In this article, we provided some of the USC supplemental essay examples that got accepted. With that said, here is some background information.

The University of Southern California is a highly coveted school by many competitive students. The prestige and reputation of the school is not the only thing that makes it attractive. Its many opportunities for networking in the heart of Los Angeles make it a great investment for prospective students.

Also, consider the low acceptance rate: 16% for undergraduate students and 24.57% for transfers. With the implementation of holistic admissions, this also makes USC’s supplemental essays much more important.

With the average student earning a 3.8 GPA and USC using holistic admissions processes, it is more important now than ever that you write a good essay. If you’re concerned with getting accepted into USC, you may want to consider having one of our admissions officers help you with the editing and writing process.

USC Supplemental Essay Examples

Please provide a statement that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve. (Approximately 650 words)

“While I was a senior in high school, I was filled with excitement and nervousness as I applied to my dream college, the University of Southern California. Upon the news that I had not been admitted, I was saddened; however, I realized that it simply was not meant to be at the time. It was a blessing in disguise. I am grateful for the extra two years I was given in order to spend time with my parents and having the luxury of being near other close relatives. Having grown up in the same town my whole life, I also enjoyed the company of my childhood friends and re-visited my past schools to keep the connections with my grade school teachers that have shaped me into who I am today. I have been humbled by the experience of attending a community college and have built life-long relationships. In addition to all this, the extra two years has done everything to prepare me for the adventure of transferring. Not everyone is given a second chance to achieve their dreams and I have spent the last two years investing my best effort into school in order to make my goal of transferring to the University of Southern California a reality. In the Chinese calendar, I was born the year of the dragon. Dragons are a symbol of strength and I have reflected this trait in my life by overcoming discouragement and striving with increased determination. My perspective shifted from being focused on what I felt I was missing out on until I decided to enjoy what was in front of me. Becoming involved with the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society as an officer and committee leader has helped me tremendously by providing friendships and being proactive with my greatest interest, using my love of art to benefit others. One of my objectives after I transfer is to continue being involved with school organizations that strive to leave a positive impact on others. I accomplished a vast amount of personal growth that has prepared me to branch out and discover what awaits. Dragons are also a thematic element incorporated in my artwork. As an artist, I am transferring because I am determined to achieve a Bachelor of Fine Arts in order to pursue my artistic interests. While attending a junior college, my yearn to learn has only grown. I have a passion for creating works of art that inspire thought, understanding, and exploration. I will use the opportunities available at USC to push my talent beyond my imagination. Attending the University of Southern California is an unsurpassable opportunity due to the expertise, connections, and location. I am grateful to have the opportunity to take advantage of the great resources and exposure available at USC to set the tone for my artistic career. In my future, I plan to find success as an artist prior to becoming an art professor. This career choice requires what USC offers: a strong foundation of art skills and knowledge that will allow me to further develop and flourish as well as successful faculty that I will learn from to guide my future endeavors.” 

USC believes that one learns best when interacting with people of different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Tell us about a time you were exposed to a new idea or when your beliefs were challenged by another point of view. Please discuss the significance of the experience and its effect on you.(Approximately 250 words)

“My experiences travelling have exposed me to new perspectives and revealed my ability to adapt and flourish. I have been fortunate enough to have gotten the opportunity to travel the world as a result of my parent’s hard work and dedication. Having gone to approximately half of the United States, parts of Europe, Asia, and more, I have gained an incredible amount of insight into how others live and it has increased my awareness, perspective, and fascination with learning about other cultures. For me, travelling has come with unforgettable experiences as well as deep reflection onto my own way of life. Travelling has made me grateful for things that are often overlooked: freedom of speech, napkins at restaurants, and clean drinking water to name a few. Each place has uncovered a lesson. Specifically, Vietnam has shown me that happiness does not correspond to material possessions. During my experience there, I met some of the most content people I have come across in my life, yet they had so little and their living situation highly contrasted from my own. Meeting these people have shown me that I cannot depend on tangible things for happiness and I have been humbled by what I have been provided. I am excited to meet a wide range of people at the University of Southern California. My insight, cultural awareness, and celebration of diversity is prevalent through my demeanor and actions. I embrace diversity through the Art Positivity Committee I started that welcomes people from all backgrounds and encourages new ideas. Furthermore, I encompass a diverse nature through my ethnicity because I am half European and half Taiwanese. When I transfer to USC, I look forward to being involved and leaving a positive impact on the students, faculty, and surrounding community.”

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) 

“I selected the Bachelor of Arts as my second-choice major because it encompasses my interest of pursuing my passion for art; however, the Bachelor of Fine Arts is my first-choice major because it is more specific to the type of art that I am interested in. After achieving a degree in art, I hope to discover success as a professional artist in the Los Angeles area because it is full of opportunities. My ultimate goal is to become an art professor because it gives me an opportunity to help others achieve their artistic aspirations and advance their art skills to utilize as a therapeutic and creative outlet. I believe that USC is a huge asset in helping me achieve my academic interests. During high-school, I went to visit the University of Southern California campus and toured the Roski School of Art and Design. I was amazed by the impressive architecture and as we explored further, I was astonished by the variety of art practices and the expertise available. Before I knew it, USC became my dream school. The USC Roski School of Art and Design stands out to me because of the option to explore multiple artistic interests. I enjoy experimenting with a wide range of mediums and the USC program allows me to be innovative and encourages my creativity.”

In 500 words max, Please discuss: “The job of the artist is to always deepen the mystery.” Francis Bacon 

“Renowned English philosopher, Francis Bacon describes how “[the] job of the artist is to always deepen the mystery.” My artwork achieves this by sparking conversations between viewers and internal conversations within individuals between what the eyes perceive and how the mind interprets the art. These dialogues allow for infinite possibilities upon the meaning, significance, and process of the artwork. 

Every individual brings along their personal background and unique perspective when they view a piece. In turn, each person has a different reaction and interpretation of what the artwork symbolizes. These varieties are influenced towards a particular direction through the artist’s description that states the intended significance. Even then, the description is a prompt to an endless speculation that elaborates upon what the artwork is about. In my own art, I present engaging messages regarding culture, the philosophy of knowledge and reality, religion, and emotional states. The mystery strengthens as the origin and answers to these concepts remain unknown. 

My artwork deepens the mystery of one’s own cultural perspective in terms of viewing themselves and others. From my own life experience, my dual-ethnicity has impacted how others interpret me and how I understand the world around me by being raised with a combination of cultures. I am half European and half Taiwanese. Reverence to my cultures is reflected in my art through the incorporation of Chinese zodiac, calligraphy, and Celtic designs to prompt one to contemplate their own relationship with their culture while exposing them to my personal perspective.

Though my art answers mysteries of my own, it solely provides answers I have discovered personally; thus, to a viewer, my art provides a different perspective to consider which may deepen or answer a mystery of theirs. Exploring philosophy in my art allows both myself and the viewers to analyze questions of depth. Our beliefs of the future influence how we live presently and our past experiences form our current perceptions. Similarly, religions form philosophies influencing how people structure their present lives and construct their afterlife. Through my art, I enjoy exploring compelling messages and questions regarding religion and the inevitable.

A finalized art piece increases the mystery of the techniques, materials, and time that went towards constructing the piece. To demonstrate my concepts, I explore a vast range of mediums including: acrylic, oil, clay, plaster, charcoal, and will continue to grow as I experiment. The techniques used to create my artwork are disguised in a completed piece, intensifying the mystery on how the art was rendered. As the artist, the time remains indefinite as I enter flow state when I create, losing track of time and entering a world invested into the present creation of art. 

The words of Francis Bacon resonate with me as I strive to intensify mystery, contemplation, and conversation through my art.”

Looking for more USC supplemental essay examples? Concerned you may not have what it takes to get accepted? Don’t let your hard work in high school go to waste: contact us and our current admissions officers and team will do everything within our powers to get you accepted!