Living at USC

[tabbycat]

Driving in LA definitely sucks.. I have a driving phobia too, but I've managed to keep it under control after living here for a couple years. Still, my dream is to one day work from home..

 

[KayS]

You're awesome for actually responding to my desire for therapy. Yeah you are right, once it becomes a routine I will relax a little...

 

[Jayimess]

I didn't get my license until the day before I turned 19, and would always avoid driving anywhere at any cost. Then I got a job with a company car and a lot of driving was necessary.

Now I love driving, singing along to music for sure, and I have blue tooth through my speakers so I talk on the phone back home on my drives to school, too.

Tabby, you and my roommate are strikingly similar, she hates cars and driving more than anyone I know.

 

[tabbycat]

that's so weird! But hopefully we'll have more in common when I get my notification from AFI

 

[KayS]

tabbycat, I didn't see your post earlier! I too dream of working from home haha. I am doing that right now, actually, but barely ever get work/money. Someday, hopefully after I get writing for television out of my system, I can become a reclusive writer of film and novels...

 

[tabbycat]

yeah, I would love to be an at-home editor, but in that case I'd probably be freelance which is less financially secure.. right now I have a 9-6 with a steady paycheck. But I hate the 9-6. It's a catch 22...

 

[hman13]

does anyone recommend student housing? I have looked through the website usc.edu/housing for some studio and 1 bedroom apartments and they seem nice.

 

[Sonia]

In the USC Fall 2009 thread, Ganz mentioned that we should apply for campus parking permits early, because they go fast.

This page links to the application and says that permits go on sale May 14, 2009.

Which type of permit do you guys recommend? Do you have to purchase it for a certain lot, or does it work all over campus?

Do you spend time in areas of campus other than the SCA building?

Thanks for your help, guys.

 

[Jayimess]

You buy for a specific structure. D was closer to the old building, but B is closer to the new building...though the difference is negligible.

I recommend D over B, though, because of access. You can get to D from Jefferson going east or west because the entrance to the structure is an intersection with a light...so you can come to Jefferson from Hoover or Figueroa, and that goes for exiting as well.

B, however, can only be accessed from Jefferson going east, and there's no intersection to turn into. You must be coming east on Jefferson from Vermont to enter, and you can only leave in the same manner.

Another option is The Parking Center. If you are never late, I suggest it...you park further from campus, and take a shuttle.

A classmate of mine parks at 1 or 2, can't remember, and he keeps a bike in his car and bikes the rest. I can't fit a bike in my car.

I parked in D my first year, and I parked at the Shrine this year...because I didn't get a D pass due to late application.

It worked for me this year. The Shrine is across from D, so it's not really any further, and it's $96/semester cheaper than D or B. (it's still more than 1 or 2 or the Parking Center.)

Downsides to the Shrine:

it's locked at 11. No in or outs from 11p-7a.

can't park there on game days, during the Grammys, football games, during this event, that event, etc.


With USC parking, you can come in or out as you please, and if you get there in time, you can park there on game days. Also, after 6pm, and on weekends, your USC pass is good in ANY lot on campus, not just the assigned ones.

The Shrine worked for me this year, but because I know I'll be editing late nights next year, I'm going back to D this year.

Hope that helps.

 

[KayS]

Jayimess, you are a goddess.

 

[Sonia]

Yes. Wow. Thank you.

 

[solojones]

Living in LA will just sort of force you to get used to stressful driving. There's really no way around it, unfortunately. I am from Kansas City so the traffic in LA is completely unheard of back home. However, I adjusted pretty quickly. If you are a bad driver, at least you'll be at home with all the others... okay, probably not very encouraging

 

[solojones]

I am from Kansas City and living in LA pretty much forced me to get used to driving in stressful traffic right away. There's really no way around it. I guess it can be scary but you'll adjust. And if not, you'll just become one of the millions of bad drivers in LA so you're not alone

 

[tabbycat]

just fyi, almost NO ONE here uses their turn signal when they want to change lanes, they just swerve in front of you
if you're a good defensive driver, you'll be fine (it's something I had to practice a lot).

p.s. didn't mean to scare anyone... just want people to be prepared! It's not that bad once you get used to it.

 

[Chris42]

Just got in for Spring semester at USC. A friend said I could use his place at a reduced rate in Lynwood. I haven't heard the best things about this area and have not heard any talk on here about the area. Any word?

 

[Jayimess]

I've never heard of it, but I went to google maps and put in Lynwood, Ca to see if I could offer any insight.

Nope, not a bit.

But I find it interesting that the first listing in the "User-generated maps" was titled "Gangs of Compton, Watts and Long Beach."

 

[tabbycat]

Hmm.. it does look to be around the areas of Compton, Inglewood, and Downey, places I haven't heard the best things about. But like Jayimess I can't speak of it personally.

 

[Chris42]

Thank you, "gangs of compton, watts and long beach" that's a great sign. I'm going to be inspired to make gang films, too bad USC already has John Singleton.

 

[MediaDuv]

I've heard downtown is a good place to live - OFF Mid Wilshire. Close enough and some decently priced places - if you share a pad. Be ready to live in some shady areas if you want to be within biking distance to the school. Yay, LA. (sarcastic). But woo SC!

 

[hman13]

How do people feel about the transit system in LA? I am looking now at all the routes of the Blue and Red Line, and it looks like with one connecton you can get from North Hollywood to USC in 45 mins. Is that about how long it takes to drive the same distance? How good are the transit lines and does anyone use them?