Me llamo es ----. Wait--that's not right. Me llamo ----. From this supremely embarrassing error on my first day of Spanish class freshman year would stem a multitude of opportunities--a world of knowledge--though, at the time, I was mortified. Horrified and full of disdain at my misstep, the teacher mercilessly called me to the front of the classroom to read a poster depicting two students shackled to a wall in what appeared to be a dungeon. Blushing profusely and palms...

Prompt: 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 (250 word limit). First, I described what comes to mind when I think of the University of Southern California. Then, I related who I am and what I want to take from USC to the images that jumped to mind. I asked myself how those things challenge me and can expand my education. I explained how...

Prompt: Some people categorize engineers as geeks or nerds. Are you a geek, nerd, or neither? Why? (250 word limit) I began with this: "To be honest, I don’t know what differentiates a “geek” from a “nerd”. Crazy, right?" I explained how my high school environment never used those terms. I talked about how I never considered anyone else those terms, either, because my environment had taught me to think beyond them, beyond those generalized terms that are actually unable...

Prompt: How do you plan to use your engineering degree to benefit society? (250 word limit) I talked about my childhood and how I have always been interested in engineering. I included a discussion of times my grand plans for some new invention had failed and how I never let that stop me from trying again. I said that I have realized how important determination is. I explained that engineers are pivotal to our success as a society and that I...

Prompt: 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 discussed how, for my eighth birthday, I received a subscription to a special magazine and described how the magazine looked with its colors and graphics. I described how it felt to, just a few years later, be...

Some people categorize engineers as geeks or nerds. Are you a geek, nerd, or neither? Why? (250 word limit) To be honest, I don’t know what differentiates a “geek” from a “nerd”. Crazy, right? I come from a school where it is perfectly acceptable--even encouraged and respected--to be passionate and completely absorbed by one’s interests. In my seven years at that school, I have never seen a student mocked for expressing his or her fascinations. This is one of...

I personally applied to USC on a whim. It sounded nice, the campus looked pretty, it had an engineering program, reviews of it were nice, etc. Yeah, all fairly superficial, surface level things. But looking back, I am SO glad I applied, was accepted, and now I am attending USC. Classes haven't even started yet, and I am already thrilled with the amazing...

While I was accepted to several other schools, I ultimately decided to attend the University of Southern California for a variety of reasons. The main choice, for me, was between Arizona State University and University of Southern California. In the end, though, it came down to just a few things. Arizona State University would have been a choice out of convenience and thrift. But University of Southern California, on the other...