USC class of 2023 Applicants Thread

did anyone who wasn’t deferred ED (just applied regular) receive and invite?

I thought I read somewhere that National Merit Finalist applicants need to declare USC as their first choice by March 1 to be considered for the scholarship (while other schools say May 1), but now I can’t find that anywhere. Is there any benefit to listing USC as 1st choice before knowing if you are admitted?

May 1st^^^ not March 1st.

@simona14 USC does not have ED, just regular decision. They have an early scholarship deadline, but it is not ED or EA. Everyone is regular decision, it’s just scholarship invites receive admission early.

Sorry - I was asking specifically about the National Merit Organization. NM Finalists need to put a first choice school on their NM application and those are sent out to schools starting March 1. Some colleges have earlier deadlines for the Finalists to receive their automatic scholarships, which are then binding if the college accepts the applicant. But since many schools haven’t released admissions yet, it’s a strange and confusing dance.

My son just received this as well. So this is sent to all applicants or is it an indication an application is being given closer review?

Will USC still mail a well-prepared acceptance letter to every admitted student? Cuz that seems to be a great deal of work especially when applications begin to increase dramatically.

Yes every admitted student will receive a box. There are more applications but will be fewer acceptances this year. So there will actually be fewer boxes to prepare. Good luck!

Their acceptance packages are their pride and joy. It’s their thing - a strong tradition that somehow still remains.

Thanks @Marcie123

@Marcie123 Will international students get the admission package too?

Yes international package is sent DHL. Delivery time varies, but they do tend to send them a couple days earlier than other packets. Some people in certain parts of Asia get them very fast, I have know some in certain locations in India taking 6 weeks or even never actually getting it. It really varies. Portal updates are what most int’l students will rely on.

@CADREAMIN I’ve heard that some universities will only send int’l students packages after they accept their offers, so I guess usc is not one of them. Thanks a lot!

Int’l definitely get the same package - and they are beautiful - they just usually don’t get there until after the portal updates. I hope you get one too!

Presentation is one thing USC has perfected in many many things they do (and spend a lot of money doing so). From the acceptance package to the graduation ceremony, and lots of things in between, USC knows how to put on a great show.

@CADREAMIN I’m seriously getting more and more interested in USC!! Thank you a lot and hope we can both get admitted!

@AlexGip @CADREAMIN , like me, is a parent… not an applicant. Good luck…

My guess is that they will update the portals on March 29th, which is a Friday. All these schools like to update the portals late Friday afternoon, so they don’t get the phone calls. So, that would be 5 pm Pacific time/8 pm EST. Just a guess though.

Last year, the first posting of the portal change was on March 25th at 2:57 am Eastern Time Zone (at midnight on Saturday night USC time). Admission packages were mailed out as USPS Priority Mail a couple days before that. So, if USC stays true to form, they should be mailed out circa March 20-21, with the portal updating by the early morning on the 24th. But in January, USC mixed things up… posting portal updates regarding scholarships mid-day, instead of at midnight. That could of course occur as well for these regular decisions. I would guess then that the portals will update at some point from noon PST on the 24th to noon PST on the 25th. Many will of course learn via “the mail box moment” before then.

@WWWard Are regular USC decisions released at the same time as SCA decisions?

Are applicants who applied after the Dec 1 deadline eligible for receiving the Dean’s Scholarship since they were not included in the first round of admission decisions in January?