<p>So are supplements basically additional essays to the personal statement? And let’s say I want to go undecided, do I still have to write a supplement? Do all undergrads write supplements? </p>
<p>Actually let’s make this more broad, what are supplements and are they necessary?</p>
<p>When you fill out the Common App and enter the colleges you are applying to, you’ll be prompted to fill out each school’s individual supplement. Some do call for additional essays and USC’s also has a brief short answer section too. Make sure you complete all supplements before you try to apply–I think you will be prompted if you forget to do them.</p>
<p>In addition, there are special USC supplements for several of the talent-based Schools (like SCA, SDA, Thornton, and more). You need to go the the USC website for each department you are interested in and read what is required for each of those specialized majors/schools. </p>
<p>It’s always a good idea to check the website of each university you apply to and specifically, to check the department/major site as well. They often have a section on admissions (to the major) if they require interviews/auditions/portfolios/extra LORs, essays, whatever.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>