Electives are arguably the best part of the college academic experience, but choosing which ones to take can be incredibly stressful. For the longest time, I felt like every single elective I took had to directly relate to my career or building technical skills, even if I wasn’t at all interested in the elective. After all, USC’s tuition is sky-high –– why “waste” a credit on “useless” classes like The Art of Jaywalking (disclaimer: to the best of my knowledge, this is not a course at USC, and there is an art to jaywalking and not getting run over).

One of my favorite music-discovery easter eggs is finding out an artist whose work I love is a USC alum. Here are some of my favorites, straight from my playlist.

We have all complained about the GE system at USC. Whether it’s having to read tons of books as a STEM student or remembering how to do math as a musician, GEs often put us in uncomfortable spots, take up a lot of time, and feel entirely unrelated to both our current work and our future careers. There’s no denying that there are many flaws in USC’s general education system from just how many of these credits you have to take and the money you pour into them, the lack of options with pages worth of WebReg dedicated to classes only open to certain majors, and the amount of work and expertise that can be expected in a field you have no background with.

In my first year at USC, like many freshmen, I scrolled through the endless list of student orgs and clubs on campus and attended the involvement fair, but I was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of clubs to choose from and the lack of substantial information about what each club entails. I ultimately found nothing I was interested in joining. It turns out that the best way to gain insight on clubs is to talk to people who’ve attended the meetings and paid the dues.

The beautiful fall season has begun! Although the LA temperatures are still nearing 90 degrees, the city offers many fun ways to celebrate the harvest season and Halloween. Here are some of the best LA and USC activities to get in the spirit!

Every October, USC releases a calendar of events to reflect on the history and achievements of the LGBTQ+ community. The month is meant to be an opportunity for the campus community to  recognize the impact and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual communities on both the local and national level

It’s the beginning of the middle of the semester where you’re caught in the cycle of counting down to Fridays only for Monday to curb stomp you two days later. If you find yourself living in your textbooks or simply needing more local getaway inspiration for relaxation, here’s your guide to a fun day in LA.

On Thursday, September 14, Annenberg held its first ever Kind Fest. The event was dedicated to promoting mental health initiatives on campus and at Annenberg. The festival’s aim was to get students to be intentionally kind, not only to their peers, but to themselves.

There’s turbulence in all aspects of the college years as your foundation of as ever changing person – from friends to classes to academic esteem – is always shifting. It’s confusing, upsetting, and wild, but it’s also a part of growing. 

After a long day of school and homework, it’s time to unwind and go to sleep. You’d think that after a day of looking at our laptops, we’d want to unwind and read a book or journal – but no. In fact, about 90% of 18-29 year olds sleep with their phones near them, while 95% of people use their phone just before going to bed. I used to be one of those people.

Imagine holding a magnifying glass to a beautiful painting, revealing its vibrant colors, hidden stories, and tiny brushstrokes. That’s the role of a tour guide. But instead of a painting, the focus is the beautiful USC campus. Tour guides don’t just show locations, they ensure that every prospective student and their family experiences the passion of USC through storytelling and connection. Here are 5 reasons why you should consider becoming a Student Ambassador (Tour Guide) at USC.

I’ve always wanted to live alone. Don’t get me wrong, housemates and the experience of living with friends is a crucial part of the college experience. From living in a small, shared room in a college dorm to a big party house, I’ve lived just about every way a college student can. I loved every bit of it too. However, I am a person who loves her own space and the freedom of living on her own schedule. Because of that, I decided to live alone in a studio apartment for my senior year.