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Information for Minors


Minor students (16 years of age at the start of their class) are welcome to apply for any Summer Program courses. Prior experience is not necessary in order to take most Summer Program classes. For our 16mm Filmmaking, Commercial Production, Directing Intensive, Non-Fiction Filmmaking, and the studio courses some filmmaking experience is required. Some of the most interesting and fresh work has come from minor students so we welcome your application. There are several areas of interest for our minor applicants that are covered in detail once an application has been received.

Before acceptance will be confirmed, all minor students will be required to submit a letter from a school official, verifying they are an enrolled student in good standing and a copy of their past semesters transcript (this does not need to be an official copy). The Summer Program office will be required to attach the letter and transcript to the applications of all high school students applying to the Summer Program.

Below are a few pertinent items regarding our minor program:

  • Mandatory on-campus housing – Our minor students are required to live on-campus in a USC dormitory if they live outside of Los Angeles County; While attending the program they will be supervised by several Residential Advisors, who are typically USC students in their junior and senior years of study. The students are not allowed to leave campus without prior written parental consent unless it is a Summer Program sponsored event or related to their course. Students are allowed to visit the USC-owned shopping center (University Village), located across the street from the Cinema School. Each student will be assigned a roommate and will be required to abide by the curfew law of Los Angeles, and report to their respective dorm room by 10:30PM Sunday – Thursday and 11:00pm Friday and Saturday.
  • Minor housing will be available from Sunday, June 21st through Saturday, August 8th, 2009. We welcome our minor students to participate in any classes that run inside these dates.
  • Recreation and Special activities during the summer – While in residence, students will have access to the University's Lyons Fitness Center and the McDonald's Swim Stadium, the 1984 Olympic Swimming and Diving venue, for both planned and free time recreation. This year the Summer Program plans to hold several special events with industry guests. We will also offer several pre-release movie screenings as well as special workshops and seminars covering topics such as production processes, creativity and film business. These will be posted on our Events page closer to the start of classes (approximately May 2009.)
  • Student population – Our minor students typically represent 10-15% of the Summer Program student body.
  • Health Services – The USC Student Health Center is located across the street from the School of Cinematic Arts. Please visit their Web site for additional information regarding services. Any minor student seeking health services will be required to bring the Parental Consent form (please see packet information below) with them at the time of treatment.
  • Meal options – The USC housing office does not provide a summer meal plan. They do, however, offer several dining options on and directly off campus at the USC-owned shopping center, University Village . These meals can be paid for with cash, or by using the student USC ID card. Once accepted to the program, we will provide information on how to add funds to the student USC ID card but please feel free to visit the USCard Web site for more details about using your ID card as a debit card.
Upon acceptance, a special information packet will be sent to each students and parents and/or guardians.

This packet will include the following forms:

  • Application for USC Minor Housing 2009 (approximately $30 per night).
  • Good Neighbor Policy & Contract
  • Parental Consent & Release Form (parental permission to attend the program)
  • Medical history form
  • Production documents (if your son/daughter is taking a production course)
  • Release and waiver form for use of the Lyon Recreation cwnter & McDonald’s Swimming Pool
Each of these forms, will need to be returned to the Summer Program upon receipt. Complete payment for all housing fees will be No later than Friday, May 29th, 2009. All housing reservations and arrangements will be considered complete by this day.

Due to the housing deadline, all minor applications must be received by the same date, Friday, May 29th 2009. Any applications received after this date will be held and will only be accepted in the event of an opening in housing.

Please note that minor housing is limited and granted on a first come, first serve basis.

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