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)
For all my dedication to academic success, I've always known that there is a world beyond the classroom. After I began working at Summit Tutoring Center in 2013, tutoring and mentoring became my way of leaving a mark on the community. While working at the tutoring center I found that I was able to effectively bridge the gap between adults and teenagers-at only 19 years of age and still fresh from my high school career, I was able to relate to the students and become their outlet as they experienced the shaky transition from adolescence into adulthood.
Tutoring wasn't always a purely academic endeavor. In between sessions and while on break at the water cooler, the students' and my idle chit chat became a necessary catharsis as we shaped each other's lives and grew together. We talked about goals, problems in school, or even about that first girlfriend, encouraged each other to do our best during rough times, and, along the way, formed lasting bonds. Although I have since left my job at Summit Tutoring, I have not lost my desire to support those who need help and to foster healthy relationships. I still maintain a significant presence as a college mentor in the local high schools and realize that mentoring is something that I definitely want to pursue, whether now or in the future. While focusing on my own academics has opened new doorways and opportunities, tutoring has given me the heart to give back to the community.
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)
Pursuing a career in accounting is my way of seeking social responsibility. Growing up in an America shaped by the accounting scandals of Enron and Worldcom along with the careless lending that caused the subprime mortgage crisis, I've seen firsthand the damage that corporate irresponsibility can cause whether it was when my best friend moved away after his parents lost their house or when my father came back from his last day at work with his head in his hands. Seeing the pain and anguish of the innocents caught in the financial fallout has given me a strong desire to ensure transparency and accountability in the corporate world.
At USC I want to enter the Leventhal School of Accounting and pursue a double major: accounting so that I can prepare for my career of choice and philosophy to understand the ethics and logic that shape our world. I wish to focus my accounting curriculum on auditing and forensics through classes such as "Detecting Fraudulent Reporting" and "Systems Security and Audit" while taking advantage of the many networking opportunities available to aggressively search for internships and jobs. I would also like the opportunity to learn from Professor Mark Schroeder in the School of Philosophy. One of my favorite philosophers is A.J. Ayer, who promoted the verification principle and expressivism, and exploring the intricacies of his theories and its consequences with Professor Schroeder, who is an expert on expressivism and logic, would no doubt be instrumental to my growth as a thinker.
Both essays are exactly 250 words (whew). There are a few spots where I I'm not quite satisfied with the flow/word choice, namely "Growing up in an America... with his head in his hands." and "We talked about goals... and, along the way, formed lasting bonds." Aside from that general feedback is appreciated (do you think I addressed the prompt completely, how do these two essays make you view me as a student/individual, suggestions, etc.). Thanks.
You come across as a socially conscious and responsible individual who has set out to make the world a better place to live. Both essay show a strength of personality that can only be found in people of much more mature years. Each essay is a narrative that allows us to see the kind of logic and upbringing that you had. Don't be uncomfortable with the mention of growing up in an America filled with economic scandal. That is a reality, there is a generation of Americans who grew up knowing nothing but the words sub-prime mortgage crisis, Enron, Fanny Mae & Freddy Mac, and the like. That is a part of who you are and those are some of the events that has helped shape the course for your college generation. Both prompts were properly addressed although I am not so sure how your extra curricular essay will be received since you mentioned that you no longer participate in the tutoring service. They may want a reference to an extra curricular activity that you are currently engaged in. I would suggest you come up with a back up essay for that one just in case. Can you call someone at the university to find out if they require that activity to be current or not? Just to be on the safe side and make sure that your essay will be an asset to your application instead of a liability :-)
Thanks, I appreciate the feedback. I was hoping that since I'm still active as a mentor that tutoring would work as an extracurricular but I definitely see what you mean. I'll check up on it. Again, thanks for the feedback.
