4 Disney Channel Original Movies (DCOMs) for Admitted Students
By Kelly Kinas ‘16
1. High School Musical 2
This franchise changed a generation, in my humble opinion. This sequel appeared on Disney Channel in 2008. While it included many adults acting as high schoolers and singing about their feelings, they also discussed topics that relate to the youth of America: Friendship, college, scholarships, and trying to actually have a job in the summer months during high school.
I wouldn’t be jumping for joy just yet, Troy. Troy Bolton, better known as Zac Efron in real life, deals with the possibility of college and get to talk to important people at college, thanks to Sharpay and her family. He was networking like a star until his friends started to get upset that he wasn’t spending enough time with them.
Here is my advice: If your friends are pressuring you to stop caring about college to hang out with them all the time, DUMP THEM AS FRIENDS. Troy totally made the wrong decision in this movie. “I’d rather care about what my friends think of me”. NO TROY. BAD TROY. Your friends should be supporting you in this difficult transition and you should be supporting them as well! Applying to school, hearing back from them, and deciding where you’re gonna spend the next four years of your life are ALL REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS. Friendship is important, I get it trust me. My friends are a huge part of my support system. BUT they shouldn’t be mad at you for caring about your future.
I don’t know if you can tell but I’ve been holding this in for a long time.
2. Halloweentown
CLASSIC 90S MOVIE TIME! This 1998 Disney Channel Original Movie was absolutely amazing and became a staple new Halloween movie. A family has a very eccentric grandma but what happens when they get swept up into her spooky world? THIS MASTERPIECE, THAT’S WHAT.
High schools are usually small. You are kind of forced to hang out with the same people for 4 years that you picked from 1200 people who live in the surrounding area (or at least that’s what it was like for me). You find some awesome people that you grow really close to but it’s not life! You might have felt like you had to hide a part of yourself in high school because you were afraid no one would accept you. Well, turn that frown upside down because COLLEGE IS UPON YOU.
At USC, there are over 700 clubs and organizations you can join and feel like a part of something. There’s nothing to be ashamed of anymore. Like Leadership? Become a part of Undergraduate Student Government or Residential Student Government. Music more your thing? Join KXSC, the radio station at USC, or Concerts Committee. Like the outdoors but more in the cold weather? Ski and Snowboard club is definitely for you. You just need to find your Halloweentown, the place where your quirks and interests are valued. Luckily for you, USC has a place for everyone.
3. Gotta Kick it Up!
What a fantastic 2005 Disney Channel Original Movie. Majority of main characters were hispanic, something WAY ahead of it’s time. It’s about cheerleaders trying to become a better team, better friends, and better people in general. This partly made me want to be a cheerleader and I totally said “Si se puede” way too much. I still think about it to this day.
This is about Admitted Students into college because you might think you’re a hot shot and you probably are, in high school. You may come into college and believe you are the best at whatever you do. YOU MIGHT BE but you need to be able to accept help and accept criticism. College is here to help you become better. You need to listen to your superiors, your teachers. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice and really use that advice in general. We’re all super cool but be humble enough to ask for and accept help. It will be good for you. Promise.
4. Thirteenth Year
1999. Cody turns 13 and he BECOMES A MERMAN. Dreams, amirite? This is one of the earliest DCOMs that started this amazing world of Disney Channel Original Movies. It’s hilarious. Cody struggles throughout the movie becoming a mermaid and try to decide where he belongs, in the sea or on land.
The first week of college, you might feel like a fish out of water (see what I did there???) It will definitely be a transition and that’s something you should be preparing for now. Make sure you think ahead about the best way to combat that weird feeling all freshmen have and be ready to DIVE into the new, exciting college life. (This movie gives me so many puns)
Whether you get your advice from DCOMs or Dr. Phil, if you’re at USC, you’re already heading in the right direction, no matter what.
Fight on!
