By: Tamanna Sood ‘24

If you’re a journalism major and you’re feeling super overwhelmed and thinking about changing your major, but still like journalism - don’t worry we have literally all been there. My journalism friends and I can all attest to our second year being our “weeder” year — most of us were at difficult crossroads in deciding whether to continue in the major or not. If you feel the same way, don’t worry, I got you! Here are some tips for getting through your second year as a journalism student:

By: Kelsey Cheng ‘25

One of the most nail-biting GEs is GE-E: Physical Science. With one mention, you’re transported back into your high school biology class. Can I guarantee an easy A? No. But I can guarantee that you’ll learn theory and hard skills that are extremely valuable in the tech industry with LING 285: Language and Technology.

By: Hannah Skinner ‘23

It’s my last semester at USC and the ticking of my undergraduate clock is growing louder. Without the luxury of years ahead, I’ve been thinking about what I want to do (or wish I had done) before I leave. Here’s a senior’s perspective on how to take advantage of everything USC has to offer.

By: Kelsey Cheng ‘25

LING 115 is one of the most popular GE-C’s for a reason. It covers topics like what is classified as a language (spoiler: it’s more complicated than you think), multilingualism, psychology, and slang words just to name a few of the many topics. Regardless of your major, if you like to learn how humans speak (without having to learn *gasp* IPA), give LING 115 a try.

By: Kelsey Cheng ‘25

This class shreds what you think you know about the scientific world and then builds it back up again. It opened my eyes to questions I never even thought to wonder, and then it gave me the framework for answering them for myself.

By: Kristen Adams ‘25

Looking for a fun elective to take next semester? Interested in taking a course that is outside your comfort zone? As a USC tour guide and student ambassador, I’m excited to introduce to you a wide variety of classes that will spice up your time here at USC.

By: Kathryn Aurelio ‘25

Four ignored alarms later, I finally roll off my foam-topped mattress, brush my teeth, and apply skincare and make-up all by 8 am I throw my homework, laptop, charger, sketchbook, pens, keys, water bottle, AirPods, and a Clif Bar into my tote bag. The past two semesters, I’ve had the unique experience of taking classes in four of USC’s schools–dabbling in Annenberg, Roski, Thornton, and the School of Cinematic Arts. It’s extremely fulfilling being a “Renaissance Woman” of sorts–educating myself in different fields of study and striving to enhance creativity through several outlets.

By: Amy Argueta ‘24 (Guest Blogger)

Taking 20 credits can be a lot and it can be especially overwhelming if you have a work study on top of all of it. Though with some organizational skills and setting limits for yourself, having a work study while taking 20 credits can be surprisingly manageable. I’ve shared some of my tips on how I’ve made it work this semester while taking 20 credits and having a work study job as part of the USC Student Life team in Student Affairs.

By: Catherine Chen ‘24

Whether you enjoy watching improv, improvising yourself, or want to learn more about both, USC has something to offer you! There are multiple improv groups on campus, as well as several classes you can take to advance your improvisation skills.

By: Kelsey Cheng ‘25

Interested in social justice issues? Need a GE-C class? Try taking a gender and sexuality studies class next semester!

By: Kelsey Cheng ‘25

New year, new me! Do you want to get active this year? Here are some ways you can exercise at USC.

By: Nathan Kim ‘24

As an incoming freshman, you might’ve received an email or letter, inviting you to join a couple of programs called Freshman Science Honors (FSH), only for natural science majors, or Thematic Option (TO). One year ago, I was in the same shoes, wondering if FSH and TO were worth it, and if you’re like me, a flurry of questions probably flooded your mind on what these programs exactly were and their various benefits and drawbacks. Although there are posts online talking about these programs, I wanted to give a complete, personal take on them as I am a part of both. Quick disclaimer: I took these classes during the COVID-19 pandemic.