<p>Merging my posts from a couple different threads as I had one in each of the Parkside buildings over last 2 years…Parkside Arts and Humanities is a super nice building. (oops I called it Arts and Letters in earlier post, it is A&H, not A&L) Really new, clean, air-conditioned and good size rooms with great windows. The Parksides are on one edge of campus versus being more central and they are suite style, which many really like cause they aren’t sharing the big bathroom with a floor of people. But some like those traditional dorms, so you just have to decide what you like. Parkside A&H is totally different building and profile of students than Parkside IRC. Parkside IRC is not nearly as social as Parkside A&H. Even Parkside A&H is more on the quiet side certainly compared to the traditional dorms. IRC at Parkside is more international kids, less English spoken in the halls there which can be good or bad depending on your background. Some think it is harder to meet people in that one. I had a student live there, rooms are great, but he didn’t need the social aspect cause he was involved in other things so it was ok, but it doesn’t offer much bonding opportunity, people tend to stay to themselves more. While rooms may be similiar, I think A&H is much nicer. Have a S living in Parkside Arts and Humanities now and he is engineer, 4.0 type that lives with a bunch of STEM people so don’t let the A&H name fool you. All his suite-mates ended up being top achievers in different majors (math, biomed, etc), they do a good job roommate matching at USC if you fill out your profile accurately and truthfully. So a suite will generally be like-minded type group. Good mix of students/majors throughout building. I wouldn’t call it a party dorm for sure, seems to have a good balance to it all around. It is really close to engineering so that is great for my S. Really happy there and it is newer as well, really clean. Suite style and he has made great friends throughout the floor/building. Great study rooms. Highly recommend that one for engineers and certainly others as well. It’s really comfortable which I suppose is why the price is higher. It also looks really good when you drop your kid off there - leaves you with a good feeling on the inside! </p>