How helpful are the College Essay Guy's USC essay tips?
I've seen a lot of blog posts and YouTube videos from the College Essay Guy about how to write successful USC supplemental essays. I'm considering using his advice but I'm not sure if it's really tailored to what USC is looking for or if it's too generic.
For context, I'm a junior hoping to apply to the Viterbi School at USC and want my essays to stand out. Has anyone tried following his guides exactly and had good results in terms of getting in or at least getting an interview? Would love to hear some real experiences, both positive or negative, especially if you applied for engineering.
Honestly, I'm kind of overwhelmed by the number of tips and templates out there so I'm not sure what actually works! Any feedback is appreciated.
For context, I'm a junior hoping to apply to the Viterbi School at USC and want my essays to stand out. Has anyone tried following his guides exactly and had good results in terms of getting in or at least getting an interview? Would love to hear some real experiences, both positive or negative, especially if you applied for engineering.
Honestly, I'm kind of overwhelmed by the number of tips and templates out there so I'm not sure what actually works! Any feedback is appreciated.
4 months ago
•
74 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
The College Essay Guy offers solid general advice on structuring and brainstorming essays, and his breakdowns of USC prompts can definitely help you get started. His guides are particularly strong at helping you understand what each prompt is really asking and at generating lists of specific, relevant experiences to mention.
That said, the main downside reported by some past applicants is that his tips can lean generic unless you push yourself to go deeper. USC, especially Viterbi, is looking for evidence of your authentic passion for engineering, your unique perspective or background, and a clear sense of why their particular programs and culture fit you. So, using his advice as a springboard is smart, but you should go beyond his templates and dig deeper into your own story.
For example, College Essay Guy might suggest answering "Why Viterbi/USC" by mentioning specific clubs, labs, or classes. To avoid sounding like everyone else, tie these specifics back to something personal—such as a project you did in robotics club that made you realize you thrive in collaborative environments, and how Viterbi's Maker Space would let you take that to the next level. Another example: if he suggests naming a professor, explain what about their research genuinely excites you and how you'd want to contribute.
Some former applicants to Viterbi have found success by borrowing his brainstorming tools but rewriting the essay more in their own voice and tying in a unique angle. For instance, one student built their essay around their experience designing a low-cost water filtration device for their neighborhood, then seamlessly connected this to USC's emphasis on interdisciplinary problem solving and outlined the exact research groups they wanted to work with.
Bottom line: Use the College Essay Guy’s frameworks to shape your thoughts, but don’t follow the templates too closely or your essays might blend in. Add your specific experiences, your authentic reasons for loving engineering, and concrete details about why USC is your dream fit. When you do that, your essay will stand out no matter what advice you start with.
That said, the main downside reported by some past applicants is that his tips can lean generic unless you push yourself to go deeper. USC, especially Viterbi, is looking for evidence of your authentic passion for engineering, your unique perspective or background, and a clear sense of why their particular programs and culture fit you. So, using his advice as a springboard is smart, but you should go beyond his templates and dig deeper into your own story.
For example, College Essay Guy might suggest answering "Why Viterbi/USC" by mentioning specific clubs, labs, or classes. To avoid sounding like everyone else, tie these specifics back to something personal—such as a project you did in robotics club that made you realize you thrive in collaborative environments, and how Viterbi's Maker Space would let you take that to the next level. Another example: if he suggests naming a professor, explain what about their research genuinely excites you and how you'd want to contribute.
Some former applicants to Viterbi have found success by borrowing his brainstorming tools but rewriting the essay more in their own voice and tying in a unique angle. For instance, one student built their essay around their experience designing a low-cost water filtration device for their neighborhood, then seamlessly connected this to USC's emphasis on interdisciplinary problem solving and outlined the exact research groups they wanted to work with.
Bottom line: Use the College Essay Guy’s frameworks to shape your thoughts, but don’t follow the templates too closely or your essays might blend in. Add your specific experiences, your authentic reasons for loving engineering, and concrete details about why USC is your dream fit. When you do that, your essay will stand out no matter what advice you start with.
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Camille Luong
Nomadic
Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
Experience
5 years
Rating
5.0 (5 reviews)