USC defines a transfer student as anyone currently enrolled in college or anyone who has attended college since finishing high school. We encourage bright, motivated, involved transfer students to apply to USC College.  Our students benefit from challenging courses taught by world-class faculty members and numerous innovative research, study abroad, and service-learning activities.  We have programs that push you to excel and achieve more than you thought possible.  And you can do all this within a university that houses more than 600 student organizations, exciting Division I and intramural sports, and plays, concerts and speakers series throughout the academic year.

Successful transfer applicants have generally completed a year of rigorous academic courses, including two semesters of English writing and, at minimum, Algebra II in high school or Intermediate Algebra in college.

Application Deadlines: Fall 2010

• October 15, 2009: Part I Application Deadline for Transfer Students (USC's Part I application is optional)
• February 1, 2010: Transfer Application Deadline for Scholarship and Regular Consideration

It is your responsibility to ensure that all required application materials are sent to USC by the posted deadlines. Applications postmarked after the deadlines listed above are not guaranteed a priority review. In no case will applications be returned or application fees refunded.

Application Process

Complete Part I of the USC Application for Undergraduate Admission

1. Complete the Part I Application for Undergraduate Admission.  Return the Part I form to USC, along with a check for the non-refundable $10 fee, by October 15, 2009.  Please make your check payable to the University of Southern California.

The Part I Application is optional.  We offer it as a way for interested students to begin their admission files early. Submitting Part I by the deadline will also earn the student a $15 discount on the Part II Application fee.

If you choose not to submit Part I, or miss the deadline, you should begin the USC application process with Part II. Be assured that Part I is optional; the lack of a Part I will in no way affect your admission.

Complete Part II of the USC Application for Undergraduate Admission

The fee for Part II is $40 if you submitted and paid for Part I of the application. If you did not submit Part I, the fee for Part II is $65.

2. Apply online, or download and mail the following forms:

• Forms 1a and 1b, Undergraduate Application Fall 2010
• Form 2, Personal Statement and Activity Summary Cover Sheet
• Form 6, College/University Academic Summary (Forms 3, 4, and 5 are for freshman applicants only)

3. Send by mail official transcripts from each college you've attended.

4. Send by mail official, final high school transcripts. Be sure to attach a copy of Form 7, Transcript Request Form for High School Records, to each high school transcript you submit.

5. International Students in need of a student visa should file Form 8, Financial Statement of Personal of Family Support.

 
Basic Academic Requirements
In planning your transfer to USC, keep in mind the following academic requirements:

• Select a major before transferring. Transfer students rarely have room in their schedules to be “undeclared” and graduate on time.
• Concentrate on USC-transferable courses that build on your high school record, satisfy general education and other requirements, and include preparation for your major. Seventy-five percent of the transferable courses should cover these areas, and you are expected to have at least an “A-/B+” average on transferable work.
• There is no minimum number of transfer units you must complete before applying for admission. However, if you have completed fewer than 30 units, we will focus primarily on your high school record and results from the SAT or ACT.
• You must submit secondary school records and proof of graduation. At minimum, your high school record should consist of 16 year-long courses, including 13 in academic solids and up to three in acceptable electives.
• You must complete two semesters of English composition before enrolling at USC.
• You may need to complete nontransferable skills-building courses in writing and mathematics prior to admission to USC. Placement exams offered at your current college will determine your need for any remedial course work.
• We encourage you to take advantage of the strength of USC's General Education Program. In fact, you do not have to complete all transferable general education requirements or all prerequisites elsewhere to be admitted.
• We consider trends in your grades and college attendance patterns. Consistent degree progress and strong recent performance are important.

For more information on whether specific courses will transfer to USC, please click on the following links:
Transfer Credit & Policy
Core Academic Requirements

When will you hear from us?
All transfer applicants who submit a complete application by the deadline will be mailed an admission decision or a request for spring semester grades by June 1. USC does not have an early decision program. Only notification from the Office of Admission constitutes an offer of admission.

Helpful Materials
You may find the following downloadable brochures (pdf copies) helpful in planning to transfer to USC College:

Transferring to USC brochure
Transfer Planning Worksheet
Additional Course Requirements