<p>When you apply to specific schools such as Thornton, does the specific school look at your application BEFORE the general admissions office looks at it? Or do you get accepted into USC and then your application is sent to the specific school?</p>
<p>From what I’ve heard and read, there is technically two admission processes. The first one is admission to the university in general. Once you have been admitted to the university then the specific school you applied to will determine if they should accept you into that school. BUT, say you submitted a portfolio to that school and they want you, but the general admissions don’t, the school can try to get you in; almost like how athletes get in. So technically, both places look at it at the same time.</p>
<p>USC Schools look at candidates in a separate process. They will come to their decisions based on such things as talent, experience, awards, LoRs and essays as well as auditions and portfolio review. The students they want to admit must also pass muster with USC’s general admissions office. Sometimes there is some negotiating over certain students and other times, a low academic record will overturn the admissions decisions by the particular talent-based School. In the meantime, students are also being evaluated by the general admissions office and may be admitted even if their first choice talent-based major doesn’t select them. Those <em>typically</em> high stat students are then admitted as undeclared majors in Dornsife.</p>
<p>Hope that helps.</p>