Just submitted my application and found two typos in the activities section right after… we’ll see how this goes
On the USC app page this is an essay prompt I am curious about - do you think they want something one would particularly learn at USC or just anything that’s interesting that someone wants to learn?
“Describe something outside your area of interest that you are interested in learning: (250 words)”
Yeah I answered this one 
i felt like it could give me the most creativity in my answer
@CA1543 If I were you I would talk about something interesting you would like to learn in general and include how USC would help you with that.
QUESTION: does anyone know when is the earliest an applicant would know if they are rejected? If I apply by Dec 1, when they send out acceptances/ scholarship consideration do they also send out any flat out rejections or do they just “defer” you to notification with all the non scholarship people?
They defer you until the March notification.There are no rejections sent in late Jan/early Feb. Scholarship recipients get the big white box and the rest get an email that says, “Sorry, no soup for you, but you are still being considered for admission and will be notified by April 1st.”
Of the 20,000-25,000 applications they receive by Dec 1st, only about 800 get notice of invitation for scholarship interviews. So the majority are deferred.
@CADREAMIN aren’t there any scholarships that don’t involve interviews?
One I know of. The presidential 1/2 tuition scholarship is automatic if you are a NMF and select USC as your top choice.
@kcheves I am NMF (likely) and assigned USC as my top choice, but are you sure the presidential scholarship is automatic? I thought we would just be considered for the scholarship, but not guaranteed.
I was told by admissions officers at a local (San Diego) recruiting meeting that if you are NMF, are accepted by the university, and designate USC as your #1 choice, it is automatic. You should get your scholarship notice with your acceptance. If you also receive an invitation for an interview, it likely means you are in the running for a larger scholarship.
Congratulations on being a NMSF!
@KAMmom Ya, this stuff is confusing. The Dean’s (1/4 tuition) doesn’t interview. In the early notification cycle for scholarships (late Jan/early Feb), if you get an acceptance package that doesn’t mention a scholarship, it means you got the Dean’s and that one does not interview or upgrade. If I recall correctly, there are some Presidential that do not get invited to interview and just get the 1/2 straight out.
If NMF and accepted, it is 1/2 tuition, like the Presidential. But no interview for NMFs, they find out later. A person that gets a Presidential and finds out they are NMF, get the half tuition (not stacking), but still should interview at the chance the Presidential gets bumped up.
Is the Computer Science and Business Administration combined major only open to freshmen (currently seniors in HS)?
I am asking because I’ve never given much thought to business, and I am applying to computer science majors at other schools, but this combined major is definitely appealing to me. I was originally going to put “Computer Engineering and Computer Science” as my first choice major, but if I cannot transfer into CS+Business once I’m attending, I’ll probably want to make CS+Business my first choice now.
@18college1111 It is not a major for freshman only, you can move into later from the CS program in Viterbi. Students I know actually moved from CSBA into straight CS or Engineering because the decided if they were investing all this time in SW/engineering type classes, they wanted the more technical degree in the workplace. Viterbi anything is fantastic. Whatever you decide, yes, you can move into it.
@CADREAMIN Thanks for the quick reply! I’m trying to submit this app in the next 24 hours so this is definitely appreciated. I think I’ll leave CS+BA out of my application then.
@18college1111 , during our info session and tour of USC, the AO and tour guide said it’s very easy to change majors in USC. The tour guide has changed major 3 times, and is still on track to graduate in 4 years. They proudly say that’s the specialty of USC – can’t get that from UCLA!
how is the school of business at USC ? anyone knows - I am thinking of applying as wll.
@butukh , USC Marshall is usually ranked in the mid-30th by various ranking agencies. Lower than UCB and UCLA, better than UC Irvine and UC Davis.
Thanks, @CADREAMIN That is confusing. It sounds like you can get an early acceptance with no mention of a scholarship but actually have gotten 1/4 tuition. On the other hand, if you don’t hear anything in Jan/Feb, does that mean you didn’t get a scholarship and you won’t hear whether you got in until April?
hey guys! I know the deadline is december 1st for scholarship stuff, but at what time? would it be today at midnight, or december 1st 11:59 pm?
From the USC FAQ:
All deadlines are received-by deadlines unless otherwise stated by the department to which you are applying. For students submitting online applications, anything submitted by 11:59 p.m. (in your current time zone) of the deadline day will be considered “on time.”