Grace Gordon is from Boston, MA, pursuing degrees in Cinema and Media Studies and Visual Anthropology. When she isn't in class, you can find her at one of the many repertory theaters around LA.

What interests you most about your specific division or program at SCA?
I am a Cinema and Media Studies student and have always been interested in classic, foreign, and independent film. I knew early on that I had no interest in becoming a filmmaker or screenwriter, and would rather work in academia, archival research, film preservation or programming.

CAMs gives me the opportunity to watch and enjoy both new media and old favorites in the same room as leading media scholars with unmatched research experience. My professors make this degree so exciting, and hearing about their work makes me feel strongly that I am in the right place. They have given me the toolbox to write and speak about film confidently, and apply this foundational knowledge of media theory to my second degree in Visual Anthropology from Dornsife.

Why did you choose SCA?
Prestige was certainly a factor, but prestige only comes from a record of excellence not found elsewhere. I applied as a Cinema and Media Studies student here because film is the only interest I can devote the rest of my life to. I feel confident that my career goals will be met because of the quality of education I am receiving here.

What has been your biggest challenge at SCA so far?
I often feel I am too indecisive to complete my degrees on time. I have been afforded such a wide variety of classes, it hurts me that I cannot take every single one I want. At one point, I had two majors and three minors, which I now know is impossible to do in 4 years, not because I am unwilling to try, but because the school is unwilling to let me take over 20 units a semester!

What has been your biggest success?
I would say I have "gamed the system" in a way, as I am pursuing two degrees, a minor in French, and am a member of the Thematic Option program. I did not arrive at USC expecting to be such an interdisciplinary student, in fact my goal was to get my CAMs degree as fast as possible and graduate early until I met some of my professors and really talked to them about the full extent of opportunities offered outside of just SCA.

Learning about the Visual Anthropology program by chance and tailoring my educational experience to be truly unique has been quite an undertaking. College is what you make of it. It is very different from high school because you truly get as much out of it as you put into it. I feel I've packed in so many experiences that I've squeezed every valuable drop out of my education even though it has been a lot of extra work.

Is there a project you are working (or have completed) that you're especially proud of?Since I am graduating next year, I have begun preliminary research on my ethnographic thesis for my Visual Anthropology program. I am studying the New Beverly Cinema, a theater with a lot of heart and history, and the social dynamics unique to the space. A solid background in media theory has helped me ask the right questions and connect with my subjects in ways I wouldn't be able to if I were not a CAMs student.

By next year, I will be working on a documentary that will be the ticket to my V.A. degree. This thesis is the perfect intersection of both of my programs, and I cannot wait to explore this project more fully in my senior year.

How has SCA prepared you so far for the career you want?
I am applying to grad school in the coming years, and (hopefully) a PhD soon afterward. I have a skillset -- in part because of SCA and in part because of Dornsife -- that makes me a stand-out applicant, and the confidence in my scholarship to make my dreams come true. I know I will have a long, successful career because I have been empowered to pursue and mold my education in a way that makes sense for me.

What advice do you have for prospective students looking to apply to SCA?
If you're not interested in becoming a Hollywood filmmaker, executive, or agent that is perfectly okay. Though many of your peers have these goals, you should not feel pressured to share them.