USC Incoming Freshman Supplements -- Both General and Viterbi School of Engineering Essays

These are two of the supplements required by USC

1. USC students are known to be involved. Briefly describe a non-academic pursuit (such as service to community or family, a club or sport, or work, etc.,) that best illustrates who you are, and why it is important to you. (250 word limit)

I got kicked out of five preschools. Teacher's just couldn't handle me; the misbehavior, the irresponsibility and the restlessness was too much. Grade school was not worse but certainly not better. From the parent-teacher conferences marked by frustration to several near-suspensions, my mother had enough. On a fateful Sunday morning, my mother marched me to our local Muay Thai studio. "Discipline, Character and Spirit," the front window read. Little at the time did I know that this simple mantra would refine my life. It's hard to say what changed me. Perhaps it was the attention to detail -- the position of each technique. Perhaps it was the endurance -- finding a modicum of strength even after every fabric of my gi was drenched in sweat. Or perhaps it was connections -- my lifelong friends whom I met on my first day. In the words of my mom, in wonder of the individual I had become, "it's the way Muay Thai makes you act, with compassion and restraint." As certified black belt, I had the opportunity to work as an instructor, teaching kids who had just begun their martial arts journey. I saw fragments of myself in them, the same reckless and rebellious psyche I had over seven years ago. One of my students, on the verge of quitting, asked me why would anyone want to do martial arts. "It makes you new person and it gives you a new way to live. In fact, it is a way of life"

2. Some people categorize engineers as geeks or nerds. Are you a geek, nerd, or neither? Why? (250 word limit)

Although my trademark feature is the oblong, worn-out pair of glasses that has adorned my face since I was seven, I have never thought of myself as a nerd or a geek. Rather, I consider myself an amalgam of both. Let me start with the geek part first. Sure I've correctly answered just about every question of the San Jose Mercury's daily Super Quiz and sure I can quote just about every Roger Moore or Pierce Brosnan line. But being a geek goes far beyond. At its core, being a geek is synonymous with being passionate -- doing what you love and enjoying it to the fullest. Whether that interest be trivia questions, James Bond or even computer science, a geek is dedicated and proud to be. On the other hand, the nerd is intelligent and a lover of learning, described as a bookworm or a human encyclopedia. However, being smart shouldn't immediately correlate with a lack of social skills. I guess that's where the boundaries of my inner nerd blurs. In the classroom, I am a contributor; participation has always been my highest grade category. As a paid martial arts instructor and a volunteer leader, I am required to be energetic and vocal, able to take in, process and convey information at every moment. Moreover, characterizing an engineer as a nerd is inaccurate. In the field, an engineer must be a leader, apt at communication and collaboration.

All help is greatly appreciated! Any grammar or style corrections welcome. Help with the actual prompt or anything that can better my essay is recognized.

Thanks in advance for any help, suggestions, feedback and complements!

Just a an insertion here and there to better construct your sentences :-)
First Essay:


- As a certified...
- Overall, this is a very engaging and effective essay. This non-academic pursuit of yours extensively but concisely explains who you were before and how you developed into a better person from there thanks to the influences of outside factors. Your command of English language is at an almost native speaker level.

Second Essay:


-... question in the San Jose...


-... Brosnan line from every one of their James Bond movies .


- ... far beyond those activities .


-... proud to be who he is .


- information with every movement.


- It would be best to reiterate your position on your belief about yourself instead of disagreeing with the definition of a geek or nerd. Say something like "That's why I am neither a geek or a nerd. I am just an ordinary person who does ordinary things in extraordinary ways." or something like that :-)

I have some revised editions + drafts of the other USC supplements. I didn't want to open up a new thread because the topic is still the same but I still need help. Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

All are limited to 250 words

Some people categorize engineers as geeks or nerds. Are you a geek, nerd, or neither? Why?

Although my trademark feature is the oblong, worn-out pair of glasses that has adorned my face since I was seven, I have never thought of myself as either a "nerd" or a "geek." In fact, I dislike that people are categorized and stigmatized based on their personality or passions. Sure I like computer science but I don't believe that an affinity for programming automatically qualifies me as a nerd or a geek. All my interest should say about me it that I am curious, that I enjoy thinking critically and that I thrive in the face of a challenge. Another reason that I don't identify is that being a geek or a nerd implies that one lacks social skills. Without my social skills, I would not be complete. Being talkative and energetic is just an inseparable part of my personal definition. Anywhere I can be found, I love to communicate. At school, I can always be found participating in class, laughing or talking to my classmates. I am not afraid to speak my mind or listen to other's opinions. It's why I joined my high school debate team. That's not to say I am without my quirks but I believe that being put under the lens of any distinct category would only reveal a small percentage of who I am. People, including myself, should be defined by their entire self and no less.

How do you plan to use your engineering degree to benefit society?

Most people see engineers as scientists and mathematicians. While partly true, this conception detracts from what I believe to be the true essence of an engineer. Engineers are professional creators who have the skills to design anything from a suspension bridge, a space rocket or women's lipstick. Engineers are also global leaders. By facilitating technological development, engineers have the power to shape society's progress and improve the quality of our lives. I plan to join the movement by leading from the front and increasing the positive impact that engineers have on the world. The digital frontier is truly the last great frontier. As a computer scientist, the range of possibilities for me is vast. Computers, more and more, are being found in everyday objects. They extend to fields such as healthcare and construction, places where the computer allows humans to advance and do things never thought possible. From programming the software for a surgical robot to developing a virtual matrix that allows a building to fix itself, I -- the engineer -- can make the stuff of imagination a reality.

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

I never understood how people could have a favorite subject. It always seemed too limiting. If I mentioned I didn't have a favorite subject, my mother's eyes would light up in shock while her raised eyebrows hinted that she thought that I was crazy. Even more absurd in her eyes was that someone could like both graphic design and computer science -- subjects at opposite ends of the spectrum. Disapproving, she told me to choose one or the other. I disobeyed and vowed to keep on doing what I loved. My resistance was small at first, only consisting of my sketchbook full of designs, patterns and logos for imaginary companies. Eventually, I waged a full-scale war with my weapons taking the form of art competitions and computer programming classes. It wasn't until I discovered USC that I began to gain the advantage. With degrees from the Viterbi School of Engineering and the Roski School of Art, I hope to establish myself as a digital design professional, well-versed in both technological and creative areas of the field. USC's package of world-class education and strong internship and co-op programs -- such as the Dornsife Gateway Program -- will help ensure my success outside the classroom. At USC, I can translate my education and experience into realizing my dreams, fueling my passions and working to my ultimate goal: enriching the lives others through technology and design.

You have given very intelligent and well thought out answers to every prompt provided. I find your first answer, the one to the question about nerds, to be a highly open minded answer that should impress the reader mostly because it shows your ability to be able to see beyond social expectations, qualifications, and norms in order to see the totality of a person. As for the second prompt, I wanted to read about something more specific about your plans to use the degree. Perhaps a reference to a solid goal or hypothesis that you hope to prove or invent through your studies would have a good impact upon that statement. The prompt that I have the most problem with is your answer to the third prompt because you deviated from the topic. You should have concentrated on only the answer to the question. Remember, in an essay such as this one, which can be considered to be a part of the interview and evaluation process, you should always give direct to the point answers instead of beating around the bush as you did in this statement. Rather than referring to the arguments you had with your mother, you should have used the space to further discuss how you plan to utilize your academic exposure in the pursuit of your interests.

I think the passage that talks about your academic interest is too vague. You need to focus more on your interest instead of your mother thought.