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 something to read?
Why You Should Take CTWR 409: Fundamentals of Screenwriting
By: Kristen Adams ‘25
Whether you’re a business major who writes pitches, an acting major interested in exploring the behind-the-scenes, or a journalism major who just loves to write, storytelling is everywhere and in everything we do. As a Business of Cinematic Arts major who loves watching sci-fi and psychological thrillers, I took CTWR 409 just for fun, and unexpectedly came out of the class with a newly added Screenwriting minor! Here are 3 reasons why you should consider taking this class.
Spotlighting Girl Up USC and Q&A with GirlUpUSC President Rumaisa Islam!
By: Tamanna Sood ‘24
Founded in 2010 by the United Nations Foundation, Girl Up is a girl-centered leadership development initiative focusing on equity for girls and women in underrepresented spaces. I first learned about Girl Up through my friend Rumaisa Islam, who coincidentally happens to be the president of the USC chapter this year. I recently got the chance to sit down with Islam to learn more about the organization:
What I Wish I Knew As A Journalism Major at USC
By: Tamanna Sood ‘24
If you’re a journalism major and you’re feeling super overwhelmed and thinking about changing your major, but still like journalism - don’t worry we have literally all been there. My journalism friends and I can all attest to our second year being our “weeder” year — most of us were at difficult crossroads in deciding whether to continue in the major or not. If you feel the same way, don’t worry, I got you! Here are some tips for getting through your second year as a journalism student:
Things I Wish I Knew Before My Remote Internship
By: Ani Antonyan ‘24
As I scrambled through Handshake looking for a summer internship last year, I noticed a lot of job offerings were remote or hybrid. I ended up landing a fully remote internship for a company based in London. If you’re job hunting, or have a remote or hybrid job lined up for the summer, here’s my take on the unexpected challenges that come with remote work, along with tips for navigating the ins and outs of the workspace.
I Went to the USC Career Center, Here’s How It Went
By: Ani Antonyan ‘24
Transitioning from college life to the real world is exhilarating yet terrifying. It's hard not to think about your future— especially as graduation approaches. As the semesters fly by, I catch myself pondering whether I'm prepared for what’s ahead. Luckily, the USC Career Center is here to help USC students navigate our future and goals. Come with me on my adventure to sort out my career and show you the resources you can take advantage of.
International Students: How to apply for OPT at USC
By: Ngai Yeung ‘23
For international students who are graduating in May 2023, now’s the time to start applying for OPT if you want to stay and work in the United States after graduation. Even though I’m aware of OPT, I’d put off learning about how to actually apply for it until now because it seemed so complicated. Here’s a (hopefully) more straightforward step-by-step guide that incorporates the USC Office of International Service’s (OIS) video and website as well as outside sources.
Tips for Applying to a Consulting Club at USC
By: Kristen Adam ‘25
Ready to enter the world of consulting and casing? One way of preparing for a career in consulting is to join a student organization geared towards hands-on client projects. With multiple rounds of interviews and only so many open spots available for new members, it can be very nerve-wracking to go through the process of applying to a consulting club at USC. Here are 3 tips to help demystify the application process.
My Favorite USC Class (CTCS 466)
By: Hannah Skinner ‘23
What if I told you you could get college credit for watching newly released films and speaking with their filmmakers? I can’t think of a cooler opportunity. This class is movie night with added academic benefits — truly an opportunity you shouldn’t miss out on.
Career Preparation Resources @ USC
By: Ela Rybak ‘25
Whether you’re a pre-med student hoping to become a doctor or a business major set on investment banking, the job market can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Here are three tips to make navigating recruiting as painless as possible:
The Introvert’s Guide to Networking
By: Ngai Yeung ‘23
Everyone loves to talk about how important networking is, but no one ever gives you a clear answer about how to do it. As a big time introvert, this is extra frustrating because chatting doesn’t come naturally to me. So when I saw that the USC Career Center was hosting a “Networking for Introverts” workshop (bless their heart), of course, I had to check it out. Here’s what I learned at the event, along with my own experiences as a reporter moonlighting as an extrovert:
Setting realistic standards 101
By: Sydney Fiorentino ‘24
Most goals cannot be achieved overnight. While I may go to bed early one night, creating consistency and not falling back on my old habits is hard. I’m trying to implement this goal by setting a routine or schedule for myself, and being okay with not perfectly meeting my goals all the time.
How to fix your sleep schedule
By: Sydney Fioerentino ‘24
I used to be an insomniac. I couldn’t fall asleep no matter how hard I tried, and I would stay awake until 3-5 a.m. each night. My body felt tired, but my mind was lit up worrying about school. When I couldn’t take it anymore, I knew something had to give.