EppsNet

As a member of the Trojan Network and a graduate of the School of Engineering, I make myself available to answer questions from current USC engineering students about what life might have in store for them.

I got an email today from a young man who included this priceless bit of information: “When you got your master’s degree, I was one year old.”

Really?! It seems like just last week but thanks for reminding me that 20 years have gone by.

Look kids — if you want to do a computation like that, go ahead, but keep the results to yourself . . .

• Best Undergrad College Degrees by Salary – http://bit.ly/qaRn1 #
• Lowest paying college majors – http://tinyurl.com/lnx5fn #
• RT @capricecrane: Enough already, Mr. Gosselin. We hate your wife too, so we just stopped talking about her all together. Give it a shot. #

The counselor also stressed that colleges are looking for well-rounded kids, not just academic standouts.

“If you’re talking about well-rounded kids, you’re talking about Casey,” I said. “He’s like a sphere, that’s how well-rounded he is.”

“That can be his new nickname,” she said. “Sphere.”

“I like it!”

We were at Northwood High today for an academic planning session with my son and his counselor.

One of the things the counselor went over in the college prep handbook was a section on interview tips.

“At a private school like USC,” she told the boy, “you can schedule an interview with them if you think that will help your candidacy.”

“UCLA won’t let you do that,” I added. “They don’t want to talk to you.” I went through the application process at both schools so I know all about it.

“None of the UC schools will do an interview with you,” she said.

“It’s very impersonal,” I said, “like if the DMV ran a university.”

“It’s worse. At the DMV, eventually you’ll get to talk to someone.”

“By the way,” I said, pointing to a “Joey Ramone, 1951-2001″ poster on the wall, “do you think Joey Ramone is a good role model for the kids?”

“I like him,” she said, “and it’s my office.”

“You’re the best counselor ever,” I said.