<p>so hey, I got this letter today about the Thematic Option Honors Program, inviting me to apply for it; it sounds interesting, can any current or former student shed some light on the program?</p>
<p>thanks.</p>
<p>I'm also very curious. I also received the letter today.</p>
<p>Thematic Option (most commonly known as TO), is a really neat program. You take all of your regular General Education classes in a special program. You tend to get the best professors, and have smaller classes. Also, TO has a lot of funding, so you get to go on trips. I've been on a weekend retreat to Big Bear, and a lot of students got to go see King Lear with Ian McKellan this year. </p>
<p>TO is difficult, however. The classes are all reading intensive, so if you don't like to read a lot, you will probably be unhappy. Also, you take both of your writing courses your freshman year, while most people spread them out more.</p>
<p>Overall, I've really enjoyed all of my TO courses. They have always been engaging, and they are a great way to get to know your professors more closely. </p>
<p>Here is a list of the TO courses I've taken, with a brief description:
Core 101- Knowing and Catching Monsters: A course on social deviance- Everything from Prisons to Lolita to Silence of the Lambs. Lots of fun!</p>
<p>Core 102- Commemoration: About the different way that events are remembered, looking at the Passion of Christ, some philosophy, World War 2, and 9/11</p>
<p>Core 103- Physics of Music, Art and Medicine: This was a fun class! We got to play music, visit a cardiologist's office to watch an ultrasound of the heart, and make our own masterpieces of art.</p>
<p>Core 104- Consumerism: Lots of stuff on the development of the department store, with some Marx and Fast Food Nation thrown in for fun.</p>
<p>Writing 111- Connected with Core 102, taken 1st semester Freshman year</p>
<p>Writing 112- The relationship between the reader and the writer: We covered Atonement, The Hours, fan fiction, and much more.</p>
<p>Hope that's helpful!</p>
<p>wooow that's definitely so helpful and sounds so amazingly enticing</p>
<p>hmm is it something you can do with Science Honors Program??</p>
<p>Freshman Science Honors is a separate honors program. you can do FSH and TO (like me!), provided that you get accepted to both programs.</p>
<p>How do you get into TO? I mentioned interest in my interview earlier but I'm sure there must be some formal procedure to get into the program, yes?</p>
<p>Nikara, thanks for the great info. Those classes sound so interesting. I have a question. Since TO covers required core courses, how does the program handle a student's AP credits? Do they have to forego those credits in order to take the classes in TO? Or can they skip some of the TO classes (if they are eligible to skip them with high AP scores)?</p>
<p>QuixoticRick, they sent a TO brochure and invitation to apply to my son a few days ago (he was an early admit--rec'd letter in first wave on 1/26). It included an application form that required two new essays. I've read that applications will also be available at Explore to scholarship interviewees and that other admits are eligible to apply, as well. Perhaps someone more knowledgible will correct/add more details.</p>
<p>You will definitely get more information about TO in the scholarship sessions. You will have a meeting with the TO people, where they will usually give you candy and tell you about the program.</p>
<p>AP credits don't get you out of any Gen Ed classes anyway- they are required for all students. What AP credits can do is get you into higher versions of classes (especially in sciences), and allow you to register earlier.</p>
<p>does anyone know how many people are invited to apply/actually apply/are accepted into the program?</p>
<p>if they invite you, you will most likely be accepted.</p>
<p>D received TO invite today. Does anyone know what is the deadline to turn in the essays?</p>
<p>At the Explore USC event today, there was a presentation on TO in which they strongly urged applicants to get their application (with essays) in by April 4 (can be done by mail or online). If it is submitted by that time, they will get your app reviewed and send notice if you have been admitted to that program before the May 1 university registration deadline. It was explained that some students want to know if they are in TO before they can decide to come to USC. In addition, they limit TO to 200 freshmen, so I would imagine if you apply after April 4 you risk the program filling up before they have a chance to consider your app.</p>
<p>I got the letter today. I was wondering how many people that invite, and what are the chances that I'll get in? I'm going to apply because I think that would be the determining factor in my college descisions as i would probably go to USC if I got into TO because it sounds amazing.</p>
<p>I think that as long as you apply before the deadline, you will get in! Thematic Option is limited to 200 freshmen, but I heard that for the last few years, Thematic Option has seen JUST under 200 freshmen each year = there is room for you! SO APPLY! :)</p>
<p>Not everyone who applies gets in, but many people do. Feel free to apply- it is a really great program!</p>
<p>this may be a silly question, but if accepted to TO, MUST one do it?</p>
<p>
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this may be a silly question, but if accepted to TO, MUST one do it?
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</p>
<p>You can back out when you register.</p>
<p>Isn't TO a lot of writing. like essays every other week? isn't this super time consuming then?</p>
<p>@ Nikara What you said about Gen Ed. classes is false. There are several AP exams that will get you out of certain gen ed classes. Or at least their used to be, unless they've changed it.</p>