<p>I got a letter from USC today encouraging me to apply to Thematic Option...but I don't get what it is. The brochure is kinda ambiguous about everything. An alternative educational environment??? Eh? Can any current Trojans enlighten me on what the heck TO is?</p>
<p>Ahh.. the joys of TO. Here are the basics, although I'm sure others will pitch in with their own experiences. When you go to this college, you have to take a certain number of classes that act as general ed requirements. You can't get rid of most of these with AP credits, although you can do the science one. Anyway, To is another way of doing these requirements. In general, the classes are taught by some of the better professors, and the classes are also considered more difficult. We wrote a few more papers and had to do more reading. </p>
<p>I personally have had a really good experience in TO thus far. The reading wasn't that bad for me, and I made it through the writing courses. Some hate it, some love it. Also, these classes seem to be graded a bit more easily, as long as you do all of the work. This is because the professors don't have to curve the grades. They can give everyone in the class an A if they want to.</p>
<p>^ Are the TO classes significantly more difficult than the regular ones? Also, are the classes mostly based on reading/writing, or are other academic subjects touched upon as well? (I'm good at reading/writing but a bit of a science dunce so I want to kind of steer clear of science :))</p>
<p>^ I was wondering about the difficulty of the classes as well.</p>
<p>I also received the TO letter. I am somewhat confused about applying. What are the chances of entering the program after applying? Do they once again look at your application or do they based their decision on the three essay questions? </p>
<p>And I must say I am really surprised that I received this letter (just as I was surprised when I received my acceptance letter) since my stats aren't all that fabulous. So I am interested to know how USC selects students for TO?</p>
<p>some people love TO and some call it traumatic option, it just depends. i didn't end up applying for TO and i regret it because of how the writing class was curved so the teaching ahd to give out X amts of whatevers where the is more flexibility in TO in what i've heard. If you guys want the challenge go for TO, although the regular GE program can be challenging and fun, while some classes can be very easy.</p>
<p>I'm a TO student as well, and I have really loved my experience thus far. The courses are quite a bit more challenging than the GE requirements from what I understand, but you also get a lot more personal attention. For example, in writing classes you meet with the instructor every other week to discuss what you are working on and what specifically you can do to improve your writing. Unlike my roommate who is not a TO student, I have yet to encounter a professor in the program that I dislike. You will be doing a lot of reading so be prepared for that if you decide to go for it, my desk is full, mostly from two semesters worth of TO books which is three classes for me, but you will be able to handle it.
In terms of what the classes are actually about there are six TO classes total CORE 101-104 and then CORE 111 and 112. 102 and 111 must be taken in the fall of your freshmen year, and they are tied together. Rather than my explaining what each of the classes is about I will point you to the TO web site: </p>
<p>I will explain 111 and 112 because they aren't explained on the site. 111 is tied to your 102 class like I said above so both classes will have the same theme; you won't read additional books for it, but will continue to discuss the books read in 102. You will write 7 papers I think by the end of the semester for that one class, so be prepared to do a lot of critical thinking about the books read in your 102 class. 112, on the other hand, is a stand alone class in which the instructor chooses a theme, it can be anything, this semester there are love sick, unstuck in time, girls gone wild, haunted houses, and the list goes on. This class has a lot of its own reading plus the paper writing, this is the first writing class in TO in which you will be able to use sources outside of the books specifically for the class, in 111 you use only course books in order to develop argument. These two writing courses replace the regular university requirement for writing which is Writing 140 and 340, and they are taken slightly differently than the writing courses your peer group will take should you choose to pursue TO, where Writing 340 can't be taken until sophomore year you're encouraged to take CORE 112 second semester of freshmen year. One last thing, CORE 112 is only offered in the spring. Sorry this is so long, if you have any other questions feel free to ask.</p>
<p>for writing 140 which was tied to my category 6 ge I wrote about 5 papers or the class, they were all about 5-6 pages. I met my professor once each paper. I didn't really get a good professor for writing 140 and I dreaded it. The classes were still small, but I found my teacher was biased and wasn't much help in developing my writing skills. Other people have had good experiences with writing 140. yet some haven't. the regular GE program isn't too bad there are 6 categories and some of the classes are actually fun.</p>
<p>we received the letter today also.</p>
<p>I'm not quite sure how USC decides to mail the letters. I believe that most people who apply get in, because those who are asked to apply are selective. The classes are somewhat harder than regular classes, but aren't impossible. They are mainly based in reading and writing. None of them require too much sciece.</p>
<p>If I got in with a scholarship interview, does that mean I am elgible for the Thematic Option?</p>
<p>You received a separate letter as an invitation to apply with a fairly simple application form so it is separate from being accepted with a scholarship interview.</p>
<p>Just out of curiosity, how many people are in TO honor core?</p>
<p>if you aren't invited you can't apply?</p>
<p>website: <a href="http://www.usc.edu/thematicoption%5B/url%5D">www.usc.edu/thematicoption</a></p>
<p>i found this on the website.</p>
<p>"Students who have not been invited but seem genuinely ready for serious intellectual challenge may apply as exceptions: 10 to 15 of such students are admitted each year."</p>
<p>But on the online application page... it says this: "Only those students who received an invitation may apply to the program".</p>
<p>I think you need to request the application via online.</p>
<p>I want to add that it's also possible to do the regular GE program then switch into TO second semester of freshman year. One of my classmates in CORE 112 (second writing class) did WRIT 140 the previous semester (as opposed to CORE 111).</p>
<p>What exactly does it mean by Open about a major?</p>
<p>I did apply under a major but I am still not 100% sure. I may want to do a pre-law couple with my major. I am not sure yet. Would that be consider Open about a major?</p>
<p>And also would putting that "my decision about college is not final yet" hurt me since this is the only acceptance I have received. USC was somewhat of a last minute decision since I didn't expect to apply for a private school in California. But with the recent development, I feel like the USC really wants me to go there and I am becoming more and more excited.</p>
<p>^ Yeah, I'm curious about that as well. I'm not 100% sure I want to go to USC yet, though my chances are fairly high (since there's a good chance I won't get into any of the other schools I applied to :)) But I don't want my chances for the program to be hindered just because I'm not 100% sure.</p>
<p>I don't know all of these answers, but there will be a seminar on TO during Explore USC. I hadn't gotten my TO letter before that, got it a week after. However, everyone interviewing was offered an application for TO.</p>
<p>I was a student admitted as an exception to the invitation rule, there is also a waitlist for TO, just so you know. You should apply early if you are interested.</p>
<p>got my letter today! has anyone else who didn't get a scholarship interview receive a letter as well? i'm considering applying- nikara, you said that most of the students invited to apply get in?</p>
<p>I really don't know. Apply quickly, it can only help.</p>