<p>Maybe those who applied last year can help me :)
I was wondering:</p>
<p>Does it have to be very formal and straight to the point or is it more like writing the essay (different/creative). I don't want to be taken the wrong way. I have written like 3 drafts already and I don't know what to do!</p>
<p>:) Thanks!</p>
<p>Write the essay that matches your personality the best. If you are a straight to the point kind of person, write that essay. If everything you do is creative and off beat, then a different essay would be in order. The main point of the college essay is to give the reader a picture of what you are like. Be yourself, but be at your best, whatever that entails.</p>
<p>Gabs, if you are looking at the quick short answers, just a word or two will do and one answer will not get you "in" while another will rule you "out". They are not taken too seriously by admissions, but you might not want to be so scary off the wall that it stops them in their tracks!!</p>
<p>I was a bit sarcastic in points, which is just my writing style. Just remember to be articulate... use your vocabulary, flaunt everything you've learned but don't be obviously over-the-top. I focused my essay around my desired major, so I think that helped with my admission. Let me know if there's anything else I could clarify or elaborate on!</p>
<p>Gabs, if you mean the short essay "Describe your academic interests and how you plan to pursue them at USC" (if that's still the prompt this year), my D's response was really quite straight forward. She talked about why she wants to pursue certain studies, what attracted her to USC's program and offerings in particular, what led her to those interests, and what she hopes to do with them in the future.</p>
<p>In the "Tell us about an activity that is important to you and why." you just need to describe something meaningful to you, one of your ECs for example, perhaps a sport or community service, or perhaps a particular hobby. It doesn't have to be academic.</p>
<p>Just write in a very natural style, these are just opportunities for them to get a sense of who you are.</p>
<p>Thank you everybody!
I feel alot better about this :)</p>