@Skc313 It depends a bit on your major too. Does it require calc? USC is cool in that it’s typically fine with business calc (some of the UC schools have been fast to reject people that have business calc instead of the regular calc series - they deem it the “wrong” calculus). Missing some GE’s should be okay. I was missing a few and was still accepted (although, for spring admission). I think your GPA gives you a very good chance, but if you need calc, take it this spring as well as any other major prep courses you can.
I’ve heard that USC does not typically allow students to attend summer school at their CC, but this year’s 2015 thread had several stories of students calling USC and getting an okay to do so. Perhaps they just discourage doing this and would rather students take classes with them. Overall, you still need to take about 60-64 units at USC to graduate. I believe most programs are 128 units or so (making me think 64 is the right answer).
@zettasyntax I’m applying for business admin. The major does require calc, so either bus calc like you mentioned or calc for life sciences. I’ll probably try to take life science calc for spring but my cc changed the math pre reqs and they put me in trig for some reason and I’ve tried petitioning and all, but I don’t think I’ll finish the requirement for math bc I don’t have enough room for it in my schedule since I’m already taking trig again.
My cc’s articularion with USC only has about 2 classes listed and my GEs I took for don’t match up at with USC GE, do you think I’ll have to take an extra year if I get in?
@Skc313 How many classes do you think you’d have completed that are transferable? If you don’t have many, maybe they’d consider you a sophomore when you start (even thought you might not be) and you would need to spend 3 years at USC if you get in if so few classes transfer to USC as you’ve said. I feel you on the GE requirements. Not many of the classes I took for the UC’s GE requirements overlapped with the ones I needed for USC. Definitely still try to take calc if it’s not too overwhelming. I worked myself like crazy to take a math course for USC. I had to petition to take it as well - a counselor I spoke to was so surprised that I convinced the math chair to let me do so
I am a first year student at a California community college applying to USC to major in business. Do you guys know how much emphasis USC places on extra curricular activities for transfers?
I just received an email from the Office of Admission that says “Thank you for your Application” and gave me my USC ID number. It seems early to be receiving this email as I haven’t submitted my application yet. Also, since I applied last year, my ID number is the exact same. When I log on to the portal, and check the status of my application, it says that I have already submitted my common application but not my supplement. I haven’t submitted anything yet this year though? Do you think it just hasn’t updated from when I applied for 2015?
@clarinet1234 I’m not sure how difficult it is, but I would imagine it’s at least a bit tougher than most other majors in that it’s more subjective. For example, for most majors, like let’s say an engineering major, GPA and completed prep courses are pretty much all that USC is looking at. For the arts and such, there’s usually a portfolio component (I’m not sure what type of work you need to submit for the music industry program however). So that would make me think it’s at least slightly more difficult than other majors. However, I do remember somebody getting into that very program last year - and they were one of the first people to find out about their acceptance, so a positive is that you’d be one of the first of the prospective transfers to hear back
@chjd22 I think they only care about EC’s if you’re borderline or have some that are truly spectacular. I had like no EC’s when I applied. I just volunteered at LAC+USC Medical Center (since I was always there with a family member that was ill, I grew accustomed to being there) and I talked about how when I finally left, I had poached people that as clients for a small computer tech “business” that I ran from home (I basically just fixed their computers, made house calls, etc) - that’s all I had in terms of EC’s. And considering that they accepted me for sociology and not my first choice, I don’t think my EC’s really factored in at all sadly
@dhailey It’s quite weird that you would receive that if you haven’t even submitted your application yet! I applied for a second time this year and my USC ID number was the same, so that’s normal. You should get assigned a different admissions counselor this time around like I did (at least I would hope, so you have somebody fresh to go over your application). When I submitted my application again, I basically had two copies of everything in my YouSC portal. It had initially said that an admission decision had already been made for me (the 2014 cycle one), but it did eventually update to reflect that I had applied again. I hope this was at least a little helpful I would show you how my portal is, but everything has been cleared for some reason =|
Hey guys, I am applying for the Fall 2016 semester. Please chance me I’m really nervous!!!
Major: Psych
Current School: Top Liberal Arts
GPA: 3.84 (with 18 credits in progress soon to be factored in)
EC: Seeing eye dog trainer, slam poet, modeling, diving, and various other clubs.
Hooks: Fluent in Mandarin (Studied abroad in Shanghai, and interned in Shenzhen/Hong Kong for a summer)
Half European Half Chinese/partly Mongol.
Essays: I believed to be very good, one addressing my overcoming of severe OCD and the other regarding my love for cliff diving in Hawaii (where I live, however, California-born).
Pre-reqs required: Will be completed by time of transfer (Writing and Math).
Recommended GE courses: Majority have been completed (Foreign Language, Sociology, History, Global Studies, Philosophy all completed).
Recommendations: Got a recommendation from the head of the gerontology department from my university, should be all nice things said about me hopefully haha. I knew her pretty well.
Hey everyone, I am applying to marshall pre-accounting for Fall 2016. After this semester I should have a 3.73 USC transferrable GPA, but I have two Ws (not from the same semesters). This is my third year at community college and I took around 12 units each semester (except one of them I dropped a 5 unit class and one semester was 10 units because I had trouble getting classes I needed). I received one C, but it was in trigonometry and it doesn’t transfer (I was so happy to find this out). This semester (Fall 2015) I am planning on receiving straight As and I am taking 15 units (which will bring me up from a 3.63 to 3.73). I also have two honors classes complete as well (will that help admission chances?). How much does USC care about being a full time student and Ws? I have 2/4 possible GE categories complete and the diversity and english requirement complete as well. How much does marshall weight GE completion? I am planning my courses for next semester and I was going to take 13 units (4 classes), but I was wondering if I should take 16 units (5 classes) with the extra class being a USC GE. Based on my stats do you think I should? Do I have a chance a getting in do you guys think?
@chaseguy750 Marshall has one of the most competitive admissions at USC, meaning it’s one of the schools that receives the most applications. In comparison to other applicants: Many of them don’t have Ws. Many of them take full-time course loads each term and are able to transfer in just 2 years instead of 3. If you’re transferring in 3 years, you have more scheduling ability to “bulk up” the number of courses. Many of them have fulfilled all GE categories and frankly, this is the easiest part of satisfying the transfer guidelines. As for honors courses, it doesn’t seem like many applicants opt for them because usually, you need to complete a certain number of courses in order to be “honors certified.” I don’t know if completing 2 will give you an advantage.
USC reviews their applications holistically, so finish your last year stronger than any past performance. It doesn’t hurt to apply.
Hey guys!
I plan on applying as an Easy Asian Language and Culture or public relations major. I actually attended a private university for my freshman year but ended up transferring to a community college. I got a 2.6 gpa both semesters as a freshman but i plan on getting a 3.75 this up coming semester. I only have one more course to complete from the USC core requirement so I plan on only taking 1 class next Spring. I am starting a retail business and maybe that will help? Do you think I might have a chance of getting in? I’ll have around 45 units going in, if I get in.
@stella123 if I were you, I’d stay another year at CC to solidify my academic abilities. Completing 45 units, half of which was at 2.6 GPA, may not be enough to demonstrate consistency. If I were a critical admissions officer, I’d think that you aren’t able to handle the rigors of coursework at a 4-year university. I suggest you not take a light course load next semester because 2.6 + 3.75 still lands you at ~3.2. The most effective thing you can do is raise your GPA. I don’t know if starting a retail business will better your chances because 1. it’s a new endeavor, no history or prior performance. There’s not much to say about something in its conceptual stage or infancy 2. it doesn’t help unless it has ties to your major or your passion(s). If you’re going to devote time to it on a regular, on-going basis then that will show initiative, ambition, and some reflection of your interest(s).
Academic performance is the most heavily-weighted criterion for transfer students, so I’d put school first. Good luck!
