Freshman Academy

All first-year students in Viterbi are invited to enroll in Freshman Academy (ENGR 102), a class that allows new Viterbi students to learn about the field of engineering, understand how engineers think and approach problem-solving, and examine the ethical, societal, and political impact of engineering. The class also brings together students from all engineering majors, giving students the opportunity to meet other first-year students and build their Viterbi community. Each Academy section is led by an experienced faculty member and two upper-division engineering students called Freshman Academy Coaches who serve as mentors and resources for questions about student life in Viterbi.

Freshman Academy Faculty

Freshman Academy is taught by experienced faculty from a variety of departments across Viterbi, giving students the opportunity to get to know an engineering professor in a small-class setting.

All-Academy Lectures

Students in Freshman Academy are provided with the opportunity to hear from professionals, innovators, researchers, and USC alumni in the engineering field through the All-Academy Lecture Series.

Fall 2022 Coaches

Freshman Academy Coaches are current Viterbi sophomores, juniors, and seniors in different engineering majors. Coaches can answer any questions you have about the course, Viterbi, USC, and any issues or challenges that you might face during your first year.
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Alessandra Sinibaldi

Year: Senior
Majors: Industrial & Systems Engineering, Italian
Hometown: Guatemala City, Guatemala

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Women in Engineering, Society of Women Engineers, Expat

Hobbies/interests:
Marathon running, cars

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Going to The Pantry after 3 AM studying
  • Sunset Cromwell Track days
  • 1 AM handstands in Leavey with my friends to wake up
  • “Family” Dinner at McCarthy

Advice for freshmen:

  • Once a semester, get lost on campus. Try really hard to get lost and find new places. You will always find something new.
  • Talk to your professors, go to office hours, send them emails. They actually love to get to know you and offer amazing advice and opportunities.
  • Your smallest interests can open the biggest doors. Don’t do something because it looks good on paper. Genuine interest and curiosity will drive you much further.
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Anisha Rao

Year: Senior/PDP Master's
Major: B.S. Astronautical Engineering, M.S. Product Development Engineering
Hometown: Sacramento, CA

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Dance @ USC, Unruh Associates, Society of Women Engineers

Hobbies/interests:
Cooking, dancing, martial arts, and traveling!

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Football game days with friends
  • Late night boba runs to Pot of Cha
  • SpaceX tour with my ASTE 101 class
  • Learning to skateboard

Advice for freshmen:

  • Everyone wants to make friends, so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, especially within the first couple weeks of school!
  • Take your first year to explore clubs (engineering and non-engineering) you’re interested in. It’s never too late to try something new!
  • Go to career events, office hours, club meetings, etc. Get to know as many professors, classmates (in and out of your major), and industry professionals as you can. This network of people will be invaluable to you later on.
  • Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s okay to mess up!
  • Get off campus and explore LA! Go outside! There’s so much to experience beyond USC.
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Anuja Shah

Year: Senior
Major: Electrical & Computer Engineering, minor in Legal Studies
Hometown: Paolo Alto, CA

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
USC Solar Car team, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) mentorship program, Alzheimer’s research

Hobbies/interests:
Trying new food, reading, traveling, cooking (with friends), Citibiking

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Taking the Expo line down to Santa Monica
  • Late night El Huero
  • Live Sean Kingston

Advice for freshmen:

  • Get off campus and explore the city so you can really say you lived in LA.
  • Take 2-unit classes for fun (audit them if you want to). There are so many cool and easy 2-unit classes that can help you unwind or learn more (like sailing or archery).
  • Take up your professors' time, even if you think you’re just being annoying, so they'll remember you and be able to help you outside of class.
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Ashley Brady

Year: PDP Master's
Major: B.S. Environmental Engineering, Master of Construction Management
Hometown: Chicago, IL

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Camp Kesem, Engineers Without Borders, Childress Research Lab, Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, Ultimate Frisbee Intramurals

Hobbies/interests:
Hiking, hammocking, yoga, volleyball, watching the Cubs

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Football gamedays
  • Singing/dancing to country music with my roommate
  • Camp Kesem counselor retreat

Advice for freshmen:

  • Go to the involvement fair and sign up for everything you’re interested in. (You can try it all out and then pick what you like.)
  • Join clubs you love!
  • Never be afraid to ask upperclassmen for advice.
  • Late night deep talks are worth the one less hour of sleep.
  • Roommate dance parties are a great way to release stress.
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Ava Landen

Year: Sophomore
Major: Mechanical Engineering, minor in Dance
Hometown: Swampscott, MA

Student involvement/organizations/campus
Viterbi Funding Board, MEDesign, Society of Women Engineers, Surf Club, Chamber Ballet Company, Rocket Propulsion Lab

Hobbies/interests:
Ballet, tennis, surfing, hiking

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Meeting some of my best friends (especially within Viterbi!)
  • Exploring LA and going on hikes
  • Living in a dorm and being surrounded by students at all times

Advice for freshmen:

  • Create a “board of directors” including professors, classmates, friends, etc.! Make sure you are taking advantage of the incredible people and resources that surround you.
  • Don’t forget to set aside time for fun activities.
  • Sign up for any club or organization that sounds appealing. You never know what you may end up loving.
  • Keep your eyes peeled and your mind open to new experiences and opportunities.
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Cameron Cole

Year: Senior
Major: Computer Science/Business Administration
Hometown: Chicago, IL

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
National Society of Black Engineers, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., National Pan-Hellenic Council, Viterbi Student Ambassadors

Hobbies/interests:
Skateboarding, hiking, watching/playing basketball, cooking, meditating

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • First football game and tailgate
  • Skating around campus late at night when it’s empty
  • Taking the metro to Santa Monica and Venice for the first time
  • Finally trying boba
  • Salsa night on the first Friday of every month

Advice for freshmen:

  • College is about way more than classes. Take school seriously but remember to have fun, go out, make friends, and have a good time.
  • Never worry about speaking up in class. Odds are, 5 other people had the same question you did.
  • Don’t be afraid if your interests change; embrace it.
  • It’s easy to get caught up in comparing yourself to others with different backgrounds and experiences, so just focus on trying your personal best in everything you do.
  • The more you get out of your comfort zone, the more you’ll make the most of your SC experience.
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Cynthia Ionova

Year: Junior
Major: Chemical Engineering
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
American Institute for Chemical Engineers (AIChE), Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Women in Engineering mentorship program

Hobbies/interests:
Reading, baking, playing Pokemon, food!!

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Attending football games with friends and roommates
  • USC Welcome Week concert ft. Saweetie
  • Dining hall crepes and ice cream
  • Waking up at 2 AM to a blaring fire alarm and going to Starbucks instead of back to bed. It was fun 🙂

Advice for freshmen:

  • Make a calendar with all of your assignments for the semester! It makes it so much easier to keep track of your homework and get a head start on larger projects or essays.
  • Start building your network – it doesn’t have to be super time-intensive or stressful. Just join some professional clubs related to your major or other interests. The Trojan Family is very much real, so try to be a part of it.
  • Don’t worry about finding your ideal friend group freshman year. You have so much time in college to meet amazing people, the kind that you fit in perfectly with.
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Felipe Morelli

Year: Senior
Major: Civil Engineering, minor in Urban Sustainable Planning
Hometown: Bogotá, Colombia

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Troy Camp, Admission Center, Hispanic International Latino Organization, Expat Society, Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity

Hobbies/interests:
Movies, TV, hiking, biking, finding new restaurants, dogs

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • My friends and I went to a movie premiere and ran into Ed Helms!!
  • One time the fire alarm went off at 2 AM, and my friends and I decided to go to Starbucks instead of going back to bed. It was fun 🙂

Advice for freshmen:

  • Seek Discomfort: put yourself in situations which you might not imagine yourself. College is a time to try new things!
  • Get involved. It can be very overwhelming to come to college but a great thing to do is join clubs and orgs that interest you, as this will allow you to meet new people 🙂
  • Do your research! USC has so much to offer, look into all the different programs/services that USC has in order to make the most out of your time here.
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Gianna Beck

Year: Senior
Major: Computer Science Games
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Viterbi Student Ambassador, Children’s Hospital LA volunteer, Viterbi Research Fellow, Society 53, Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, SC Climbing, Surf Club, AMF President

Hobbies/interests:
Climbing, hiking, writing, beach days, thrift shopping, redecorating my room constantly, game nights

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • My friend and I wearing our matching pink feathered cowboy hats down to the McCarthy dining hall to get some late night crepes 
  • Disneyland trips with friends and my sorority 
  • Dance parties with my roomies while doing face masks and eating spicy ramen
  • Ice skating at LA Live and starting a conga line 
  • Trash talking my UCLA-grad brother at Thanksgiving after we beat them 
  • Painting on the lawn outside Griffith Observatory at sunset
  • Late night boba breaks with my friends down the hall, making sure to stop at the fountain by Traveler that had once again been filled with laundry detergent and was overflowing with bubbles

Advice for freshmen:

  • Talk to that person next to you in class! Everyone’s looking to make friends!
  • School is important but it’s not everything! I know it’s cheesy but sleep and mental health are really key, so close the computer and go on a walk with a friend or take a nap. Everyone’s feeling the pressure and stress, you’re not alone!
  • Try everything you can (but make sure to still get some sleep)! If a club sounds interesting, go to a meeting or two! If your friends are heading to a new restaurant in DTLA, join them! If anything at all looks exciting, just do it!
  • Dance off the stress with your roommates, go for a late night dining hall run, attend a guest speaker event, spend a Friday night in watching comedies, explore the different libraries, do what you feel is right!

 

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Ginny Barnes

Year: Senior/PDP Master's
Major: B.S. Mechanical Engineering, M.S. Applied Data Science
Hometown: Seattle, WA

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Freshman Academy, Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority

Hobbies/interests:
Camping, hiking, cooking, reading, watching sunsets, eating burritos

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Staying with my best friends in La Jolla, CA and getting Better Buzzed coffee (the best)
  • Late night study sessions with my MechE friends and eating Raising Cane’s
  • The first time I walked into the Coliseum on USC gameday
  • Philanthropy day for my sorority

Advice for freshmen:

  • At USC you will meet new friends throughout your four years here, it doesn’t need to happen right at the beginning!
  • Your freshman year is a time for you to explore, and you don’t need to know what your future looks like right away. I had many friends who changed majors, added minors or joined new clubs well after their freshman year.
  • It’s awesome to be involved in many circles at USC. You can be an engineering major and still take a guitar class or join the surf team!
  • Make friends/study groups in your classes! It goes a long way to be able to team up and collaborate with your peers.
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Ipek Goktan

Year: Junior
Major: Computer Science
Hometown: Istanbul, Turkey

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Code the Change, AthenaHacks, Interaction Lab, Grand Challenges Scholars Program, Society of Women Engineers

Hobbies/interests:
Baking, painting, reading, skateboarding, hiking

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Late night zoom calls with friends
  • Baking over Facetime
  • Making boba at the AthenaHacks retreat
  • Taking the metro to Santa Monica

Advice for freshmen:

  • Take advantage of all the resources you have, especially office hours and Supplemental Instruction (SI) sessions.
  • Explore LA as much as you can and have fun!
  • Everything's better with friends! Join clubs and study groups, hang out with your classmates after lectures, and get to know your roommates.
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Justin Lenderman

Year: Sophomore
Major: Computer Science/Business Administration, minor in Mathematical Finance
Hometown: Pearland, TX

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), Club Tennis, Interaction Lab

Hobbies/interests:
Tennis, hiking, basketball, trying new food

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Football games with friends
  • Bryce Vine concert
  • Going bowling at midnight with friends
  • Traveling to Orlando for club tennis

Advice for freshmen:

  • Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. It may feel scary at first, but everyone is super friendly and welcoming.
  • Go to office hours if you don’t understand something. It’s better to figure it out in OH than the night before the exam.
  • Explore LA. It’s such a great city and has cool spots to visit.
  • Go to the Involvement Fair and join clubs that interest you.
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Kasia Felkel

Year: Sophomore
Major: Computer Science/Business Administration
Hometown: Naperville, IL

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Grand Challenges Scholars Program (GCSP), Viterbi Impact Program (VIP), Students Innovating for Grand Challenges (SIGC), Women In Engineering (WIE)

Hobbies/interests:
Yoga, reading, listening to music, and spending time with my favorite people

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Attending volunteering events for the Viterbi Impact Program. Seeing all the younger students and K-12 teachers excited to learn and share STEM was inspiring and invigorating.
  • Football games. Even if you’re not into football, it is a perfect opportunity to make connections and strengthen friendships.
  • Freshman Academy Lecture. Professor Maddox and the coaches relieved my nerves and created a supportive environment that I looked forward to. It helped me overcome my Imposter Syndrome.
  • Movie nights with my roommates. On harder weeks, we would plan movie nights on the weekends.
  • THE BEACH - an easy train ride to Santa Monica. It was always the spontaneous trips that were the best 🙂

Advice for freshmen:

  • Learn to take life one day at a time. Release past mistakes and be grateful for them because you have learned something new. Focus on completing the tasks of the day without being so worried of what is to come - you have no control over the past or future. Stay in your circle of control.
  • You have all the tools you need to be able to handle any situation that arises - you have successfully gone through your entire life and overcome extreme difficulties. Trust you’ll be able to do that moving forward.
  • It’s more important to stay consistent - make a plan that is reasonable and complete as a bare minimum every day. You’ll feel accomplished and motivated to take on more tasks as the days move forward. Do not overbear yourself.
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Keemia Beizai

Year: Senior/PDP Master's
Major: B.S. Industrial & Systems Engineering, M.S. Engineering Management
Hometown: Mission Viejo, CA

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
3D4E, Women in Engineering, Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, Viterbi Career Ambassador, Virtual Peer Mentor, MAD Lab

Hobbies/interests:
Crafting, thrifting & going to flea markets, cooking & baking, going to the beach

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Being in the audience for a taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and going to a movie premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in the same night
  • Going to concerts on campus and in LA
  • Taking the Metro to Santa Monica
  • Going on field trips to the Getty Villa, The Broad, and the Health Sciences Campus

Advice for freshmen:

  • Be open to new experiences! Explore clubs or jobs outside of engineering that you might be interested in. If you think you might be interested in a club or an organization, go to the first meeting and give it a chance.
  • Go to office hours! Your professors and TA’s will always be willing to answer your questions and you can create a personal connection that will help you throughout the semester.
  • If you’re taking chemistry, biology, physics, calculus, or any other class that has SI leaders, try to fit a weekly SI session into your schedule. Even if you feel confident in a class, they have great practice questions and study materials that can help you do your best.
  • Don’t overcommit yourself! Make sure you still have time to focus on your mental health and social life.
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Lucas Mortenson

Year: Junior
Major: Industrial & Systems Engineering
Hometown: Golf, Illinois

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Trojan Scholar Society, Scholars Leading Scholars, Viterbi Student Ambassadors, Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity

Hobbies/interests:
Sports (basketball, baseball, water polo), guitar/vocal performance, Eagle Scout, dogs 😊

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Biking around campus at 2 AM
  • All the foooood
  • Playing catch on campus
  • Walking out around the SC baseball field for the first time
  • 30 minute train ride to Santa Monica
  • Learning to surf
  • Meeting new people

Advice for freshmen:

  • Don’t be afraid to reach out – I had to try and meet other kids on Zoom, so take advantage of seeing people in class and around campus.
  • Explore campus – there are a lot of really cool spots around campus, and walking around sometimes when there aren’t a lot of people around is pretty cool.
  • Get to know the kids in your specific major classes – those are the kids that you are going to be with for the next four years. They don’t have to be your best friends, but it's good to get to know them.
  • Be careful – while the area directly around campus is pretty safe, be sure to know the area is safe if you are leaving campus.
  • Take advantage of the school’s freshman social programs – this is something that I never got to do because school was virtual, but my friends at other schools all found friends through these programs. They are worth going to even if they are a little awkward at first.
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Melanie Toh

Year: Junior
Major: Computer Science
Hometown: Hong Kong

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Head of Marketing at AthenaHacks, ITP104 TA, Scope member, CASA member

Hobbies/interests:
Making art, critiquing my Spotify Discover Weekly, rewatching comfort shows

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Winning ‘Best Meme Award’ at the Scope hackathon
  • FaceTiming my friend to study Calc II and III (COVID semester :/)
  • Becoming good friends with my CSCI170 CP

Advice for freshmen:

  • Go to office hours regularly! I recommend finding a CP/TA that you learn best from, then adding their OH into your weekly schedule.
  • Don’t spread yourself too thin by joining too many clubs/organizations. It’s better to be fully committed to 1-2 clubs and work your way to a leadership position than to be a somewhat absent general member for more.
  • Reach out to your professors! Don’t be afraid to send them a message when you need help or are interested in a research project they’re leading.
  • Make sure you allot enough time for yourself to unwind or have fun with friends! Getting one bad grade is not the end of the world. 🙂
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Min Jung Kim

Year: Senior
Major: Computer Science
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
 Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA; PR Director)

Hobbies/interests:
Anything music-related (singing, listening, producing), traveling, shopping

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Pot of Cha boba runs
  • Exploring restaurants and cafes in K-town
  • Late night drives to the beach
  • Exploring LA with all of my suitemates

Advice for freshmen:

  • Grades aren’t everything. Use your first semester to explore and meet new people.
  • You’re in control of your own decisions.
  • Explore LA and go out often!
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Naomi Ramos Benitez

Year: Junior
Major: Computer Science
Hometown: Albuquerque, NM

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Trojan Event Services, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, USC Bovard Scholars, USC QuestBridge Chapter

Hobbies/interests:
Drawing, reading, writing, character design, cycling, going on virtual vacations in Google Street View, dogs, video games

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Getting a puppy!
  • Still being able to be with friends/family from home
  • Attending Viterbi Summer Institute
  • Meeting the amazing friends that I have now
  • WRIT 150 final project

Advice for freshmen:

  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Many professors, even more so CPs and TAs, are willing to help!
  • Failing a class/getting a low grade is normal, especially in STEM. It may feel terrible but take it as a learning experience! You are not a bad student!
  • Take a break and have a day for yourself and friends. Your health is just as, if not more, important than school <3
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Natalie Humber

Year: Junior
Major: Computer Science
Hometown: Vancouver, WA

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
USC Interaction Lab, Independent Research, CAIS++, Scope, Gamma Phi Beta

Hobbies/interests:
Thrifting, reading, art, board games

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Having the SPICIEST taco of my life at Guisados
  • Meeting friends in unconventional situations
  • Late night game nights
  • Visiting local restaurants

Advice for freshmen:

  • Utilize your support system!
  • Keep a growth mindset - if you didn't do as well as you liked on a midterm or interview, identify what went wrong, and set a plan to bring your goals to fruition.
  • Go to as many dance, theater, and student-run shows that you can! All of your peers are INCREDIBLY talented and it is a fun way to get out of your comfort zone + support other students.
  • Try to get out of the Fryft Zone every once in a while - we live in Los Angeles after all!
  • Remember that college will be full of highs and lows, enjoy the highs and remember the lows will pass! Always ask for help if you need 🙂
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Nathan Hirsch

Year: Senior/PDP Master's
Major: B.S. Astronautical Engineering, M.S. Aerospace Engineering
Hometown: Danville, CA

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Space Engineering Research Center (SERC), Liquid Propulsion Lab (LPL), USC Climbing Team

Hobbies/interests:
Climbing, spending time with friends, listening/making music, hiking

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Football gamedays
  • Meeting my new friends
  • Heaven on Earth (art exhibition a friend made)

Advice for freshmen:

  • You can always reach out for help.
  • It’s best to talk to people about any problems you’re facing rather than holding it all in.
  • It’s okay to be overwhelmed with all the new stuff. It makes more sense with time so there’s no rush to dive into everything.
  • Use all your resources such as the Viterbi Learning Program (VLP), the Math Center, and the Writing Center.
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Neha Yadav

Year: Senior/PDP Master's
Major: B.S. Biomedical Engineering, M.S. Medical Device & Diagnostic Engineering
Hometown: Benicia, CA

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Engineers Without Borders, Research in the USC Biomedical Microsystems Laboratory, Associated Students of Biomedical Engineering, Viterbi Student Ambassadors

Hobbies/interests:
Reading, hiking, road trips to national parks with my family, playing tennis, watching Bollywood movies, terrible carpool karaoke with my sister

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • The night someone filled up the fountain by Traveler with bubble bath soap 🙂
  • Participating in the Min Family Challenge
  • Riding the swan boats in Echo Park
  • Garba
  • Meeting Elizabeth Warren and attending a Pete Buttigieg Town Hall!
  • Attending plays, visiting museums, and going to other cool events put on by the Thematic Option Program
  • USC concerts

Advice for freshmen:

  • Don’t be afraid to join clubs and organizations that you find cool even if you have no prior experience; freshman year is the best time to try new things!
  • When you’re planning out your schedule, make sure you set aside time to do homework, eat meals, take breaks, and hang out with friends — those things take time too!
  • Don’t be too hard on yourself if you feel like you can’t handle everything you’ve committed to. If you need to pull back from an involvement or even step out, people totally understand — odds are they’ve been in the exact same situation before.
  • Sign up for mailing lists and check your email frequently for information on cool events going on around campus (or free things being given out!). I’ve been able to have so many amazing experiences just by seeing the right email at the right time!
  • Always remember that you are smart and deserving enough to be here.
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Olivia Kukar

Year: Sophomore
Major: Chemical Engineering
Hometown: San Jose, CA

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Advanced Spacecraft Propulsion and Energy Laboratory (ASPEN), Association of Chemical Engineers (AlChE), Chem-e-car, Women in Engineering (WiE)

Hobbies/interests:
Backpacking, cooking/baking, traveling, crafting

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Meeting awesome people!
  • Backpacking class and end of the year trip
  • Movie nights with friends
  • Showing people how to slackline

Advice for freshmen:

  • Don’t be afraid to try things even if you don’t think you have enough experience!
  • Get involved and go to events! It’s a great way to make friends, find new interests, and just have a good time.
  • Go ahead and try everything in the beginning but make sure to stick with clubs and organizations you can remain dedicated to throughout the year. Also, be sure that you actually enjoy the organizations you are in and the people in them!
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Salvador Montoya

Year: Senior
Major: Computer Science/Business Administration, minor in Psychology
Hometown: Wilmington, CA

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Association for Computing Machinery, Latino Business Student Association, JPL volunteer, Center for Neuronal Longevity Summer Research, Global Engineering Design Studio

Hobbies/interests:
Movies, TV, BJJ/Judo, painting

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Tour of Keck with Freshman Academy class
  • First concert on the quad
  • Conquest and UCLA game

Advice for freshmen:

  • Make an effort to reach out to people in your classes and utilize office hours.
  • If anything interests you, check it out. Don't be nervous or second guessing, you could end up discovering something really cool.
  • Try not to linger on any negative thing. The first time you get a bad grade on a test isn’t the end of the world. Learn how to deal with bad news and go on about your day.
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Trisha Khandelwal

Year: Senior/PDP Master's
Major: B.S. Aerospace Engineering, minor in Business, M.S. Astronautical Engineering
Hometown: Moorpark, CA

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Society of Women Engineers President (SWE), Residential Assistant, USC Rocket Propulsion Laboratory (USCRPL), NAE Grand Scholar

Hobbies/interests:
Reading, baking, cooking, traveling

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Walking around USC’s beautiful campus for the first time
  • Having movie nights on Sundays with the girls on my floor
  • Having a beach bonfire with SWE
  • Watching The Bachelor in the Pardee lounge
  • Building a glider for the Intro to Aerospace Engineering course (AME 105)

Advice for freshmen:

  • Really enjoy every moment you have on campus - you never know if it will be cut short #corona
  • Join clubs to find your place on campus and meet new people!
  • Don’t be afraid of going to office hours, your professors want you to learn and succeed!
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Zoe Rodriguez

Year: Senior
Major: Civil Engineering
Hometown: San Fernando, CA

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Student Symphony Orchestra, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, Daily Trojan, Viterbi Career Ambassador

Hobbies/interests:
Theatre, music, baking, reading

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Movie nights in McCarthy lounges
  • My first concert with SSO
  • Seeing a concert and Q&A with Billie Eilish and Finneas

Advice for freshmen:

  • Explore LA. Even if you’re from here, have fun being a tourist for a little while or take your friends from out of town to your favorite local spots.
  • Take time off. College is a huge adjustment, both socially and academically. Feel free to take a day off and have time for yourself.
  • Ask for help. Never feel embarrassed about seeking help of any kind. USC has all kinds of resources from the Writing Center to SI Leaders to Mental Health Services.

Published on August 13th, 2021

Last updated on August 14th, 2022