university of south carolina application essay prompt

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How to Write the University of South Carolina Essays 2019-2020

The University of South Carolina is a public research university in Columbia, South Carolina. UofSC offers over 320 degrees of study, as well as an Honors College, the Top Scholars Program, and Capstone Scholars Program. 

In the 2018-2019 admissions cycle, UofSC received 30,778 applications and ultimately accepted around 63%. The middle 50% GPA of those enrolled students was 3.78-4.5, and for SAT scores, it was 1200-1350. 

UofSC has one required prompt for all applicants, with 3 options. Applicants to the Music Composition Program have an additional prompt, and those invited to apply to the Honors College or Top Scholars Programs will have an additional two prompts. 

For All Applicants

Required: Respond to one of the personal statement prompts. (100-500 words)

The most important thing here—besides sticking to the word count—is choosing a prompt that speaks the most to you. Since you have choices, your essay should be as strong as possible. Think about how you might answer each prompt, and choose the story that is the strongest and conveys the most positive qualities about yourself, especially if it’s a trait you haven’t been able to discuss at all in the rest of your application! 

Option 1: Who in your life is depending on you? How are they depending on you? (100-500 words)

To answer this question, think about the people in your life—your family, your friends, your peers. How do you interact with them? You likely depend on your parents, but do your parents depend on you too? Your siblings? Remember that there are lots of ways to “depend” on someone. It could mean depending on a person for food and shelter, or for support and leadership. 

• Your sports team might depend on you to be a reliable, motivating captain who encourages everyone and pushes the team to be their best.
• Your younger siblings might depend on you for their after-school care—like snacks, rides and homework help—if your parents/guardians work during the day. 
• Your parents might depend on you to work hard in your education because they made sacrifices for you to have those opportunities. 

The best way for you to write this essay is to tell a story. Show your readers who depends on you and how they depend on you. Pick a snapshot in time and paint a picture with descriptive details and imagery. Try not to say “This person depends on me because…” It will make for bland writing, and you want admissions officers to be fully engaged in your interesting story. 

You have 500 words to tell this story—that’s plenty of space to not only describe who depends on you and how, but also how this impacts you. Show us your feelings and emotions; does their dependency overwhelm you? Are you honored by it? Do you feel like it has made you a more responsible person? Even though the prompt asks about someone else who depends on you, admissions officers still want to know who you are. 

Option 2: Tell us something about yourself that we have not already asked. (100-500 words)

This is a very open-ended essay, but a fantastic opportunity for you to present something about yourself that you haven’t been able to share in other parts of your application. This open-endedness means there are many different things you could write about:

• You play a sport that you haven’t written about.
• You come from a unique family dynamic (many siblings, multiple parents, same-sex parents, etc.) that has shaped you in some way.
• You speak more than one language.
• You have a medical condition that you have to deal with every day.
• You once summited a mountain. 

To write this, you want to tell a story. Show us what we don’t know about you. Use descriptions and details to place us in the same environment as you. Avoid explicitly stating “I am…” because that becomes dull to read. You want to ensure that admissions officers will hang on to every word you say because they’re so captivated by your story. 

It’s very important that any trait or activity you present here does not have any negative connotations. Saying that you binge watched five different TV shows in the last two months can have negative connotations for an admissions officer, as it suggests you might be more interested in Netflix than engaging with UofSC. Discussing how you failed a class is negative if you don’t show us how you grew and learned from it, but if you show us how you became a better student because of that failure, it shows your determination.

Think about a story about yourself that you want to tell! This is a chance to show that you’re a well-rounded person and offer insight to a side of you that we haven’t seen yet. 

Option 3: What advice would you give your 13-year-old self? (100-500 words)

The first thing to do is think about who you were as a thirteen-year-old. Reflect on how you’ve changed since then. Is there something you wish you would’ve realized earlier? Something you did that you shouldn’t have done? Something you didn’t do that you should have? 

• Maybe there was a year when you tried to do too many different activities and couldn’t devote proper time to any of them and you’d advise yourself to scale it back.
• Perhaps you said something unkind to someone and, looking back, realized that you shouldn’t have said so. 
• Maybe you tried to be someone else to fit in with a group of people who, ultimately, didn’t stick around. In that case, you might advise your younger self to not waste time pretending to be someone else. 

Avoid anything particularly juvenile or negative. Advising your thirteen-year-old self “don’t date that person” is likely to come off as trivial, unless you can back that advice up with an incredibly powerful and compelling story. Similarly, try not to be too cliche; offering advice to “study harder” is quite generic and, again, would require an extremely compelling story for an admissions officer to consider a strong essay. 

Whatever advice you choose to give your younger self, make sure to first give some context as to who you were as a thirteen-year-old. For your readers to understand why the advice you’re giving is important, we need to see details about who you were and how you behaved. This is especially important to show in the context of the advice—we need to see why you feel like you have to give this advice. 

Music Composition Program

Within the University of South Carolina’s School of Music, the composition major begins freshman year with an introductory class on the development of individual work. Upper-level composition classes focus on one-on-one private instruction, and weekly composition seminars allow students to connect with professionals regularly. Applicants are also required to submit a portfolio of written musical examples.

The statement of purpose should take the form of a short letter addressed to the coordinator of composition, Dr. Rogers, that describes why you wish to major in composition, what you hope to accomplish as a composition major, and what you plan to do with your degree when you graduate. (250 words)

You have three things to discuss in this short essay: why composition, what will you do in college, and what will you do post-college? It’s possible for you to merge your answers to the first two questions by explaining how you’ll be pursuing your passion for composition in college. 

Additionally, it’s okay if you don’t know exactly what you want to do following graduation—most freshmen don’t! However, you should have a general idea of how you want to use your composition major after college. 

Be sure to open your essay with a direct address to Dr. Rogers. From there, think about why you want to major in composition, and what you ultimately hope to get out of pursuing that field.

• You may have grown up surrounded by and writing music, so now you want to pursue composition as a career because you love it.
• Maybe you struggled with finding your passion until you discovered composition, and now you dream of composing music for other people who haven’t found their passions.

Your essay will stand out if you are authentic and true to yourself. Think about why you’ve chosen this path and how you intend for it to shape your future. Be straightforward and honest, because admissions officers really want to see that you would be an enthusiastic fit for the program. 

Honors College/Top Scholars Essay Prompts

Beginning September 1, students who are invited to apply to the Honors College will receive an email with additional instructions after submitting the general University of South Carolina application and application fee. Students who apply for the Honors College will also be considered for the Top Scholars Program. Honors College/Top Scholars applicants are strongly encouraged to submit the general admissions application by October 15, 2019. This gives you at least one month to complete the Honors College/Top Scholars application for the November 15, 2019 deadline. 

Doing: How are you doing? What have you accomplished and where do you seem to be heading? We’re not looking for a particular answer. What we are looking for is a thoughtful, vivid, well-written, detailed essay that reveals you think insightfully about yourself.

This prompt provides you with an opportunity to showcase one of your greatest accomplishments in high school. Strong responses to this prompt will address each of the following:

First, why was what you did important? Including achievements that touched a lot of people or left a lasting impact helps demonstrate that your actions extended beyond your own short-term interests.

Next, what did you bring to the table specifically? Lots of people make some impact on their community, but a truly talented leader, artist, mentor, etc. is irreplaceable. They bring something of themselves to the role that no one else has to offer. Use this essay as a space to unpack part of what would make you a unique contributor to UofSC’s campus culture.

Finally—and most important of all—what does this accomplishment reveal about your long-term purpose? Admissions officers want to know who you are and who you will be as you complete your undergraduate degree. 

As an example, a student who’s an avid violinist and who has made all-state orchestra might share the passion and dedication they have to music. They also enjoy using music as a way to evoke emotions, promote healing, and bring people together. After starting an organization in high school dedicated to playing music to hospice patients, the student hopes to continue combining music and community engagement. Academically, they hope to study the connection between music and psychology, to discover new ways music can be incorporated into healthcare.

This would be a strong topic choice, as the student clearly demonstrates what they’ve accomplished, why it’s important, and how they plan to grow from that accomplishment.

Thinking: What’s on your mind? Pick one thing that is particularly exciting, exasperating, moving, alarming—something that has captured your attention and intellect in some strong way—and tell us about it.

This prompt provides you with another great opportunity to share a bit more about yourself, specifically your inner life. Topic ideas include discussing a favorite podcast, cause you care about, or cultural experience. This prompt is extremely open-ended, so you can basically choose whatever you want.

The one caveat: if you hold any controversial opinions, avoid addressing those in your essay. You don’t want to accidentally offend an admissions officer by stumbling upon some cultural tripwires. 

Overall, try to make each of your essays feature different aspects of your profile and personality. You want to seem mature, thoughtful, and nuanced no matter what your essay topics wind up being.

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South carolina university essay sample, example.

As long as I can remember, my favorite question has been, “What if?” As a child, I could turn any subject into a serious discussion following where this question led me. When I heard something was impossible, I would immediately ask: “What if it was possible?” When I heard something had or had not happened, I would start to imagine opposite situations. Even being on my own, I would constantly model various life situations, trying to figure out how I or other people would act, what would they say or feel.

For a rather long period of time, this habit remained a mind exercise; sometimes it caused me trouble, since I easily got absorbed in my thoughts, and almost always believed in their truthfulness. Considering that I loved to read books—all kinds of books, starting from fiction and ending up with popular science—I constantly had food for thought. Therefore, it seems strange to me that I attempted to write down my fantasies down only at the age of 17. One day, when I noticed I had once again started to unfold the “what-if chain of events,” as I called it, I took a piece of paper, a pencil, and started to write everything down that came to my mind.

I quickly realized that imagining events and trying to describe them is not the same; rather often, my brilliant ideas looked unconvincing and clunky on paper. I could draft one essay or story for weeks, and still be displeased with the result. At that time, I already knew that if I did not become a professional writer, I would become nothing, because no other career attracted me. I sharpened my skills day by day, I read many writing manuals and guidelines, I studied biographies of famous writers, and I continued to devour books of all genres—but I still felt discontent with my performance.

I went to writing workshops in my neighborhood weekly, and found that constructive criticism is invaluable. After a year or so of attending these workshops, and consistently writing new short stories, I sent my works to many publications and writing contests. I ended up in six literary magazines and one book, all of which were independent presses. I became a finalist in the South Carolina Youth Writing Contest, which was an honor for me. But after these publications and becoming a finalist in a nationwide contest, I realized I did not refer to the category of people who could rely entirely on their talent, and made a decision to enter a college and pick a specialty that would facilitate my development and help me accomplish my dream to become a professional writer.

This is why I chose the University of South Carolina—the faculty of Arts and Sciences, in particular. In my opinion, the department of English Literature and Culture would perfectly suit my needs. I find the set of disciplines offered by this department extremely useful for a person with my area of interests; classes on composition and rhetoric, literary and critical theory, linguistics, communication studies, and especially creative writing seem to be the most facilitating for my improvement and development as a writer.

I know the stereotype that creativity is not a skill one can obtain through training and thorough studying; it is presumed that talent and skills should be natural. On the other hand, personally I see nothing wrong in studying to become a writer or to be proficient in any other creative profession. From my perspective, it is a perfect opportunity to transform my accumulated knowledge and experience into a greater understanding; this way is much faster than comprehending my subject by the trial and error method. Thus, studying in your university is my chance to achieve my goals and dreams faster and easier. This is the main reason why I want to enter the University of South Carolina.

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University of South Carolina Columbia Secondary Application Essay Prompts & Tips (USC Columbia)

• Cracking Med School Admissions Team

Students studying at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia get a metropolis feel, as Columbia is the second largest city in South Carolina. As a medical student at USC Columbia, you’ll encounter diverse populations and healthcare disparities. We’ve written tons of tips on how to answer the USC Columbia secondary application essays. Our biggest tip – take advantage of the “no word limit” essays! This is your chance to shine, especially if you have a lower GPA or lower MCAT score. This is a secondary application we commonly receive questions, so feel free to contact us . 

The USC Columbia secondary application questions do not change significantly each year. The last question is usually changed, so we encourage students to start pre-writing this secondary application and then submitting this by late July. 

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USC Columbia Secondary Application Questions: 2023 – 2024

There was not a word limit specified for the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia secondary application questions. 

• (If applicable) What additional qualifications have you acquired since your last application?
• (If applicable)  Do you have any other ties to South Carolina that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider?
• What are your medical practice goals?
• (If applicable) Describe your employment status since you completed your bachelor’s degree (part-time, full-time, and dates) 
• What areas of medicine are you interested in at this time, or what areas do you plan to pursue?
• Do you have any accomplishments or experiences that make you a unique applicant?
• Explain any impact that COVID-19 may have had on your educational, research, volunteering or employment plans.
• New Question – Working as part of a team is an important aspect of your medical education at our School of Medicine and as a practitioner in the future.  Please share at least one experience  where you worked as part of a team to accomplish a goal/objective. What was your role as a part of the team and what did you learn from working with others? How did you deal with conflict on the team and/or working with a team member who you disagreed with?

Tips to Answer USC Columbia Secondary Application Essays

USC Columbia Secondary Application Pre-Writing Guidance: The USC Columbia secondary application questions do not change significantly each year. The last question is usually changed, so we encourage students to start pre-writing this secondary application and then submitting this by late July. 

• Read all our secondary essay tips:  Secondary Essay Guide – Cracking Med School Admissions

USC Columbia Secondary Application Tip #1:   The first questions our Cracking Med School Admissions team gets asked: How long should each of my USC Columbia secondary application responses be? Dr. Rachel Rizal and Dr. Rishi Mediratta think the ideal length is ~1,500 – 2,500 characters.

USC Columbia Secondary Application Tip #2: Our Cracking Med School Admissions team strongly encourages our students to  include stories in your University of South Carolina School of Medicine secondary application. Stories can  show  the reader a lot about you!

USC Columbia Secondary Application Tip #3: For the USC Columbia secondary application question, “ What additional qualifications have you acquired since your last application?”  make sure to include both non-clinical and clinical experiences. You should add a story about a patient encounter you had and write what you learned from that experience. You should emphasize any work done in South Carolina (or in the same area of the United States), community health, community service, and teamwork. 

USC Columbia Secondary Application Tip #3: For the USC Columbia secondary application question, “ What are your medical practice goals?”  don’t worry if you don’t know what specific field of medicine you want to go into yet! You can be a bit broad and discuss what populations you want to work with or healthcare challenges you want to tackle as a practicing physician.

Important: If you want to stay in South Carolina, you should definitely mention it.  This is true for the USC Columbia secondary application question as well “ In what region of the country do you want to practice medicine? Why? “

USC Columbia Secondary Application Tip #4:  The the USC School of Medicine Columbia secondary application question, “ Do you have any accomplishments or experiences that make you a unique applicant ” don’t forget any awards or accomplishments you received! But make sure you expand on them. For example, if you won an academic award or scholarship for university, you can discuss your favorite class or major that you took. Some people also write about leadership experiences, such as being President of an undergraduate dance organization or Team Captain of a soccer team.

USC Columbia Secondary Application Tip #5: For the USC Columbia secondary application question, “ Explain any impact that COVID-19 may have had on your educational, research, volunteering or employment plans “

• Read our blog post with tips on how to answer COVID-19 secondary questions: COVID Essay Medical School Example & Tips To Stand Out

USC Columbia Secondary Application Tip #5: For the USC Columbia secondary application question, “ Working as part of a team is an important aspect of your medical education at our School of Medicine and as a practitioner in the future. Please share at least one experience where you worked as part of a team to accomplish a goal/objective. What was your role as a part of the team and what did you learn from working with others? How did you deal with conflict on the team and/or working with a team member who you disagreed with ” here’s our advice about what to NOT write about:

• A group project at school as part of a class
• A team experience in high school – in general, write about college and gap year experiences in your medical school applications!

USC Columbia  Secondary Application Tip #6:  Although there is no direct and specific question on the USC Columbia secondaries about why you want to go to USC School of Medicine Columbia, you should still write why you want to go to the medical school throughout your essays.

• Read our blog post: why this medical school to gain insights on how to incorporate a strong “Why University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia.”

USC Columbia Secondary Application Tip #7: Get our help to edit your South Carolina secondary application essays and your other secondary essays. We can help you through our secondary essay packages . Have questions about how you can stand out? Contact Dr. Rachel Rizal and Dr. Rishi Mediratta below. 

[ Read more secondary tips and essays:  Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), University of South Carolina Greenville (USC Greenville), University of Alabama , Emory ]

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Undergraduate Johns Hopkins University, Phi Beta Kappa

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USC Columbia Secondary Application Questions: 2022 – 2023

• We desire to train students and physicians to work with the diverse patients of our state and nation. Please share at least one experience that has impacted your appreciation for diversity and your ability to relate to those who are unlike you. Do share what you learned from the experience as well.

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USC Columbia Secondary Application Questions: 2021 – 2022

• New Question: Explain any impact that COVID-19 may have had on your educational, research, volunteering or employment plans.

USC Columbia Secondary Application Questions: 2020 – 2021

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, application requirements for university of south carolina.

Hi everyone! I'm planning on applying to the University of South Carolina and was wondering if y'all could help me with their application requirements. Are there any specific documents or additional materials I should be aware of? Thanks for your help!

Sure, I can help you with the application requirements for the University of South Carolina (USC). Here's a rundown of what you'll need to submit when applying to USC:

1. Application: You can use either the Coalition Application or USC's custom application. The latter is recommended for the most streamlined experience, since it's designed specifically for USC.

2. Application fee: There's a $65 non-refundable application fee. However, fee waivers are available for those who qualify, based on financial need.

3. High school transcript: You'll need to submit your official high school transcript, which should include all your coursework and grades from grades 9 through 11, as well as your senior year schedule. Be sure to ask your counselor to send it directly to USC.

4. Test scores: USC is test-optional for Fall 2023 and Fall 2024, so submitting SAT or ACT scores is not required. However, if you have strong test scores and think they will enhance your application, you can still choose to submit them.

5. Letters of recommendation: Although USC does not require letters of recommendation, you can still submit up to two if you feel they'll add value to your application. It's recommended to obtain letters from teachers or other individuals who can speak to your academic abilities and personal qualities.

6. Personal statement: The USC application includes a section for a personal statement to help the admissions committee learn more about you. You can choose which prompt you'd like to respond to, and your response should be between 250 and 650 words.

7. Honors College: If you're interested in applying to the South Carolina Honors College, keep in mind that you'll need to submit additional materials, such as supplemental essays and an academic résumé showcasing your achievements.

8. Scholarship consideration: To be considered for academic scholarships at USC, you need to apply by December 1st, which is the priority deadline.

To ensure a smooth application process, I'd recommend visiting USC's Undergraduate Admissions website to check for any updates or additional details on their requirements. Good luck with your application!

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