Subject line: 👋 Your Spark Application
Hey {{first name}},
Thanks for applying to Spark! We had a record number of high quality, thoughtful applications this year from our most diverse applicant class yet! You're among a cool group — students who applied to Spark represent 37 majors and 39 minors and included 17 first-generation students. Our recruitment team of 31 app readers worked hard to evaluate each app several times, and was forced to make some difficult choices as we selected which candidates to interview.
Unfortunately, we're unable to offer you a spot in our first round of interviews this semester. We understand that this may be disappointing, especially in a remote semester, when community can be hard to find. Although you won't be joining us in running our initiatives this semester, we invite you to find a fit among our opportunities to find a job, mentor high schoolers, meet other USC entrepreneurs, or speak directly with accomplished founders. If any of this sounds good, let us know and we'll email you directly within the next few weeks.
Thank you for the thoughtful effort that you put into your application! We (selfishly) hope that you choose to apply again if you still feel passionate about us and our mission. In the meantime, please tell us if you're interested in any of this semester's opportunities to get involved.
Sincerely,
Your friends at Spark
[If people respond asking what they can do better next time]
When people reply to their rejection asking for advice on what to do better in the future:
Happy to!
When we reviewed applications, we looked for a few things:
Growth mindset
- We looked for applicants who demonstrated a desire to learn, fail upward, and grow from their challenges. We're especially excited by applicants who seek to challenge themselves and pursue their own definitions of success or impact.
- If you're new to growth thinking, you can start by asking yourself what's possible for you before college is over. Anything is possible! We've seen USC students start startups, produce music videos, revolutionize health, aid refugee resettlement, and challenge expectations all the time. If anything is possible, what might you want to do? How might you get there? And if you don't know how, what will it take to find out?
Passion & drive
- We looked for applicants who exemplified a drive to pursue their passions and dreams—whatever they might be.
- Some ways to grow your drive include pursuing a self-directed side-project, try solving a problem you care deeply about, or search for a job or mentor in the industry you love most. We're most receptive to applications that illustrate drive with examples, so be sure to show us, not tell, what passion looks like for you.
Creative thinking
- Creativity is the most abstract thing we look for.
- Everyone expresses creativity differently, and our reviewers all interpret creativity differently — this is one reason we have three people read each application. Creativity is important in Spark because a lot of problems we solve require complex, indirect, or otherwise creative solutions.
- There are tons of things you can do to build creativity, and these are just a few off the tops of our heads:
- Keep note of the problems that you notice around you, small and large—as well as your ideas for solving them. How might you make those ideas real without many resources?
- When you learn about something interesting, push past what you've been told. What can you do to connect new knowledge with your existing passions?
- Put yourself in diverse surroundings and challenge yourself to try new things. Go to a comedy show and talk to people you don't have much in common with. Who knows what/who will inspire you to think differently?
- Learn about the practice of creative problem solving. We recommend David Kelley's Ted Talk and book on creative confidence.
Mission fit
- The last thing we look for is mission fit — we're carefully attuned to the language applicants use to describe Spark. Our mission is the reason we exist. To learn why we care so much about expanding the definition of entrepreneurship for others, check out our posts on why we exist and why entrepreneurship at USC needs to become more diverse.
- If we felt more certain that your goals are to grow your business or become a startup founder, you're likely to gain more from launching your startup, applying to hackathons, or joining LavaLab or Troy Labs.
- Determine what you care about right now and why. A fun (but rigorous) exercise is to mind-map everything you care about, find inspiring, or aspire toward. This map of things-you-value can contain everything from kickbacks with your best friends to solving climate change or making entrepreneurship more accessible. Once you have your map, you can use it as a compass for where you commit your time, curiosity, and effort.
Inspirations
Interact Rejection Letter
Dear {{first name}},
Thank you for taking the time to submit an application for the Interact Fellowship. This year, we had a record number of applicants, 17% of whom were applying for the second (or more) time. Our team of volunteers worked around the clock in February and early March to assess all of the applications, and was forced to make some very tough decisions as we selected which candidates to interview.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer you a spot in the Interact Fellowship this year. We understand that this may be disappointing, but sincerely appreciate the time, enthusiasm, and thoughtfulness that went into your application. If you’re still interested in joining the Fellowship next year, we hope you’ll consider reapplying; we regularly accept Fellows whose initial applications were rejected.
Given the number of incredible applicants we are unable to accept every year, we are actively working on ways to support young technologists beyond the Fellowship. If you’re interested in being notified as Interact runs non-Fellowship pilot programs, please let us know here.
Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any additional questions.
– Matthew & the Interact Admissions Team
Primer Design Intern Rejection Letter
