I was accepted into Dornsife CLAS, but I really want to study at Marshall as an Accounting major. I called just today asking if there were any ways to transfer before enrollment, but the only option was to wait and see after my first semester. I would only go to USC if I knew I would graduate with an Accounting major. I realize that the internal transfer process is very much based on your USC GPA and your performance in the required courses (Calc, Writing, and the intro Econ), but since I’m a freshman with <30 credits, my HS stats will also come into play. I’m currently at a 4.0, at rank 1 of my class with a 2270 SAT and 33 ACT. I wouldn’t count on the 4.0, so let’s say 3.9, but still at the top 1% of my HS class (our ranking is based on weighted GPA) I’m prepared to work as hard as I need to to get as close to a 4.0 this fall semester. Any successful internal transfers (Dornsife to Marshall) or current USC students have any thoughts on this?
Not a current student but an accepted student. I have heard from MANY people (USC admissions, current USC students, USC parents, etc.) that transferring schools and changing majors is not incredibly hard at USC. Your HS stats might come into play but they won’t be weighed as much as your USC GPA. Aim for a 3.9 or 4.0 GPA in CALC, WRIT, and ECON, and I’d say you have a very good chance of transferring.
Also, if I were you, I’d call up the Marshall Office of Undergraduate Admissions and BEG. They might let you transfer if you can somehow convince them. Persistence pays off in these types of situations.
Current student speaking. I’d echo what ComputerAge said. It’s honestly not that difficult to do internal transfer. Like you said, Marshall requires you to take writing and econ and to do relatively well in them. That said, these are major requirements that you would be taking anyway if you were already admitted so you will still be completing your graduation requirements. Also when asking about accounting, be sure to differentiate between Marshall and Levanthal. Levanthal is the school that actually offers the accounting degree. This is important because the requirements are slightly different for accounting majors compared to business administration majors. As an internal transfer, you’ll be required to take BUAD 285A, the introductory accounting class and to get a B (not B-).
Hope that answers your questions.