유명 대학들의 보충 지원서 에세이 주제 일부를 원문으로 살펴보자. 아래 예문 중 USC는 공통 지원서 시스템을 이용하지 않으나 참고로 기재했다.


▲브라운 대학

<에세이>

- Please tell us more about your interest in Brown: Why does Brown appeal to you as a college option? Who or what has influenced your decision to apply?

- Why are you drawn to the academic fields you indicated in Question #6?

<500자 내 하나 선택 에세이>

a. Tell us about an intellectual experience, project, class, or book that has influenced or inspired you.
b. What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given, and why?

▲ 코넬대학

<에세이>

- 아트 앤 사이언스

Describe your intellectual interests, their evolution, and what makes them exciting to you. Tell us how you will utilize the academic programs in the College of Arts and Sciences to further explore your interests, intended major, or field of study.

- 엔지니어링

Engineers turn ideas(technical, scientific, mathematical) into reality. Tell us about an engineering idea you have or your interest in engineering. Explain how Cornell Engineering can help you further explore this idea or interest.

▲ 칼텍

<에세이>

- Interest in math, science, or engineering manifests itself in many forms. Caltech professor and Nobel Laureate Richard Feynman(1918-1988) explained, “I’d make a motor, I’d make a gadget that would go off when something passed a photocell, I’d play around with selenium”, he was exploring his interest in science, as he put it, by “piddling around all the time.” In a page, more or less, tell the Admissions Committee how you express your interest, curiosity, or excitement about math, science or engineering.

▲ USC

<에세이>

- Thomas Edison failed man times before successfully inventing the modern electric light bulb. He said, “If I find 10,000 ways something won’t work, I haven’t failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.” Reflect on a challenge you overcame through persistence.

<단답형>

- 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.