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?
Questions To Expect In Every Interview And How To Answer Them
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
I’ve had a couple of interviews these past two weeks or so, and I’ve definitely noticed a pattern: the questions. While every interview was a bit different, the majority of the questions were just variations of ones I had answered previously. So below, I’ve not only compiled a list of those questions and ones similar, but I’ve given you some tips on how to answer them. Keep reading if you want to figure out how to ace your next interview!
Reviewing USC’s Stay Active Premium Pass
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
With a lot of us still stuck at home, fitness has been a popular topic this year — everyone trying to make the best out of their situation. I’ve made a post about fitness/working out before, but I recently became aware of another option for students: WORK. USC Rec Sports partnered with WORK to bring you even more workouts. WORK offers not only live (everyday but Sunday), but a collection of pre-recorded videos for constant access. Not limited by a schedule, students can have full control over when you’d like to work out, even past the semester. While there are a collection of free classes available, WORK and USC Rec Sports is offering a 70% discount for USC students to total in at $25 a month.
Revisiting The Basics: Self-Care Checklist
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
Well, 2020 has been quite the year, or I guess I should say “is” since even now, we’re still going through it. Staying on top of schoolwork in a condensed semester would be a struggle regardless, but on top of our current climate, at least for me, “tough” doesn’t really cover it. Finding a balance between work and self-care is extremely difficult, but it’s also extremely important. Essential, really. Which brings me to this post: a checklist and a list of resources. Listed below are reminders and tools to so you can take care of yourself and help you get through this crazy time. If you feel you haven’t been taking care of yourself as well as you should have, this is your sign to turn it all around.
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.
When To Take A Class Pass/Fail
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
As the year begins to wind down and we make our plans for the next semester, you may or may not be considering taking a class Pass/Fail. While it is still pretty early in the decision-making process, it does not hurt to get a jump start in considering all your options. If you do not know what the Pass/Fail option is, you can read here to find out, but if you do and you are just not sure whether it is the right decision — keep on reading!
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.
Sick Day/Day-Off Checklist
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
Being perfectly honest, I was never one of those people who got perfect attendance. I just couldn’t do it. At some point during the year, I’m either going to come down with something or just completely burn myself out. I’m a believer in breaks sometimes being necessary and that there is nothing wrong with them, but as college students, we do have responsibilities and we can’t just throw them to the wind at every whim. So, before you go ahead and skip that 9AM lecture because you’re feeling a bit off, run through this list and make sure you have all your pieces in place.
How To Write An Effective Follow-Up Email
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
If you do not write follow-up emails on the regular, you are probably missing out. Networking is a huge part of the college experience and a great way to foster those relationships with future employers/possible mentors is through follow-up emails. Even if you are writing them to every recruiter, speaker, or alumni you meet, you may not be going about it in the best way. So, if you want to learn the most effective method to express your self, thankfulness, and career aspirations through email, keep reading!
Going Solo To Football Games
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
USC is known for its football games. Whether because of the team itself, the award-winning band who miraculously stands the entire time or Traveler who gallops around the field after our team scores, there’s a reason #FIGHTON trends on Twitter after a good game. Many people consider the games to be a huge part of not only the USC Experience but the LA one. From alumni to community residents, it is not unusual to see people bring their family or friends from other schools; but for some — whether because everyone they know hates football or are simply busy — they don’t have anyone to go with. Going alone to any event does not always seem like the most enticing experience, but hey, sometimes you don’t wanna miss out! Why should you let a lack of company dissuade you from doing just that? With an event that is so stereotypically linked to the people you go with it, I wondered what it would be like go alone. So, I grabbed my see-through fanny pack and the two sealed water bottles allowed by the coliseum, and I did just that!
Alumni Spotlight: Joy Ofodu
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
The first time I saw Joy Ofodu was the spring before I had even started my year at USC. It was during an organized student breakfast on Admitted Student Day and I, staying true to my oh-so-social nature, settled quietly in the back of the ballroom with my cold eggs and pastries. I didn’t know what kind of presentation to expect at a breakfast; no clue whether I’d actually pay attention or just keep moving around the cold eggs on my plate, but at some point during the program, Joy Ofodu approached the podium. She gave a speech, and for someone who had already been to about a billion other repetitive prospective student gatherings smushed into the month of April before Decision Day, it was refreshingly entertaining. Honestly, even the 10-second clip of it on her Instagram is worth checking out. But what I truly saw then — and what I’d like to share now — was someone who is passionate, driven, and genuinely inspiring in pursuit of their goals.
Interview Tips for Anxious People
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
For people who are socially anxious, even day-to-day conversations can be a bit taxing, so professional interviews are far from easy. Whether you struggle maintaining eye contact, controlling your fidgeting hands, or stumbling over your words, there are ways to improve your chances of scoring that dream job. From one socially awkward over-thinker to another, here’s how to ace your interview:
How To Stop Yourself From Having A Bad Day
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” - William Shakespeare
Imagine this: It’s Monday morning, you’re about to walk into a discussion which you are already late for, and then, you realize you forgot your bag. Later, someone bumps into you and spills hot coffee all over you. Or maybe, you hear about a bad grade, instead? Whatever it is, you feel your mood getting worse and worse and in the end, you end up sulking the entire day because of a couple of bad events. Do not get me wrong, sometimes things happen which completely deserve time to grieve and process, but others are trivial matters that we tend to inflate in our own heads. If this is your case and you feel yourself increasingly getting bothered throughout the day, maybe these tips will help you feel a little bit better.