USC Application Status and Financial Aid

Hello, I submitted my application for USC on the 15th, however I have not received an email for the 10-digit code I need to enter on the youusc webpage. I already registered on the website with the email I used on the Common App, but it doesn’t show my application status and continues to say that to see my application status I should create account with the email I used on the common app even though I already did. Is this a normal occurrence as a result of them still processing applications or is it something else?

My other question has to do with the financial aid concerning the FAFSA and CSS profile, as they were due January 13th but I haven’t submitted them yet and plan on doing it today. How would this affect the financial aid I receive (household income <$50,000)?

You may want to call USC Admissions or email directly your assigned admission counselor to retrieve your USC ID.

https://admission.usc.edu/findyourcounselor.html

As for Financial Aid, the best thing to do is simply submit all required info as soon as possible.

Did you get your app in by December 1st to be eligible for any merit scholarships to reduce their huge tuition bill?. Unweighted 9-11 seems like it might be too low, as well as ACT. They seem to favor applicants with high test scores. They may offer you the transfer guarantee, where they admit you junior year year if you are absolutely over the moon for USC, but it will likely take three years to graduate and involve hefty student loans. Proceed with caution.

I think you have confused USC with a UC.

USC is a private school and not part of the UC system. There is no transfer guarantee at USC. Also, most people that want to attend USC are capable of reading and understanding how much tuition costs. Taking more than 4 years to graduate is more of a UC thing, not a USC issue. For many, the cost of a public UC parallels a private USC because it takes longer to graduate from a UC, where double majors are discouraged, unlike USC, where they are the norm.

OP, since USC meets 100% of financial need (unlike the UCs) you should get your financial info in asap to take advantage of available funding. The deadlines are not hard deadlines, but the sooner the better.

Yes, I am well aware they are private. As a Pepperdine alum, I know how nice it is to attend a private school where classes are small. Never knew anyone there who needed more than 4 years to graduate. Private schools definitely have their perks. I was referring to the Trojan Transfer Plan (TPP), a pretty neat program offered to some well qualified but denied applicants. It can take away some of the sting of being rejected by your dream school, which USC is for many Southern California students.

TTP is a sophomore transfer (not junior) program and it is not guaranteed, although if you meet the class and gpa requirements it is almost certain. What it gives you compared to a “regular transfer student” is some advising on what to take as a freshman, through a summer meeting with an advisor, where they again remind you it isn’t guaranteed. I wish they would make it a guaranteed program because there is always that little doubt in your mind after being rejected by them once already. I wouldn’t change plans to attend a four year for it and give up that freshman experience, but you can come in from a four year or CC.