Student Perspectives: How to use your resources when applying

Hi everyone! My name is Pragya Bhatt, a current USC undergraduate student. Four years ago, I was in the same position many of you might be in right now: late nights, endless doomscrolling, too many tabs open, and opinions coming from just about everyone around me who wanted to chime in. College applications were definitely stressful, and though I knew there was a wealth of information out there, it took time (and a lot of trial and error) to figure out how to actually use that information in a way that felt meaningful for my own journey. Now, looking back, I’ve realized that true value came from learning how to use information intentionally. Having applied to around 30 universities for 4 different majors, here are some of the biggest takeaways from my application process:

1. Find information that is related to your own circumstances

I quickly realized how easy it is to get lost in rankings and the “top 10” lists that come up with any quick Google search. But my biggest progress came when I started doing specific research that connected to my own circumstances. I built myself a formula: Fact → Link → Meaning. For every fact I found online, I pushed myself to link it back to my own interests and what it would mean for my academic journey.

For example, when I learned that USC has an open course policy, I realized that this would allow me to explore all my academic interests: Theatre, Communication, Psychology, and Politics. That mattered to me because I knew that I didn’t want an education that forced me into one box. Anyone can find the same facts, but it’s how you personalize them that matters.

Beyond this framework, I also found a lot of value in looking past just university homepages. I explored department-specific sites, reviewed organizations’ Instagram pages, browsed class schedules, and even built rough course plans for each school I was considering. I read student blogs (like this one) to understand what the university student experience actually feels like. There’s so much more depth in these kinds of sources than in just the facts, figures, and lists you see at first glance.

At the end of the day, you have access to an incredible amount of information and perspectives due to the internet. It all comes down to how you use it.

2. Talk to people for insights that you cannot google

One of the most valuable things I did during my application process was what I found the most intimidating: reaching out to people. This was honestly my biggest fear during the application process – I remember overthinking every email, wondering if I was saying the “right” thing or if I was being a bother.

Now that I’m on the other side, I’ve realized that people genuinely want to help. Whether it’s your admissions counselor, a student you find through a blog or LinkedIn, or an alum from your high school, they were all in your shoes not long ago and are often excited to pay that support forward.

When I spoke to current students, I asked questions that I couldn’t find answers online like: What does a typical day look like? What surprised you most when you got here? What have you found to be the biggest challenges you have learned from during your time? These answers showed me a lens of each program that I would never have understood otherwise.

At the end of the day, research gives you important information, but conversations give you perspective. Combining the two allows you to make decisions (and write applications) that feel much more personalized to yourself.

3. Treat your applications like a big project

My biggest strength when it came to completing my college applications was treating it as a large multi-level project. I applied to over 24 universities, including some where I completed multiple rounds of self-tapes, auditions, interviews, and portfolios. Very quickly, I realized that with so many moving parts, I would need to stay organized and prepared.

I began by breaking the process into phases. Instead of trying to do everything at once, I focused only on what needed my attention at each stage. I started early during my junior year of high school, gathering as much information as I could about each school. Next, I built a large excel, tracking locations, majors, programs, pros and cons, requirements, and my Fact → Link → Meaning framework for processing information. From there, I moved into writing. I went through over 30 drafts of my Common Application essay alone, alongside supplemental essays and audition preparation. Then came filming, interviews, and finally submission. When I was researching schools, I wasn’t stressed about essays yet.

I also leaned heavily on my organizational tools. My color-coded Excel sheet was bookmarked, and my Notion database tracking the status of each application stayed open almost constantly. As someone who naturally leans Type A, having everything laid out in one place made the entire process feel far less chaotic.

I also worked backwards from my deadlines. Instead of telling myself, “The USC application is due January 15th,” I set earlier, personal deadlines of when I wanted a first draft essay done, when I would revise, and when I would finalize. This gave me buffer room, and I found that by breaking it up, I was able to stay focused and on track in a process where a lot of decisions ultimately felt out of my control.

4. Tours and Information Sessions

As an international student, one of the things I wanted most during my application process was to actually see the campuses I was applying to. I knew that no amount of reading and research could fully replace the feeling of being on the campus. I was lucky enough to visit a few universities in person, including a self-guided tour at USC. Those experiences gave me a completely different perspective. There was something about walking around campus and seeing how students interact that helped me imagine myself at each school in a way that a website just could not.

That said, I also know that visiting in person isn’t always possible, especially for my fellow international students. Thus, there are a variety of other avenues: virtual tours and information sessions, which can be just as valuable if you use them intentionally. Many universities offer really detailed virtual experiences, along with live zoom sessions where you can hear directly from admissions officers and current students.

What makes sessions especially helpful is that you’re getting perspectives straight from the source. You’re hearing people tell their own stories while having the opportunity to interact with them in real-time by asking any questions you may have.

Whether it’s in person or online, taking the time to engage with tours and info sessions can help you move beyond just knowing about a school to actually understanding what it might feel like to be there.

As you embark on your college application journey, I hope some of these tips help make the process feel a little more organized and less overwhelming. There is so much information out there, and it can feel like you need to take all of it in at once. However, please just remember that the real skill is learning how to filter and use it in a way that actually serves you. I hope you also remember that what matters most throughout this entire process is staying true to yourself and your own path. Whatever your journey looks like from here, we wish you all the best! Fight On!