USC Orientation

I just got back from Orientation at USC. Overall, it was great. I'm tired now, but I'll write down some impressions and advice for everyone else.

Since this was the first Freshman Orientation of this year, I'm probably one of the first in RHP to go. I did meet some other RHPers there, including Erica and Claire. However, I think that I'll identify more closely with the students in Engineering than those in RHP.

Is everyone doing TO? I've put in my TO classes (I chose the one with Professor Lemon), but I'm worried that it'll turn out to be too difficult later. I really want to do much more in college than study.

I was (un)lucky in getting Ryan as my Orientation Advisor. He's the "unspirited" one. While other OAs (as they are called) were yelling "Fight On!"s, we didn't do anything. He was also quite boring the whole way through.

Unfortunately, there's no procedure in place for choosing or changing OAs. Whoever you're assigned to is who you're assigned to. Make the most of it.

Class registration, at least for me, was much easier than I'd imagined. The web interface is superb, if you know how these things work (and I do), and with CECS, there are a number of classes I must take. There are options available, and I'm happy with the way my schedule turned out. I have only one class on Fridays, and my earliest class is 10 AM (and it's only on Mondays). This should be a big change from the 7:20 AM to 3:50 PM every day that I did in high school.

At the same time, I'm worried that the load will be too difficult. I'm doing Engineering and TO -- and taking a full load with 18 units (most people do 16). We'll see how it goes.

By the way, don't sweat the placement tests (except foreign language, I don't know about that one). For Math and Physics, they didn't make a big difference. They're just for advisement to get a better idea of what you seem to be capable of, and don't seem to have any binding effect on your scheduling or class selection.

I scored 35 out of 40 on math, 10 out of 10 on physics. However, it's strange because the Physics placement exam really has nothing to do with physics.

Another note -- if you didn't register for placement exam(s), don't worry. You can just walk in and take it, regardless of whether you signed up with you signed up for Orientation. Same vice-versa -- if you decide you don't have to or don't have to take a test, just don't do it. It's not a problem.

You get your USC email account activated at Orientation. It is possible to do it from home, but I suggest you do it there -- it adds to the overall Orientation experience!

My account, by the way, is elliotle@usc.edu (username is limited to 8 chars).

To walk or not to walk...that is the question.

Well, I've noticed in other posts that some are going to walk with their class in '06 and others will not. So, the question stands, will you walk with your class after a year at 'SC or will you be cheering on your friends from the stands?

I have yet to decide, and the administration has yet to make a definitive answer. But I'll take English and American Gov over the summer just in case. While I was signing up for English 4, I realized that only incredibly lazy/stupid kids who fail bone-head English during their senior year would be taking it during summer school, so needless to say I was spoken to like I had just gotten off the short bus, and it made me chuckle...if they only knew :)

Last days of high school

For most of us, our last days of high school are coming to a close. In a week or two, we'll be done -- with the summer and college ahead of us. How does it feel? Is there one last thing you want to accomplish before it ends? What do you want to leave high school having gained?

Personally, I want to leave a positive and lasting impression. Into the summer I'll continue to work with my high school friends on the Walnut solar car project and the Dell-Winston School Solar Car Challenge. Next year, if I am able to finish economics and receive credit for a USC writing class, I'll be able to graduate with the rest of my high school class. So for the next week (the last four days of school), I'm planning to do pretty much the same as I always have. Perhaps I'll even study a bit. After all, I have a reasonable chance at getting straight A's -- so why not put in the little extra effort?

Second installment of biography sheets

Received a note from Penny today. This time they were folded to fit in a regular envelope.

Here is the second installment -- RHP Bio-Sheets II: The Revenge -- for the RHP class of 2005.

(Formatting hers.) The first installment, if memory serves, contained 20 biographies. This one contained two more.

I've sent in my Roommate Questionnaire. I hope I get put with the right person.

One thing I'm worried about is that the group will have some kind of "summer camp" attitude. It will still be school. We're in college now, and it's different, but it's nothing like a summer camp. Right?