It is inevitably harder for an international student to get an internship after his/her freshman year. The reason for that is not necessarily only about the legal status since USC can sponsor you some kind of visa for the summer, but the real problem is the lack of family connection that might get you that internship as well as a place to stay. This last one would make the internship experience very expensive and some of us think it's not really worth it.

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Having said so, some of us have landed internships as an international, but most of these are unpaid internships, and again, accommodation is very expensive. Some of us have landed internship offers, but chose not to accept the offer in the end.

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One student in our cohort, Robert (https://www.facebook.com/robert.tseng.3), has previously worked in a startup. He picked up some technical skills and got a better understanding of what he's interested in. He is not an international student, but feel free to message him if you want to find out more.

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Again, the answer really depends on your personal preferences. To give you a better idea, we have interviewed two WBB students who live in Parkside and Webb respectively.

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Parkside student:
"I like the Parkside cafeteria better than Cafe 84 (Webb cafeteria), especially because Cafe 84 is closed on the weekends. Parkside is a bit closer to the Marshall School of Business, although it doesn't really matter too much if you have a bike or skateboard. As far as I know, both Webb and Parkside are lacking in social life, but I still think Parkside is more conducive to meeting other people because of its suite style."

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Webb student:
"I like Webb because it's more comfortable than the Parkside suites. Webb Tower is an apartment, so we have a living space (with couches and coffee tables), a kitchen, and a private bathroom (shared between 2 or 4 people). I also like Webb because it's way quieter compared to the other dorms, and you really get some personal space. In addition, you also get way closer to your suitemates, because you share a living room. Last but not least, Webb is nearer to the Lyon Center (gym, swimming pool, basketball court, and jacuzzi), so if you're into sports, it's really convenient."

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Hope this gives you a better idea. If you missed our previous post regarding housing, here's a link to it:
http://ask.fm/wbbsociety/answer/126719792712

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It depends on the firm. Of course it'll be harder to build a relationship with local firms because we're moving, but global companies are highly receptive to WBB. It is definitely an advantage to talk about your travelling experiences in interviews.

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How do you want to compare the start up and internship? Most start ups need manpower, and they give you real experience a lot of the time, but they're not top notch for networking or resume-building purposes. If you have a really solid idea and an excellent team the startup could be great for professional development. Startups are also great for picking up basic skills, such as Microsoft Excel and Powerpoint.

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Internships are primarily to build relations with companies and set you up to get a job offer after graduation. An internship with an established company is huge to build your own credibility. The options are not mutually exclusive. As a freshman it's really a matter of choice. Later on (Junior, Senior year), you definitely want to look for internships.

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If you have time, you can consider doing both! Again, they serve very different purposes. Hope this answers your question.

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It is not easy to find an internship as a freshman, but there are several ways which you can do it:
1. Family connections
2. Positions posted on the career center
3. Cold-emailing
4. Networking

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Most firms that are recruiting through the university are looking for Juniors and Seniors, and MAYBE Sophomores. Most internships at this stage will be attained through individual means. However, you can use the degree as an advantage, especially when you're networking with professionals, or if you're in an interview. A well-written WBB resume will likely land you a few interviews through the career center. From that, it's really up to you to research the industry/company you are applying to. You can also use the resources provided in the career center, they could be quite helpful.

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As an example, one of us (an international student) landed an internship in New York by applying for the YMA fashion scholarship fund award--it was the first time in history that they allowed a freshman to apply, and they made this exception just for WBB. Fortunately, our fellow classmate won the scholarship and was flown to New York to attend an awards event. At the event, she met a representative of a company, and managed to impress once again by talking about WBB. They gave her an interview on the spot, and they, too, didn't usually take freshman. WBB played a huge role in her getting the internship.

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To add on, we, as WBB students, definitely have an advantage over regular business students. In an interview/networking event, we would recommend you to stress on
1. What you've done so far and what got you into WBB
2. What you plan to do after graduation (Employers like ambitious students), and
3. Your plans/experience in the three different continents

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We must emphasize that networking events are really important, and you must be extra proactive to find an internship. (Especially if you're an international student) The WBB Society is currently working on sharing and expanding our connections; hopefully this would help you and your peers in the future. Hope this answers your question.

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The answer depends on your preferences. If you want to meet a lot of people, the dorms are your best option. New north as you may know is the most social dorm but is also the loudest and least clean, although for dorms the rooms are bigger than Pardee, Marks, or Trojan. The business floor on Pardee was a popular option for WBB students this year. Birnkrant is a popular option for students with scholarship. If you want more privacy and more personal space, then the suites in Fluor or Parkside, or the apartments in Cardinal Gardens and Webb, are likely a better option. In the apartments, you will get a living area with sofas and a kitchen. Rules are enforced differently by each RA, but new north is generally more relaxed. Parkside is pretty far from the other freshman dorms but has better food than EVK (new north, Pardee, Marks, Trojan). Flour and Webb are right next to the gym and have a pretty good dining hall (Cafe84, closed on weekends), although they are also a little isolated. If you want a cheaper meal plan, you can choose to live off-campus. Off-campus housing is generally cheaper, but you’ll have to spend time commuting everyday, and you might miss out on part of the freshman experience. Ultimately, the decision is up to you.

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