Writing the University of Southern California Supplemental Essays

The University of Southern California holds a special place in my heart. Not only did I work there as an undergraduate admissions counselor in the Viterbi School of Engineering and the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences for nearly seven years, but it is also where I earned both my bachelor's and master's degrees. I loved working with students and families and sharing the countless opportunities students could experience at USC and within Los Angeles. From engineering students creating projects through the on-campus Maker Space, to pre-law students making their way to internships through the District Attorney's Office, the possibilities are endless.  

Before students can begin those experiences, however, they must first complete the Common Application! Through the Common Application, USC requires applicants to submit two supplemental essays, each with a 250-word limit. The first is required, while the second is optional. The first supplemental prompt reads: 

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. 

In general, admissions counselors look at the supplemental essays to learn more about you, but they also want to see that you have taken time to research the university. Ultimately, supplemental essays are designed to help admissions officers determine whether a student is genuinely excited about attending a particular university.  

For USC specifically, I encourage students to write about the academic school and major that align with their interests. Whether you are drawn to communications through the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, business administration through the Marshall School of Business, or cinema and media studies through the USC School of Cinematic Arts, this is your chance to demonstrate that you have done your research on your specific area of study as well as the college/school that houses that major. Connect specific academic programs, courses, faculty members, research opportunities, or experiences to your own goals and interests and explain why USC is the right place to pursue them.  

Because this prompt asks so much within a limited word count, you want to make the most of every word and address all parts of the question. Have you clearly explained both your academic interests and your reasons for choosing USC? See my colleague's recent post on writing recent post for additional guidance on writing "why this major" essays.  

The second, optional supplemental essay reads: 

The USC Student Commitment charges Trojans to "value honest, open communication and robust debate," and to "champion ideological diversity and embrace freedom of expression." Describe a time when you disagreed with someone you know about something important to you. Did you change your mind or reach common ground? 

During my time as an admissions counselor, USC did not include this optional essay, so this prompt reflects an evolving effort to better understand how applicants engage with differing viewpoints. While I have not evaluated applications that included this specific question, I do have recommendations for how students might approach it. 

Let’s look at what is truly being asked: 

1. Describe a time when you disagreed with someone about an issue that was important to you. 

2. Explain whether you changed your mind or were able to find common ground. 

This essay is asking for both a story and a reflection. The experience does not need to involve a dramatic conflict, a major victory, or a life-changing moment. What admissions readers are likely interested in is not whether you were "right" or "wrong," but how you handled disagreement. Were you willing to listen to another perspective? Did the conversation help you better understand someone else's point of view? Did it challenge your own assumptions? What did you learn from the experience? 

Recent conversations about higher education have often centered on free expression and the exchange of diverse viewpoints. This prompt appears designed to assess a student's willingness to engage thoughtfully with ideas that may differ from their own. USC is looking for students who can participate in respectful conversations, consider alternative perspectives, and contribute positively to a diverse campus community. 

As you develop your response, focus less on the disagreement itself and more on what you learned. Whether you changed your mind or reached common ground, what did you learn from the experience? How will you take this lesson with you to USC and beyond?