UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
STUDENT BLOG
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Navigating Your First Year as a USC Trojan
by Lanie Brice
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Navigating Your First Year as a Spring Admit
by Lanie Brice
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How to Balance Your Social Life During Finals
by Donal Buckley
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Study Tips and Habits to Get Through Finals Season
by Lauren Liang
looking for a specific read?
Journal Exercises For Getting Past Cover Letter Anxiety
By: Star McCown ‘21
The thought of writing a cover letter can be anxiety-inducing, sometimes to the point where you feel paralyzed to start. As someone who has written and peer-edited countless cover letters and personal statements over the years, I’ve come up with a list of journal exercises I send to friends who feel stuck. Not only will these journal exercises help you organize your thoughts, but they will also help you figure out what you want to include before you start writing. Once you’ve completed these exercises, you will be ready to begin your cover letter!
Tips For Balancing a Virtual Internship With School
By: Antonia Le ‘22
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, everything has gone virtual, even the good old internship. With nowhere else to go and nothing to do, I spent most of my Fall semester doing virtual work in conjunction on top of my academic studies. So, here are some quick tips for balancing a full-time course load with a part-time internship:
Are Unpaid Internships Worth It?
By: Antonia Le ‘22
For starters, if you’re looking for a simple “Yes” or “No” question, I’m suggesting that you ask literally anybody else. As with every question related to the workforce, answering this question is complicated, and I know that the answer is different for every field.
Meet Adele Biraghi, Film Production Designer
By: Claire Wong ‘23
Director, screenwriter, and producer Adele Biraghi, a graduate student at SCA, speaks on the struggles of production design within the film industry. Adele works to shed some light on the art of production design, which is often overlooked at USC.
Free Online Classes, Courses, and Certifications You Can Take With All Your New Extra Time
By: Karla Leung ‘22
With classes nearing an end, internships being canceled, and being stuck inside, you probably have a lot more time on your hands. If you’re looking to put that time into learning something new, try taking advantage of these free courses, classes, and certifications, whether it’s to add something to your resume or just to get your feet wet in something you’ve always wanted to try.
Meet Jiwon Lee, Third Culture Teen
By: Ann Nguyen ‘22
Quarantining has left us with a little extra time on our hands. If, like me, you are looking for new reads to add to your list, I have the perfect book for you: Third Culture Teen: In Between Cultures, In Between Life Stages — written by USC student, Jiwon Lee.
20+ Questions To Ask During An Interview (When You Don’t Know What To Ask)
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
If you have ever been interviewed, or have even just talked to a career representative at a career fair, you’ve probably heard this question at the end of the conversation: “Do you have any questions for me?” Too often many of us are so grateful to have just gotten to the end of an interview, we brush past that final question, not even realizing the power it holds. I didn’t even realize until recently just how much of a tool this question can be. The right questions can turn an okay interview great, and make a great interview even better! But what exactly should you ask? What if you think you don’t have any questions? What if you just can’t think of anything? Don’t worry! Here are twenty-two easy questions that’ll be sure to aid your next interview or career fair, regardless of the type of job or how sure you are that you have “covered everything” already.
Using Your Winter Break for a Great Spring Semester
By: Antonia Le ‘22
This year, USC’s winter break lasts from December 19 to January 12, which gives students just under a month to rest, relax, and recharge before getting back on the grind. However, I know that I’d hate myself if January 12 came and I spent my entire break being unproductive. If you’re looking for something to do over winter break that will help you start the Spring 2020 semester on a good note, read onward for some tips that might help you!
Apply to be a RA! FAQs
By: Sophia Pei ‘22
What is a RA? It stands for Resident Assistant and we’re the people planning your community meetings and giving out free food at your residence halls across USC. The application to apply for the RA position for the 2020-2021 school year is now open and can be found at Erezlife. Keep reading to learn more about the position and application process!
Recap: Women of Cinematic Arts Industry Panel w/ Sarah Gilman
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
One of the first clubs I signed up for as a freshman at USC, even before I officially began studying screenwriting, was Women of Cinematic Arts. As someone who did, and still does want to work in the film industry, I thought it’d be a great way to meet people with similar interest — and it is! In their own words, Women of Cinematic Arts is an “official alumnae organization of the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. Since our founding in 2005, we have been dedicated to supporting women in film, television and digital industries by providing fellowship and professional development opportunities.” The organization hosts a variety of different events, from mixers to creative workshops, but a recent event that truly stood out was an industry panel featuring Sarah Gilman! Sarah Gilman, an actress known from series such as I Didn’t Do It (2014–2015) and Foursome (2016–Present), recently graduated from USC’s Film and Television Production program. Hosted by Women of Cinematic Arts, Gilman returned to campus for an intimate discussion about her experience balancing life as an actor and a student.
What To Do Post-Graduation (that isn’t getting a 9-5 job!)
By: Talia Walters ‘20
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been asked what I plan on doing after graduation almost nonstop since the beginning of my senior year. My answer is always the same – a scoff that’s the mixture between exasperation, terror, and immediate anxiety – which usually prompts a sympathetic laugh in response. We all focus so hard on getting into grad school or making sure we apply to all the right jobs, that no one really stops to realize we don’t have to do those things. No one is forcing us to go to Med School or Law School, and no one is making us get a big person job. If it doesn’t seem right for you to send in application after application, sealing your fate until you retire, then don’t. Nothing bad is going to happen to you. Of course, you still need an answer to that dreaded question. What would you do after graduation if you weren’t doing more school or going straight into the workforce? Well, friend, do I have a list for you! Below, I’ve compiled a few different routes for post-grad life that aren’t just going to grad school or getting a “real” job. They’re all entirely unique options, and maybe you’ll find the one that’s right for you!
The Education of an Idealist: Samatha Power Discusses Memoir at USC
By: Sumaya Hussaini ‘22
Academic, author, diplomat, and former UN ambassador Samantha Power joined USC students and faculty in Bovard Auditorium to discuss her new memoir, The Education of an Idealist, Tuesday night. The event was presented by the USC Speakers Committee and Power was accompanied on stage by USC Center on Public Diplomacy director, Jay Wang.