🍦How to balance perfectionism in college apps (Nov 26)

Good morning folks! Here’s what we have today:

1. Info Zone Refresh: new upcoming Rice and USC info sessions

2. Daily Deep Dive: University of Southern California (USC)

3. Hear From Your Peers: Our conversation with Ryan

TRIVIA!
Here’s a fun one—can you guess what school this is?

📚 This Ivy League school’s Rare Books and Manuscripts Library boasts features fit for a spy lair. To protect its books, in the event of a fire, you have 30 seconds to get out before the library is flooded with lethal (but fire-suppressing) gas. In the case of any other threats to the books collection, that entire cube structure drops down into an underground vault that sucks all of the oxygen out of the air.

Think you know which school we’re talking about? Find out if you’re right at the bottom of today’s newsletter!

INFO ZONE
New information sessions from USC and Rice!

Here’s some upcoming school virtual information sessions. These are great opportunities to learn more about school’s programs to determine if the school is a right fit for you. It’s also great to learn more about the school’s vibe and possibly what admissions officers are looking for. All the times listed are below are already converted into Pacific.

Penn Admissions Virtual Information Session - Monday, December 2, 2024 at 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM

(NEW) USC First-Year Admission Information Session - Monday, December 2, 2024 at 3:30 PM until 4:30 PM

Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts Webinar - Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM

Columbia University Info Session - Friday, December 6, 2024 at 7:00 AM until 8:00 AM

(NEW) Rice Virtual Admission Information Session - Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM

DAILY DEEP DIVE
University of Southern California (USC)

If every school has a personality, what is USC’s personality?

USC feels like the charismatic creative with a sharp business sense—someone who effortlessly combines Hollywood glamor with Silicon Beach hustle. Picture a student who’s networking at a film premiere on Friday, acing a pitch competition on Saturday, and cheering for the Trojans at the Coliseum on Sunday.

The school radiates a mix of ambition and accessibility, where you’re encouraged to chase big dreams, whether that’s in entertainment, entrepreneurship, or groundbreaking research. It’s got the sunshine and palm trees to make everything feel a little larger-than-life, but also the Trojan Family—a tight-knit network that’s as loyal as a blockbuster fandom.

In short: USC is like the stylish, driven friend who always seems to know everyone and inspires you to think bigger.

How do I show USC Admissions that my personality matches their personality?

To show USC Admissions that your personality aligns with the university’s dynamic culture, your application should reflect both who you are and how you will thrive in USC’s environment. Here are a few ways to showcase your fit:

1. Be Genuine and Reflective: USC values authenticity. In essays like Why USC?, don’t just talk about how great the school is—focus on how you’ll contribute to and benefit from its unique culture. This is your chance to demonstrate that you’ve done research into what USC offers academically, socially, and professionally. You should explain how your passions (such as film, technology, or entrepreneurship) align with specific programs, professors, or opportunities at USC. For example, if you’re passionate about film, mention how the School of Cinematic Arts’ hands-on approach or the location in Los Angeles will help you build a career, while also contributing to the Trojan community by participating in student-run film projects.

2. Showcase Your Drive and Creativity: USC looks for ambitious, creative students who are eager to innovate. Whether it’s in the personal statement or in answers to the short prompts, demonstrate how you’re a forward-thinker, unafraid to tackle challenges. Even in quirky prompts like What is your favorite snack? or What TV show will you binge-watch next?, show a bit of your personality through humor, passion, or curiosity. The goal is to let your personality shine, whether it’s through the thoughtful selection of a snack that ties into a passion or a binge-worthy show that reflects your interests or values.

3. Highlight Collaboration and Leadership: USC is all about fostering a collaborative, diverse environment. Make sure to weave in examples from your extracurriculars or academic work that demonstrate your leadership, teamwork, and how you contribute to a community. For example, if you’ve worked on a group project or led an initiative, emphasize your ability to collaborate and make meaningful contributions, especially in a school as collaborative as USC.

4. Be Thoughtful and Specific: For the school-specific essays (like for Viterbi or Dornsife), focus on specific courses, professors, or opportunities that resonate with your goals. Admissions wants to see that you’re not just applying to USC because it’s prestigious, but because its offerings align with your aspirations. This shows you’ve done your homework and are truly invested in the idea of becoming part of the USC community.

By combining these elements—genuine reflection, passion for your field, collaboration, and thoughtfulness—you’ll give USC Admissions a clear sense of your fit with the university’s personality.

Any other tips for answering these supplemental questions?

It’s important to remember that USC, like most universities, values authenticity above all else, and they want to get to know you, not a version of yourself you think fits their mold. Trying too hard to fit into what you think USC is looking for can result in responses that feel inauthentic, and admissions officers can often tell when applicants are not being genuine. Instead, focus on showcasing your true passions, quirks, and goals. USC’s holistic approach to admissions seeks students who bring diverse perspectives and individuality to the campus, so trust that being yourself will resonate more than trying to meet every expectation.

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HEAR FROM YOUR PEERS
Our conversation with Ryan Li about everything college applications and more! (Part 1/2)

Hear From Your Peers is a section we do about once a week, where we interview a fellow high school senior to understand what is going through their mind during this application season. Here’s a great conversation we had with Ryan, a senior from Fremont.

We’ll be sharing the conversation over the next two days, so here’s part 1, and if you like what you see, be sure to tune back in tomorrow for the second and final part of our conversation. Enjoy!

How has your high school experience, both what you’ve done inside and outside of school, shaped your perspective on what you want to study in college?

I came into high school completely immersed in the world of math competitions. And while I loved learning and understanding theory, I didn’t like the lack of impact on the real world that came with just taking math exams. In an effort to connect my work more with reality, I decided to start doing research. Apart from being great preparation for undergrad and grad school, this helped me discover my love for digging deep and finding stuff out, and has played a big part in shaping my aspirations to become a professor or research scientist one day. As for what I’m planning to study in college, CS and EE do a good job of blending math and theory along with real world applications.

Another thing I would say has really driven me towards these fields is talking about what I want to do. Telling other people about why you want to study something (even if it’s AOs through essays) really forces you to introspect and develop a proper perspective.

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced during the college application process, and how are you navigating it?

Definitely perfectionism. Especially towards the beginning of the essay writing process, I struggled a lot with thinking too much and writing too little. I think you have to accept that what you write is never going to be perfect, especially if it’s a first draft. It’s infinitely better to get something “bad” down rather than sitting there and not writing anything. Overall, I tend to overthink and be very nitpicky about small things, but realizing and coming to terms with the fact that obsessing over one or two words isn’t going to do anything has really helped.

TRIVIA ANSWER
Looking for the answer to our fun trivia question up at the top?

The correct school would be Yale University. One of their libraries, the Beinecke Library, is indeed known for being very protective of their books. You can read more here.

DAILY DEADLINE UPDATES
Get cracking on those UCs!

In the Daily Deadlines section, we will keep you updated on upcoming deadlines in the college admissions world. Remember to not procrastinate and stay ahead of these deadlines!

UC Deadline: December 2
December SAT: December 7

THE ARCHIVE
Looking for past mailings?

You can view all our previous posts at our website at https://scholarscoops.beehiiv.com

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