@Isoinfo They hold back a certain # of spots for general education and writing courses that most freshmen need to take (at least 1-2) for each orientation section. So any freshman-to-be will able to secure 1-2 GE courses, a writing course and a language course, if applicable. They of course do not do such with every course option at USC, so freshmen may simply need to take courses that are filled up later during their college years. As you progress through your 4 yrs, each year you are allowed to register sooner… i.e. seniors-to-be pick first, etc. It all tends to work itself well over time…
@WWWard Thank you so much!
Quick question about classes for freshman year for my daughter - any experience with taking Calc III as first semester freshman on top of the Freshman Science Honors Program (if she is accepted)? This would leave one semester to take the writing and another GE/pre-req in her major or minor. Just wonder what people know about the Calculus series and how it might be while taking a full year of bio and chem? The BS in Neuroscience is a high-credit major so there isn’t that much of a choice. Theoretically i don’t think she doesn’t need Calc III but as a strong math student, it would be good to have in her arsenal going forward. Thanks for any insight.
S started in Calc III with a heavy load and didn’t have any problem with it, but math has always been his thing. The lower calcs have reputations as being hard, but I think that is due to the students and what they bring into them. By Calc III, the students and profs are really solid at math or they wouldn’t be in it.
I have a couple of questions. I would greatly appreciate it if someone helped me out! I’ll be going to UCI for my freshman year and I want to transfer to USC sophomore year. I’m aware that I need 30 credit so my High School record isn’t considered. My biggest concern is that I was accepted to UCI as a PoliSci major and I’m not sure if I want to do that. I have always had a creative side and I think that film would be the major for me. I understand that it is extremely difficult to get into, and I seem to be at a roadblock, any suggestions?
@FutureTrojan100 Super active transfer thread here, better to post within it:
@Isoinfo you’re welcome
@CADREAMIN I am so grateful for your pm. Tried to respond but was thwarted, perhaps because I haven’t posted enough yet here. Hope to connect one of these days, many thanks.
@decision18 I believe you need to have 15 posts before you can send a PM. Shoutout to @CADREAMIN for being such a great resource. (Hrmmm…shoutout…I’m really dating myself, aren’t I?) :))
Thank you for the kind words @hafamama - I did a little searching as I have wondered what the decision was for your S, is it ND? If so, good for you! Great school, he would have a wonderful time there. Certainly our loss in USC land, but that is a great option! Committed yet?
How do you get a football package as a freshman and cost?
They will email every enrolled freshman-to-be with details. They usually wait until your USC email account & USCard are both set-up & active.
Per USC… “The 2018 football student season ticket is $200 for all six home games at the LA Coliseum. New Undergraduate, Spring Admits, Transfer Undergraduates & New Graduates will receive an email between June and August with instructions on purchasing the Football Student Season Ticket. Continuing students can buy the football student season ticket once they reveive an email from the USC Ticket Office prompting them beginning February 1, 2018.”
@Nomorelurker Hotel Indigo was very nice. Relatively new, so everything was in top shape. It’s right down the street from The Original Pantry, which seems to be a bit of a local destination restaurant. Amazing diner-style food.
Downtown was nice. Easy Metro ride. Also used Tryp. We walked the first day as well. It’s kind of a thing I have with my son to explore a bit. It was a two mile walk. Neighborhood from that direction was more than fine.
The USC visit was great. We both loved the campus. In addition to the admitted students session and tour, they got him into a class in his major and had dinner with a student in his major who was also NMF. She lives in the honors dorm and said it was great. In a strange coincidence, he ran into the only kid from his HS who is a current student.
The USC tour guide was fantastic! It amazes me what a HUGE impact that can have.
USC is definitely his top choice. He felt more “at home” at USC, but could definitely see himself being happy at both of his final choose schools (the other being Texas A&M). We are confirming a few tweaks to the USC scholarship/grant package. If that is where we need it, that’s the choice. He’s really pulling for it. If not, it’s A&M. He’ll be happy regardless. Bummed, but happy. It’s a nice spot to be in.
By the way, check out the California Science Center if you have time when you are in town. It’s right across from campus in Expo Park. Hard to beat seeing Space Shuttke Discovery up close, especially for a STEM kid.
@green26knight and also the LA Natural History Museum is just across the street. My family loves that museum, and have had annual passes (which gets us into other museums around the country too) for the last couple of years. In fact, my 8yo is their with his 2nd grade class today! 
one of the things my 16yo will be able to walk to from USC next year (or 2019 if he does his gap year)! good luck on your son’s choice! great to have such wonderful options isn’t it?
It is nice to have two great options @kevbostic.
We also went to the Natural History Museum and enjoyed the visit. We didn’t have time to get through everything, so I didn’t want to give an uninformed opinion. Based on the first two wings, looks promising. 
@green26knight, thanks for posting about Hotel Indigo. Definitely will keep it in mind, as well as The Original Pantry which I’ve not been to. That’s great that your S was able to observe a class at USC. We did the same in March and it was well worth doing. I have family in Austin so I will have to recommend the Trojans over the Aggies :-). Do they really have to stand throughout the entire game??? Kidding aside, it’s great that you have some good options! By the way, we love the Midwest. S was waitlisted at WashU which was also in the top tier of choices but prefer USC!
@Nomorelurker They walked us through the entire “game yell” procedures, complete with practice yell. A&M ain’t nothing like the small midwestern LAC I went to. We rarely made it past the parking lot tailgate.
I’m a big fan, but my S was ready for a change from the Midwest. Got in to Wisconsin and Michigan, but really wanted out. Nothing against Wisconsin, but he only would have gone if it was the only option…and they paid him…and he was forced by a pack of rabid badgers.
@green26knight, Michigan has incredible school spirit, like USC. We did the tour and went to a game in the Big House. They almost had me chanting “Go Blue” but S bleeds Cardinal and Gold. That being said, I’ll take a Wolverine over a badger any day :-).
My son was there too! By deductive reasoning, I think I know whose mom you are!
@CADREAMIN It was tough at the end and he agonized between his last (and favorite three) but finally decided on ND. Just made the enrollment deposit tonight. He will freezing off his heehaws during the Midwest winters, but the school clicked for him during his visit. I know he was lucky to have great choices.
And on the bright side, another awesome student can be pulled off the waitlist!