Spring Admits

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
61

<p>I’m receiving private emails from spring admits looking for advice. I’m posting this here instead of writing you individually. That way this will be elevated to the senior administrators.</p>

<p>I’d write a letter of appeal to the Dean of Admissions and cc President Nikias. I’d very carefully explain your situation and how you are very concerned about missing out on what should be the best year of your life. I’d explain how missing football games, meeting new friends, and other fall events will deny you life time memories of being a freshman. I’d ask them to reflect on their own experience or that of their own children as freshmen in college, and how critically important the fall semester is for you to develop and mature as college students.</p>

<p>I’d add as much personal information as you feel comfortable disclosing as opposed to simple platitudes.</p>

<p>I’d also offer to live in off campus USC housing. FYI, USC has several apartment buildings within walking distance of the park. Living off campus will not negatively affect your freshman experience, especially if you cook; otherwise, you can buy a meal plan and eat in the dorms. Also, there are several OOS students who live off campus, as well as Californians. The latter generally have cars and will act as willing tour guides, lol.</p>

<p>Add as much extenuating circumstances as possible, just as you might have done on your application. The more sympathetic your situation, the greater your prospects will be. Don’t give up!</p>

<p>If you receive no timely response, send a follow up each month. If they say no, ask them to reconsider. Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease!</p>

<p>If you can, add your parents to the signature line of the letter (e.g., all three of you sign it) to demonstrate how important this is to your family.</p>

<p>Find a USC alumnus in your area (call the alumni house and get the email address of the alumni club in your area and get the name of the club president) who can also send a letter on your behalf or sign the letter you write. Meet or speak to the alumni club president and explain your predicament and ask for help.</p>

<p>Above all, be persistent and don’t be afraid to assert yourself; you’re already in!</p>

<p>Sent from my SGH-T989 using CC</p>

62

<p>Would also add that being a Spring Admit is a calmer time than being a fall admit and you can work with USC to take courses at your CC or elsewhere to satisfy GE and other requirements. Some have indicated they were able to live in housing near campus and attend football games, but I’m not certain about how common that is for Spring admits.</p>

<p>Good luck–our D was a happy Spring transfer admit.</p>

63

<p>Spring admits: I’m sure you’ve read in your offer the part where it specifically asks that you NOT harass the administration and faculty for fall admission. SeattleTW is neither a spring admit or a parent of a spring admit, nor does he have any inside information. He is merely a well meaning student.</p>

<p>Please believe: the adcoms and all of the faculty at USC are well aware that everyone would much rather attend in fall. Writing these letters is at best a poor use of your time and at worst indicates that you either can’t read a simple request or choose to ignore it. </p>

<p>Hold on. In a few weeks, as many of you as can be moved up, will be moved up.</p>

64

<p>Don’t bug the admins, bug the dean and president; they’re big boys and dealing with your pain is what they get paid for.</p>

<p>Sent from my SGH-T989 using CC</p>

65

<p>How dare you ask these poor kids to hold on! you have no idea what they’re going through. they spent four years in high school and excelled. they don’t need to go to a community college. they need to go to USC in the fall because that is what they have been working for all throughout high school! they deserve to experience every thing a freshman can in college.</p>

<p>let president Nikias and the Dean of Admissions take furloughs and go to community college next semester to see how it really feels. let them miss the football season!</p>

<p>Sent from my SGH-T989 using CC</p>

66

<p>Just stop, Seattle. Unlike you, I’ve actually been through this with a child. So I have a very GOOD idea what these students are going through. And a much better idea than you about what this process entails. How dare YOU set yourself up as an authority on something about which you know nothing?</p>

67

<p>I’m a four year USC alumnus,'nuf said…</p>

<p>Sent from my SGH-T989 using CC</p>

68

<p>@SeattleTW like many other four year alumnus… But you are probably the only one with a dissenting opinion. Going to a CC to knock some G.E.s out is a smart and practical idea. Why does it matter to take a G.E. at some CC when it really does not apply to your major at all? Please explain to me why taking an Art History Class at some CC is going to affect your success as an engineering major at USC? Plus the fact that grad schools don’t care if you attended a CC or not.</p>

69

<p>Hi, I was a spring admit last year. Do you know your regional USC counselor? Contact them and they’ll help you pick courses. Also, if you’ve declared your major, contact your adviser, introduce yourself and talk to them about what you can do to make it easier for yourself for the next 4 years.
Honestly, I’d recommend taking 3-4 CC courses that fulfill GE credits. To figure out which ones, go to USC’s articulation site and see which CCs have agreements with USC. You’ll save a lot of money, plus having to plan out your degree program with 5-6 extra classes you have to take which most likely are not related to your major sucks.
As for housing, I live in Cardinal Gardens, which is one of the most fought over sophomore housing options. Personally, I could care less about the freshman dorm experience, as I have a ton of freshman friends and majority of them can’t wait until they live in apartments. The trick with housing is to apply AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Meaning, wait in front of the computer until the housing portal opens, and then fill it out IMMEDIATELY. Do your research, figure out which options you want. You’ll also find that there will be a ton of flexibility in housing, a lot of people move out of dorms, switch rooms, move out, etc and they’ll advertise it on facebook. Join all the housing groups, the spring admit group, freshman group. If worst comes to worst and you don’t get university housing, the apartments all around USC are filled with college students and its not that different. One thing I wouldn’t recommend is Gateway, as the management of the building is awful.</p>