<p>Iamrecognized: Did you look at the thread “appeals” which is now on page 2? There is an example of an appeal that was successful (ellebud’s daughter) based on a musical talent, as well as some more tips on the appeal process.
It seems to me you have a lot to work with with showing off your own talents, particularly because they’re unique and multifaceted.
Best of luck!</p>
<p>appeal…tell them how much you want them. make an appointment with admissions, department head of the department that you want to be in. and, i realize that as a young adult you might not want to involve your parents, but bring them with you to the meetings. even if they are sitting outside the meetings their show of support is importent. good luck</p>
<p>Okay thanks for the advice guys. Wish me luck!</p>
<p>Madbean: Do you know how many applicants there were for how many spots in the video games major? I think this is relevant for Iamrecognized. I heard that USC is one of the few universities in the U.S. which have this major for undergraduates. Perhaps Iamrecognized might want to consider a major in computer science with a minor in video games if this might help his application-much depends upon the numbers.</p>
<p>mdcissp, I don’t know the number of applicants (and I’m curious) but they accept only 20 freshmen into this relatively new undergrad major in the SCA. I’ve heard an estimate of 4-6% admit rate in the Film School, but have never heard how that breaks down for the Interactive Entertainment major specifically. In any case, OP didn’t apply to that school or major, and gaining admittance there is more heavily weighted on creative portfolios.</p>
<p>I don’t know for sure, but had thought that game design was a minor in the Comp Sci department. OP has stated it’s now a major. It’s hard to say if that choice had any impact on decisions, though. Don’t really know how that works. </p>
<p>Iamrec, there is a new major at UCSC under Comp Sci in Computer Games, to which my son was also accepted. Other schools to look at might be Carnegie Mellon (which has a masters program, but not an official ug one yet), also under Comp Sci.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>Erg! I said that is the one that I applied for. It is the Video Game Design course. It is in the Engineering School! AND I know someone who was in it last year so it can’t be new this year…</p>
<p>I am confused now…</p>
<p>There are two separate game related majors at USC, each part of a separate School. The one I have been referring to is in the School of Cinematic Arts (Film School) and is called Interactive Entertainment/Media. It requires a separate application supplement to the Film School. But the major I believe you applied to, Iamrecognized, is the following one, which is in Viterbi School of Engineering:</p>
<p>Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (Games) (New Major)</p>
<p>The goal of the BS in Computer Science (Games) program is to graduate students with a solid grounding in computer science and a cross-disciplinary background in game development. Topics covered in the cross-disciplinary game development portion of the degree program include game production, visual design for games and interactives, computer animation, videogame programming, game hardware architectures, game engine programming, serious game development, introductory and intermediate game design, and two semester long final game projects. Students graduating from this program will be capable of engineering next-generation games and simulations and their technologies in the entertainment and serious game fields. Additionally, graduates from this program will be able to further their education in graduate programs in game development and computer science. This degree will be offered by the School of Letters Arts and Sciences.</p>
<p>I copied the above from the USC website [Department</a> Of Computer Science - USC](<a href=“http://www.cs.usc.edu/admissions/undergrad/default.htm]Department”>http://www.cs.usc.edu/admissions/undergrad/default.htm) Sorry for the confusion, but the two are both USC majors in game design but one is entertainment/media based and the other more comp sci. And all of this explanation is really an attempt to clarify that the info I posted above was specific to the film school game design major at USC–which I’m afraid means it won’t be much help to you.</p>
<p>I hope another poster has more relevant suggestions for your appeal. Again, good luck!</p>
<p>Okay thanks. Yeah, it’s the Comp Sci one, and I am sure it isn’t new this year as I know someone who was in it last year. Thanks for the info though.</p>
<p>Just a thought-it might be worthwhile for Iamrecognized to call USC and find out how many applicants there were for the Comp Sci Games major program.
If there are only 20 spots, and if they had hundreds of applicants, then maybe it is more to your benefit to see if there is another major you could be happy with at USC and minor in games. You could also ask to be wait listed for the program you want or be a spring transfer.</p>
<p>Hi Iamrecognized,</p>
<p>I have a nephew interested in the same area. I have heard about some of the following schools but being outside the field, I don’t know how they would compare to USC. I copied some of the info for my nephew to check out from various education forums. Thought you might be interested also.</p>
<p>Full Sail. It was voted as one of the top 5 programs in the world by Electronic Gaming Monthly Magazine.</p>
<p>game design major at Cogswell Polytechnical College in Sunnyvale, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley. </p>
<p>DigiPen Institute of Technology, Redmond, WA (close to Microsoft). They partner up with Nintendo.</p>
<p>[About</a> DigiPen - <a href=“http://www.digipen.edu%5B/url%5D”>www.digipen.edu](<a href=“http://www.digipen.edu/main/About_DigiPen]About”>http://www.digipen.edu/main/About_DigiPen)</a></p>
<p>SMU has a special school for game programmers. There’s the added benefit
that quite a few game programming companies are based out of Dallas.</p>
<p>[The</a> Guildhall at SMU: Home](<a href=“http://guildhall.smu.edu/]The”>http://guildhall.smu.edu/)
"Today, graduates of The Guildhall at Southern Methodist University work
at over 70 of the industry leading videogame companies around the
world. Upon graduation, our students have had an over 95 percent
placement rate. And many industry icons consider The Guildhall at SMU
the premier digital game development education program in the country.</p>
<p>Our growth and achievements since we first opened our doors in July 2003
have more than met our original vision and mission. Today, we offer both
a Master’s degree in interactive game technology and a graduate
professional certificate. In addition, SMU’s innovative five-year dual
Bachelor’s degree in computer science or Bachelor’s degree in fine arts
and Master’s degree in digital game technology is an educational first."</p>
<p>Art Center School of Design, Pasadena,CA</p>
<p>Of course, I know you want USC and I really hope that your appeal works!</p>
<p>My son is accepted to USC and is not interested in the video games major. I don’t know these other schools you mentioned. However, since certain programs at USC are extremely popular and highly competitive (such as the number one cinema school), I thought perhaps Iamrecognized might have an easier time getting into USC if s/he applied for a less competitive major and studies a minor in video game design. I do not know how competitive the video game design program is.</p>
<p>They SAY that they have no impacted majors in the engineering school. And I had a standard Comp Sci major on my App as a backup anyway. And you are automatically considered for general admission too aren’t you?</p>
<p>I recall my son applying to the Engineering school with a particular program with a first and second choice. Do you recall the same? My point is you might find it helpful to find out if any of the Engineering programs have openings.
For example, my son applied to another top Engineering school and was accepted into Engineering majors which he did not apply to (probably they had openings in that major–this did not happen at USC but elsewhere in a school with many thousands of applicants).</p>