My daughter took a 3-week summer course at UCLA and stayed in the dorms last summer. Yes it’s triples and they are super crowded. Granted she is an only child and I wanted her to feel the squeeze of sharing a room like kids with siblings, but it it is definitely not easy to study or sleep with 3 people in the room. Almost all the UCs and state public schools here in CA are running into this issue.
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Your twins are amazing! Do they want to go to the same school? Congrats on all their acceptances. CS was so competitive this year!
So so excited that my son got accepted to USC! I am an Alum, so of course that’s where I want him to go. He also got accepted to a bunch of other schools that he really likes including UPenn and WashU.
Soooo… my question is where should he go? We’re going to the admitted students program at UPenn in a couple weeks and I think that’s one of his top choices. However, he’s really not one of those cutthroat /preprofessional kids. Hes currently a physics major but that might change. Possibly law school.
He’s really more thoughtful and shy. He just wants a good education surrounded by some nice people with good opportunities. I just don’t want him to make a mistake. Of course, my heart is going with USC but it’s much further from home for us and for him I think it’s hard to turn down UPenn.
Any thoughts? Any advice would be appreciated
FIGHT ON!!
So will he see both schools with you as an admitted student? We were down to two choices like yours, USC being one of them. We went to one of the explore or admitted days (so many not sure which). My D got ahead of me on the sidewalk and she stopped to wait for me. When she turned around, everything sorta froze in time…her smile and the backdrop behind her - the landscape and architecture surrounding her and sunny sky - it told my heart she was home. I could see it and feel it. I didn’t say anything but it was there in front of me and I remember it like yesterday. A Hallmark moment I call them. That’s why visits are so good after they are admitted - it feels dif for them. Hopefully he can do both and he/you know. They are both amazing.
I had a quieter less social CS kid and he just blossomed in his group at USC. Best of luck with the choice!
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In what way? The post is unclear to those not watching.
My son will be attending the Sunday explore usc day on 4/7. We arrive early on Saturday, do you have any suggestions on what we can do around campus or the surrounding area to get a feel for usc?
He’s admitted for the school of architecture.
Thank you for any suggestions on getting the most of his short visit.
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Your twins are amazing and they seem to have landed at the perfect school for the both of them. I think it is nice that they get to be at the same school…I think that is the plan. Relax and sit back now, you and your wife seem to have raised wonderful kids. Congrats to all of you! Thanks so much for the update.
I would recommend to check out:
(1) libraries(Doheny, Levy, Hoose,etc)
(2) SCA buildings with the names like Lucas, Spielberg, its lobby is cool. You may want to have a cup of coffee at coffee beans
(3) USC villages(recommend Dulce for a donut)
(4) Stroll around exposition park. George Lucas Museum under construction on the south of USC (opening next year), Rose garden, LA Coliseum
(5)check urself on Tommy Cam on livefeed on website in front of Trojan statue : )
(6) buy some merch at the bookstore
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Congratulations on the acceptances!
There are no mistakes. Your son is likely to find his people and thrive at either school. The best thing to do is exactly what you are doing - visit both campuses. Look at the culture & community. Look at the departments that he is interested in. How easy can he change majors or focus? How easy is it to take courses in somewhat disparate interests?
This is the fun part. He (and you) are now in the drivers seat.
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@Troy777 nailed them all in pretty much the order I would have said as well. Perfect list.
The lunches at Dulce are really good too! Burger or a sandwich, but their cream filled choc donut is insane and I’m not typically a donut person, yet a cream one! 
I would add to check out the freshman quad area which is by Birnkrant and the other freshman dorms that are not in the Village (McCarthy). The SCA area is very cool.
28th Street if interested in Greek life.
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What do you all know or have opinions about the thematic option?
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Link to Tommy Cam: https://www.usc.edu/tommy-cam/
Link to Hecuba Cam in the Village: https://www.usc.edu/hecuba-cam/
Thank you everyone for the suggestions and helpful tips. We’ll have to try and squeeze as much out of our trip as possible.
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My son participated on line zoom session about thematic options and he is very much into it. It’s a lot of writing, which is something he loves to do. Thematic option is part of the open house on Sunday to learn more about it (if you are going).
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I have a few questions about the Explore USC open house next Sunday (4/7) which our S24 will attend.
Does anybody know how the schedule for this day will go? Is this strictly a student-attended event? Are parents allowed to participate? TIA. 
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When we signed up the open house, it asked how many guests will join. So I think parents can go with student. USC has sent the event agenda to all attendees today. 
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Much appreciated. I just saw the agenda email delivered this morning.
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Thank you so much for the feedback.
We are definitely going to revisit day at UPenn but not sure about USC. We are on the East Coast so it’s really far and expensive.
Also, my son kind of usually likes the “last thing he sees” (whatever College he visited that’s the one that he liked at the moment only to change his mind later) so I’m really worried about him being influenced.
USC has an amazing campus and as an Alum of course I love it. But I want him to decide on his own. I know he’ll be happy at USC but he feels like he doesn’t want to give up an Ivy experience
It’s a tough choice and I just pray he makes the best one for him.
Thank you everybody for the feedback. It really does help and I really do appreciate it.
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Not sure if my last post went through. Thank you so so much for all the feedback.
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