284 Successful University of Southern California Essays

Prompt: Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests and why you want to explore them at USC. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections.

At my [Organization], I broke the first rule of business: to charge for my product. My cost-benefit analysis led me to recognize that the potential benefits of making my event free and accessible to more artists outweighed the modest financial gain from fees. Instead of charging for entry, I turned to brand sponsorship to cover my operational costs, such as website fees and a Zoom webinar subscription. My business decision paid off: across my festivals in [Year 1] and [Year 2], I united 8,000+ artists from 110+ countries!

My novel approach through [Organization] questions the conventional notion that monetary fees are essential for the allocation of resources in the art industry. It suggests that a different composition of revenue streams—one focused more on sponsorships—can yield substantial benefits for both artists and the event itself.

In addition, collaborating on [Organization] with USC students [Student 1], [Student 2], and [Student 3] has enabled me to witness—in action—USC’s values of striving for excellence and fostering open communication. As a result, it has kindled an ambition within me to thrive in the Business of Cinematic Arts program.

Learning about motion picture production techniques in CTPR 385, speaking with Professor Nunes about equitable talent pipelines in the film industry, and joining my friends at the Marshall Entertainment Association (MEA) would all equip me with the skills to push the art industry forward through social justice.