Student Perspectives: What I Wish I Knew When I Was Applying to USC As a First-Year Student
Hi there! My name is Leilani. I’m a sophomore from Chicago, IL majoring in Cinema and Media Studies. I wanted to tell you all about what I wish I knew when I was applying to USC in my senior year of high school. First things first, and I will say this over and over: DON’T STRESS YOURSELF OUT! Stress makes applying to colleges so much harder than it needs to be. Trust me… I know from experience.
Letters of recommendation
This first topic is something that pertains more to your time in high school rather than actually applying to colleges, but I still think it’s important: you should build relationships with your teachers during your four years of high school. It makes the college application process easier because (1) you’ve added another person to the list of individuals who can help you and (2) you can also ask for a letter of recommendation from them. Letters of recommendation are important, and you want them to accurately represent you as a student and person. Having teachers that can speak to how you are in a school setting gives admission counselors a good view of you as a future member of their academic community. In hindsight, I wish I had had more teachers that I could turn to for letters of recommendation—and to just help me out with the college application process.
Test scores
Now moving onto things you’ll probably be more worried about your senior year. One thing that really stressed me out when I was looking at USC was my SAT score. I wasn’t very confident in my score, and I was convinced that it was going to stop me from being admitted. For my graduating class, test scores were optional for USC (and they still are for this year), but I still didn’t feel good about mine. It was only when I realized that all parts of my application were going to be considered (and not just my test scores) that I began to calm down. In short, what I’m trying to say is that your test scores don’t define who you are, and they certainly aren’t the most important part of your application.
Holistic application review
This leads me to my next point: your application goes through something called a holistic review process. This means that all components of your application are reviewed and weighed. I wish I knew this when I was applying because I might have put a bit more effort into some parts of my application. (If only we could go back in time, right? But, of course, things worked out, so I must have done something right!) I should admit that I also should have been less stressed about other parts of my application. For example, I overthought those silly questions such as, “Who would you have as a celebrity roommate?” I thought that if I said the wrong person, I wouldn’t be admitted. The Quick Takes section is just intended to get to know you better and there aren’t right or wrong answers. Be true to yourself and don’t put answers you think admission counselors want to hear.
Not having a set path in mind for yourself
Finally, don't worry if you don’t know exactly what you want to do! You have time to figure it out, even once you get to college. So don’t stress over which major is the perfect fit for you. There have been plenty of students who think one major is perfect for them but then they start taking classes and realize they HATE it…and that’s okay! You’re still changing and growing as a person, so give yourself some grace. Don’t think you have to have everything figured out when you’re applying. And don’t be afraid to ask questions! I didn’t decide what I wanted to major in until I was applying to schools, and I wish that I had asked more questions to my admission counselor about all of the programs in the USC School of Cinematic Arts. I listed Film and Television Production as my first-choice major and, knowing little about it, Cinema and Media Studies as my second choice major. When I didn’t get into my first-choice major, I remember being a little upset about it—even if I was still happy about getting into USC. But, when I started my classes, I found that I enjoyed Cinema and Media Studies—a lot! So, just remember: you don’t have to know exactly what you want to do when you get here. You might even discover new possibilities!
Closing thoughts
Overall, try not to stress yourself out when applying to colleges. It’s easier said than done, but I promise you that it makes the process so much easier. And don’t be afraid to ask questions! Reach out to your admission counselor. They’re there to help. And if you aren’t sure who that person is, go to the Find My Counselor section of the admission website. In closing, whatever happens, don’t let an admission decision decide who you are. Be yourself in your application and be confident in who you are as a student and a person! You’ll end up where you’re meant to be, whether it’s at USC or elsewhere. Fight on!
Written by: Leilani Thomas, Class of 2026