Details

• United States of America
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

Try to gather as much information as possible about USC and be ready to explain what sets USC apart from other universities during your interview. Explore the classes you are interested in attending. The full course catalogue is available here: https://classes.usc.edu/term/20261/catalogue/school Since detailed syllabi are often not available in advance, it’s helpful to check "Rate My Professors" to learn more about course content and instructors. Link: https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ Find out which student clubs interest you the most. USC offers a wide range of clubs, including academic, cultural, and social clubs, as well as numerous sports clubs. You can find most of them here: https://engage.usc.edu/club_signup?group_type=25437&category_tags=2178290

2. Accommodation

I stayed at The Lorenzo because nearly every previous WU exchange student recommended it. About 50% of other exchange students also stayed there, though many chose Troy Hall, which is looking back at it, the better choice. Facilities and Amenities: The Lorenzo is a beautiful place with excellent facilities, including several pools, two gyms, a beach volleyball and basketball court, rooftop BBQ areas, and more. Living there was enjoyable in many ways. The apartments (usually) come fully furnished, but you need to buy your own bedding, towels, dishes, etc. HOWEVER , the administrative process was a NIGHTMARE!!! • I received my rental agreement only one day before move-in, and before that, I had no confirmation whether I even had a place to stay. • I contacted the leasing agents daily via calls and emails, but they often ignored me or said the responsible person was out of office. Many other students had the same experience. The 9-hour time difference made it even harder. • They advertise a “roommate matching website” to live with friends, but it didn’t work. I had no idea whether I would be in the same apartment as my friend and it was nearly impossible to get an answer. (In the end it turned out well, as we continued to complain about it) • Apartments are not checked before move-in. On my first day, my apartment was dirty and messy. Some friends received apartments with broken lights, missing furniture (no sofa, no tables, etc.). • They will convince you to lease the apartment for one year, as the monthly rent would be lower and you can relet the apartment to other students after you leave. However, the relet process for students leaving early is complicated and comes with a $750 fee, which they don’t inform you about in advance. • Many elevators were broken for several months and there were almost weekly false fire alarms. • Also you have to pay a Overall: The Lorenzo is very stressful when it comes to administration, but I still enjoyed living there overall. Still, I would recommend living at Troy Hall instead! Tips – How to Survive The Lorenzo: 1. Apply early. The staff is slow and technical issues are common. 2. Lease for one term only. Reletting a full-year lease is complicated and costly. 3. Call your personal leasing agent regularly. If emails go unanswered, get their phone number and follow up persistently. 4. Arrive early on move-in day. If your apartment is unacceptable, you’ll have time to complain and request a different unit. Safety: I was very concerned about safety and almost didn’t apply to USC at first because I was worried about the crime rate in Los Angeles. It’s true that LA is less safe than Vienna, but neither I nor my friends ever experienced anything dangerous. It’s important to stay alert in the city, so don’t walk around with headphones and avoid being out alone after dark. USC offers free taxi services around campus after 7 p.m., so you can get from The Lorenzo to the university or to grocery stores safely without walking. Make sure to take advantage of this! You can also use the free taxis to get to Frat Row on weekends, where most of the fraternity parties happen, which is very convenient. So yes, be careful and attentive, but don’t let fear stop you. USC is absolutely worth it!

3. Academic life at host university

The USC campus is simply amazing. It feels like a typical American university campus, and many movies have even been filmed here. It has everything you could possibly need: pools, restaurants, cafés, grocery stores, a bar, and small shops such as Sephora. The campus is also well-secured, so you never have to worry about your safety. Non-students are strictly prohibited from entering in the evenings. The academic culture and teaching style were very different from WU. The professors were down-to-earth, funny, and approachable. They really want students to feel included, and participation is very important in most classes. It is clear that they genuinely enjoy their work. You are encouraged to engage with former students, and everyone is extremely friendly and welcoming. However, many exchange students found it difficult to form deeper relationships with Americans, as most interactions felt a bit superficial. It was much easier to make friends with other exchange students. One downside is that classes can feel less structured than at WU. Sometimes assignments or even exams were announced only a few weeks in advance, which made planning trips difficult. Professors often deviated from their class outlines, skipped topics, or held sessions where they discussed personal experiences rather than course content. A practical tip: don’t feel obliged to buy all the recommended books and materials. I purchased all of them because they were listed as mandatory, but I ended up not needing a single one.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transport is free for USC students. During the first few months, I was hesitant to use it, but eventually I relied on it a lot to get around the city. It can sometimes feel a bit sketchy, depending on which metro line you take (try to avoid buses if possible). However, I wouldn’t always recommend going alone—though I never experienced any safety issues, I always stayed aware of my surroundings and tried to walk with friends whenever possible. LA has a large homeless population. While I personally never encountered a dangerous situation, some individuals can behave unpredictably due to drug use. Avoid dark areas and never walk alone at night. That said, don’t be overly worried! Before arriving, I was very concerned about safety in LA, but in practice, it wasn’t necessary. Once you’re there, you quickly get a sense of how to behave in different situations and find your way around. So don’t let safety concerns stop you from enjoying USC! In my free time, I often rented a car to visit beaches and nearby cities like San Clemente and Santa Barbara. Surfing in Santa Monica is a must—you can even reach it easily by metro. LA also has great shopping destinations, such as The Grove and Americana. Of course, football is a huge part of life at USC, so definitely check out a game. On gamedays, there are also major tailgates (pre-drinks) at the fraternity houses. In general, there are fun parties every weekend at Frat Row, and if you’re a girl, you can often get free entry and drinks. A huge plus is that USC provides free Lyfts (taxis) within the campus area, so you never have to worry about getting home safely from parties. You could also consider joining a fraternity or sorority, but it costs around $4,000–$7,000, and in my opinion, it’s not worth the money.

6. Testimonial

It was absolutely amazing! I fell in love with Californian culture. The people are so friendly and cheerful, the weather is almost always sunny, and the beaches are incredible. I also went on an epic road trip (LA – San Francisco – Yosemite National Park – Sequoia National Park – Death Valley – Las Vegas – Zion National Park – Bryce Canyon National Park – Grand Canyon – Palm Springs – back to LA), and I visited San Diego, Hawaii, and Texas (Austin – Dallas – Fort Worth – Houston). It was truly an unforgettable experience. Also LA has a lot to offer as f.e. Rodeo Drive, the Hollywood Sign hike, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Universal Studios and Disneyland. Classes weren’t too demanding, which allowed me to make the most of my time, travel extensively, and explore as much as possible. I would absolutely choose USC again, and I am deeply grateful for this experience!