usc price scholarship application essays

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Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program

Requirements.

To be accepted to the University of Southern California Coverdell Fellows program, interested students must submit:

• a USC Graduate Application: https://www.usc.edu/admission/graduate/applyonline/
• $85 application fee
• eSCRIP SAFE (Grad)
• eTranscriptCA (CCC)
• Texas Server (Grad)

If your school does not provide e-transcripts through one of these methods, you must submit a hard copy of your transcripts .

• official copy of test scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). (Note: When registering for the GRE or GMAT, applicants should use the following institution codes: GRE 4852 or GMAT 4937)
• a completed Price Supplemental Form (complete through the Graduate Online Application)
• a current resume
• a maximum of three letters of recommendation, including at least one academic reference
• a statement of purpose of approximately 750-1,500 words
• a completed Price School Scholarship Application Form: If you wish to be considered for Price sponsored scholarships, complete the Scholarship Application Form through the Price School Supplemental Form, found in the USC Graduate Application.

About the Coverdell Fellows Program

Founded in 1985 at Teachers College, Columbia University (and formerly known as Fellows/USA), the Coverdell Fellows Program is now a network of partnerships between the Peace Corps and more than 90 universities across the country. Competitively selected Coverdell Fellows undertake service internships in high-need American communities and receive financial aid while working toward their graduate degrees. Returned Peace Corps Volunteers may apply to enroll in a Coverdell Fellowship at participating universities at any time after successfully completing Peace Corps service.

Coverdell Fellows at USC Sol Price School of Public Policy

In recognition of the significant contributions of Peace Corps volunteers, USC Price signed a formal agreement to participate in the Peace Corps Paul D. Coverdell Fellows program (formerly known as Fellows/USA) to financially assist Returning Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) who wish to attain an USC Price graduate education.

USC Price has established a special $10,000 fellowship ($5,000 per year, renewable for a second year assuming satisfactory academic progress) for RPCV’s to pursue USC Price’s Public Administration (MPA) , Nonprofit Leadership and Management (MNLM) , Urban Planning (MUP) , Public Policy (MPP) , Health Administration (MHA) or Dollinger Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) degrees. RPCV’s will also complete an internship that benefits an underserved community. RPCVs may be eligible for additional funding through Dean’s Merit Scholarships. Applicants who apply by the December 15 scholarship deadline for fall enrollment are eligible for this award.

Why Become a Coverdell Fellow at USC Price?

The Price School degree programs are highly ranked nationally and draw upon the school’s exceptional faculty and the university’s extensive resources. Degree programs combine depth of study with a breadth of opportunity to specialize in areas within each field. Programs integrate classroom work with real-world experience through a variety of internships, mentorships, and other opportunities with the greater Los Angeles community. The USC Sol Price School of Public policy offers an education that:

• Combines the liberal arts, professional expertise, and the resources of a great research university to offer students breadth, depth, and variety as they follow their interests and design their programs
• Centers on and values the relationships that develop between individual students and individual teachers
• Offers both academic and relevant real-world experiences and draws widely on the expertise of networks of engaged councilors, advisors, alumni, and prominent professionals
• Encourages innovation, entrepreneurship, experimentation, and collaboration
• Fosters a multidisciplinary and problem-solving ethic
• Focuses broadly and inclusively on the issues, constituencies, structures, and institutions engaged in public life in both governance and the built environment

Program Contacts

To learn more about University of Southern California’s Coverdell Fellowships, please contact:

Sarah Esquivel , Assistant Director of Recruitment & Admission Phone: (213) 740-0399 E-mail:  [email protected]

John Mendoza , Assistant Director of Scholarships Fellowship Coordinator Phone: (213) 740-6842 E-mail:  [email protected]

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3 USC Essay Examples By Accepted Students

The University of Southern California is a selective private school in Los Angeles. Its film school is consistently ranked the top in the country, though its other academic programs are incredibly strong as well.

USC requires applicants to fill out a variety of prompts, some in the form of essays and others as short-answer questions. In this post, we’ll go over three essays that helped real students gain acceptance to USC and explain what each essay did well and where it could be improved. 

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our USC essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts. 

(Also, CollegeVine has a ton of other resources for your USC application. Want to learn what USC will actually cost you based on your income? And how long your application to the school should take? Here’s what every student considering USC needs to know. ) 

Essay Example #1 – 10 Minutes to Change the World

At what point does injustice become background noise?

Bloodied black bodies can be “liked” on Instagram. Gunshots in classrooms are easily reposted via Tiktok. My generation’s digital environment is so overwhelming we’re desensitized. Given the numbing nature of dark humor, youth prefer it over justice. Rape culture is palatable once it’s a punchline. Laughter is more socially acceptable than tears. 

A recent documentary about Jeffery Dahmer (which his victim’s family members did not consent to) has led to several callous jokes about his horrifying devastation of the Black gay community. Tiktok now hosts several trends concerning Dahmer, all spearheaded by Generation Z youth.

Humor is a valid coping mechanism, but it’s now a crutch for a generation that needs to start walking on its own. 

Why is shock humor desired today? Dark humor was how I grappled with my internalized racism, partly triggered by enduring racial slurs at school. However, the hilarity fizzled out once I realized how counterproductive it was. Now, rather than reposting footage of global tragedies or joking about them, I promote new bills, pro-cause literature, and nonprofits, celebrating the proactivity of our nation.

To begin my conversation, I would address my own desensitization, urging my audience to examine theirs as well. Through my talk, I want individuals to undergo a transformative examination of social media consumption and the role of humor in the face of tragedy. Hopefully, my talk leads them to consider how they can work to alleviate social issues, rather than laughing at them.

What the Essay Did Well

This prompt is incredibly open, which can be both a blessing and a curse: you can write about anything you want, but with that much freedom, will you be able to focus on something specific? For this student, the answer to that question is unquestionably yes, as they do a phenomenal job writing about a creative, nuanced topic, in a way that is clear and easy to understand.

The topic they choose is also personal, which is important. The purpose of any college essay is to teach your readers something about who you are, and if you write about a topic that you know a lot about, but aren’t emotionally invested in (like, say, the different kinds of screwdrivers you learned about while helping your dad with a summer project), your personality won’t shine through.

This student, however, focuses not on racism in general, which is far too broad a topic for an essay this short, but on the problematic ways Gen Z copes with racism. That unique perspective shows that the student both has strong critical thinking skills and can reflect on their own experiences. And to take things a step further, they are also willing to get vulnerable, and acknowledge their own role in perpetuating the very issue they are highlighting, with the section:

“Dark humor was how I grappled with my internalized racism, partly triggered by enduring racial slurs at school. However, the hilarity fizzled out once I realized how counterproductive it was. Now, rather than reposting footage of global tragedies or joking about them, I promote new bills, pro-cause literature, and nonprofits, celebrating the proactivity of our nation.”

In this part of the essay, the student shows a remarkable level of humility, and an ability to work on themselves. While getting vulnerable with a bunch of strangers thousands of miles away is not easy, this especially deep self-reflection is what takes this essay from good to great.

In addition to zooming in on their own character, the student also zooms out from their own experience, to arrive at thoughtful, compelling takeaways that assuredly would hold the attention of a million people. Lines such as “Humor is a valid coping mechanism, but it’s now a crutch for a generation that needs to start walking on its own” and “Given the numbing nature of dark humor, youth prefer it over justice. Rape culture is palatable once it’s a punchline. Laughter is more socially acceptable than tears” show that this student is not only personally invested in this issue, but ready to start taking steps towards solving it.

Lastly, this essay is incredibly well-written and easy to follow. The passionate yet conversational tone stays true to the goal of the prompt (start a conversation!), and because of the writer’s varied sentence structure, we never get bored or want to stop reading.

What Could Be Improved 

The main problem with this essay comes in its last paragraph: 

“To begin my conversation, I would address my own desensitization, urging my audience to examine theirs as well. Through my talk, I want individuals to undergo a transformative examination of social media consumption and the role of humor in the face of tragedy. Hopefully, my talk leads them to consider how they can work to alleviate social issues, rather than laughing at them.”

Unfortunately, this paragraph doesn’t tell us anything we don’t already know, which unfortunately means the student has essentially wasted 63 words in a 250 word essay. If you write a strong essay (which this student does), you do not need to wrap things up or connect your answer back to the prompt explicitly. Those things will just happen naturally.

Instead of this paraphrased, overly tidy conclusion, the student could have painted a picture of what their talk would look like. For example:

“Hopefully, I can inspire my audience to reflect on their own desensitization, as I did, by describing the time I retweeted ten Trump memes in an hour, and how that did absolutely nothing to help me feel better about the state of the country. Turning away from band-aid solutions and committing to sucking the poison out of the wound is challenging, but I hope that through my talk and conversations my listeners have with each other afterwards, more of us will feel ready to take on that challenge.”

This version doesn’t just summarize points the student has already made, but rather presents us with tangible ways (reflecting on their own low moments; conversations after their talk) they hope to continue fighting back against desensitization.

Essay Example #2 – The Power of Debate

Prompt:   What is something about yourself that is essential to understanding you? (250 words)

“Chill. Out.”

Surely my classmates felt annoyed that I had transformed a simple English debate about the existence of the American Dream into a full-on tirade, hands revolving in furious circles, voice emphatically piercing throughout the room. But for me, the slightest mention of a debate, even a minor discussion on the best team in the NFL (Patriots!), unleashes my passionate, borderline bombastic self, determined to conquer the war of words.

Of course, when discussing the merits of pharmaceutical price controls at a debate tournament, my assertive speaking style and quick-thinking become valuable assets. But other times, I find those tendencies to hinder what would otherwise be productive, civilized conversations. Often, a simple discussion about the merits of pineapple on pizza would quickly devolve into a redundant, unproductive squabble. I have to constantly remind myself that not everything needs to be debated endlessly, no matter how much I vehemently disagree (Pineapple on pizza, however, is a TERRIBLE idea).

Yet it is this desire to seek truth and conclusion, to vouch for my beliefs, that drives me to my life endeavors. Whether it be interning at an immigration law firm and fighting for clients’ prosperity or volunteering for a local Board of Education candidate, I strive to focus my love for reasoning and dialogue into avenues that benefit those around me. Pointless debates lead nowhere, but insightful, genuine conversations are essential to addressing the key issues that affect our community. And honestly, pineapple on pizza doesn’t really matter that much anyway.

Not only does this essay start with a one-line paragraph, it starts with two sentence fragments. This is a great way to begin a college app essay, because let’s face it: admissions readers have to plow through hundreds of essays per day. They don’t want to pick apart drawn-out introductions. They want something that’s going to pique their interest, and “ Chill. Out. ” meets this requirement. It immediately creates a drive to read more: what is the conflict here? Who’s saying “chill out,” and why? 

Throughout this essay, the writer uses physical and powerful verbs to describe their passion for debating. If you went through the essay with red pen, you’d underline a lot of dynamic action: “ vehemently disagree ,”  “ drive ,” “ conquer the wa r,” “ voice piercing through the room .”  Words like these involve the reader physically in the action of debate in a way that drier words, like “respond” or “address” would not. As a result, the applicant comes across as enthusiastic and passionate.  And, as the icing on the cake, the violent words make the author’s personal growth – their stoic mastery over their passions – resonate as more truthful by the end of the essay. We can appreciate their calm, because we’ve experienced their storm. 

By far, the most important element of this essay is its focus on a personal transformation . This applicant could have relished in their success on debate team or the Board of Education, but they don’t – instead, they involve these occurrences in a narrative about their fatal flaw . 

Why is this attractive to an admissions reader? Well, because it demonstrates that the applicant is introspective and interested in improving themself in deeply personal ways. For example, it takes humility to insert yourself into the perspectives of others (“ surely my classmates felt annoyed ”). And it takes honesty to 1) identify a problem with yourself and 2) correct your behavior (“ I have to constantly remind myself that not everything needs to be debated ”). 

What Could Be Improved

There is honestly very little this student needs to do to strengthen this essay as it already is captivating, passionate, and illuminating. However, a word of caution is to make sure the mood of your essay matches your personality. This essay works because as far as we can tell from what this student tells us about themselves and the activities they engage in, they are outspoken, quick-thinking, and love to exchange ideas. These qualities all lend themselves to a fast-paced, dynamic essay. But if that isn’t you, don’t try and inject powerful language into your essay to have the same impact as this student. Make sure your essay reflects you and the story you are trying to tell.

Essay Example #3 – Admitting You Were Wrong

This essay covers the difficult topics of eating disorders and mental health. If you’re thinking about covering similar topics in your essay, we recommend reading our post Should You Talk About Mental Health in College Essays?

Prompt: 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. (250 words)

“You barely have lunch, and I’m worried that you’re not eating enough.”

My face burnt bright red. They know.

It was true, of course. Throughout sophomore year, my daily food intake slowly inched below 1,500 calories, barely enough to sustain a toddler. Six months in, my period halted its monthly cycle – hormonal amenorrhea. Tired, anxious, scared. Yet, nothing deterred the voice in my head from telling me that I would never be small enough.

With an already petite stature, my health was never questioned; people seldom criticized my diet or the amount of space I occupied in a room. Skinny was healthy, and I bought into that myth. Until I started to listen. I listened as my friend confronted me with her concerns. For the first time, I was exposed to a new definition of health detached from fear foods and aesthetics. Not immediately convinced but willing to change, her perspective encouraged me to do the research and reflect on my health subjectively. In the following week, dietetic research papers and videos filled my search history; the verdict was glaringly clear. I was wrong.

Today, I exercise for adrenaline. I eat for fuel. I recognize my worth beyond the number on the scale. Listening to a different perspective was all it took for me to unravel the flaws of my own, and that, as I currently eat the rest of the holiday toffee pretzels unabashedly, is something that I am forever thankful for.

This student opened up about a deeply personal topic in a that really allowed the reader to see the mental and physical effect her eating disorder had on her. We aren’t just told she had an eating disorder and when she was confronted by a friend it changed her perspective; we are shown  what she suffered through and what her original perspective was. 

Admitting to thoughts about the “ amount of space [she] occupied in a room ” and how “ Skinny was healthy”  demonstrates very clearly her mental stance on her body. That contrasts with her admission of her physical health: “ my daily food intake slowly inched below 1,500 calories, barely enough to sustain a toddler ” and “ my period halted its monthly cycle. ” Describing both the mental and physical aspects help us to understand the depth of the struggle she went through and how deeply engrained she was in her current way of thinking.

This essay has a triumphant ending that warms our heart for the student because she was able to find help and conquer her eating disorder. The last paragraph nicely reflects on the effect this new idea had on the student by showing us her new mental approach to food and her weight: “ Today, I exercise for adrenaline. I eat for fuel. I recognize my worth beyond the number on the scale. ” Finishing the essay with her giving thanks for eating “ holiday toffee pretzels unabashedly ” brings a light-hearted conclusion to a serious essay and leaves the reader with a smile on their face for how far this student has come. 

While the narrative this student tells is very good, it reads more like an “Overcoming Challenges” essay than a “New Beliefs” essay. This could be fixed with more attention to the encounter with her friend and her subsequent research on eating healthy.

We are simply told, “ I listened as my friend confronted me with her concerns, ” and that through that experience she was “ exposed to a new definition of health detached from fear foods and aesthetics. ” However, what we want to see is how this student grappled with the confrontation and what her mental and emotional response was to learning new information that contradicted her previous assumptions.

Like in the beginning, a quote from her friend would be a nice way to place the reader in the action. This student also provided us with a lot of introspection about her eating disorder, so the essay should pay the same amount of attention to her overcoming it. For example, she might write something like this:

“ ‘We are all concerned for you.’ The sad eyes of my friend roamed over my thinning body, and I heard my heart shatter. I wasn’t just hurting myself, I was causing all my friends and family to worry. ‘I think you’ll like this article.’ Turning her computer around, big bold letters ran across the screen: YOU ARE MORE THAN A NUMBER. I hesitated in the moment, terrified of letting go of the societal message to be skinny that had become my mantra. But as my sunken, tired eyes looked back at me in the mirror that night, I opened up the article and learned just how wrong I had been. ” 

Where to Get Your USC Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your USC essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

How to Win a USC Merit Scholarship

What are the usc merit scholarships.

The University of Southern California is one of the few private elite universities that offers generous merit scholarships to highly qualified students.  To be applicable for a USC merit scholarship, students must submit their application earlier than the regular decision deadline. 

Typically, 2% of early applicants are selected to be considered for a USC merit scholarship. There are three possible USC merit scholarships students can receive: the Trustee scholarship (full-tuition), the Presidential scholarship (half-tuition), and the Dean’s Scholarship (quarter-tuition).

The vast majority (about 90%) of the 2% of selected applicants will receive one of these merit scholarships. Submitting a strong written portion of the USC application is crucial for your chances of winning a scholarship. As a recipient of the USC Trustee scholarship, I’ll offer some guidance on making your USC application as competitive as possible!

This informational essay was written by Rohan Krishnan, Yale ‘24. If you want to get help writing your Stanford application essays from Rohan or other CollegeAdvisor.com Admissions Experts , register with CollegeAdvisor.com today.

Craft compelling essays

The merit scholarship committee prioritizes essays and extracurricular activities over standardized test scores. Some of my fellow merit scholarship recipients at USC had ACT scores under 30 (or SAT scores under 1450) and didn’t have perfect transcripts or GPA’s. Meanwhile, some of my peers with stellar standardized test scores and grades weren’t selected to receive a USC merit scholarship. It’s important to understand that the merit scholarship committee seeks students who have the capacity for leadership and change.

As a result, your essays should highlight meaningful and substantive experiences you had while participating in your extracurricular activities. They should explain why you are interested in these activities and how they might shape your future endeavors. In addition, describe how you will continue these activities at USC. Naming specific programs, departments, clubs, and faculty that you plan to take advantage of will help demonstrate your sincere interest in what USC has to offer.

Remember, compelling essays are just one part of the application process. Take our quiz below to test your knowledge of college admissions!

Choose your recommender wisely

Successful USC merit scholarship recipients have recommendations that speak to their genuine curiosity in learning more about the world. A strong recommendation will sincerely vouch for your character and back up any claims you made in your application. As a result, you should choose a recommender who knows you well inside and outside of the classroom. The scholarship committee may use the recommendations to weed out applicants who look good on paper, but less so in person.

For example, my recommender was my guidance counselor because she could provide details of my extracurricular activities and academic abilities. Because I felt very comfortable with her, she knew me and my personal traits well enough to expand on them in her recommendation.

For a scholarship where demonstrated personal qualities outweigh test scores, your choice of a recommender is important. Make sure to find a trusted adult who knows you well enough to write a personalized and unique recommendation.

Any strong college application should present a narrative about who you are and what you might like to become. In many ways, the college application process boils down to storytelling: your ability to tell a cohesive and genuine story about yourself. Your essays, extracurriculars, test scores, and transcripts are all plot points in this story describing who you are.

This is especially true for the “short questions” essay section of the USC application. Questions like “what is your favorite snack?” or “what TV show do you want to binge-watch next?” might seem silly or difficult to answer well, but they’re meant to elicit an authentic snapshot of your personality and character. In your response, it’s important to be distinctive and true to yourself. If a friend were to read your responses to these short answer questions, would they be able to tell that you wrote them?  Your authenticity will always shine through to the committee reading your college application.

(For merit scholarship finalists) Review your application and practice, practice, practice!

Congratulations! You have demonstrated that you are exceptional candidate among a large pool of applicants. If you are selected as a merit scholarship finalist, you will then have a 30-45 minute interview with three or four people. The interviewers will include a faculty member, an admission officer, and a current USC merit scholarship recipient.

Make sure to review your application before the interview, familiarizing yourself with your essay answers and lists of activities and awards. It is very important that you practice answering sample interview questions with family or friends in order to feel more comfortable during the real interview.

This interview will not be like a normal college alumni interview . All of your interviewers will have read your file thoroughly and thus will be asking pointed questions about specific parts of your application. Practice and preparation will allow you to relax and answer questions sincerely.

Finally, remember that the application process, especially the interview, can be subjective and unpredictable, so you should pat yourself on the back for making it this far.

Good luck to all!

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September 12, 2023

2023-2024 USC Supplemental Essay Prompts

The University of Southern California has released its supplemental essay prompts for applicants to the Class of 2028. In addition to the Personal Statement on The Common Application , USC applicants will be required to answer one 250-word essay and several 100-character short answers. If an applicant took a gap year or their education was interrupted, they’ll need to answer another essay prompt in about 250 words as well. So, what are this year’s USC supplemental essay prompts, and how should they be approached? Let’s dive in!

2023-2024 University of Southern California Essay Questions and Short Answers

Essay questions.

Applicants should respond to the first prompt in approximately 250 words. Applicants who have a gap in their high school education should respond to the second prompt in approximately 250 words as well (this essay should not be completed if there is no gap in a student’s secondary education).

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.

This is a hybrid essay prompt: Why Major and Why College . To address the first aspect of the essay question, it would be beneficial for applicants to express to USC’s admissions committee why they wish to study one or two particular disciplines at USC by sharing the origin story of their interest in these disciplines. The origin story should always stem from an applicant’s high school experience. Too often, students choose instead to share anecdotes from their middle or elementary school years.

For the second aspect of the essay question, applicants must capture genuine specifics about why USC is the ideal institution to pursue this course of study. So many applicants choose to list classes and name-drop professors in Why College essay prompts when they should instead capture the enduring specifics of a course of study at a school. These enduring specifics could focus on programs, institutes, lecture series, traditions, etc. And every sentence in this portion of the essay should be tailored to USC. If a sentence is generic, it should be stricken from the record.

2. Starting with the beginning of high school/secondary school, if you have had a gap where you were not enrolled in school during a fall or spring term, please address this gap in your educational history. You do not need to address a summer break.

This essay fits into the only if applicable category. So, if a student has no gap in their high school studies, the essay should be left blank. If, however, a student has a gap in their high school studies, they should articulate it here. And ideally, it will be filled with no excuses and only positivity.

Short Answers

With the exception of the first short answer, which should be addressed in three total words, the short answers should be addressed in 100 characters or less.

1. Describe yourself in three words. 

First Word:

Second Word:

Third Word:

USC truly wants three words for these answers. While applicants can theoretically include 100 characters, that would defy USC’s instructions. Hopefully a student’s answers will capture their love of learning and desire to leave a mark on the world in a meaningful way.

2. What is your favorite snack?

While this short answer prompt may seem silly, we encourage applicants to give thought to their answers so they don’t read as merely silly. It could be an opportunity for an applicant to teach admissions officers something they don’t know about food.

3. Best movie of all time:

Applicants shouldn’t just name the movie. They should explain why. And hopefully the movie showcases their passions and fits with how they think. Also, applicants should avoid movies that could rub USC admissions officers the wrong way.

4. Dream job:

An applicant’s answer should fit neatly with their hook that they’ve hopefully presented in their activities and their essays.

5. If your life had a theme song, what would it be?

Applicants will ideally choose a song that shows some intellectual curiosity and, just like with the movie choice, applicants should avoid choosing a song that could rub USC admissions officers the wrong way.

6. Dream trip:

Don’t be afraid to keep it local! Traveling around the world can be perceived as privileged.

7. What TV show will you binge watch next?

Applicants should approach this short answer the same way they approach the movie choice — show how they think, avoid mindless TV, and don’t choose a show that will rub admissions officers the wrong way. If a student is an environmental activist,  Our Planet  could be a good choice — so long as the applicant explains why.

8. Which well-known person or fictional character would be your ideal roommate?

Applicants should dare to choose someone USC admissions officers haven’t heard of and teach them something. And don’t just name the person. Applicants should explain why they’ve chosen the roommate.

9. Favorite book:

Students should avoid choosing books that are required reading in classrooms across America, are intended for younger audiences, or have been adapted into films and television series. After all, that would not demonstrate that an applicant reads for pleasure — which is vitally important to express. And students shouldn’t only name the book. They should explain why it’s their favorite book.

10. If you could teach a class on any topic, what would it be?

The choice of topic should be consistent with the applicant’s hook as expressed in their activities section and, ideally, in their essays. Applicants should choose a pithy title for the course and, if there’s any room to explain what the course is about, by all means!

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with USC Essays

If you’d like to optimize your case for admission to the University of Southern California by submitting compelling essays, among other things, fill out Ivy Coach ’s free consultation form , and we’ll be in touch to outline our college admissions counseling services for applicants to the Class of 2028.

You are permitted to use www.ivycoach.com (including the content of the Blog) for your personal, non-commercial use only. You must not copy, download, print, or otherwise distribute the content on our site without the prior written consent of Ivy Coach, Inc.

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Admission letters and certificates will be mailed following the release of admission decisions online.

USC offers exceptional students a world-class education, with top-ranked programs in virtually every discipline—from cinema to the sciences. Here, students begin a journey of intellectual challenges, personal and professional achievement and lifelong friendships.

We look for students we believe will thrive in our world-class academic environment. Our review process is holistic, taking into consideration more than just grades and test scores. We also look at your personal qualities, leadership potential, and your ability to become a partner in learning and research. The Common App opens August 1.

First-Year Students

Incoming first-year students demonstrate superior academic performance — and the potential to do more. Most admitted students are ranked in the top 10 percent of their graduating class. First-year students can apply Early Action or Regular Decision.

Transfer Students

USC accepts sophomore and junior transfer students from across California, the U.S., and around the world. Successful transfer students have demonstrated their potential to succeed in our dynamic academic programs.

International Students

USC accepts international students from around the globe and hosts one of the most diverse student populations in the U.S. You are considered an international student if you will enter or have already entered the United States with a student visa to live and study in the U.S.

• Dean of the Graduate School
• PhD Program Characteristics
• Graduate Events
• Graduate Degrees awarded at USC
• Fellowships
• Guidelines and Forms
• Student Resources
• Required Documents
• Submission Deadlines
• Guidelines to Submission
• Manuscript Formatting Guidelines
• Fellowships for PhD Students

Scholarships for Masters Students

• Academic Support, Professional Development and Diversity Inclusion Programs

Scholarships for Master’s and Professional Doctorate Students

Funding for students pursuing a master’s degree is coordinated by the student’s school or program.

In addition, the Graduate School and the Office of Academic Honors and Fellowships oversee a number of opportunities for master’s and professional doctorate students.  

There are also two opportunities for master’s and professional doctorate students available from the USC Graduate School:

Dr. Rodolfo Montes Scholarship

for USC master’s students in the School of Cinematic Arts, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, Gould School of Law, Keck School of Medicine, or the Price School of Public Policy. Scholarships, in the form of tuition assistance, are awarded to applicants who demonstrate a need for financial assistance, who have outstanding academic records and a history of community involvement. In accordance with the wishes of the donor, preference is given to candidates who exemplify leadership, or demonstrate a potential for leadership, within the local Hispanic community. Applications are accepted annually in the spring semester. Interested students should reach out to staff in their schools for information on how to be nominated.

Rockwell Dennis Hunt Scholastic Award

honors USC graduate students whose undergraduate degree is from USC. Applications are available annually in November. Candidates must meet the following criteria:

• have earned a bachelor’s degree at USC within five years of the time of application
• have completed at least three years of undergraduate work at USC;
• be currently working towards a master’s degree or doctorate at the University of Southern California.

What are you looking for?

• Undergraduate Financial Aid
• Admitted and Continuing Students

Scholarships

Scholarships are a type of financial aid that does not have to be repaid. Sources for scholarships include federal and state governments, the university, your academic department or professional school, community and civic groups, and private industry.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Scholarships do not increase the total amount of your need-based financial aid.  In most cases, we allow outside scholarships to reduce the amounts of student loans or Federal Work-Study in your financial aid package. We make every attempt to preserve any university need-based grant you may have been awarded. Each situation must be reviewed in light of the availability of funds, state and federal regulations, and the university’s financial aid policies.

If your scholarship agency requires you to submit a proof of enrollment, you can provide a USC Enrollment and Fee Summary. This is located in your MyUSC student profile. Look for this icon to print your enrollment and fee summary. This is an official USC document that you can use when you are asked to provide proof of attendance at USC.

Registration and Fee Summary

USC Scholarships

USC Merit Scholarships USC administers more than a dozen prestigious scholarship programs, ranging in value from a few thousand dollars up to full tuition. They are awarded based on academic excellence, leadership, service, and talent.

Scholarship Universe Departments can post scholarship opportunities on the Scholarship Management Portal. Some departments may maintain their own scholarship websites. Contact your department for details.

Letters, Arts and Sciences Business Cinematic Arts Communication Dramatic Arts Education Engineering Law Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Public Policy Social Work

Awards and Fellowships Database The Office of the Provost maintains this database of internal and external awards and fellowships.

Athletic Awards Athletic scholarships are awarded based on recommendations from the Athletics Department. For more information about athletic scholarships, please visit our  Athletic Awards  page.

Stipends Some departments provide their scholarships in the form of a monthly stipend that is paid directly to the student receiving the award. Stipend payments are made monthly according to the  stipend schedule .

Outside Scholarships and Benefits

Scholarships.com

ROTC Scholarships and GI Benefits

ROTC and Veteran Benefits

USC Office of Veteran Affairs

U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs

Scholarships from Outside Sources

Federal regulations require that we consider all of your resources when determining your eligibility for financial aid. If you are a recipient of an outside award not listed in your Financial Aid Summary, please send us a copy of your scholarship award notification so that we can adjust your financial aid package accordingly and notify you of the revision.

Most scholarships will replace some type of financial aid in your aid summary. If you would like to know how your scholarship will affect your financial aid eligibility, please contact our office.

Checks From Outside Agencies

Checks should be made payable to the “University of Southern California” and mailed to: USC Financial Aid Office Attention: Aid Coordination 700 Childs Way, JHH 325 Los Angeles, CA 90089-0914

College Entrance Exams

The sat, act and sat subject tests, our scholars learn how to succeed at competitive schools.

We invite you to be involved in the process.

With our expert admissions assistance, we will walk your child through each question of a college application and let them know what admissions committees are indirectly asking. We will help your child showcase their personal achievements in a way that optimizes their strengths and resonates with the selection committee.

Application Timeline

• FEBRUARY-MARCH
• Students should register for the SAT or ACT exam if they have not done so already.
• Students applying for Early Action and Early Decision must submit their applications. The EA/ED deadline for most colleges is November 1.
• If needed, students must register for the December SAT or ACT by early November; for most colleges, these are the last test scores that will be considered.
• Students who submit the USC application by November 1st will be automatically considered for USC scholarships .
• University of California and Cal State University applications are due by November 30.
• Many top-tier universities and selective colleges will have Regular Decision application deadlines as early as December 1st. Students should be preparing to submit.
• Check the university website for the Early Action and Early Decision notification dates for the upcoming academic year. Students are usually notified mid-December.
• Although most students will have completed their college applications by January, they must maintain their grades throughout their senior year. Colleges can revoke the admission of any student, even after being accepted
• Acceptance letters and financial aid offers will start to arrive. Review acceptances, compare financial aid packages, and visit your child’s final choices, if possible.
• When your child has made their college decision, they must submit their statement of intent to register and make a deposit to the college they will attend by May 1. If the student has been offered financial aid, they must accept the offer and follow the instructions given. Students should also notify schools they will not attend.
• Your child should check  their student portal on the college website regularly to submit any required documents to their college.
• Colleges host spring admit weekends on campus in April. Students have the opportunity to visit the schools they’ve been admitted to and make a more informed decision about which college to attend.

Be involved.  Even if you haven’t attended college yourself, the college application process is something that you can learn about together.

How to choose the right colleges for your student:

When considering which colleges and universities to apply to, we encourage our scholars to consider what is the best match and fit for them.

How do you know if a college is a match for your child?

Certain college qualities are universal. Every parent and student should have similar expectations about what defines a match college, such as:

• Strong graduation rate – in comparison to other options, across subgroups
• Affordability – both tuition and cost of living
• Admissibility – given grades and test scores, the student has a reasonable chance of getting in
• Special transition/success programs that facilitate completion for low-income, first-generation students

How do you know if a college is a good fit for your child?

Some college qualities are specific to each student’s preferences, such as:

• The majors offered
• The personality of the student body

When assessing a school, match is always priority #1

Students need to know a college is a match before it’s useful to consider whether it’s a fit. this greatly increases the likelihood that you are exploring affordable and supportive schools., college planning tools for parents & students, helping your scholar plan for college.

parents.collegeboard.org This website is for parents, guardians, relatives, and other adults helping a student plan for college. Sign up for free to receive emails and texts with college info, advice, and reminders. En Español: padres.collegeboard.org

collegescorecard.ed.gov The College Scorecard is an interactive college search tool created with direct input from students, families, and their advisers. The College Scorecard is primarily designed for students and families, so the data are presented in an easy-to-understand graphical format.

www.collegedata.com Parents and students can sign up for free on CollegeData to explore colleges to find the right match and fit university for the student. CollegeData provides admissions, financial, academic, campus life, and student information on thousands of colleges nationwide.

Graduation Rates

www.collegeresults.org College Results Online (CRO) is an interactive, user-friendly Web tool designed to provide parents, policymakers, counselors, students, and others with information about college graduation rates for nearly any four-year college or university in the country.

Affordability

bigfuture.collegeboard.org Big Future offers a variety of financial aid tools and calculators. For example, the Net Price Calculator will estimate the costs for undergraduate tuition and expenses at an individual college, as well as their potential eligibility for need-based financial aid based on individual circumstances.

www.collegedata.com Worried about the cost of college? Most parents and students are. Many families underestimate their eligibility for financial aid. Get the facts on college financial aid, including financial aid eligibility, how to apply for financial aid, how to get the most financial aid, and how to analyze financial aid awards.

College graduation rates

The College Scorecard’s school comparison tool lets you compare colleges by graduation rate, cost, financial aid, acceptance rate and more.

Get to Know Each School

There are a number of sites and resources to help you and your student gather college information:

College Websites

College visit & information session, collegedata & the college board, average net price by household income.

Net Price Calculators will allow you to estimate the true cost of your student’s college education based on your own family income.

Source: https://www.collegetransions.com/net-price-by-institution College Transitions | Created with Datawrapper

College Admissions Tests

Most colleges will consider college admissions test scores when deciding whether or not to admit students. Higher test scores often correlate to earning merit-based scholarships and higher admission rates. However, admissions officers will give the most weight and importance to your student’s high school grades and whether they are challenging themselves academically.

USC Bovard Scholars Personalized Test Preparation

We offer the highest quality, personalized test preparation tailored to your child’s focus areas. Our scholars take numerous practice exams that simulate the real thing, helping your child build confidence and understand what to expect. At the completion of our program, our scholars will have reached their personal best score.

What Are College Admissions Tests?

You may know college admission tests by name — the SAT, SAT Subject Tests and the ACT. These tests are designed to help colleges evaluate how ready your child is for college-level work.

When Should Your Student Take the Test?

Most high school students take the ACT or SAT, or both during the spring of their junior year or fall of their senior year. It’s important to leave time to retake the test if they want to raise their score before they apply to college.

• To learn about SAT exam registration and test dates, visit the CollegeBoard .
• To learn about ACT exam registration and test dates, visit the ACT website .

Paying For the Test

The SAT and ACT both offer fee waivers to eligible students — meaning that your child will not have to pay anything for their exams. All Bovard Scholars students will be provided with an exam fee waiver during their summer residency at USC.