Please provide a statement that addresses your reasons for transferring to University of Southern California and the objectives you hope to achieve.
ABOUT ME and SOME ROUGH THOUGHTS TO CONSIDER WHEN DRAFTING ESSAY. I DO NOT EXPECT THESE THOUGHTS TO BE IN THE ESSAY WORD FOR WORD. THEY ARE JUST THOUGHTS AND IDEAS. I am applying to USC School of Dramatic Arts Major – Theatre, Acting Emphasis (BA)* I want to pursue acting and screenwriting.
Attending USC enables me to not only chase, but fulfil my dream.
Creativity is more than just a word in my life. It’s a sense of purpose. Taking the train every weekend to Manhattan to attend my acting classes and catch a Broadway show was more than just finding a creative outlet, I was embarking on a journey to my dream career. For me, acting invigorates my mind and emotions and screenwriting expands my imagination. Because of USC’s interdisciplinary opportunities, I believe that I will be able to cultivate my passion for acting while studying the craft of screenwriting for television and film.
Having more than one skill as a creator is an important ideal to me. As a theatre major with an acting emphasis, I will immerse myself in the art of acting while exploring screenwriting. Ultimately, I want to change societal perspectives through my own stories, whether I’m playing the lead role or in the writer’s room. That is one reason why I fell in love with USC. Encouraging students to follow their dreams with courage is a value USC and I have in common. To me, creativity should be at the forefront of any endeavor and USC makes that possible.
Outside of the classroom, the Trojan spirit and lively atmosphere of USC’s extracurricular activities already energizes me. I envision myself collaborating with other screenwriters in student-led productions with the Film & Television Writers of USC club and joining the Theatre Student Association’s executive board. USC’s passion and school camaraderie are infectious and I already feel like family.
Spirit – FIGHT ON! The school spirit here is unlike any other school I have ever been to or visited. There is a certain energy about USC, a wave of pride over campus, an immediate connection with alumni that make this school truly the best school on Earth.
Size – Small Family Feel
Career Guidance and Opportunities
USC Community and People
Los Angeles – Just minutes from Downtown LA and only a short ride
Global Reach
Connections – Connections are huge at USC. Fox News, ESPN, JP Morgan and Google, just to name a few, are some of the many companies who specifically reach out to USC students for internship opportunities and post-grad careers. And not to mention the incredibly engaged professors who are so willing to help make these internships happen for students. The loyalty of alum is well-established and personal connections feed USC graduates job opportunities, invitations to professional affiliations, and friendships for life.
Special Type of Students – Whether you’re a communications, chemical engineering, or business major, chances are you all have one thing in common…a diligent sense of ambition. It’s a campus of people radiant with big dreams and entrepreneurial ideas. Just looking around the campus, you see everyone smiling. It’s a sense of being at home and belonging.
Extracurricular activities
Beautiful Campus
Famous USC Alumni
At an Authentic Relating Games night, my teacher once gave me some great advice – “Voice, you’re only as strong as your own inner voice, so let it break through”. Those words changed my life. As a kid, I was known for being shy and quiet. I had always found public speaking to be the equivalent of being made to “walk the plank” like in those old pirate movies. It wasn’t until I took an evening Improv class at my local theatre that I was confronted by my anxiety. That night, I was standing in a large circle with nine other students. The tense air floating between our arms and legs as we watched our instructor give his best impression of the cyborg-assassin from The Terminator. Like a dam breaking, the clamorous vibration of my classmates’ laughter built as we each took turns impersonating furniture and characters. With clammy sweaty palms, I listened to the rhythmic drumming of my heart in my ears as I took in the unapologetic wantonness of my peers. A quick chirp of my name zipped through the room and slowly but courageously, I made my way to the middle of the circle. Kissing both my biceps while trying to undo the knots in my stomach. I squatted down and braced my hands on some imaginary metal and pretended to lift a 130lbs barbell above my head. Intrusive jittery words faded from my mind as my eyes met with wrinkled eyes and upturned mouths. Courage allows us to break free of our own restraints and embrace our own uniqueness.
I originally chose to attend Northern Virginia Community College and George Mason University because I wanted to follow my mother’s example and work as a federal contractor. In high school, I had an enthusiasm for learning foreign languages and a curiosity in the intelligence community and decided to explore that interest in college. Staying close to home and supporting my family helped reduce my college expenses since NOVA offered $185.50 credit per class. While I had completed what I set out to do, it was not until I worked as a for two years that I realized how much I valued creativity and passion. For me, connecting human experiences through immersive storytelling is far more rewarding than writing proposals and inputting employee data. Since I could not find intensive acting studios in my local area, I decided to enroll in two acting studios. The Barrow Group Studio and Kimball Studio in New York City. Travelling up to New York every weekend has been liberating and I have discovered a newfound passion for adventure and independence.
Just like a dam breaking and water flowing free, I have appreciated the importance of listening to your own voice and following your own dreams. As an aspiring actor and screenwriter, my dream is to share uplifting and empowering stories that encourage others to break free from their own constraints.
