Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

“[--], how do you say your name? Your mom introduced you as [[Name Redacted]] but you said [[Name Redacted]]. Which one is right?” [Name Redacted] questioned. “None”, I thought. My name is [[Name Reda

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Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

I enjoy working with small-sized items. That might be why all my AP Calculus notes are fitted into a stack of twenty post-its. In middle school, my math teacher would hand out chocolates. After eating

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Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

Peer pressure works wonders. It was one of the main reasons I applied to [Organization Redacted]. Once I did my own research on the program, I realized that this program was bound to give me the chall

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Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.

In the programming world, there is a magical formula that goes like this: print (“Hello World”) Guess what happens? The blank screen next to the formula types out “Hello World”. The output was the

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Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.

I fed my local neighborhood during the pandemic. As the Community Service Co-Chair of [Organization Redacted] ([Organization Redacted]), I am responsible for getting our members into volunteering oppo

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USC faculty place an emphasis on interdisciplinary academic opportunities. Describe something outside of your intended academic focus about which you are interested in learning.

I may or may not have edited my summer professor onto three different images of Mariah Carey. Disclaimer: it was for the spirit of fun and he was okay with it. I downloaded Kami a few months back to

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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)

Computer science is fun because it allows for problem-solving using different methods of code and thinking. I started learning how to code using a free Codecademy course and AP Computer Science Princi

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The student body at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering is a diverse group of unique engineers and computer scientists who work together to engineer a better world for all humanity. Describe how your contributions to the USC Viterbi student body may be distinct from others. Please feel free to touch on any part of your background, traits, skills, experiences, challenges, and/or personality in helping us better understand you. (250)

A large principle of the Engineering Design Cycle is that when brainstorming, it’s always better to be open minded in creating many ideas rather than concentrating on a single one. When coming up with

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