@NorCalBred just look up “USC Articulation Agreements” and look up your college. Just list out all the courses that transfer directly over and count the units for each course. If it’s over 30 units then they won’t look at HS grades. If it’s over 60 units then you’ll be considered a junior applicant. 
Hey guys my high school stays were pretty bad too (3.5) so I’m not sure they were considered since I had 30+ by the end of spring, but you should send them in just to be safe.
My college stats were pretty good, I had mostly As and B+, but the two classes I tanked in were worth a lot of credits. Luckily I barely passed them and they had nothing to do with my major, but they brought my GPA to a 3.4.
I think what saved me is that 1) I had completed all except maybe two GEs and 2) I had selected ECs that would show my career interests and talked about how I could apply the skills is developed in the real world.
At the end of the day USC wants to admit people they think are going to become successful and make an impact after college. So my advice is that yes ECs themselves aren’t really what admissions cares about more so than what you’ve learned from doing them and how that knowledge will translate to your career. I also mentioned specific clubs and courses I’d like to pursue at USC, again to talk about how I could apply what I’ll learn in them after college (for example: starting my own consulting company is goal of mine and course x will prepare me to do that by [fill in snippet of course description]).
What also helped me I think is that my career goals kind of stand out against most Marshall students. I really want to pursue business in the entertainment industry, so I described all the unique opportunities USC has to help me do that, compared to my local 4yr, which has basically none.
Hope that helps!
@rizzledrizzle1 Great news! I contacted my USC counselor and they told me my pre-req English course in the summer will count! I’ll have 32 units by Spring 2017. I’m so happy! Thank you for your help.
@awalksonman Thank you, that really helps! I’ll look into the EC, though I heard it’s not as heavily emphasized like the freshmen admission process. ECs for PPD major, I’m still volunteering with a community based non-profit as I did throughout HS.
@NorCalBred Glad I could help! Yeah the number and even type of ECs you take don’t really matter. But I had a low GPA and needed to show that I had real-world skills that would help me be successful beyond my GPA. So if you think you’ll do well then I wouldn’t worry about it, but it also doesn’t hurt!
Anyone planning on checking out the common app when it opens back up?
Hey everyone I’m thinking of applying to the Marshal School of Business this year as a sophomore transfer. If your a business major @ a cc please tell me what classes you’re taking. Best of luck to everybody!
@rizzledizzle I was also wondering that, maybe in september?
Hi, I’m hoping to transfer to USC fall 2017 as a junior. Ill probably have a 3.5 gpa (maybe higher) but I’m trying to transfer in as a gender studies major and then change it if i get in. What are your thoughts? do you think ill get in? i know my gpa is average but this is my dream school
Don’t play the “apply to one major then switch into another” game with USC, they see right through that on an application better than anyone. Students need to know it is so easy to see when an applicant is doing that, particularly for holistic evalutations, and will lead your app directly into the trash.
@blueskies2day I want to apply as psychology but that is the most competitive and i didn’t do well in chemistry which is a core pre-req. I have done a lot of volunteer work at women health centers, domestic violence centers etc. My counselor gave me the idea. Its not like I don’t have a background in it. Do you think I will be okay? thank you for your response.
@socampo I’m gonna look at it when it opens up in August and then write out the supplements so I can periodically check back on them leading up to Jan/Feb and change around if I changed my mind on something.
Hi guys, I’m currently attending a California community college and my goal is to apply to USC Marshall.
I know it’s possible to enter as undecided, as I know many people who have done so.
My plan is to apply to Marshall, and if I don’t get accepted, I will apply as an undecided major and try to transfer into marshall, if not, I will stay in Dornsife as an economics major.
However, I am still not 100% sure how the required units work. I looked at the articulation agreement for my community college, and after Fall 2016 I will have all GE requirements completed.
I was also planning on applying to UCs so I have been following the IGETC plan and looking at assist.org for Major Course related requirements.
But on the articulation agreement for USC, it isn’t clear what exactly is required for the specific major. It says (No course equivalents available)
I know that you can enter USC without even finishing all of the GEs, but they recommend that students do so.
Also, I’m not sure if I would enter as a sophomore or junior?
If anyone can explain to me how USC’s course requirements work in detail, and how transferring into specific schools in USC works, that would be awesome.
Im applying to usc as a physics major.
so I know only your first 64 units will be transferred when you enroll, but is your gpa with your first 64 units the only gpa that’s considered, or is it your total gpa with 64+ units (if you have that many) that will be looked at?
@rebounded The only GPA they are considering (after you receive 30 credit hours) is your college GPA. Your question is a little confusing. :S
so even if I take, let’s say, 100 units by the time I’m ready to transfer, after two years of community college, all 100 of those units will count towards my college gpa that they’ll consider?
Yes. The GPA you have at the time you send in your application will be the GPA they consider, regardless of the number of credits. If your GPA significantly drops the semester after they receive your application, that may also play a role in your admission.
Hi, I’m planning to apply to USC as chem major/sophomore transfer, and I was wondering if you guys think that there’s a chance I’ll get in? So far, I’ve taken a calculus course (received a C) and a macroeconomics course (received an A+) at a CCC, which makes my current gpa a 3.0. If everything goes as planned, by the end of spring semester 2017, I will have taken:
English - 15 units
Math - 20 units
Chemistry - 15 units
Physics - 6 units
Econ - 5 units
and hopefully, those courses will bring my gpa up to a 3.7.
Also, I’ve been volunteering at a hospital for over a year now and I’m not sure if that is enough for me to get into USC. I’m not really sure what other extracurriculars there are for me to do since I’m going to a CC and there isn’t much to do on campus…
@rizzledrizzle1 Did you have any luck with the common app? I’ve tried to research when it will open up but I have found nothing
@socampo I’ve been able to access the USC common app since the first.
@crispypotatoes If you get involved in more ECs, then your chances will be optimized. Definitely obtain that 3.7!