The Trojan Transfer Plan

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

For those who got TTP in their denial letter - it is not offered to everyone. You are “denied” this year but encouraged to apply next year as a transfer. You have a very good chance of being accepted as a sophomore transfer if you have a good gpa, take the right classes. For those who got TTP in their rejection letter - it is not offered to everyone. You can attend a CC, a state school or any 4 year university for your first year. You can do study abroad through universities that USC partners with. They have more articulation agreements (a list of courses that are acceptable at USC from another school) available from CC and state schools, but it is completely acceptable to come from a 4 year, and there are some articulation agreements on those as well. Obviously you may attend your 4 year and decide you want to stay, and say heck with the TTP. You then apply as a transfer applicant before February 1st during freshman year (back to the common app again, weeeee).

How does this differ from a regular transfer applicant? The difference - you are given the opportunity to meet with a USC advisor in June or July BEFORE freshman year to make sure you understand what is best for you to take during that first year at your other college - what looks best to increase your transfer chances. They do not go over specific courses at your college, but just an idea what fits into their GEs, and what is good to get over with and bring to USC. They do not offer this consult to “regular” transfer applicants. It may be a way for them to meet you as well, but it is more to go over stuff with you. Apparently, if you meet a 3.7-3.8 recommended gpa first year and get the credits you need (30 I think), you are almost guaranteed a spot. Note almost. It means you may have a little edge over those applying as a transfer without TTP. Nothing is ever guaranteed in college admissions till you get your packet!

You plan on attending another school first. Then you can pursue the TTP by expressing interest and signing up for meeting in summer. Then go to your other school. If it is a CC (2 year), you can work really hard to make the transfer happen. If it is a big 4 year school, I would embrace it, commit to it, and give it a chance. If you don’t love it after first semester, you can apply by February 1st for the transfer as a TTP applicant. If you have adjusted, love your new school and forgot about USC - then just don’t apply. It’s that simple.

Personal thoughts - for those that are 100% committed to graduate from USC it can work out and let you still have your dream, and even save a good amount of money (if you go to a cc for a year for example). For others, it’s not a bad back up plan - you can go to another school and if you don’t like it, go for this. For others, you can turn it into a hostage acceptance and you hang in limbo for a year while trying to meld with your other school and don’t because you still dream of USC. How you treat it is up to you. I would strongly think about whether you really want to change plans or give up another great 4 year college and the freshman experience you could have on a maybe from USC. It doesn’t matter if you are coming from a 2 or 4 year. So don’t feel like you have to attend a cc or state school, or something other than you intend currently, thinking it this will make USC happy. It doesn’t matter. GPA and the correct credits do.

This is last years thread below and has some discussion and links you may find helpful started by @CCMThreeTimes, find out all you can and make an informed decision.

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/1874398-trojan-transfer-plan-for-the-class-of-2020-p1.html

2

So it is not guaranteed transfer if the student maintains a certain GPA? That’s how Cornell does it.

3

No, you still have to be accepted - it’s as close to a guarantee as it can be without being one, but they don’t have a definite “hit this and you are in” gpa. That’s why it’s a tough call to make frankly.

4

@CADREAMIN Thanks for addressing TTP, which might take away a bit of the sting for those who aren’t receiving good news this week and get the TTP offer. I’ve been following various threads here and in the Facebook group, and I have yet to hear of someone who didn’t receive an admission offer from USC after following the TTP – but of course I could have missed something. To me, it still seems highly likely that TTPers will get in to USC as long as they do what their USC counselor advises (and even there, there seems to be some wiggle room with GPA requirements – it’s in USC’s interest to ensure TTPers are successful).

A current crop of TTPers are receiving admission notification now; I hope they’ll use your thread to post their experience and answer questions!

Congratulations on your daughter’s admission!!!

5

@ccmthreetimes - Agree - it is sooo close to being a guarantee, but I do wish they would make it one with some criteria met. I think what is hard is first, they do remind you that it isn’t a guarantee at your meeting and second, you have just been denied by them, so there is a little trust lacking at that point in time. The fear of getting rejected again is hard to get out of your head without a guarantee. (Once bit twice shy kind of thing.)

I do think virtually all, if not all, are admitted like you said. I have yet to see or hear about any TTPer not getting in. So while I really believe USC sincerely and truly wants these kids to attend, it can be a little tougher sell for the student to believe that without a guaranteed path of some kind.

I know some that loved TTP because they saved a ton of money that first year by attending a cc and even working a bit. And other kids felt they could take a chance on another four year that may seem a bit risky (across the country, etc.) having a back up plan. It really can work great for some.

Having said all this, USC certainly keeps stats on the TTPers that sign up or don’t and who attends in the end - so they certainly know how it is working much better than I do. I can only provide the emotional side of it that I have seen.

And thanks! D is still in shock frankly. Good shock.

6

There ya go @ccmthreetimes - it appears your independent research was correct…all that pursued it, have gotten in. Now that’s some good data for them to put out there.

7

DId anyone get this?: this decision was especially difficult for us given your ties to the Trojan Family.

8

so if i have to reapply using the common app can I reuse my essays or is that not a good idea?

9

^^^You will likely re-tweak them because you will be older and wiser, but they are not so tortuous the second time around, just because of time and experience. Really, you won’t feel the angst you had this time.

10

@CADREAMIN (regarding post 5) That’s such encouraging news for applicants – thanks for the update!

11

If i didnt get this plan in my letter, would it be possible for me to be part of it by asking the school?

12

No sorry, it is only offered to certain people during this period, but you can apply to transfer to USC for after freshman year independent of the Trojan Transfer Plan, many kids do. It is not like the UC’s where they only take two year transfer applications. You can re-apply as a transfer next cycle, those apps would be due Feb 1, 2018.

13

Daughter offered Trojan Transfer Plan. A slice of rejection with a side of hope. Not an alum so just learning about this program. Might be the best of all possible outcomes for us but of course, she has to do her part to see that it happens! Hoping those that also were offered the TTP might share what research they eventually find here. Particularly interested in details of the assimilation process as an USC sophomore transfer. Will she have the “college experience” of orientation at USC, on-campus housing, etc. if she chooses this path? Will she feel like she missed out on key bonding moments with fellow classmates? Can her Greek status transfer if she pledges elsewhere, etc.? Semesters abroad are not a likely option so she won’t be bonding in Europe with fellow USC TTP’rs. She has other great choices that she is considering throwing herself wholeheartedly into (Tulane, Univ of Rochester) but favors USC first and foremost and California (also has choices of three Catholic CA universities) but as of last week we were leaning towards the in-state honors college to keep her close to home for first year due to health reasons…and now, given the TTP, to save money for her very expensive first choice of USC! Thanks for setting up this thread and in advance, thanks for any insight. She cried her eyes out to not get “the package” yesterday but the TTP was a lovely and unexpected blessing. :slight_smile:

14

Thank you for addressing this; I was just offered TTP! My parents were not alum either so I was surprised when I saw this at the bottom of my letter. Is anyone here who was offered TTP considering the abroad options(London, Paris, Switzerland, Rome)?

15

@kettlecorn14 yeah I’m looking at those options but since it isn’t guaranteed, I’m not sure if it is worth the risk. Lots of thinking to do before May 1st…

16

@AnArcticMonkey If you or anyone else is interested here is a facebook group for USC TTP Parents of Students Abroad. It gives a lot of info on the programs and there’s ton of discussion from the parents who have had children go through the transfer program. Admission to USC isn’t guaranteed per se but from what I’ve read they’ve admitted all the students who have kept up their grades while abroad.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/617943298283760/?ref=group_cover

17

oops the link did not work, you can just search the group’s name up on facebook

18

@kettlecorn14 thank you!

19

I enrolled in the Switzerland one! If you look at the website for the international schools they give you specific criteria for it like 3.3 min gpa no c in any course and some more they also send you a FAQ once you confirm your spot in the program!

20

good luck @Adzilno. Is anyone considering AUP