
How to Write the USC Supplemental Essays and Get Into the University of Southern California
Ah, USC—where ambition meets palm trees and entrepreneurship thrives under a golden California sunset. USC is a university for the bold: the big dreamers, the creative risk-takers, and the relentlessly curious. If you’re the kind of person who’s juggling five passion projects while rewriting the script for your indie film debut, USC might just be your perfect stage. Let’s make sure your supplemental essays get you there.
USC Supplemental Essay Prompts
1. Academic Interests
Prompt: Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests at USC. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections. (250 word limit)
2. Describe Yourself in Three Words
Prompt: Describe yourself in three words. (25 characters per word)
3. Quick Takes
Prompt: The following prompts have a 100-character limit:
- What is your favorite snack?
- Best movie of all time:
- Dream job:
- If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
- Dream trip:
- What TV show will you binge-watch next?
- Which well-known person or fictional character would be your ideal roommate?
- Favorite book:
- If you could teach a class on any topic, what would it be?
4. USC Dornsife Applicants
Prompt: Many of us have at least one issue or passion that we care deeply about – a topic on which we would love to share our opinions and insights in hopes of sparking intense interest and continued conversation. If you had ten minutes and the attention of a million people, what would your talk be about? (250 word limit)
5. USC Viterbi Engineering Applicants
Prompt: The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and their 14 Grand Challenges go hand-in-hand with our vision to engineer a better world for all humanity. Engineers and computer scientists are challenged to solve these problems in order to improve life on the planet. Learn more about the NAE Grand Challenges at engineeringchallenges.org and tell us which challenge is most important to you, and why. (250 word limit)
A Note on USC’s Elite Programs
USC’s top-tier programs like the School of Cinematic Arts, the Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy, and the BFA in Acting are talent-driven. These programs demand more than ambition; they require evidence of your creative mastery and a portfolio that reflects your raw talent. If you’re applying to one of these, treat the application process like a graduate school thesis. If this resonates, Top Dog can guide you through these highly competitive supplements with finesse.
For now, let’s focus on USC’s general undergraduate application prompts—the gateway to becoming a Trojan.
How to Tackle Each Prompt
Academic Interests Essay
This essay is your opportunity to show USC how their specific programs, professors, or resources align with your goals. Demonstrated interest is key here, so do your homework.
Tips:
- Get Specific: Name-drop USC’s programs, like the Academy for Polymathic Study, which encourages cross-disciplinary innovation, or the Roski School of Art and Design’s emphasis on blending traditional methods with digital media. Mention how the Thornton School of Music’s Music Industry program can help you build a label for emerging artists or how the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism aligns with your passion for reshaping media narratives. Connect these programs to your unique vision and goals.
- Think Big Picture: Highlight your ambition. USC loves students who see their majors as a launchpad for big ideas. Whether you’re building the next sustainable fashion brand or creating an AI-driven music platform, show your vision.
- Example: "When I think about the stories that stay with me, they’re always the ones that sing—where sound and words dance together to capture a truth about the world. Growing up with a father who played old jazz records and a mother who read poetry aloud, I came to see narrative and rhythm as inseparable. At USC, the Music Industry program will help me build the skills to bring this harmony to life, while the Narrative Studies major will deepen my understanding of how stories shape identity and connection. I dream of crafting podcasts and albums that not only entertain but resonate as a call to think, feel, and act."
Describe Yourself in Three Words
This prompt is deceptively simple. Your choices should feel authentic and intriguing, offering a snapshot of who you are.
Tips:
- Balance Is Key: Include one word that reflects your ambition, one that shows your creativity, and one that hints at your personality or humor.
- Example: "Visionary, Maverick, Caffeinated."
Quick Takes
Here’s where USC gets a glimpse of your personality in rapid-fire format. Think of this as your chance to be witty, quirky, or heartfelt.
Tips:
- Be Specific: Avoid generic answers. Instead of "chips," write "Takis after midnight." Instead of "Harry Potter," say "the fifth book because angst is character-building."
- Show Personality: Let your humor or passions shine. For instance:
- Dream trip: "Scuba diving through underwater ruins in Greece."
- Theme song: "Beyoncé’s “Run the World (Girls),” because why not dream big?"
- Teach a class on: "The History of Memes: From Hieroglyphics to TikTok."
USC Dornsife Applicants: 10-Minute Talk
This is your chance to flex your intellectual or creative muscles. Pick a topic that you genuinely care about and can discuss with depth and energy.
Tips:
- Root Your Talk in Personal Experience: Share a story that shaped your passion or perspective. Maybe it’s about the time your family business survived a crisis and taught you entrepreneurial grit, or how moving across countries showed you the transformative power of community.
- Show Your Expertise: Think about what you’ve lived and what themes emerge from those experiences. Don’t try to impress with general knowledge; captivate with authenticity and depth.
- Make It Human: Your audience wants to feel moved. Frame your story around universal emotions like resilience, hope, or curiosity.
- Example: "In my ten minutes, I’d talk about the summers I spent learning the unspoken language of jazz improvisation with my older brother. Those sessions didn’t just teach me music; they taught me the beauty of spontaneous collaboration and how to listen deeply to others. I’d share how that experience shaped my belief that great art—and great progress—happens when we embrace unpredictability and trust our partners."
USC Viterbi Engineering Applicants: Grand Challenges
For this essay, focus on one challenge from the NAE list that resonates deeply with you. Show how your passion for engineering intersects with real-world impact.
Tips:
- Pick a Challenge That Matters to You: Maybe it’s making solar energy economical because your family struggled with energy access, or preventing pandemics because of a personal loss.
- Show Ambition: Explain how you’ll use USC’s resources, like the Viterbi Startup Garage or Research Gateway Scholars program, to tackle these challenges.
- Example: "When my grandmother lost herself to Alzheimer’s, I saw the quiet erosion of identity—and the urgency to fight it. I’m drawn to the puzzle of neurodegenerative diseases, where every piece of research holds the promise of restoring a life. At USC Viterbi, I’ll immerse myself in Professor Eun Ji Chung’s work on innovative drug delivery systems, merging nanotechnology with bioengineering to create therapies that don’t just treat but transform lives. For me, engineering isn’t just science—it’s hope, precision, and the relentless pursuit of better futures."
Final Thoughts
USC is looking for students who radiate ambition, creativity, and charisma. Whether you’re pitching a 10-minute TED Talk or naming your favorite snack, your application should reflect your unique perspective and energy.
At Top Dog, we specialize in helping students bring their raw talent to life in essays that stand out. Ready to craft essays as bold as your ambitions? Let’s make it happen!
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