Hi! I just wanted to ask what the process is for transferring to USC after one year of community college. What are the steps I can follow, and any general advice?
Hi Travisscott90210,
That is actually what I did, I applied with one semester under my belt and with another in progress, as a sophomore transfer. Thankfully, I got in!
What you will want to do first is make sure if there is an honors program at the community college that you will want to attend. Honors courses look good and are a good preparation for the rigor of USC.
The next thing that you will want to do is check out the Transfer Planning Guide on USC’s website.
https://camel2.usc.edu/TPG/
This link will tell you all of the courses that transfer from your community college. Personally, at my CCC, all of my classes were 100% transferrable, and when I start next year during the Spring, I will only have to do the GE requirements that USC requires every student to take there. It also tells you of the prerequisites for your major and if those classes transfer from your CC.
This third part I HIGHLY recommend - have 30 or more units IN PROGRESS by the time you apply to USC. If you have less than 30, they take into consideration your SAT scores and high school grades. If you did phenomenally well in high school, this should not affect you, but if you are anything like me and underperformed in HS, then it is very important to get 30 or more units in progress during the application period.
Also, I would like to add that admission counselors do not weigh in your ECs when you are a transfer student. So if you have a competitive GPA and stellar essays - you should have no problem in getting in! I personally did not do any ECs, but my essays were very unique and compelling and my GPA was flawless (4.0).
Once you are taking classes at your community CC, be sure to make good impressions with your teachers and try to be close with one counselor/advisor - they will be beneficial when it comes to writing letters of recommendation.
Fun fact: Letters of recommendation are not actually required (but they can definitely help).
So just a quick summary, use the Transfer Planning Guide, have 30 or more units in progress by the time you apply, develop a connection with your professors and one counselor/advisor, take your time in crafting essays that shine light on you as the ideal USC applicant, and have a healthy amount of honors classes that supplement your application. Having a strong GPA goes without saying, and you can actually plan your courses in a way that one course you take can count for two GEs! This happened with a few of my classes, such as my Western Civilization class that counted for two (but I forgot the specific categories).
Keep your head up, Travis, and never believe that you are not good enough to attend USC.
And remember…
FIGHT ON!!!$#($@(($@!$