The University of Southern California

Date: Sep 11 2012
Major: Other (This Major's Salary over time)
I just recently transferred here from another top-50 university, and it was the best decision I've made yet.

I'm currently undecided, but I came here in hopes of majoring in Critical Studies (School of Cinematic Arts) or Communication (Annenberg). So far, I've dabbled in both, and let me tell you, the classes are phenomenal. I was fortunate to sign up for a class on Popular Music and American Culture with Josh Kuhn, and it's incredibly eye-opening and the material literally stays with you after every lecture. The film professor, Drew Casper, is INTENSE. He serves no mercy, especially to aspiring film students. But this kind of brutally honest attitude does everyone a favor and gives them a big reality check on making it big in the film industry. Something I've been yearning for in an academic environment.

I'm also taking a Science Slavic Fiction course and the professor is brilliant. I've heard of horror stories with GE classes, but Brad Damar? is great! Not only am I enjoying the material my professors are covering, but it's actually challenging me to step out of my comfort zone and tap into a whole new territory. Another thing I love about this school is how laid back most students are - not lazy! Almost everyone I've met here has ambition to thrive and achieve their dream(s). This means I can find more career-oriented people among the student population than at my previous university. There's definitely competition, but it's nothing cutthroat-worthy to mention. As far as class sizes go, they're moderate. I'm used to attending and thriving in a 800 lecture class from my prev university, so the downgrade wasn't a big shocker; it's nice actually because discussions are way more in-depth and intense.

People really seem to complain about the surrounding environment of the campus…honestly, how sheltered are these people?! I'm from a not-so-wealthy neighborhood north of Seattle with a huge Mexican population, and people complain about this place?! First off, it's just common sense that one would not walk around the perimeters of the campus at late night…you wouldn't do that in Seattle, NYC, and you certainly don't do that in LA. You have to have some form of street smarts if you're living here. It's LA…the city where people do whatever they want, and it's pretty obvious once you live here.

Apart from that, the campus is gorgeous! The best times to check out the campus are sunrise and sunset. There's constant renovations going around and about, which can be a nuisance since it can get loud, but the finishing results are always worth it. Parking isn't too bad and if you're willing to the extra mile and park along the neighborhoods, then it's likely free. Parking permits are so expensive, though, it's not worth getting one. To sum things up, I love the location despite its seedy area. USC is really not that far from really cool areas like WeHo, Hollywood, Silverlake, downtown LA, West LA, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, etc. It's literally the perfect location in my opinion.

One thing I just want to boast about is the connections you make here and how far you can go with it. I love this school just for that. I met a professor who worked at NPR and gave me his business card because he wanted me to voice for some broadcast shows. I also landed my very first internship (as a freshman) at a indie film studio called LD Entertainment (The Grey, Silent House, Albert Nobbs). It's just absolutely amazing how far you can get if you network and take advantage of everything SC offers. The name carries a lot of weight, especially in LA, and if you want to work here, then this is THE perfect place to go.

Another wonderful thing about USC is how generous financial aid has been with me. I am so thankful of the opportunities this school has given me. Coming from a working-class background and wanting to go into the film industry, everyone looks down on me. After all, I don't have any connections to the industry whatsoever, so I'm starting from scratch. USC made it possible for me to attend without making me spend a cent on tuition. Granted, I do pay for additional fees and etc., but it's still an amazing deal I couldn't pass up on.

I see the education here more on the vocational side, teaching you skills to get to work immediately post-grad with a perfect balance of humanities and liberal arts to keep you thinking hard. Everything here just suits my lifestyle and endeavors. Oh, and the stereotypes here - obviously not true. There are lots of the frat-type guys, but they're not that bad, honestly. A lot of them are laid-back and actually care to get work done and succeed in life. Those who don't will obviously either flunk out or wont find a job and blame the university for it. Otherwise, this is a great value for a university. I can't wait for the future years here at SC!