A Guide to the USC Supplemental Essays 2020-2021
You could be applying to the University of Southern California as an aspiring actor hoping to benefit from the “Acting for the Stage, Screen, and New Media” program as a steppingstone to Hollywood. Or you could be more of a STEM-oriented person, hoping to break into the gaming industry, ready to take on the “Computer Science: Games” major. Whatever your academic focus, taking advantage of the USC supplemental essays 2020-2021 is an effective way to highlight who you are and why you’ve chosen the home of the Trojans.
USC appreciates students who are willing to take advantage of their wide range of programs. The university looks for candidates who are interested in “global issues and aren’t afraid to speak up in class or fight for a cause.” If you believe you check these boxes, it’s time to let the college know why through the writing component. To help you, I’ve outlined the prompts, the dos and don’ts for your responses, and additional tips for writing the USC supplemental essays 2020-2021.
Prompts for the USC Supplemental Essays 2020-2021
Question 1
Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests and why you want to explore them at USC specifically. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections. (Approximately 250 words)
This is the closest to a “why school” question as USC gets. The school wants to know whether you’ve actually put thought into your decision to apply, or if you’re just interested because it’s a well-ranked school in sunny LA. So before you sit down to write your answer, it’s important to go through the list of academic programs at the college and think about how they will help you reach your goals.
Because this prompt is all about looking towards the future, don’t focus your essay too much on how your interest in the topics originally arose. The main point of your response should highlight how you will take advantage of unique USC majors such as “Cinematic Arts, Film, and Television Production,” or “Animation and Digital Arts.” If you’ve chosen a major that’s available at other colleges such as Chemistry or Music, you need to drive home exactly why the courses and resources offered by USC can help your specific aspirations. Don’t limit yourself to just academic offerings. If there are any relevant clubs or programs of an academic nature, mention those as well.
Each of your points should be tailored to USC. Do research and see if a given program is unique to USC or a national one available at every school.
