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USC Students-
I got into Pardee, and my first two choices were New and North. Would you recommend applying for reassignment? Or is Pardee a social dorm as well?

By Cd_03 (Cd_03) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 08:16 pm: Edit

hey whats up i got into pardee too. just thought i'd say hi, it's nice to know someone else got pardee too.

By Dmc (Dmc) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 08:32 pm: Edit

I'm a Pardee boy too, although I am stil trying to get into North. If not, I'll see you two in Aug.

By Ty310 (Ty310) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 12:01 am: Edit

Good luck, because you'll need it. You're just gonna be another sardine in a can at USC. The overpopulation is really outrageous. I'm sorry that you chose USC.

By Dmc (Dmc) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 01:11 pm: Edit

Ty- UCLA, eh? How can we be overpopulated when you have 10K more u-grad students, about the same number of grad students and a student:faculty ratio of about 6 more? The only overpopulated thing I can think of might be our football stadium, because people actually want to come to our games. Peace man.

By Cutiejen37 (Cutiejen37) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 10:03 pm: Edit

If you're worried about Pardee- I just got back from orientation at USC. They told me that 200 people applied for reassignment for New/North, and if you weren't in the first 5 or 10 who applied for reassignment, then most likely you won't get it. However, I talked to some people who lived in Pardee, and they said it's actually pretty nice. They said it's newer than New/North, there's better storage in the rooms, and it's still social. They said that everyone hangs out on different floors...guys on girl's floors, and vice versa. And they said that it is quieter than New/North but that it's better because you can go over there to party but then you also get to sleep. And they also said that there is still lots of partying in Pardee, and a lot of times people from New/North will come over to Pardee to hang out. So personally I feel a lot better about it after talking to them and they told me that I'll be really happy there. Just thought I'd share...hopefully out people who are kind of in the same situation I am.

By Dmc (Dmc) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 05:59 pm: Edit

Thanks Jen- that makes me feel a lot less paranoid.

By Uschicka (Uschicka) on Monday, July 14, 2003 - 02:07 am: Edit

I am so jealous of you all. I'm going to be in the Radisson. yay!!

By Yt_Nitram (Yt_Nitram) on Monday, July 21, 2003 - 12:02 am: Edit

I'll be in North. I signed up for the business floor, not sure if I'm on it yet. The pros are apparently slightly larger rooms, more lounge area, and visits from counselors every semester...you don't even have to be a business major to be on it. So did any of you actually get into New/North? I've been to a couple USC summer events for freshmen here in Dallas and it sounds like almost everybody feels they got the short end of the stick on dorms.

By Uschicka (Uschicka) on Monday, July 21, 2003 - 01:44 am: Edit

I wish I was in North, or pretty much any of the other dorms. That's cool you'll be on the business floor, that's my major too. Living in the Radisson is pretty cool because it has the big rooms, big beds, a bathroom to share with only one other person, maid service, a TV, and refrigerator. But I would trade all that in to get the dorm experience. I think there are at least 4 floors of USC students, but I'm sure the hotel won't let kids run screaming up and down the hallways. One of the things I was most excited about going into college was being in the dorm. Oh well.

By Tsdad (Tsdad) on Monday, July 21, 2003 - 09:51 am: Edit

My son will be in New or North, I can't remember which. It's the one with the film floor.

By Smartypants (Smartypants) on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 02:59 pm: Edit

I was forwaded this from my girlfriend at USC.

The Prowl on Campus Housing


Undergrads on Campus 35%
Number of Dormitories 9


Students Speak Out on Campus Housing:

 “The dorms are the best way to go for your first year on campus because you meet tons of people. Avoid Trojan Hall, Marks Hall, and Parkside. New Residence Hall is a pretty cool place to live; it has a party atmosphere and good-looking people. Pardee Tower is also pretty cool.”

 “They’ve all been renovated fairly recently. Try to get into Cardinal Gardens; that’s the nicest one I’ve seen so far. Don’t go to Century.”

 “I stayed in Pardee Tower, and I loved it. Go for Pardee Tower, New, or North.”

 “The new international residence dorms are pretty nice.”

 “I think they’re better than other dorms that I’ve seen on other college campuses. I’ve only seen the ones in Flour Tower, but Cardinal Gardens apartments are also super-nice.”

 “The new international dorms are amazing, and anyone can live in them. There are some themed floors. All are fine.”

 “They are well-kept.”

 “Dorm life is great. I lived in the brand new dorms that opened this past spring, Parkside International Residential College; it is a suite-type dorm. I highly recommend living either there or in the ever-popular New/North. New/North is very social and the rooms are fairly big. Try to avoid Century and Webb; they’re the old, old apartment style. Birkrant, Pardee, and Marks have very small rooms.”

 “New/North are great dorms; they’re very social. I recommend dorms over apartment or suite-style units. If you can’t get dorm-style, suite is the next best. Don’t live in the off-campus apartment; you’ll feel segregated. Marks/Pardee Tower also has good dorms, although they’re not as much fun as New/North. Honors dorms are not nicer than regular dorms.”

 “If you want a great social dorm, live in New/North. Everyone that lives in that dorm is Greek. If you want a great off-campus apartment, live in Cardinal.”

 “I loved living in the dorms because I met so many wonderful people. I recommend living in New Residential College, Pardee Tower, or Marks Tower.”

 “Dorms are the best, and the most fun I ever had. Get into New or North; they are the best. They are actually the same building, just opposite sides. Do whatever you need to get in, they are awesome!”

 “I lived in Pardee and loved it. However, Pardee is coed by floors. You might want something that has coed floors, because those are so much more fun. Some good ones are Birkrant, New/North, and Parkside. I would not recommend Webb and Flour.”

 “I think USC has really nice dorms. If you’re a freshman, I recommend freshman housing like Flour and Pardee.”

 “The dorms are variable. Some are good; some are bad.”

 “Freshman dorms are good. I lived in on-campus apartments, Parkside to be precise. Parkside now has a brand new international student dorm, and it’s beautiful! If you can get in, I’d say go there. Also New/North residential colleges are both newer and spacious. They’re where you’ll meet lots of people. I don’t think any of the dorms are too bad.”


The CollegeProwler™ Take on Campus Housing:

USC contains very little dorm space for its incoming students. Along with 1,800 spaces in nine residence halls, USC offers 1,000 student spaces in popular University owned apartments. The most popular of these among students is Cardinal Gardens. Many students recommend living in New Residence Hall or Pardee Tower if you are going to stay on campus. The University gets high marks for maintaining well-kept living quarters.

The advantages to living in the dorms include meeting new people, access to computers, lots of social activities and cleaning services. Disadvantages, though, might outweigh the advantages. Some dorms aren’t so nice, others are single-sex, and many aren’t that new. It really depends on what you’re looking for.

By Samia (Samia) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 06:30 pm: Edit

Hey guys...I went to the F5 orientation, and I got a pretty good feel for the campus and dorm life. Staying in the dorms was really fun, our room was open to visitors til about 2:30 or so. It kinda made me regret not going for the dorm experience, as I'm going to be staying in Cardinal Gardens Apts. I went and visited, and it is a little distanced from the main freshman living area where New/North is, but I figure I can make friends, visit their dorms, and throw a few parties of my own in the apartment seeing as I'll have a lot more living space. I just don't want to lose that whole social aspect of college, which is my only regret with not being in a typical Frosh dorm.

By Uschicka (Uschicka) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 06:37 pm: Edit

I know what you mean, samia. While I'm not in the apartments, I am in the Radisson so I won't be able to get the full dorm experience. After going to orientation (I just got back yesterday) I saw how cool the dorms were. Btw, invite me to your parties!!!

By Samia (Samia) on Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 07:41 pm: Edit

Well I'll definitely invite ya, k? Heh, if you're switching to Annenberg, then seeing as that school's population is about 1200, I'll probably be seeing you around. I think there are like over a hundred-fifty entering frosh to the school.

By Usc_Princess (Usc_Princess) on Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 02:54 pm: Edit

i'll be living in parkside.. oh wait, i move in this week!