Print Header

Student News

For remarkable undergrad, it's all about China


Laren Anderson
Lauren Anderson poses before mountains in western province of Sichuan near the border of Tibet.
Undergraduate Lauren Anderson has spent her summer studying and traveling in China. She is currently on internship in Shanghai with a Chinese software company, AVCON. The international business and marketing major is writing English marketing materials for AVCON's video conferencing systems, and the company has already offered her a position next summer. At USC, Anderson has been involved with the Community Service Council Executive Board, the Elections Commission, and Leadership programs, and has served as Student Comptroller, Resident Advisor, Supplemental Instruction Leader, Conversation Partner, and Global Mentor.
Lauren in Tiananmen Square with entrance to Forbidden City in background

Not bad for a rising sophomore, right?

"At first I thought my interest in China might be a phase and that my future might lie in a different country," Anderson says. "But after this summer of discovering how much I enjoy this country, I am certain I will be back here for extended periods of time."

Anderson's experiences to date in her early college career are awe-inspiring. She had acquired two semesters studying Chinese prior to traveling to China and is continuing her language studies there. Her coursework in Chengdu through the University Studies Abroad Consortium included Chinese Economy, Ancient Chinese History, Minorities in China, Intermediate Chinese, and Tai Chi. When she returns to Columbia, she plans to "take all the Chinese classes USC offers." And, the Wisconsin native plans to minor in Chinese and advertising.

All of which puts her well on her way to her ultimate career goal: "designing marketing materials for international companies trying to access the promising Chinese market."

-- Gail Crouch