Not sure how to arroyo the USC supplemental essays?CollegeAdvisor.com's guide to the USC essay prompts will evidence you exactly how to write engaging USC essays and strengthen your application.

If you demand help crafting your USC supplemental essays, create yourcomplimentary account orschedule a free consultation by calling (844) 343-6272.

USC Supplemental Essays Guide Quick Facts:

  • USC has an credence rate of 16% – U.S. News ranks USC equally amore selective school.
  • We recommend answering the USC supplemental essays thoughtfully to increase your chances of access.

Does the University of Southern California have supplemental essays?

In short, yeah. All applicants must submit several USC supplemental essays in addition to the personal statement you'll write for your Common App or Coalition App. We'll detail each of the USC prompts—forth with insider advice—in this guide to the USC essays.

Need some help writing your Common App essay? Go neat tips from our Mutual App essay guide.

How many essays does the University of Southern California require?

There are two USC essays on the 2020-2021 Common app. In improver to these two USC essays, some applicants may besides choose to complete a 3rd USC supplemental essay.

In this guide, nosotros'll walk yous through each of the USC supplemental essays. We'll also hash out which applicants should submit USC essays that reply to the third optional USC essay prompt.

Are the Academy of Southern California essays important?

The USC supplemental essays are extremely important. Afterward all, the USC essays are a window into your unique talents and abilities. Past writing strong USC supplemental essays, you lot tin can use your own words to prove the admissions team who you are and why you belong at USC.

Exam-optional admissions policies have also fabricated the USC supplemental essays more important. Many California universities have dropped the ACT/SAT requirements. USC, nevertheless, has non. Your test scores may be the same equally another bidder, and so your USC supplemental essays tin help you stand out. In other words, pay close attention to the USC prompts!

How practise I write the Academy of Southern California essays?

Once again, there are two required USC supplemental essays in addition to the Common App essay. This is a lot of writing, so nosotros recommend you begin your USC supplemental essays as early as possible. The sooner you start considering the USC prompts, the stronger your USC supplemental essays will be.

USC does not accept an Early Decision or Early Action program. This ways USC considers all applications—and all USC essays—in the same bicycle. Over lxx,000 students practical to USC last year. Therefore, strong USC supplemental essays can help you stand up out from the oversupply.

Desire more than communication on your USC essays? Read USC's "What We Expect For" page as a primer for drafting your USC supplemental essays.

We have provided the USC essay prompts below—along with USC example essays—to assist you equally you lot begin your USC essays.

In this guide, we will hash out how to address both required USC essays.

USC Supplemental Essays — Question 1 (Required)

Describe how y'all plan to pursue your academic interests and why y'all want to explore them at USC specifically. Please feel gratis to accost your kickoff-and second-selection major selections. (250-word max).

To begin, the first of the USC supplemental essays does two things. Get-go, this USC essay prompts you to detail your academic programme, including your interests and priorities. 2nd, this USC asks you to illustrate why USC is the right school for you.

Y'all might struggle to complete the commencement of the USC prompts. When you read, "Draw how you plan to pursue your bookish interests," you may initially recollect, "Uh, I am trying to get into USC to pursue those interests." However, you shouldn't let this discourage you lot. If y'all know what interests you, you already take an academic program—you just need to express it in 250 words for the first of your USC supplemental essays.

Let's intermission down how to begin and represent your bookish plan in the USC essays!

Choosing a Major

Past now, you probable take a sense of your academic interests. If you have an idea of what you'd like to study merely don't know what specific major to cull, check out our tips on choosing a college major.

USC offers its ain suggestions for choosing a major, which might be useful when completing your USC essays! Go along in mind that USC also has several unique programs for undergraduates. The USC supplemental essays require all students to identify at least one potential major, so y'all'll benefit from doing your research. Plus, spending some time on the USC website will besides help you describe why USC is the place for you!

Maybe you know the career you desire to pursue but you don't know what major will help you lot reach your goals. To start, you lot might practice some research or speak to adults in your chosen field. If y'all're wondering what fellow Gen-Z students are pursuing, check out our list of pop majors for Gen-Z studentsor our webinar for undecided majors. Additionally, cheque out this Business News Daily commodity for a listing of majors associated with particular careers.

Finally, remember that the major you specify in your USC supplemental essays is non-binding. Above all, this USC essay prompts you to consider what intellectual pursuits matter to you. Think of the majors you lot choose as a way to communicate your interests to admissions officers.

Connecting to USC

This USC essay prompts y'all to showcase your understanding of USC's passion for innovation and research. The USC supplemental essays inquire students to explain why USC is the right schoolhouse for them.

Structuring a Response

Well done—yous've chosen a major (or two) and thought about why you want to written report this topic specifically at USC. Now, let's move on to drafting.

Before you begin writing, notice the requirements of the first of the USC essay prompts:

  • Describe how you plan to pursue your bookish interests.
  • Explain why y'all want to pursue this at USC.
  • Identify your first and second selection majors.

Think long term

USC wants to know your long-term academic plans in college and beyond. Then, they want to know why you want to pursue those plans at USC. Permit's expect at a few USC essay examples. Though short, each example will show you what a dynamic opening might look similar and how it can be tied into USC-specific programs.

Ex. I realize that I have an habit to TikTok. I often wonder—what leads the states to scroll? (anecdote/dynamic opening)

To this end, I want to pursue a BA in Social Science with an emphasis in psychology or a BA in Computer science. Ideally, I would like to practice both with the USC Research Gateway Scholars plan…(USC specific connection)

In the first of the USC essay examples, find that it begins with something that seems frivolous—an addiction to TikTok. Withal, the case also hints at a sure vulnerability that draws the reader in, as well every bit a question ("what leads us to curlicue?") that shows the student possesses a level of self-awareness.

Ex. Non different a lot of other children of migrant parents, we moved effectually a lot when I was younger.  Because of this, literature was my constant companion. (chestnut/dynamic opening)

I want to offer this same friendship to other young readers. The Narratives Studies program or Comparative Literature program at USC is an platonic place for me to offset this journey. (USC specific connection)

In the second of the USC essay examples, our imaginary writer identified a long-term program as well every bit their showtime and second option majors. You'll besides discover that both of these USC essay examples connect their goals with a USC-specific programme.

As you brainstorm your ain USC essays, recall nearly how these USC essay examples adhere each student's own interests, background, and identity to the opportunities available at USC.

Making information technology Personal

In both USC essay examples above, the student shared a office of their personal history. As you begin your USC essays, think most your own history.  What most your story has led you to your academic interests? How has your identity influenced your long-term academic plan? These details will help make your USC essays unique.

USC Supplemental Essays Draft Cardinal Questions:

  • Does your USC supplemental essay response identify your long-term plans?
  • Does your USC essay identify your specific reasons for studying at USC?
  • Do you include your first and 2nd-selection majors?
  • Does your USC essay depict your unique passions?

USC Supplemental Essays — Question 2 (Required)

Please respond to i of the USC prompts below. (250-discussion limit).

USC believes that one learns best when interacting with people of different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Tell united states of america about a time when you were exposed to a new idea or when your beliefs were challenged past another point of view. Please discuss the significance of the experience and its effect on you.

USC faculty place an emphasis on interdisciplinary bookish opportunities. Describe something outside of your intended bookish focus nearly which you are interested in learning.

What is something about yourself that is essential to understanding you?

Choosing from the USC prompts

Remember, USC supplemental essays should illustrate your personal attitudes and passions.  In these USC prompts, you have the chance to highlight some dynamic aspects of your identity.  While you can choose from whatever of the iii listed USC prompts, you should select one that reveals something distinct about your personality and experiences.

In general, information technology's a good idea to select a prompt that lets y'all showcase experiences not constitute elsewhere in your application. Choose a prompt that adds to your application – not ane that repeats information that your readers already know. Whichever of the USC essay prompts you choose, you should highlight specific experiences that have contributed to the ways you encounter the world. If yous discover yourself speaking in vague terms while drafting, you lot might choose some other of the USC prompts.

Providing Insight

USC looks for students with a "vast array of interests and passions" who are "bold, driven, curious, and creative." Your USC essays are your chance to bear witness your reader how this applies to you!

Did you recently realize that a long-held belief nearly something or someone was wrong? Have this opportunity to show USC your willingness to grow and learn. After all, an important office of learning is recognizing that we do not know everything. USC wants to see how students can develop new ways of thinking, and so use the USC supplemental essays to show how this applies to you. For case, did yous modify your listen after a chat with a friend almost an issue that mattered to them?  In other words, USC wants students who are open up-minded—so tell them that story.

Tell a story

For example, did your curiosity most income inequality ignite y'all to research local legislative policies driving those inequalities? Or, did yous harness social media to brainwash local voters or encourage your peers to vote on local legislative policies? USC wants students who are looking to impact communities—so tell them that story.

Do you utilise your involvement in theoretical physics to craft plots for YA novels? Do y'all listen to Sean Carroll'south Mindscape podcast during passing periods? USC wants students who are interested in interdisciplinary arenas—so tell them that story.

Does your honey of balloons bear witness that you are a minimalist at centre? Does your addiction to cherry Chapstick highlight your commitment to a cause? Your quirks help USC understand who you are beyond your grades and examination scores—and then tell them that story.

Any of these USC essay prompts can give y'all an opportunity to boost your application. In under 250 words, use the second of your USC supplemental essays to help the admissions team get a glimpse into your identity and interiority.

USC Supplemental Essays Key Questions:

  • Does your USC essay typhoon specifically address one of the USC prompts provided?
  • Does your response demonstrate something new nigh you?
  • Practice you include specific details in your USC essay?

USC Supplemental Essays — Question 3 (Optional)

Starting with the offset of high schoolhouse/secondary school, if you lot accept had a gap where you were not enrolled in schoolhouse during a fall or leap term, please accost this gap in your educational history. You do non demand to address a summer pause. (250-word limit).

Typically, we would encourage you to respond to all USC essay prompts. However, in this example, you should only reply if the prompt applies to you.

Filling the Gap

This tertiary USC essay prompts you to draw why you took a break in your schooling. If you took fourth dimension out of high school due to COVID or other factors, this prompt gives you the hazard to contextualize your fourth dimension off and explain how it might influence the rest of your application.

USC wants to know the reasons for the break in your academic career.  Yous should reply this USC essay prompt honestly. If you needed a break from schoolhouse, tell the admissions commission that you lot took time off to remember most your futurity plans. If family circumstances prevented you from attention college, relay those experiences. Be sure to include why you want to return to school at this time.

Reasoning Showtime

Exist careful to avert as well much emotion here. USC simply wants to know the reasons for your absence from the academic globe— you practice not need to paint that film with dramatic pathos.

Wondering how this would look? Let's cheque out some USC essay examples:

Ex. Stricken with an unknown heart condition, the stress of school was life-threatening and and so I opted for a year of reprieve.

Perhaps a health condition did preclude y'all from attending university subsequently loftier school, but y'all should avoid excessively emotional linguistic communication.

Ex. During my senior year in high school, I struggled with an unknown heart condition that put me in the hospital quite often.  Because of this, my family and I decided I should have a twelvemonth off of schoolhouse. After a major surgery concluding autumn, I have recovered and my doctors accept stated I can return to school and I am eager to continue my academic journeying with USC.

The second of these USC essay examples is much stronger. Reasonably retell the reason(southward) for your suspension in school. And then, make it clear that you lot're excited to resume your academic career at USC like the second of these USC essay examples does.

As you lot can see from these USC essay examples, you don't need to use emotional linguistic communication to gain your reader's sympathy. Utilize the last of your USC essays to demonstrate your grit, thoughtfulness, perseverance, and determination. You had a gap in your pedagogy and now you are making a great improvement – tell them that story.

USC Supplemental Essay Draft Key Questions:

  • Did y'all identify the reason for your gap in education?
  • Does your USC essay include details that led to that reason?
  • Did you retell that story in a reasonable tone?

Additional tips for writing your USC supplemental essays:

  • Each of these USC essay prompts has a 250-word limit. Do not exceed the word limit for these USC supplemental essays.
  • Look over USC essay examples. This can fuel ideas for your own USC supplemental essays.
  • Never underestimate the importance of editing your USC supplemental essays. Forth with proper grammar and spelling, ensure clarity of thought and ideas.

USC Supplemental Essays – Final Thoughts

The USC essay prompts may seem overwhelming. Nevertheless, don't let that discourage y'all! With these tips, you tin write an engaging set of USC essays certain to impress the admissions team.

USC also has a helpful blog article on how to approach the USC supplemental essays. You can check out "Supplementary, My Dear Watson!" here.

This 2021-2022 essay guide on USC was written by Sasha Litzenberger. To read more of our manufactures on USC,click here. If you demand help crafting your USC supplemental essays visit app.collegeadvisor.com to create your freebusiness relationship orschedule a no-cost advising consultation by calling (844) 719-4984.