It’s that dreaded time of the semester again. As classes draw to a close and many of us book our tickets home for Thanksgiving, there’s one thing in the back of everyone’s minds — finals. During this period, it’s natural to feel stressed, overwhelmed, and agonized by the amount of work professors expect us to do in such a short amount of time. Hearing the same four study tips certainly doesn’t help.

Making friends in college can be a difficult task, and it can also be tricky to maintain older friendships from home. I’ve picked up a few habits in my time at college to keep my long time friends close while forming new bonds as well. Here are a few tips that might help you too!

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.

By: Sophia Pei ‘22

With a raging pandemic and remote classes, it’s easy to get Zoom fatigue. Here are some fun remote hangout ideas whether you’re looking for a game night with friends or are hosting a social for a club.

By: Talia Walters ‘20

I’m the kind of person who can spend all 16 of my waking hours lying in bed and scrolling through news articles of the impending doom du jour. In fact, you can refer back to my previous social media detox post for proof – the whole thing with Iran almost drove me mad. This whole coronavirus thing is also driving me mad. But that kind of worrying and anxiety isn’t good for anyone especially not when you’re trapped in your house, so I’ve spent some of my quarantine time curating just a list of things to do and talk about that aren’t the coronavirus.

By: Sophia Pei ‘22

The new guidelines ramping up nationwide have shut down restaurants, public spaces, and gatherings of any kind. Just because you need to keep 6 ft of physical space between you and the person next to you, doesn’t mean you need to grow apart from your friends. Keep reading for some fun ways to still “hang out” with your pals!

By: Lindsey Hamilton ‘22

The prospect of moving to an entirely new place and rebuilding your social circle from scratch is a pretty scary one, especially if social situations tend to stress you out. With that said, making new friends and putting yourself out there is one of the most rewarding experiences that college has to offer. Check out these tips for overcoming overthinking and making freshman year one to remember!

By: Sarah Ko ‘22

Want a day off from campus and head to a sun-filled California beach? Grab your friends, beach towels, and sunscreen and head to Santa Monica beach! It’s easy to get there, and only takes 30 minutes!

By: Lilly Kate Diaz ‘20

Hi, all! I hope classes are going well. And I hope you’re taking self care procedures to make sure your well-being is at its greatest. I figured that since I started my sophomore year at SC, I’d let the freshmen know what I learned as a freshman last year (hence the title). So, let’s get into it!

By: Emily Young MA ‘16

As this school year comes to a close, I encourage you all to take a moment and cherish the time you have invested at USC. This semester you have learned a lot, made new friends, and created everlasting memories—all while attending this magical place where it is always 70 degrees and sunny.