During move-in week, Trojans swiftly begin cultivating friendships — and memories

As freshman Akshay Vadlamani from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering stood in line with his mother and grandmother anticipating his new accommodation, he received a text message.

The message was from someone he had never met face-to-face but felt familiar with: Aiden Park, one of three Trojans sharing a McCarthy Honors Residential College suite with Vadlamani this academic year.

“We’ve been texting and FaceTiming about what to bring, and he’s been incredibly supportive,” Vadlamani remarked about Park, who quickly rushed from their suite to the queue outside to greet his new roommate.

Park, a biological sciences major at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, mentioned that the four suitemates initiated a group chat in May and have been “really thrilled to meet everyone, to engage, and to learn more about each other.”

The duo is among nearly 9,000 first-year, returning, transfer, and graduate students settling into USC’s residential colleges during move-in week, which initiated on Saturday and concluded on Wednesday. Additionally, there are over 30 welcoming events arranged by USC colleges and departments throughout the week, along with other significant celebrations.

A unique Trojan welcome

USC Interim President Beong-Soo Kim has been visiting many of the newcomers and their families throughout the week.

“The enthusiasm they exhibit as they anticipate their time at USC truly inspires all of us,” Kim stated during his visit to Parkside Arts & Humanities Residential College on Tuesday afternoon. “We look forward to having a fantastic year together with the students.”

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Freshman Alero Mack from the USC Marshall School of Business was both surprised and delighted to encounter Kim on Saturday while he was unboxing items in his fourth-floor accommodation at McCarthy.

“I didn’t see that coming,” remarked Mack, who conversed with Kim about his Business of Cinematic Arts major. “I assumed that presidents don’t typically meet their freshmen.”

Mack’s parents shared their pride and enthusiasm for their son’s aspiration of attending USC, which he has pursued since he was young.

“We have this adorable photo of him at six years old at a USC game,” his mother, Kenya McGee, recalled. “He was wearing his USC beanie and hoodie, and there was confetti because we triumphed in the game. This feels like a full-circle moment.”

Settling in

At Birnkrant Residential College, newcomers Aryana Cayton and Jade Alvarez were finally meeting each other for the first time after months of FaceTime conversations. Both, hailing from the East Coast, admitted feeling anxious about relocating across the nation.

“What eased our apprehension was knowing we would have at least one familiar face when we arrived,” explained Cayton, a USC Viterbi computer science student from Washington, D.C.

Alvarez, a USC Dornsife history scholar from Whitehall Township, Pa., arrived on campus three days earlier than Cayton. Nevertheless, their long-distance collaboration to decorate their room didn’t falter.

“While she was on the East Coast and I was here, we coordinated on FaceTime, discussing which dresser would fit our room best,” Alvarez recounted.

Twins venture beyond their comfort zones

Twin sisters Amelia and Sarah Batt have shared a room for their entire lives. However, upon their assignment as roommates at USC, they requested a change.

“It’s just that we’ve been roommates for 18 years already, and we didn’t think we wanted that to continue,” Sarah Batt stated. The political science student moved into Pardee Tower on Tuesday, while her sister, majoring in archaeology and heritage studies, settled into Marks Tower on Wednesday.

Though they won’t share a room at USC, the sisters will experience their Trojan journey together.

“Having someone here from our hometown will alleviate some of the homesickness I’m sure to face,” Amelia Batt shared. “Yet, I’m also eager to develop as an individual and carve out my own path.”

Discover more about Amelia and Sarah Batt (for instance, both swam the English Channel) on the USC Dornsife website.

‘Engage with everyone you can’

While several Trojans were enthusiastic about meeting their new roommates, a cheerful Kayla Uwagbai expressed her happiness to have a room to herself in New North Residential College.

“I don’t have a roommate,” said the USC Kaufman School of Dance freshman. “I preferred a bit of solitude, and they suggested that a single room would suit me best. However, our hall is quite social, and I’ve connected with numerous individuals already.”

Uwagbai, who hails from Columbia, S.C., intends to pursue a master’s degree at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism through USC’s Progressive Degree Program.

“She has worked diligently in both dance and journalism to reach this point,” her mother, Jessica Uwagbai, noted. “Being here is a dream come true. Within the cohort at the [Glorya Kaufman School], she has already found her little dance family, and I believe she’s in excellent hands.”

If sophomore Kassidy Atherton of the USC School of Dramatic Arts and her parents appeared relaxed while moving her belongings into Bohnett Residential College on Tuesday, it’s because they have navigated this process before.

Atherton mentioned that she gained valuable insights during her freshman year in a residential college and advised newcomers to fully embrace everything that campus life has to offer.

“Just connect with as many people as you can,” said Atherton, who grew up in Telluride, Colo. “Agree to participate in everything initially: join others for lunch, attend any club activities or fairs orchestrated by the school. I did that, and it exceeded my expectations.”