders 21%.

Perhaps the most common complaint from students is in regards to the dangers of the surrounding environment. Although Los Angeles has channeled millions into building up downtown, with significant success, there is still a high level of crime in the area directly surrounding USC. This has had tragic consequences for students, with everything ranging from petty theft to rape and even murder in the last school year.

This is not to say that crime is unavoidable. The majority of criminal incidents occur late at night, when students choose to walk home instead of using the free student-run Campus Cruiser program, the USC tram or the Yellow Cab service, which allows students to pay from their discretionary account. Furthermore the Department of Public Safety has vehicles constantly stationed all around campus, as well as a virtual army of DPS officers on Segways patrolling the area. With all of these resources available, the primary prerogative for students is simply to stay informed and to use common sense.

There is a certain sense of moral obligation to dedicate at least a paragraph to USC athletics. The cult following Trojan football includes every alumni, every current student, and the entire population of Los Angeles, as the city has no football team of its own. There are entire buildings on campus filled with trophies and memorabilia commemorating our many Olympians, and the various fields, courts, pool and the gym are constantly swarming with athletes and casual enthusiasts of every description.

For those in search of culture, there is also the innovative Visions and Voices. This program brings exceptional talent to campus and exposes students unique projects in the arts for free. Some of my personal favorites from this year included the Trey McIntyre Project, a ballet that incorporated all forms of dance and music, a lecture by physicist Steven Hawking, a trip to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and a lecture by author David Sedaris.

Some students might not love USC, but I’ve never met them. I’m not in a sorority and I don’t play a sport, and “getting involved” for me means doing directed research with a professor. No matter what your goals or interests may be, USC has something for everyone, defying the stereotype while still living up to the hype.

Sources:

1.http://tinyurl.com/ca5xdd

2.http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/apply/fresh_profiles.html

3.http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/national-search/page+2

4. http://sev.prnewswire.com/education/20090325/NY8849525032009-1.html