Is International Relations a competitive major to get in to at USC?
@acceptmeples not necessarily. a couple of girls i went to high school with who got admitted to spring semester did fall semester at the local CC to get in some credits
Actually my friend was thrilled their daughter got spring because he saved a ton of money at a CC, just like @unusually mentioned. Rather than 25k for tuition plus housing and other expense so 35k for that first semester overall, they spent like 800 bucks and she still came in with 16 credits. He is so proud of that. TTP people can feel the same way saving a lot that first year.
Does the portal update at midnight on th 25th or twelve hours later at noon?
They say by noon on the 25, which they do every year, but they actually updated last few years just after midnight.
Thanks.
Does USC admit by major or school?
@Rohael and @candylover132 l, I believe it is somewhat known that some departments such as Vertibi and SCA are more “difficult” to gain admission, possibly due to the small number of spaces available. Not sure if they have higher standards in terms of stats. Marshall school of Business is also one of the more popular majors and thus more applicants.
Dornsife, on the other hand, includes a host of majors from the humanities to sciences. I wonder if each department does its own balancing of factors, not only student stats and accomplishments, but also by having a well rounded demographic in terms of geography, gender, race… If true, I would guess that it might be slightly “easier” to gain admission to the Price school of Public Policy, for example, which I think has 1% applicants as compared with Marshall Business which may get 20% or more applicants. Not sure about the IR Dept which you specifically asked about. It is possible that some majors are more competitive than others. Some students in the past have been known to apply to what may be perceived as “less competitive” majors with the intent of transferring, after admitted, to their real major interest, which can be risky. Admission counselors are aware of this strategy and it could backfire.
In any case, good luck to all students in the coming days! USC is an awesome school and I hope you all gain admission. Of course that is not possible, so for those who do not get the white package this weekend, your future success is not based on the school but your own efforts and activities wherever you attend.
Is USC more grades focused or essays and ECs focused?
3.85 GPA
1430 SAT I
Great ECs, etc.
I have the stats compared to those previously admitted from my school, and I definitely made it known that I want to attend. I’m worried that the lower acceptance rate may change what grades they’re looking for but hoping for the best! Good luck to everyone 
When do packages start coming out?
@Becausethety Everyone accepted is first admitted by USC generally and then either to one of your two major choices or potentially simply as Undeclared.
@GreenLantern323 The admit packages and rejection letters are both being sent today. Admissions are via USPS 2-day (untrackable) priority mail. When they will arrive depends on USPS. Portals also update on 25th, starting at 12am pacific time.
I really wish they would just update the portal on the same day - I’m in the 3 day zone so no matter what I’ll find out by portal. Or at least they should send the different zons out on different days so everyone gets it at the same time.
Or not send on a Thursday. That makes it impossible for us 3 day delivery people to have a shot at the “mailbox moment”.
can someone explain to me the advantages and disadvantages of getting admitted to the spring semester rather than the fall?
Can Anyone Chance me:
Applied for a International Relations Major at Dornsife
1430 SAT I
Co-President Debate Club, various MUN awards, overall good ECs
Have done 4 credit courses at Harvard
I think I had good essays.
Studying in India currently.
Rejected UCLA, BU
I truly don’t know what to expect with the Admit rate being 13% this year.
@quincyl You miss a semester and most probably would graduate later.
@quincyl The main advantage is you are still being admitted to USC vs simply being rejected. It is not a reflection on you or your stats/application package. It is due to the #s in your assigned major and perceived space, etc. There will be four possible outcomes: 1) admitted to USC for the Fall 2) admitted to USC, but starting in the Spring instead 3) Rejected 4) Rejected but encouraged to consider the Trojan Transfer Plan.
Only 7000-7100 or so applicants to USC are going to learn of their admission in the next few days. They will join the 1200 or so offered admission, along with a merit offering, back in January. This year, it will be capped at around 8300 I believe (vs 9000 last year) admitted overall this cycle. This is due to the rising yield rate and the record # applying (around 64K, up from 56K last year).
So only 13% of 64K or so are going to be admitted. That unfortunately means 55K+ disappointed applicants. Being offered Spring Admission is preferable to being among those 55K+. These days… getting into USC by any means is a rather significant accomplishment.
Good Luck to all of you waiting for your answer…
@bmc100, I believe Wwward posted a few days ago that USC ends up rejecting about 90% of legacies. I suppose the Trojan Family may have gotten too large for it to make a huge difference these days. It’s great that your parent was very active while at USC but it may or may not carry much weight. Theoretically offspring of high donors and “famous” grads may have an edge, but who knows. Will Ferrell’s kids probably had some advantage. That is not to say that you will not gain admission this weekend. You have as good a chance as any other student. I could see a scenario where an admission counselor is looking at two profiles that are very similar and the one difference is that one student has legacy, maybe that could have an influence, but it seems like that might be rare.
Wait why is the mail not trackable on USPS Informed delivery?