Charles McCray 
Senior, Public Relations
Renton, Wash.

What made you consider USC Annenberg?
The USC Annenberg recruiters flew to Seattle, near where I live, and they made a really great impression on me. Their outreach effort represented the school well. They made a strong case that if I was studying communication or journalism, USC Annenberg would be a premier school.

What's your favorite part about going to school here?
It eases concerns I might have about life after school. You really get the sense that after taking classes here you'll be confident that you're fully prepared to start your career. And the continued help you get from the Career Development office and everyone else in placements means you'll have an opportunity in the field.

What's your favorite class you've taken?
Dan Schnur's JOUR 499 class. We studied communication in political campaigning, and the final project was to draft an in-depth strategic plan to manage communications through an entire political campaign. I actually ended up using it at an internship of mine.

Really? How so?
I applied for an internship in the mayor's office in my hometown, and being able to talk about pulling that plan together really helped me make a positive impression. It was a great job – one of my supervisors ended up spending much of the summer out of the office, so I worked really intensely on the city's media relations, event planning and community outreach.

That's pretty cool. Last question: What's your ideal Annenberg day?
My ideal Annenberg day would start with a trip to the coffee cart for a little socializing with my friends. I'd go to an engaging class – maybe with a guest speaker – that's small enough to keep everyone interested in the topic. Afterward I'd be able to talk with my professor or the guest speaker and for some one-on-one time. I'd attend an event and pick up lunch while hearing from some working PR professionals. And then later in the day there'd be an event thrown by a student organization.