Navigating your first few months in college is not an easy task. Take it from me – as a freshman, I struggled to stay motivated in classes and fully engage in university life (not to mention that my first year was 100% online). As an English major, it’s unsurprising that I turned to books for some solace. Whether it be self-help guides, literary classics, or new fiction, books have the power to inspire every era of your life. To guide you in the right direction and set the mood for your college experience, I’ve compiled a list of a few books I believe every first-year should read.

By: Hannah Skinner ‘23

Changing your major is one of the many daunting and explorative aspects of college, but it’s not as uncommon as you think it might be. In fact, I changed mine twice! If you’re reading this, you’ve probably decided to change your major, but how does the process work? Here’s a step by step guide to embarking on a new academic journey.

By: Ela Rybak ‘25

My desire to attend USC never dwindled during my time in community college, which is why I stayed so hopeful and continued on my path toward gaining admission. Though receiving the first rejection was difficult, the journey of the Trojan Transfer Plan was rewarding in itself. It offered me my first bit of USC community when I reached out to fellow prospective transfer students via the Trojan Transfer Program Instagram account and ended up meeting one of my current best friends.

By: Sydney Fiorentino ‘24

As college students, we are surrounded by technology. We rely on our smartphones and tablets to  communicate with our peers and professors, to check our exam grades, or to fill out all the random surveys we get sent. With the right apps, you can avoid having to find a place to sit, pull out your laptop, and connect to WiFi to stay up to date on your school life. Here are the five apps all USC students should have.

By: Ela Rybak ‘25

I always dreamed of being a Trojan. I know it sounds cliché, but I truly set my heart on it as a young girl growing up in Los Angeles. After moving into my apartment near campus, everything moved so fast: one second I was attending convocation in my future graduation gown, and the next, I was sitting in my first official university classes. I couldn’t believe all my hard work finally paid off and that attending USC was finally a reality!

By: Kathryn Aurelio ‘25

It’s the summer before you move to the city of stars and into the 12ft by 12ft dorm of your dreams! Save your time and money with these do’s and don’ts for what to bring to your freshman dorm!

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.

By: Sophia Pei ‘22 and Jordan Bucknor ‘22

Whether this is your first time on campus or your return after 18 months away, we have compiled a list of must-reads to help you get in the groove of being on campus. Keep reading for more information and to know exactly which posts you should add to your reading list!

By: Sydney Henry ‘24

So you’ve finally paid your $300 dollar deposit to confirm your enrollment at USC and announced your decision by posting on Instagram on Decision Day, but what now? You check the different USC decision day hashtags and see several people post that they got into USC and decided to attend for the next 4 years. You want to reach out to them, but you don’t know exactly how. That’s where I step in and give you some different way to become friends with these people, whether you’re completely online or on campus.

By: Claire Wong ‘23

It’s housing season and there are so many options! There are so many to chose from and so many different styles. Here is a guide to all the reputations, amenities, and everything you need to know about each freshman dorm!

By: Claire Wong ‘23

My roommate and I are ACTUALLY best friends. Yes, it is pretty miraculous. We may be a rare case, but here are some things I did to find my roommate!

By: Claire Wong ‘23

Being admitted into my *dream school* was unbelievable and I was ecstatic to be living in Los Angeles at the best Film School in the country. Unfortunately COVID-19 ended it surprisingly early, but my freshman year met so many different expectations and helped me grow as an individual in ways I never anticipated. Here are just a few of the main takeaways I learned from my freshman year at USC!