USC

USC University of Southern California
www.usc.edu

General
26 students average per class
200 students for large freshman lectures
All classes are taught by professors
Undergraduate research opportunities
Mix and match programs, courses, and degrees
Competitive club / intramural sports
Top 3 for international students (7-9%)

Housing
No tours, due to security and construction
Residence halls on corners of campus, North Campus areas
Housing not required, guaranteed freshman year only
Meal plans available, required freshman year
Lottery for on-campus housing for upperclassmen
Most upperclassmen rent houses or apartments
Several cafeterias
Debit system on student ID card
See public safety office online for security

Application
No early decision option
2 Part application
Part I DUE OCTOBER 15
1 page, basic information and statement of interest
Part II DUE DECEMBER 10
Application, scholarships, major-specific additions
· Essay
o WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT???
o 3 main questions, choose 1
o Short answer section, 3, 1-paragraph questions
o Quick takes section, several-word answers
· Activities
o School and outside activities
o Clubs, service, what you do, traveling, hobbies, awards
· Transcript
o 9th – 12th grade (including senior year grades)
o Academic courses
o Grades
o AP courses – 3, 4, 5 counts for credits, 4, and 5 can count for placement
· Recommendations
o Enhance the application through outside views
o At least once academic recommendation, several others
· SAT
o Best verbal and math scores
o SAT II recommended, not required

· Merit scholarships for the top of application pool, highly competitive


Engineering
Vitterbi School of Engineering

Undeclared Engineering program
Allows choice of engineering majors while gaining admission to the School of Engineering
AP credits count for some elective credits


Music
Thornton School of Music

· Apply to the school of music if a major is a possibility
· Choose between classical and jazz studies
o Trojan Marching Band available to different majors, many engineering majors
· Decide on a minor after enrollment at USC


Overall Impression:
Although the campus is small, the programs are exactly what I am looking for. The surrounding area is definitely urban, but it isn’t overwhelming because there is a central campus, unlike NYU. It seems like off-campus housing is plentiful enough, the only possible issue is transportation anywhere beyond safe biking distance.