They have an excellently ranked program and offered a strong financial aid package, which allowed me to afford the school. I also liked the location, as LA has many opportunities because it's a hub of innovation.
Course Curriculum
I believe that some majors are harder than others. I know I'm computer science, they make the midterm exams so that the average is 60% before the curve. Other majors like biomedical engineering have a lot of coursework and hard classes, making it one of the hardest majors at USC.
Exams
I took the SAT and scored 1500. I took the ACT and scored 29. I did take IB exams prior to enrolling but did not receive college credit for them.
Placement
The career center sends out weekly emails detailing current job and internship opportunities. In addition, we have a virtual bulletin board that posts job opportunities and research positions, which helps students improve their resumes.
Internship
They provide opportunities for internships but I haven't applied for them. They tend to have stipends for summer ranging around $3000 for summer work, which is usually just enough to cover housing.
Events
We take game days very seriously. Tailgates take over the entire campus, and it becomes a sea of cardinal and gold. Frats also hold parties that go on all day. We also have register parties, which the school helps the frats fund. These tend to be really big and exciting and happen every so often.
Fees
Tuition usually covers books, housing, and the cost of schooling. If you live off campus, your tuition bill is less. If you find ways to save on books you need, your tuition will also go down. There are ways to save by shopping around for housing and books prior to relying on the school for these.
Scholarship
Yes! You need to fill out FAFSA. This gives them a general idea of how much aid you need. Then you fill out a college board form that's more detailed than the FAFSA and based on your need, they cover all of it. The maximum you have to pay is your expected contribution.
Examination Structure
Every exam structure depends on the class and the person making the exam. Biology 220 has multiple choice exams, but math classes usually have open-ended math problems to solve. You have to adjust your study style to perform your best on each type of test.
Hostel
I lived on campus, which is nice because the houses come furnished and are roomy enough for the inhabitants. However, off-campus housing is a lot less expensive, so I am going to live off campus next year.
