For those that have seen this already 4 times, sorry, but here is this information again since questions of timing have come up and people tend not to go back too far on threads…
For 2016 they are saying mailing on Wed the 23rd with portal updated 26th which is Saturday. This is a day later in the same week last year. They may back that up a day as they have in the past, but just a guess. I think they pad the announcement with a day of cushion and will mail Tues the 22nd with portal update on Friday morning the 25th just after midnight. But plan on 23rd, like they posted on their admissions page and you won’t be going crazier than necessary.
Here’s the summary of what to look for and when:
ACCEPTANCE PACKAGES:
For 2015 March results, packages were mailed on Tuesday, March 24, and started arriving in some locations on Wednesday March 25th. Most received them Thursday, the 26th. In 2015, USC did announce they were mailing both rejections and acceptances at the same time. However, large colorful acceptance envelopes are sent priority, while rejections are thin typical white letter envelopes sent regular first class mail, they start arriving a day after acceptances. (For 2016, I think they will arrive on March 23, 24, 25th and portal updated on 12:10 am on the 25th.)
PER THE POST OFFICE, THEY ARE REALLY ACCEPTANCES sent in BIG ENVELOPES, NOT A PACKAGE:
Acceptances are sent in a large colorful envelope that is NOT trackable, via USPS. It is NOT considered a package. It is just a large envelope for mailing purposes. btw, USC posts a picture of envelopes leaving the office to their admissions Facebook page. It has been bright yellow or red over last few years.
REJECTION LETTERS: Mailed at same time, but a lower mailing priority. Rejection letters (mailed regular first class mail) started arriving on Thursday, the 26th in Socal, one day after acceptance packages began arriving that were mailed Priority. (For 2016, rejections would arrive Thursday March 24th, if they follow same pattern, the 25th if they go a day later like they state.)
PORTAL UPDATE:Status was updated on portal just after midnight at 12:10 am on Friday morning March 27th. (For 2016, this would mean portal updated Friday March 25, but they are saying Saturday, the 26th.)
The portal changed and was updated to look like this:
Admission
Admission Decision
Enrollment Commitment Deposit
Withdraw Your Application
Submit Documents
Financial Aid
Apply for Financial Aid
Financial Aid Summary & Tasks (FAST) page
On-Campus Admitted Student Programs
Explore USC
Preview USC
Admitted Student Day
Campus tours
Off-Campus Admitted Student Programs
Apply for Housing
INTERNATIONAL:
Packets go DHL and typically take 3-4 days to central Europe as a frame of reference, rejections letters can take up to two weeks (International only) cause they are sent regular mail. Portal updates long before the rejection letters arrive internationally. Sometimes it seems they get international envelopes out to DHL a day early because I see some internationals posting they get a package in those first couple days as well, but can’t confirm that, just a guess. Do not know about ability to track DHL - not sure if that is option they offer.
Disclaimer - they could change things up, but they usually do it the same year after year, this is just what I know having been through it several times in recent years.
I know I won’t be able to get any sleep the night before.