Following Up My Interests in Computer Science: Applying to the USC

“Computer science inverts the normal. In normal science, you're given a world, and your job is to find out the rules. In computer science, you give the computer the rules, and it creates the world”. These few words are exactly describing how I see the Computer Science. As a kid, I always knew that my desire is to learn new skills and proficiencies. Since then, I have devoted my brain for education and advancement. Nevertheless, Computer science is the field that can extract out my best. I feel a similar sense of happiness and accomplishment when I see my code run successfully. This feeling, which till date, drives me to never give up on even the hardest problems. However, along the way, I realized that problem solving feature of solving different programs problems is my passion. Due to this great love for programming, beside my desire to go deeply into the working of various applications and technologies, I decided to apply for a master’s degree in Computer Science particularly at University of Southern California (USC). When completing the USC supplemental essays, I embraced the opportunity to showcase my unique experiences and aspirations, highlighting my genuine passion for academic pursuits and my potential contributions to the vibrant USC community. It is my major goal to continue my education in a more competitive, elite, and international environment.

Following up my interest in Computer Science has over the years allowed me to improve robust analytical and reasoning skills. Through the courses of the four-year Bachelor of Computer Science degree program at Effat University, I gained an overall perspective of this scientific field, with a particular interest in Computer Graphics, Multimedia, Web development, Application Development, Artificial Intelligence, and Database Management. During this time, I also involved myself in many projects related to Artificial Intelligence using Python, Oracle database, Computer Networks, and Web design and development using HTML, CSS, and PHP. Moreover, I did a deep research in electroencephalogram (EEG) Biometrics. Apart from the projects undertaken in college, it was my desire to explore the working experience in the information technology, and this motivated me to do an internship in the information technology department at Effat University. Through my internship period, I worked on multiple tasks for the university’s website under the web and multimedia department. In addition, I worked on designing multiple of new features in the blackboard system under the educational technology department. Furthermore, I got an overview about the networking and infrastructure department. In addition, I participated in many activities outside of the classroom and I have been involved in many volunteering works. For example, I volunteered as an organizer in the train grand opening of Jeddah city which was the first train station in Jeddah. By participating in this big event, my communication and leadership skills have been enhanced.

For my senior project, I did a project that connects the mosque’s microphones with sensor device through wireless. Furthermore, the sensor has the ability to detect the prayer status. The sensor device is connected with an application that displays to the user if the prayer is about to start, started or finished. In addition, this application can be used in different fields such as hospitals and pharmacies to show the business status in real time.

Having obtained a robust foundation in the computer science field throughout a strict undergraduate program, and my internship in the IT, with a keen interest in working on the latest web technologies, I am highly motivated at learning new skills and experiencing new things. This is exactly why I have decided to continue challenging myself by applying for a master’s degree in Computer Science offered by the University of Southern California (USC).

When exploring USC essay examples, I gained valuable insights into the diverse stories, achievements, and aspirations of fellow applicants, inspiring me to craft an authentic and compelling narrative for my own USC application. For my future goals, If I have given the chance, I’m planning to take what I learn at USC and apply it to the computing industry in my native country. By studying in your master’s program and possibly working for a short period in the USA, I expect to have the right knowledge, the skills, and the experience needed to lead our computing industry to a new era.