The Freshman Dorm Guide

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! 

Before we begin, every dorm has a few of the same amenities:

Most dorms have a customer service center (CSC) in the lobby of its building. 

CSC is where you can print, rent out vacuums, pick up mail/packages, and get in contact with a staff member regarding lockouts and other housing questions. If your dorm does not have a CSC in its lobby (Birnkrant, Marks Tower, Marks Hall, Trojan Hall), your neighboring dorm is where you will go.

If you do decide to live in any of the following dorms, you will be required to get the Freshman Meal Plan - which includes unlimited swipes to the dining halls. 

Birnkrant

(I lived here my freshman year and absolutely loved it)

Dorm Style: Traditional

  • Communal bathrooms

  • Live with 20-40 other students on your floor (typically 20 guys and 20 girls per floor)

  • Double and Triple rooms

  • No A/C - Yes I know sounds horrible, but I never found it to be a problem

Dorm Environment: 

  • Known as “8 Floors of Open Doors”

  • Used to be the honors dorm

  • Very social dorm - Great balance between social and academics

Nearest Dining Hall: EVK

Location: Near McCarthy Quad and Leavy Library

Other Amenities: 

  • 24 hour Starbucks

  • Building access to New North

Fluor Tower

Dorm Style: Suite

  • 4 doubles per suite = 8 people per suite

  • Each suite shares a bathroom and a living room space

  • Sink in the living room space

  • A/C and heat in each room

Dorm Environment: 

  • Quieter than the communal/traditional dorms, but floors tend to be more social than other suite-style dorms

  • Great dorm for people who plan to spend a lot of time in their dorm

  • Where a lot of the athletes tend to live

  • Large floor lounges

Nearest Dining Hall: Village Dining Hall

Location: Near Lyons Center and SCA

Other Amenities: 

  • Cafe 84 (Starbucks)

  • Music Practice Room

  • Communal kitchen on the lobby floor

McCarthy

Dorm Style: Suite and Loft

  • Double and single rooms 

  • Each suite shares 1-2 bathrooms and living room space

  • A/C and heat in each room

Dorm Environment:

  • Honors Dorm - must have a merit scholarship to live here

  • Newest spaces - built in 2017

  • Largest dorm spaces for freshmen housing

  • Large outdoor patio spaces

  • 3-4 large lounges on each floor

Nearest Dining Hall: Village Dining Hall

Location: USC Village

Other Amenities:

  • Indoor bike parking

New North

Dorm Style: Traditional

  • Double and single rooms

  • Select dorms have personal sinks in the room

  • Communal bathrooms

  • Live with 20-40 other students on your floor 

  • No A/C - Yes I know sounds horrible, but I never found it to be a problem

  • No elevators, only stairs 

Dorm Environment:

  • Known as the “party dorm”

  • Where people who plan to rush in the Spring live

  • Very social dorm, always something going on

Nearest Dining Hall: EVK

Location: Near McCarthy Quad

Other Amenities:

  • Small gym in the building

Parkside (A&H, IRC)

Dorm Style: Suite

  • Double and single rooms

  • Each suite shares 2 bathrooms and a living room space

  • Sink in the living room space

  • A/C and heat in each room

Dorm Environment:

  • Known as the quietest dorm on campus

  • Known as “Parkside Darkside” - farthest from central campus

  • Good for people who need a personal, quiet space to concentrate

  • Great dorm for people who plan to spend a lot of time in their dorm

  • Large floor lounges

  • IRC is typically where international students dorm

Nearest Dining Hall: Parkside Restaurant

Location: Nearest to Viterbi and Roski buildings

Other Amenities:

  • Close to the Expo Line metro station

South (Pardee, Marks Hall, Marks Tower, Trojan Hall)

Dorm Style: Traditional

  • Communal bathrooms

  • Live with 30 students of the same gender on your floor

  • Double and single rooms

  • No A/C - Yes I know sounds horrible, but I never found it to be a problem

Dorm Environment: 

  • A social dorm - tends to be a less social/more quiet dorm than Birnkrant and New North

  • A good mix of social and academics

  • Thin walls, oftentimes hear your neighbor

Nearest Dining Hall: EVK

Location: Near McCarthy Quad and Marshall School

Other Amenities: 

  • Large 2nd-floor lounge at Pardee

  • Small gym in Marks Tower

  • Access to all other buildings in South

Additionally, check out https://www.instagram.com/uscadmission/ for dorm tours!

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