PS The statement of purpose serves as a unique platform to state who you are as a would-be scholar, what five years of USC doctoral education would do for you as a researcher, what research agenda you would pursue, what fields and subject matter interest you and motivate you to embark on this five-year journey, what preparation you've received in the past and how you will leverage the skills during your tenure with us. You can also view it as an opening statement and a closing argument - you are making your case to the admissions committee, laying out qualities, attributes and distinctions that make you a strong candidate for the program. In laying out your interests and agenda, you are also establishing your compatibility with the faculty and their own research program. Please be sure to identify at least 2-3 faculty members with who you are interested in working. CV Resumé/Curriculum Vitae: There is no ‘right’ approach to structuring your resumé/CV when updating it to apply for graduate school. However, it is a good idea to take some time to identify the skills and achievements you would like to highlight for your graduate program and structure the document accordingly. Please note, you will be required to upload a copy of your resumé/CV as part of your application. RL Recommendation Letters: Identify potential recommenders and let them know that you would like them to write a recommendation for you. The minimum number of recommendation letters required varies by program. Additionally, recommendations may be optional for some programs at USC. Transcript Make sure to upload a copy of your university-issued transcripts (i.e. issued on letterhead) with your online application. Please note, unofficial transcripts from university student portals are not acceptable. Additionally, you must also send us a copy of your official transcripts. Please click here for detailed guidelines for sending your official transcripts to USC.