Coming all the way from Florida, making the decision to come to USC was not easy. However, when I visited campus as an Explore USC participant, I fell in love with this amazing place and realized I could not go anywhere else. The other schools I was considering, Washington University in Saint Louis, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the University of Virginia, offered me great opportunities, but there was something about USC that really separated it and made it the obvious choice for my undergraduate education.
Naturally, the gorgeous campus and unbeatable weather made me feel like I was in paradise the second I stepped foot on campus. More than this, LA excited me; it has a thriving culture and so many things to do. While it was easy to be swayed by those factors, it wasn’t until I listened to the Viterbi presentation that I knew for sure that this would be the school for me.
I had listened to multiple presentations at various schools across the country, and I heard a lot of the same things over and over again. I had decided that Engineering schools were generally pretty similar; they had strict curriculum and didn’t allow much freedom for participation in activities outside of Engineering. When I came to USC, I found that exactly the opposite was true. Viterbi offers a challenging and engaging Engineering curriculum, but on top of that, it encourages its students to become involved outside of the Engineering school. Each of the students I talked to was extremely involved on campus – they were leading the school in Student Government, participating in the Greek System, or taking classes in various disciplines of other schools at USC.
Viterbi offered me opportunities that other schools would not. In my short time here, I have been pleased to learn that all of the promises Viterbi made to me have been honored. It promised me the opportunity to pursue all of my interests while providing me with a top quality Engineering education, which I do through Engineering classes and a Cinematic Arts minor. It also allowed me to join a Research Team as a Freshman, giving me immediate experience in a study of my choice. It assured me that potential employers are impressed by a USC education, proving true when I was hired as a Walt Disney Company Summer Intern. Beyond this, Viterbi promises I’ll be able to Study Abroad, participate in design projects, and become a leader in various student organizations inside and outside of Viterbi. USC has been everything I wanted it to be and more; I could not be happier with my decision to come here.
