<p>striker15,</p>
<p>I would recommend taking PHYS 135a/b at a community college. BISC 120 and 220 aren’t so bad. 120 just sucks because unless you’re into environmental or evolutionary biology, the class is completely pointless. You have to do stupid things like memorize phylum trees, life cycles of gymno/angiosperms, etc. 220 is alright, it’s basically an easy version of BISC 307, which is physiology.</p>
<p>I’m from out of state…is it easy to get around LA without a car? Whats the best way to get downtown or go to the beach or something like that?</p>
<p>im taking physics 135b this semester but I was planning on taking the engineering physics classes at USC because i want to understand a little bit more but yeah why do you recommended taking physics at a community college?</p>
<p>@eagles24 - The subway is subpar in LA however once the expo line opens within a year it will be pretty easy to get downtown, to the airport, or up to hollywood via subway. Many people have cars though so that is preferred. Chances are you’ll know someone at USC with a car.</p>
<p>I came to wonder how the students feel about USC. Are there a lot of “sulkers” (people who can’t stop complaining about their school) or “USC-was-my-back-up-so-I-hate-how-I-only-got-into-USC-but-I-still-have-to-go-to-university-ers?”</p>
<p>striker15,</p>
<p>If you’re going for the engineering physics classes then of course you should take it at USC and not a community college. I was suggesting that you take it at a cc because it’s harder to get an A at USC.</p>
<p>What do you recommend for chemistry courses? Ill barely be starting general chemistry this summer do you recommened I wait till fall and take it at USC or no?</p>
<p>mmmaythe- I honestly don’t know a single person who complains incessantly about USC. We LOVE USC. And we LOVE it in all capital letters, bolded, italicized, etc. Everyone becomes obsessed with USC; its seriously like a cult. And I know a lot of friends who said USC was not their first choice back in high school, but when you get here, its sincerely really, really, really hard to hate it here. Although I’d definitely be a sulker if you weren’t good looking here… there’s lots of competition, haha. :)</p>
<p>Actually, most folks I know had positive experiences at USC, but individual mileage varies considerably. I know some who LOVE and others who found it varying degrees of “fine” or OK. There are a lot of good things in most schools, if you look. USC definitely does have many good things and some great things to like.</p>
<p>if you’re premed, would it be possible taking freshman summer off to have fun and travel, or would it be better to take summer classes and volunteer?</p>
<p>I don’t know anyone who thinks of USC as “okay” but maybe I’m biased because my social life revolves around the Greek scene, and the Greek system here is kickass. Guess it depends on the individual’s personality, but if you’re not a completely anti-social, introverted student completely focused on academics and nothing else, chances are, you’ll have a fabulous time here and will LOVE it. Because the best part of USC is it’s well-roundedness, in terms of social life and academics. And it’s hard to not to love USC even if it’s just for the beautiful southern Californian weather.</p>
<p>mmmaythe, </p>
<p>I don’t know anyone like that at USC. Most people who got into USC also got accepted into other top-tier schools but chose USC over the others for varying reasons such as scholarship money, location, etc. HImom is right in saying that individual mileage varies, but from what I’ve experienced, it’s all on the positive side of the spectrum.</p>
<p>striker15,</p>
<p>How confident do you feel in your gchem background? If you feel like you have a decent background then just go ahead and take it at 'SC. Otherwise, go the CC route. Remember that you can’t transfer upperdiv course credit from CCs towards your USC diploma, but you can with intro level courses.</p>
<p>Also, where are you planning on taking your class this summer?</p>
<p>Altamont,</p>
<p>You can do both. Explore some summer programs that let you study abroad and take courses that count for USC credit! To be honest though, it’s just the summer after freshman year. You can’t really go wrong with choosing either one. If you think you can keep on chugging on without a break, then go for it! If you think you need some time to rejuvenate yourself then have some fun and travel. Also, your summer volunteering doesn’t have to be a huge time commitment. Even something like twice a week for 4 hours at a time is pretty decent.</p>
<p>Oh, another popular option is available if you live around USC. You can apply for a summer research grant and work with a professor in a lab on campus. I think you can get awarded up to $5000. I’m not sure if freshmen are eligible for this, but I know sophomores definitely are.</p>
<p>Do a lot of students at USC play intramural sports, about what % of the students play intramural sports and are they fairly well organized/competitive?</p>
<p>Planning to take the first part of general chemistry at Santa Monica College unless my cc offers it as well.</p>
<p>@ wanderlusting
ahahaha. Good-looking. I better work on that… I’m not a big fan of sulking… :P</p>
<p>Whats a typical weekend like for you, and what are some of your favorite hang-out spots on and off campus?</p>
<p>ajaku3714,</p>
<p>Well it depends on what time of the year it is.</p>
<p>Friday nights involve trips to downtown or the occasional party. This past year my Fridays also involved a lot trips to Disneyland since I had an annual pass (it unfortunately expires this week!). I also have a club meeting Friday evenings.</p>
<p>Fall semester, my Saturdays are taken over by game day. If it’s a home game, then it’s pretty much an all-day tailgate/gameday experience. If it’s an away game I’ll get together with some friends and watch the game on someone’s HDTV. On away game days, I’ll also do some hw or study. I’m a pretty big football fan so I also like to watch other big matchups across the country. </p>
<p>Spring semester, my Saturdays are usually filled a little bit more with doing school-related work, but I still go to USC basketball games which only take ~2-3 hours out of your evening.</p>
<p>Sundays I have church, and more studying.</p>
<p>As an RA, I usually either host or attend co-RAs programs that takes place on the weekend.</p>
<p>Some favorite hang-outs on campus include:
Leavey Library Reading Room for studying (first floor, left side)
RTH cafe and the Baum center on the 2nd floor
I’m sure the new student center will be a popular hangout when it opens in the fall
Ground Zero
Doheney</p>
<p>Off campus:
Disneyland
LA LIVE (Yardhouse is pretty awesome, and so are the movie theatres)
The Pantages Theatre
The Coliseum/Galen Center
Various friends apartments that live north of campus</p>
<p>Do students get to go to all the athletic events for free? If not how much do we have to pay? Also, are there any other perks or w/e that USC students get in LA (discounts etc…)?</p>
<p>As a LA local let give you some good off campus stuff</p>
<ol>
<li>Santa Monica promenade and beach (muscle beach!)</li>
<li>Venice</li>
<li>Burbank has a awesome little place like westwood village, but better</li>
<li>The grove is decent</li>
<li>Downtown Culver City or the Culver City Art District</li>
<li>Malibu! Late morning, early afternoon</li>
<li>Awesome bike paths, my favorite is the one that starts in culver city along la ballona creek, leads to the ocean and either takes you to redando beach or palisades</li>
<li>All the south beaches</li>
<li>I’ll get more!</li>
</ol>
<p>Most of those are free unless you want to eat or something</p>
<p>This thread has been very helpful. Decision day is approaching, and I am waiting to hear about the Presidential, which will factor into this decision. Is it possible to double major in biomedical engineering and a non-science like Theater or Spanish and be on the pre-med track?
Thanks!</p>