APIDA Residential Floor – Asian Pacific American Student Services

The Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American (APIDA) Leaders Community is a special interest community for first-year students at the Birnkrant Residential College and second-year students at Century Apartments.

The APIDA Leaders Community strives to cultivate a space and community for active participation, leadership development, personal growth, and a successful transition into college. APIDALC is a space and community dedicated to all students who have an interest in Asian Pacific American history, culture, and social and contemporary issues. Residents will explore what it means to be Asian in America and will have the opportunity to engage in social and academic programs, group discussions, cultural events at USC and across Los Angeles, service-learning, and first-year mentorship.

Programs and activities related to the special interest floors are for everyone, not just for students who identify with it by heritage. Exploration of cultural, historical, and societal differences and commonalities are the basis for programming.

The APIDA Leaders Community is supported by the Office for Residential Education and the Asian Pacific American Student Services cultural center.

Application Process

Applying to live on the APIDA Floor is simple and easy! The application opens every Spring semester.

When you’re ready to apply, visit the USC Housing website portal link.
Be sure to first specify the Residential Hall (Birnkrant or Century Apartments) and then specify the Special Interest Community located within it (use code: APIDA).
Once you have selected APIDA, you will be directed to fill out the supplemental application for living on the APIDA Leaders Community in Birnkrant or Century.

We’ll reach out to you to confirm your selection on the APIDA Floor in June!

Apply Here!

This is an Alert Thanks for your interest! The application has closed for the 2021-2022 academic year. Check back in Spring 2022 for the next application cycle.

About Birnkrant Hall

This 8-story story campus landmark is a stylish and popular residential college. Birnkrant has 7 floors of student housing, each divided into men’s and women’s sections. Each floor has approximately 20 rooms, two large bathrooms (one for each gender), and a laundry room. Birnkrant’s ground floor features a music practice lounge, study area, and a TV lounge. The University’s smallest residential college, Birnkrant is known for its tight-knit community, commonly referred to as “8 Floors of Open Doors.”

Click here to learn more about Birnkrant Residential College.

About Century Apartments

Comprised of two large buildings surrounding a central open area with a lawn, pool, and customer service center, Century is an excellent choice for upperclassmen looking for an apartment close to campus. Residents can enjoy a central recreation room with a pool table as well as two large flat screen TVs, lounge seating, and vending machines. For outdoor fun, there is a swimming pool with barbeque area, basketball and beach volleyball courts, and a large grassy area.

Click here to learn more about Century Apartments.

Community Bonding, Special Off-Campus Trips, and Friends for a Lifetime

Hear what our previous residents are saying about their APIDA Floor experience!

"Overall, it was a really fun and relaxing time. I feel as though the people from the floor are pretty close and open to one another!"

"I enjoyed living on the APIDA floor. I met some of my closest friends who I still maintain relationships with today. What I liked about it is the fact that I didn't feel the need to hide or justify parts of my identity/culture with those around me, because they usually related with me or came from the same/similar cultures. I also loved my RA and the vibe of the floor."

"[The most positive experience I had living on the APIDA Floor was] [b]eing able to go on field trips with the whole floor along with our RA. Those were some of the best trips I did in all of college. One time we all went to a Clippers game, we took the Metro there. We also went to Little Tokyo and got a tour, we had lunch at a pho place with the whole APIDA floor."

"My experience was fulfilling and welcoming. I was able to make friends with nearly everyone on the floor and felt a close-knit bond through birthday celebrations and other outings (e.g., to Little Tokyo)."

"I had an extremely positive experience living on the APIDA floor. I loved it so much that I lived on it again during my second (sophomore) year in which I later became the APIDA floor RA."

"I really enjoyed the sense of community that was formed and the closeness we shared together. Everyone was very inclusive and accepting, and I made a great group of friends."