<p>So I'm looking at information about USC (I'm really excited about applying now!) and I had some questions about the TO program. From what I've read, it's pretty much like an honors program, but you get all of your requirements out of the way by the end of sophomore year. There was also something about no grade quotas/curves are easier, but I wasn't sure what. The USC site says to be considered for TO, you have to have around a 4.0 GPA and a SAT I Verbal score of at least 650. I'm fine with the GPA (I'll have a 3.9 by mid-year reports), but I'm not submitting my SATs, is a 34 English ACT acceptable?</p>
<p>The more I hear about USC, the more I like it. I just have to get my mom on board, and the TO program is exactly what would do that.</p>
<p>I would not say TO is “easier,” it is a very, very challenging honors program. Only 200 freshmen each year are selected for the program, and as they are among the most qualified students at USC, it is not surprising that as a group they do very well in their classes.</p>
<p>Yes, it is possible to get all of your general education done by the end of your sophomore year, or you can choose to take some classes junior year.</p>
<p>Any student who wishes to challenge themselves may apply to TO. I would caution that if you are looking for “easy,” TO is not for you.</p>
<p>3 years ago when my S1 was applying to USC, the recommended scores for TO were above 1400 combined SAT Writing (!) and CR. Math scores do not help since TO is mostly about writing, reading and discussion in a humanities based curriculum. Not sure how they calibrate those numbers for ACT. </p>
<p>The type of students in TO tend to be fairly driven and the idea of non-curved grading is to allow as many As as the excellent work may deserve. But in order to earn the A in this pool of academic students requires real work. The best reason to sign on for TO is access to small classes filled with top students and the very best professors in each department who teach very interesting courses. The reason it’s named Thematic Option is each course centers on a theme (fatal love; science fiction vs. hard science; the circus, etc) and the reading lists are pretty awesome–including everything from films to novels.</p>
<p>TO is nice because you only need to take one writing class and you get your required classes out of the way quickly. However, it sucks because you have all those classes your first two years, and your final two years you can’t spread some GE classes through to lighten the load like many non-TO students usually do. Also, it sucks because you hate your life from all the reading and writing that you have to do. TO is just another way of doing your GE requirements basically.</p>
<p>If you’re considering TO, definitely apply for it. You can decide at orientation to not do it. You can even drop out after the first year if it’s not for you.</p>
<p>You have two writing classes, and instead of taking one freshman year and the other junior year like other students, you take both freshman year. They’re much more interesting than regular WRIT-140 classes, and the instructors are “handpicked” and very qualified. Mine was extremely helpful - Aside from writing, I talked to her about changing majors, career prospects, etc.</p>
<p>You are not required to finish everything by junior year. Many majors have you spread out your GE’s and TO advisors are fine with it. Most TO students are in the college or the film school so they tend to finish all their GE’s in the first two years, but I’m sure there are plenty of juniors and seniors in TO classes.</p>
<p>Yes, TO is a lot of reading and writing, but I think for the small classes and amazing professors, it’s definitely worth it. Your professors will not only be some of the best at the school, they will be easy to get to know over class and office hours.</p>
<p>Count me as one of the moms who was won over by the TO program! I really wanted my son to have the LAC-type experience of small classes with lots of reading, analysis and writing, and TO is a great way to get that experience plus everything else USC has to offer. My son really enjoyed his classes - the profs were great, and really were some of the best, most senior people at USC. I gather that they like teaching these extremely bright new students. They spent time outside class with these students both in office hours and social outings. The writing instruction my son had was excellent - though you always hear of some students who didn’t have a perfect experience. </p>
<p>I think your ACT score should qualify you. If they don’t send the application invitation to you automatically, don’t be shy about asking to apply.</p>
<p>How does one apply for TO? Was there something in the initial application or do they send you an additional application specifically for TO after they review your first app and see that you’re qualified?</p>
<p>They will invite the Trustee/Presidential scholarship winners to apply at their Explore sessions, and send application links to others in late February or early March. If you don’t get the invitation but are interested in the program APPLY! You can’t apply until you are accepted, so don’t worry right now - good luck!</p>
<p>thanks so much for the responses, everyone!</p>
<p>yep, TO is absolutely for me. I actually just got an email from USC about applying to the program this morning. I’ll be sure to mention TO in my “why USC” essay… I’m in the Social Justice Academy at my school, which means my classes have a focus on social equality. It doesn’t sound too distanced from TO.</p>
<p>I checked a conversion chart, a 34 ACT English = a 770 SAT Verbal, but that’s without my essay. My essay was really bad and brought my score down to a 30 ACT = 650 SAT. So I guess I’ll find out later.</p>
<p>Coming from a certain top ranked public high school, I really wish I’d done TO - some of the awesomest people, the most intelligent people, and my closest friends are in TO and the workload doesn’t really seem bad, especially if your HS was rigorous (I’m finding college painfully easy, taking naps on a daily basis, sometimes twice a day). </p>
<p>I’m a current TO student, and here are my two cents!</p>
<p>It’s kind of a love hate relationship. If you enjoy reading (you kind of have to be able to read quickly or at least skim really efficiently) and love to write, then please consider TO. I personally applied because it was another honors program and I did plenty of those in high school. However, I quickly realized that that was a stupid reason to apply. Fortunately, it has been a wonderful experience, even if I went into it with the wrong mindset. My writing and critical thinking ability has improved greatly since I started college, and that has been one of the most rewarding things about TO for me.</p>
<p>You generally write 1 or 2 more essays in TO writing courses than in regular GE writing. Also, you get the OPTION of taking your second writing course second semester instead of waiting all the way until junior year to take it. But, of course, if it doesn’t fit in your schedule, then there’s nothing wrong with pushing it back.</p>
<p>Some perks:
Free Field trips! During welcome week, we got to go to the Griffith Observatory. I also went to see a production A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and some friends saw Electra, all at really quaint theaters. There was also the Ghetty Villa field trip that I heard was really fun.
Awesome professors. Seriously, they’re specially selected for the program.
Really fun Writing 2 course options. This spring they had options like Cannibalism, California Counterculture, Folktales, etc.
Smaller classes, which means more attention, longer writing tutorials, more help!</p>
<p>I agree with what most people have already said in this thread; Thematic Option is great! Although I was initially on the fence as to whether or not it would be worth it, I’m thrilled that I ended up participating in the program. </p>
<p>Most people have already gone over the benefits of T.O. But why wouldn’t you just go with the normal G.E. program? Is it easier? Sure. Do a lot of the G.E. classes seem to revolve around interesting topics? Definitely. But it seems that a lot of the G.E. professors turn out to be lackluster. They make the most interesting topics boring, seem apathetic towards being in the classroom, and never really get to know you as a student. Plus, with the large class sizes, a lot of people come out of their G.E.'s feeling like they didn’t make any close connections or friendships. In short, a lot of people come out of the G.E. program feeling like they didn’t get much- if anything- out of it. Definitely not the case with T.O.!</p>
<p>And let’s be honest here… Is a ton of reading assigned? Definitely. Does everyone actually do the reading? No. I found that T.O. is much like high school; there are plenty of people that come out of the program with good grades even though they didn’t read everything that was assigned. It’s still a ton, a ton, a ton of work. I want to emphasize that. But the point is that T.O. is completely manageable, and I don’t know anyone who faced severe consequences because they couldn’t do much of the reading one particularly busy week. You’ll get through it fine, and the rewards make it well worth it.</p>
<p>USC has been super generous to me, I’m really excited:</p>
<ul>
<li>I was nominated for the presidential scholarship (half tuition), but I couldn’t do the interview because I couldn’t afford the plane ticket</li>
<li>USC still gave me a $4000 scholarship</li>
<li>I got into TO! and the honors college.</li>
</ul>