2010 Applicants: Answer to "Is Dec. 1st the deadline for EVERYTHING?"

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
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<p>The short answer is YES, December 1st is the application deadline for submitting the online application and ALL SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS, including recommendations, ordering official test scores, Form 5 + unofficial test scores, transcripts, application fee... EVERYTHING.</p>

<p>If ANY of the materials are not received or postmarked by December 1st, you are NOT guaranteed priority review for scholarship consideration.</p>

<p>In the past few admissions cycles, several applicants and parents have called USC admissions in a panic about some application materials that might arrive a few days after the deadline. The official policy is as above, but we were told unoficially: </p>

<p>-The online application MUST be submitted by December 1st.
- The sorting and processing of supplemental materials takes at least a week, and they will not be checking postmarks and refusing to open items postmarked after Dec 1st - they will just sort them as though they were on time.
-The December test date should be in time for review, if you designate USC as a recipient before testing. If you wait to send after seeing the scores, they will not be in time for scholarship review.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, as this information has been passed on, several current applicants have posted authoritatively that "only" the online application is due December 1st, and everything else can come in "later." "Later" has been defined as anything from one to two weeks to as late as February 15th.</p>

<p>Scholarship acceptances will begin to be mailed by about January 20th. That means they have a matter of weeks to get through 25,000 - 35,000 applications, sort out the ones to consider for scholarships, decide on admissions and scholarship invitees, assemble admission packets, double check everything and get them out. If your materials are sent more than a week late you have very little chance of being considered for scholarships.</p>

<p>If any of you see others posting asking about the REAL due date, please refer them to this thread for complete info - I just cannot answer this question again.</p>

<p>THANKS, and GOOD LUCK!</p>

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<p>EXCELLENT ANSWER!</p>

<p>Fight On!</p>

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<p>For the reading pleasure of the 2011 applicants. :)</p>

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<p>Deadline info! Twelve days to get your stuff in the mail! You CAN mail your supplemental materials before you actually submit the application - USC is VERY experienced at matching things up, so nothing is stopping you from heading to the post office right NOW! Order test scores! FAX unofficial reports! Remind recommenders that the deadlines are approaching (shed a tiny tear if necessary :slight_smile: )! Get your official transcripts from your registrar (leave them sealed) and mail them in!</p>

<p>Put your USC ID on everything.</p>

<p>A simple way to verify that everything has been received is to include a self-addressed, stamped postcard with the materials you mail. USC will stamp it “received” and pop it in return mail. Then you breathe a sigh of relief while everyone else panics.</p>

<p>GOOD LUCK!</p>

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<p>@alamemon, Thanks for posting this!
I requested CB/ACT to send my scores anyway last week, it turned that USC has received them according to the USC connect. My plan is taking SAT in Dec again, I take USC will update my scores (remove the bad one! :)</p>

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<p>Deadline info for funnyman :)</p>

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<p>EDIT nevermind- answered my own question</p>

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<p>A friendly deadline reminder for 2011 applicants :)</p>

<p>Some hints for those who find they will not have everything in by the first…</p>

<p>USC is very flexible about how you get materials to them, just do your best to help them out. Include your name and USC ID# on everything, and ask recommenders do include that information as well (an easy way is to give recommenders stickers with your properly spelled name and USC ID that they can stick on the letter). </p>

<p>Teachers and counselors can FAX recommendations if necessary - have them also drop a sealed version in the mail for authenticity.</p>

<p>FAX in unofficial SAT/ACT score reports so they can use those while things are still being sorted.</p>

<p>FAX in unofficial transcripts if you think your official ones might be delayed.</p>

<p>**Office of Admission Fax Number: (213) 821-0200 **</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>Can you use score choice for the SAT? I was planning on taking my subject tests again in December, so I don’t want them to see a previous score–should I still fax it? (and what if I don’t have access to a fax machine?)</p>

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<p>I requested my transcript to be sent over 2 weeks ago, and they usually mail them out the day after you request them. However, it still hasn’t shown up in my Document Upload. (I didn’t send this one with the Transcript Request form, but USC said it was optional so I didn’t bother?). Neither has my official scores, I sent my SAT with my 4 free score reports in Oct and I sent my ACT at least two weeks ago. Is the Document Manager an accurate showing of everything they have? Because they didn’t even have my Part I app showing in Document Manager until about a week ago and that was sent in months ago. (and they did receive it on time, I was notified).
However, they do have my unofficial score reports in. For some reason, I have Combined ACT/SAT Score Report in there twice as well as Part I App, and that’s it. Which is why I’m a little worried. I actually thought only online submitted materials would be registered on there, so I didn’t really check it actively until a couple days ago because it used to always say no recieved materials, no needed materials.</p>

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<p>How do I know that they received my supplemental materials? I sent a catalog envelope with everything inside. I did not see this post, so i did not put a postcard into it. Is there a way to check online?</p>

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<p>You just go on USConnect, click on the Admissions, then go to Documents, and you’ll see what they’ve received.</p>

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<p>What does Resit Sat or Act mean? All it says it has received is my SAT/Act score stuff, no transcripts or letter of reccomendations… But it also says that I don’t have any requires information I need to submit at the same time… Im so confused…</p>

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<p>tochau: USC prefers that you do not use score choice, but they do not penalize you if you do. They will only consider your highest scores, and they do not want applicants to have to pay extra for score choice, so there is no reason to do so.</p>

<p>lizabet: If your official transcript isn’t showing as received, you can call to ask or just FAX in an unofficial transcript for them to use until the official one gets there. You say that it shows “Combined SAT/ACT report,” does that say “unofficial?” If not, that is your official score report showing as arrived. If it does show unofficial, it is still FINE because they have your unofficial report - you don’t have to worry if your official scores aren’t there yet (that is exactly why they ask for the unofficial report).</p>

<p>worried girl: resit probably means “re-sit,” or take the ACT/SAT again in December. Several students have reported having this line on the document manager. I am not sure if everyone has it, or if only those who indicated they would take the December test do. You applicants can exchange that information and puzzle it out, or someone can call USC and ask.</p>

<p>At this point, it will take some time for documents to show as received. They are sorting through over 20,000 scholarship deadline applications with that many recommendations, transcripts, SAT/ACT reports, etc… so probably 60,000+ documents. If you already mailed it, FAXed it or ordered reports, they are most likely there.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>Hi alamemom, thanks for the help! I am hoping for some clarification though.</p>

<p>

So does this mean the recommendations, transcript, and unofficial SAT reports must be POSTMARKED by Dec. 1 or RECEIVED by Dec. 1???</p>

<p>Also, do we have to send USC a copy of our AP reports or just SAT reports? Because I’m not sure if I have the AP reports or know how to access or send them. Will this be a problem?</p>

<p>Oh, and another question I just thought of that’s sort of unrelated to the deadline stuff: I submitted part I a while back, which includes the info on intended major. The only reference I now see to this is on USConnect where it says: “Continue your Part II Undergraduate Application (Part II, Fall 2011) in (1006) Classics, B.A.” Is there a way of finding out what I put for my 2nd choice major. I honestly don’t remember but I’d like to know so I can better answer the question on academic interests which says “Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections.” Basically, is there any way for me to access Part I?</p>

<p>Again, thanks so much for your help!</p>

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<p>First question: Postmarked. As the deadline approaches, it will take longer and longer for the items to show up on your document manager as received, so for your own peace of mind include a self-addressed, stamped postcard for USC to send back to you.</p>

<p>Second question: No, you don’t need to send AP scores until you decide if you will attend. Then send them in for credit - you can wait until you take your May '11 tests and have the scores sent for free to the school you select to attend.</p>

<p>Third question: I don’t have access to an application (I’m not applying this year :slight_smile: ), so I can’t answer the technical questions - sorry! I DO know that you can change the majors you listed on Part 1 when you fill out Part 2, and an applicant posted very clear directions (but I can’t remember who it was), so I assume whatever method they use to change the major would work to reveal the current majors. Try posting a question such as, “How do I change my Part 1 major on Part 2…” and you should get the information you need.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>Alright thanks so much for the help!
:)</p>

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<p>alamemon, you replied to my post an hour ago… I just wanted to ask that my sat2 score sucks (1900)… I’m appearing again in JAN but as you mentioned, JAN scores won’t be considered. should I send USC my sat2 score?</p>

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<p>Hmmm… SAT 2s are generally on a scale of up to 800 each… Do you mean your SAT score is 1900? I suggest you post a thread asking about whether to submit the score, I generally answer procedural questions rather than “chance-type” questions - yhou will get more opinions on the scores with a new thread.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>Can you provide help? My son filled out most of the USC application but he cannot find where his ID might be, checked his emails, etc. Where do we find this? USC recognizes him, he can get back to his app. etc. ideas?</p>