<p>With my schedule it will be nearly impossible to make it to any orientation so I was wondering how important is it? will I be like socially and academically behind?
(I would like to meet my family one last time in China)</p>
<p>Additionally, I’m going to Mark’s Tower…anyone know how it is? does it really have a volleyball court? is it safe? good social? </p>
<p>-thanks!</p>
<p>Do an Advanced Search (in the blue bar above) in the USC forum for “orientation” and “marks tower” to bring up lots of great discussion on both of these topics.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Eh. don’t think it’s incredibly important. I mean, you meet a few people, exchange a few telephone numbers, but I don’t expect you to be best buds with them. You’re still going to meet your roommates/floormates when you actually attend during the fall, so socially behind, no.</p>
<p>Academically, some of the meetings are interesting, maybe even informative, but nothing you can’t get out of the website, a few brochures, or phone calls. </p>
<p>I don’t know where Mark’s tower is, but there is a sand volleyball court outside near New/North. </p>
<p>The orientation is more for your general knowledge of USC, in terms of policies, atmosphere, lifestyle, and basic layout. I don’t believe it is necessary.</p>
<p>It depends on how social of a person you are. If you can go and you’ll make use of it, go.</p>
<p>I’m pretty outgoing and alot of people at my orientation were, to this day a good 30-40 of us know each other by face just from those two days we spent together, and I actively still hang out with 15-20 of them or go out with them, etc.</p>
<p>Of course I met a lot more people n ot at orientation, but it was awesome to land, send out a mass text, meet up with your boys and dormstorm/campus storm meeting groups of girls looking to do the same thing.</p>