<p>On the Presidential/Trustee scholarship weekened three years ago, I sat next to someone in the admissions department at one of the dinners who was also a graduate of USC. He said he really loved it, but that his greatest regret was that he did not take Thematic Option. Up until that evening I thought it would be too much for my daughter who was focusing on challenging science classes. She did decide to enroll after much thought. She discovered that Thematic Option was very diffucult and time consuming with tons of reading and analysis. From my vantage point her choice to take it has formed her now, broadened her knowlege and overall education, and has exposed her to some of the best professors at USC. She is a senior now, and it is under her belt and something she is proud of. It is not for everyone, and there are solid arguments for both sides.</p>