Andy Warhol prophesized that, in the future, everyone would have 15 minutes of fame. Eleanor Roosevel College senior Andres Onetto’s came last year. The biochemistry major beat out 3,000 contestants in the MTVu “Wanna be a VJ” contest and will be the spring break VJ for MTVu, a new MTV affiliate broadcast exclusively to college campuses.

Onetto said he didn’t anticipate winning and was reluctant to enter the contest.

“I saw it [while] walking in between classes,” Onetto said. He decided to enter the contest after his friends urged him to.

How did the 22-year-old manage to win over thousands of other contestants?

“I had a care-free attitude,” Onetto said. “I wasn’t worried about winning. Everybody else thought it was the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Onetto got the news that he won in December after MTVu fans voted online. Onetto beat out the other remaining four contestants after an appearance on Total Request Live, where he was interviewed by celebrities.

Although he has no past television experience, Onetto credits his acting credentials for the win.

“I’m outgoing and not camera-shy,” he said. “I can be in front of a crowd and not be nervous.”

Onetto acted as a youth and was the lead in a play in junior college. He said his past theater experience has helped him prepare for the job.

“If you forget your lines you have to ad-lib,” he said.

Onetto is originally from Argentina, but he lived in Santa Monica, Calif., before attending UCSD. Although he doesn’t watch that much MTV, he said he is into music.

“I am really into hip-hop and R&B. Usher is my favorite artist,” he said.

Working for MTVu is one of several commitments Onetto has. He is also captain of the crew team and is a member of Pi Kappa Alpha.

Although Onetto said his life hasn’t changed that much since winning the contest, he does get recognized sometimes while on campus.

“People come up to me and say, ‘Hey, you’re that VJ guy,’” he said.

Onetto said he is excited about his new job, but he is ambivalent about making a career out of being a VJ.

“I am really excited, but I think other people are more excited for me,” he said.

Onetto is continuing his studies at UCSD, and the honor student plans on attending medical school after graduation.

“I want to be a doctor, not an actor,” he said, referring to a typo on the MTVu Web site. “This is a great opportunity, but it is a side job. I’m not going to give everything up.”