By: Sophia Pei ‘22

It may be autumn but it won’t be cooling down (much). Here are some of my favorite ice cream stores in LA that are easily accessible by public transport from USC. This list is not for the weak of heart, all of these stores are known for their unique (and unconventional) flavors so explore with an open mind!

By: Alexis M Peters ‘20

Here we are, already getting into the swing of things on campus! We’ve moved in, had reunions with our friends, knocked out the cobwebs from the summer and… now it’s time to actually get some work done. What? I know, I sort of miss summer too, but it’s time to buckle down. How can you start this semester off right so you don’t end up sobbing into your textbooks in the back of Leavey Library come midterms? (Unfortunately, I think we’ve all been there.) Here are some great tips that worked last semester to keep me sane.

By: Natalia Wurst ‘21

There’s an informal consensus I’ve gathered from making conversation with sleep deprived people on elevators: midterm season is just a never-ending cycle of death that comes at you every few weeks and doesn’t go away. I make a lot of jokes about crying at Leavey for a girl who’s trying to seem reputable here, so we’ll put those aside for now–here’s how to finally get around to being productive in these very bleak times.

By: Jamie Wu ‘18

As a senior, I’ve taken my fair share of classes here, ranging from linear algebra, acting 101 to Byzantine art history. But as I’m sure we can all agree, school sometimes doesn’t get us ready for the real world. Throughout my time here, these are the classes I’ve found to be the most helpful in my everyday life. If you still have time left in college, I highly suggest taking a look at some of them.

By: Ellice Ellis ‘18

If you’re struggling to find the motivation to get things done, you’re not alone. These days I dread starting my homework, doing a reading or even waking up for class because it forces me to face the fact that there is work to be done. Here are a few motivational tips and quotes to get you out of bed and hopefully in Leavey (or your preferred study room).

By: Danielle Collins ‘20

With a new semester comes new opportunities for service. Last semester I shared some volunteer opportunities around LA, so this semester I wanted to share some great service orgs right here on campus. Check them out!

By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

I came into college thinking I was all that in a bag of chips. Reading on point, essay writing skills on point, time management on point; but after a couple of weeks during my first semester of college…my academic confidence tanked.

By: Danielle Collins ‘20

Once again, it’s time to make resolutions for the new year. This year, why not do more than hit the gym and drink smoothies? Why not make resolutions to do our part for the environment? We’re all college students and have a lot on our minds and a lot on our plates. But there are so many little ways to help the environment that, despite hearing hundreds of times, many people still don’t do. Let me share some of the little things I already do to be environmentally friendly, and some things I want to start doing, or do better. (inspired by USC’s Sustainable Living Guide)

By: Jamie Wu ‘18

Finals are right around the corner. In fact, it is 3 days away. Little-known fun fact huh? Although there is a lot of work to be done, studying doesn’t always have to suck. And as a senior, hopefully I can offer some studying advice. Here are my 7 best tips on how to be on your A game this finals season!

By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

To make my intro short; college is hard. Balancing massive amounts of free time, over 200 pages of reading, work-study, projects and personal issues is a lot for young adults to deal with. Consequently, there are going to be times where you miss class, slack on assignments and are just not up to this “getting a degree thing.” Out of all of this mess and confusion, your first bad grade might pop up.

By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

Let’s face it, the semester is basically over. It’s the last week of classes and I bet you all are extremely stressed and exhausted. I get it! On top of studying, finishing up projects and writing essays, some of you have to pack and tidy up for the winter break. This was very difficult for me my freshman year. It was my first college break and I didn’t know what I needed to bring home and how to prepare for the upcoming holidays. My advice to you all is to make sure your room is tidy and neat BEFORE you leave for the break. In addition to not coming back to a huge mess and clutter, a clean room made my studying more effective and helped me clear my head. To help jumpstart your pre-winter break tasks, here are the tips and tricks to de-cluttering your room before you leave.

By: Jamie Wu ‘18

It was November 25th, 2017 and the USC Women’s Volleyball team was against our blue and yellow crosstown rivals. This whole season, the valiant team lead USC into the Pac-12 conference with a score of 14-6. Earlier in the season, USC beat UCLA in a stunning 3-2 match on 9/21. Before the season’s final game at the Galen Center, USC ranked 13th with an overall score of 22-9.