What made you decide to attend USC: As much as I wanted to study engineering, I didn’t want to have to abandon all of my other interests. I was impressed by the number of Viterbi students who were really normal, social people and involved all over the university with things like music and sports.
Best experience/interaction with a professor: I was working on a physics assignment with Dr. Bickers and some of his former students came in with a problem they had come across while studying for the GRE. Even though he wasn’t even their teacher anymore, he helped them work through the problem. You could tell that he was having a really good time with it, too!
Favorite Class: I took a materials science class sophomore year, and the teacher was a full-time materials scientist who was filling in while the usual professor went on sabbatical. He did a really great job of taking chemistry, which can seem really abstract sometimes, and applying it to real life problems, such as making stronger metals or flexible plastics.
Favorite on-campus event: Primal Scream, when the USC Trojan Marching Band plays a concert in the quad every night of finals week. It's a really fun study break.
Best off-campus experience: Late night trips to Yogurtland
Favorite memory from freshman year: “Deep Discussions” on Wednesday nights in my dorm
What you like about being in LA: All types of really good food!
Research/study abroad experience: I have been involved in the Merit Research Program since my freshman year, when I worked in a biomechanics lab studying how targeted strength training can reduce injuries in athletes. I currently work in an environmental engineering lab designing and testing water filters for developing countries. This past summer I studied abroad in Paris through the Viterbi Overseas Program and had such a great time exploring the city as well as various parts of provincial France, Italy, Barcelona, and Morocco.
Hobbies/interests: I really like to sing and I’ve been teaching myself guitar. You also can’t forget the importance of just making fun memories with friends.
