<p>How many students are invited to apply for the 200 spots? Is it common for students with zero merit aid to be invited? Is this a worthy program? Thanks for any insight/info.</p>
<p>Any accepted student may apply to Thematic Option. Yes, both merit scholarship awardees and those who were not awarded merit are invited to apply, but again, ANY student who feels they are up to the challenge of TO may apply whether they were invited or not.</p>
<p>It is a fantastic program for those with a love of learning and a desire for the highest quality education. Those who will be posting “What is the easiest Category __ course…?” at registration time need not apply 
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<p>Info: <a href=“http://dornsife.usc.edu/thematic-option/”>http://dornsife.usc.edu/thematic-option/</a></p>
<p>Just a caveat: only students accepted for fall are allowed to apply. Spring admits are ineligible.</p>
<p>“Unfortunately, continuing USC students, transfer students, and students admitted to the spring semester are not eligible to apply for the Thematic Option Honors Program.”</p>
<p>Here’s another unexpected (to us) benefit of Thematic Option. You get a TO advisor who becomes another helpful presence for figuring out the system. They not only advise on TO classes (each semester, TO releases their new slate of courses available in the coming semester), but we found they had seniority at USC and knew a lot about how many things worked. Their advice (on when to take Study Abroad to background info on various TO professors/classes) was valuable and they offer a lot of warmth to the whole GE experience, like a small college might.</p>