#21 ·
northerncrane4 said:Not exactly. To make a fair comparison, you actually need to have some hard facts to work with.
I was speaking more about the underlying premise.
Enrollment for Google
Started by boldgardener36 · · 👁 7 views · 31 replies
Participants
I was speaking more about the underlying premise.
#22 ·
analoggardener52 said:I was speaking regarding the actual thesis here.
So—which category do you fall under?
#23 ·
Karen Diaz32 said:Just give up. Forget it. Move to another country altogether.
Though, you could always just click here instead.
Take my advice too: just let it go—at least if you're staying in this country.
I had two big dreams growing up: becoming a fighter pilot or making movies—becoming the next Quentin Tarantino or Steven Spielberg.
Both paths were incredibly magnetic to me, and I actually came pretty close to pulling off one or the other. Fortunately, I failed at both.
Now, why did I say "fortunately"?
In America, both the film industry and aviation are set up in such a way that they’ll practically sue you for even attempting to succeed in what we're discussing here.
As a pilot, you can't even get off the ground because there aren't enough planes available to fly; and as a director, you can't get a single word in because you're constantly fighting through hordes of idiots, plus a bunch of old-timers who are just as clueless... and honestly, they all end up doing the exact same nonsense anyway.
Maybe try moving closer to the neighbors. They have their own version of an "El Dorado" over there, though even in their neck of the woods, high-quality films don't pop up as frequently as mushrooms after a heavy rain.
Or pick any other country... even Albania. You'd have much better prospects there, and it would certainly be safer than being here.😉
#24 ·
brighthawk20 said:I had two goals in life—becoming a fighter pilot or making movies. I wanted to be the next Quentin Tarantino or Steven Spielberg.
Since when does Tarantino fly jets? 😲
Can you believe this guy?
#25 ·
Karen Diaz32 said:- you must never, under any circumstances, suggest an American film is subpar. If the director of that film was kicked out of the very academy you're trying to join, criticizing the work is essentially spitting in his professors' faces.
- you have to demonstrate a fascination with themes involving marginalized people; it’s a guaranteed hit with the admissions committee. Stories about the working class, the destitute, the drifters—wow, yes, they eat that up! Wealthy characters are persona non grata, unless you’re "exposing" them to show that "even the rich cry." An interest in the sick, the disabled, the eccentric, or any minority group—national, sexual, ethnic—is even more effective. They’ll weep, your camera will capture the misery, and *they* will declare, "There, that's it! That's true cinematic material." How touching.
- you should never admit to having had (if you ever did) experience on a professional or semi-professional set. You are merely raw dough that they need to knead into something useful. You cannot arrive there fully formed, or even partially formed.
- you mustn't possess a firmly defined worldview. They are there to provide one for you.
- you shouldn't let anyone suspect you've read extensively or watched much cinema. Knowledge is a liability; it might inadvertently highlight their own ignorance. Never question authority; college lasts four years, at least.
- you can't show ignorance either—otherwise, what purpose do you serve there? You must strike a precise balance: appear interested, moderately informed, and reasonably intelligent, while implying you will absorb everything else from them. After all, they are the masters and your professors.
Simple enough, isn't it?
And once you're enrolled, unlike other universities where students are just students until they graduate, at USC everyone becomes an actor, a director, or a screenwriter the moment they pass the entrance exam.
Cheers.
I think I'll print this out and frame it. 🙏
#26 ·
Lately, I've been diving headfirst into cinema. Just watching whatever happens to be playing or available when I have a spare moment.
You might be mistaken there. What you're actually interested in is the art of wasting time. Though, then again... maybe I'm the one who's wrong. 😉 😁
#27 ·
analoggardener52 said:Do I need to sit for some specific specialized exam, or am I just looking at the standard general education requirements for a Philosophy major?
That’s all I’m saying. Unless something fundamentally shifts before next year rolls around, that's the reality we're looking at.
analoggardener52 said:Is there any requirement to have a deep, pre-existing knowledge of a specific body of work before diving in?
No.
analoggardener52 said:How much of a headache is it really to pair English studies with Comparative Literature?
I know quite a few people currently pursuing an English degree, and honestly, I haven’t really noticed them struggling under the weight of the workload. It doesn't seem to be the soul-crushing academic grind people often make it out to be. 😁 But let's be honest: they weren't starting from zero. They arrived at university already equipped with a massive head start thanks to those specialized language academies.
Let’s be honest: studying languages isn't exactly a walk in the park compared to other majors. It demands a level of discipline that most subjects just don't require. You can't really "cram" your way through a language the night before an exam and expect to actually know anything. It requires showing up to every single lab session and putting in that steady, grinding work all year round. It's less about sudden bursts of genius and more about the daily slog. That being said, if you've got the stamina for the routine, it's not like you're trying to split the atom—it's manageable, provided you don't let the momentum slip.
It’s not exactly a high-maintenance combination, to be honest.
analoggardener52 said:I’m honestly feeling pretty frustrated about the possibility of being rejected, so I have to ask: is there any real way to sharpen my edge during this gap year before enrollment? Does anyone know if finding a mentor—or some kind of formal guidance—is actually worth the effort at this stage?
😁
What kind of "mentor" are we talking about here? Give me a break. 😁
I honestly don't know how much specific advice I could actually give you regarding this entrance exam, mostly because I just cruised through mine using my old, outdated methods. It’s really not the kind of thing where you need to be grinding away for months on end. If I were you, I'd head over to the Student Union and pick the brains of the people who just finished their applications; ask them exactly how they tackled their prep.
#28 ·
northerncrane4 says:
What kind of movies does Quentin Tarantino make? 😲
It’s hard to say. For me, it's usually an all-or-nothing situation... I tend to group Quentin Tarantino and Steven Spielberg together as my primary cinematic benchmarks, if that makes sense.
#29 ·
Karen Diaz32 said:A few quick tips and tricks—just some food for thought.
(disclaimer: they / them = the Admissions Committee / committee members)
Don't go making it obvious that you’ve actually read a few books or watched a decent amount of cinema—keep that under wraps. Knowledge can be a liability; it tends to act like a spotlight on everyone else's ignorance, and nobody wants to be that person. You shouldn't go questioning authority, either. Just follow the script. College takes four years—minimum.
🙂
I still remember back in college—about two years ago—when I just couldn’t help myself. I had to speak up when they asked who directed *The Maltese Falcon*. They didn't even list John Huston as an option! I actually asked my professor, "Hey, where is he?" He got all huffy with me and snapped, "Well, if you're so sure, why don't you just write him in next to the other names?" Apparently, they were suggesting John Ford instead—probably the closest thing they could think of—but honestly, it felt like they couldn't tell two Johns apart. 🙂
#30 ·
Karen Diaz32 said:A few pointers and little hacks
(just a heads up: "them" refers to the admissions board / committee members)🙂
...
🙏 🙏 🙏 I made this smiley face up just for you, Karen.👍
#31 ·
Jose Chase2 said:🙏 🙏 🙏 I made this smiley up just for you, Karen Diaz32. 👍
Jose Chase2, 😍 I might have to start sending my men to you for training. 😉
#32 ·
kokakoka said:Jose Chase2 😍
It was off to a good start...
kokakoka said:I might have to send my guys to you for training 😉
...but I honestly don't know how to take this one😬
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