The Office of College Advising provides a wide range of advising services and programs that integrate students, faculty, staff, academic disciplines and curricula into a meaningful educational experience. Academic advisors work closely with students to help familiarize them with the academic life of the College, choose or change their majors and fulfill core requirements so they can graduate in a timely manner.

Advising for Pre-Health Programs

Pre-health advisors help students determine the most advantageous academic and extracurricular program to prepare for the health professions (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, biokinesiology and physical therapy, occupational science and occupational therapy and other allied health professions). Pre-health advisors also support students as they consider general education courses, majors, minors and the optimal use of electives. Pre-health students are guided through the admission process in their chosen field, including how to write an effective personal statement, how to gain clinical or research experience, how to request appropriate letters of recommendation and how to complete the application. The Office of College Advising maintains an email listserv and a Web site for pre-health students.

Advising for Pre-Law Programs

Students who are interested in going to law school consult one-on-one with academic advisors in the Office of College Advising who specialize in this area. Pre-law advisors assist students in crafting an undergraduate academic program designed to lead to law school admission and success. Pre-law students are supported in all aspects of the law school application process, including how to write an effective personal statement and how to request appropriate letters of recommendation.

Pre-law advisors also help students target the most appropriate law school, put students in contact with pre-law societies and notify students of relevant pre-law and law-related events. Pre-law students are also invited to subscribe to an email listserv sponsored by the Office of College Advising in order to connect with pre-law resources.

Pre-Graduate School Advising

The pre-graduate school advisor assists USC undergraduates and alumni interested in applying to all graduate programs other than law and medicine. The advisor helps students determine when and if they should apply to graduate school and guides students in the process of researching and choosing appropriate schools and programs. Students can expect support in such areas as navigating the admissions process, writing statements of purpose, requesting letters of recommendation, exploring test preparation resources, and identifying and pursuing sources of funding.

USC Learning Communities

USC Learning Communities is a program for all USC College freshmen who have not yet decided on a major program of study. Groups of 15-20 students explore a variety of academic interests with the support of a USC faculty mentor, a staff advisor and a peer mentor from the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

Students in the learning communities take two courses in common in the fall semester of their freshman year. The courses are organized around a specific theme, such as "Media and Culture," "Medicine, Science and Technology" or "Law and Society." Students select the learning community which most closely fits their interests from up to 15 different themes. One of the courses is an introductory course to a major or minor, and the other course satisfies a general education requirement. In addition to common classes, students meet throughout the year and participate in field trips and other co-curricular activities designed especially for learning community participants.

Freshmen may apply to the program during a university orientation session or by returning the card attached to the USC Learning Communities brochure that is mailed to all freshmen who have not declared a major.

Academic Programs and Workshops

The Office of College Advising facilitates events and workshops to address topics and student issues that are traditionally not covered through the general curriculum.