Undergraduate Admission

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does USC accept first-year (freshman) and transfer applications for the spring semester?

  • USC does not accept freshman or transfer applications for spring admission.

• Does USC accept late applications?

  • Applications postmarked after USC's deadlines will be considered late and may not be considered for the term in question. If this is the case, USC will automatically consider the application for the next available semester (the applicant will be informed if this is the case).

    In no case will USC return a student's application or refund an application fee.

• Are USC application deadlines postmark deadlines?

  • USC application deadlines are postmark deadlines. Therefore, as long as an application or other materials are mailed and postmarked by the deadline date, they will be considered on-time.

    For students submitting online applications, anything submitted by 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time) of the deadline day will be considered "on time."

• I am not a California resident. Will it be harder for me to gain admission? Will my tuition and fees be higher than those for California residents?

  • USC is a private university and thus has no state residency requirements. We recruit nationally and internationally and almost half of our student body comes from outside of California. Tuition and fees are the same for all students, regardless of state of residence or national citizenship.

• English is not my native language. Am I required to take the TOEFL exam?

  • All international applicants (first-year and transfer) whose native language is not English must take the TOEFL.  International freshmen applicants with minimum scores of 600 on SAT Critical Reading or 27 on ACT English are exempt from taking the TOEFL.  The TOEFL must have been taken within the past two years from application date.

    Freshmen and transfer applicants whose native language is English are presumed to be proficient.  This includes applicants from countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada (except Quebec) where English is both the first language of the country and the language of instruction.  Applicants with minimum scores of 100 on TOEFL iBT (with at least 20 in each section), 600 on SAT Critical Reading, or 27 on ACT English are presumed to be proficient. 

    USC does not accept the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or the TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication). 

     

• Does USC offer early decision or early action admission?

  • USC does not offer early decision or early action admission programs. All students who apply to the university by the appropriate deadline (December 1st for first-year scholarship applicants, January 10th for all other first-year applicants and February 1st or all transfer applicants) are given equal consideration in the application review process.

• What are USC's tuition and fees?

  • See a full listing of tuition and fees on USC's Financial Aid Office website

First-Year (Freshman) Applicants

• What GPA and test score is required for admission?

  • There is no minimum requirement or absolute "cutoff" for grades, class rank or test scores. USC evaluates prospective students through an individualized, comprehensive review process that takes these, and many other factors, into account. Regardless, we have found that GPA and standardized test scores are powerful predictors of success at USC, so they do play a significant role during our review process.

• What were the average GPA and test scores of the most recent admitted class?

  • Click here to view the current Freshmen Profile (PDF).

• Are SAT II exams required?

  • We only require SAT Subject tests from first-year (freshman) applicants who do not attend a regionally accredited high school (e.g., home school, some non-accredited parochial or community based programs, even some newer schools). These students must submit three SAT Subject exams, including one in mathematics, in addition to the SAT or ACT. For all other applicants, these exams are optional, but recommended.

• What standardized tests does USC require for admission?

  • SAT and ACT
    USC requires either SAT or ACT scores (with the optional Writing test) from:
    - All first-year applicants.
    - Transfer applicants who have accumulated fewer than 30 transferable semester units since graduating high school.

    For students who take the SAT more than once, USC records the highest scores for each section – Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing -- even if achieved in different sittings. For students taking the ACT, USC will record the highest composite score.

     

    SAT Subject Tests
    We only require SAT Subject tests from first-year applicants who do not attend a regionally accredited high school (e.g., home school, some non-accredited parochial or community based programs, even some newer schools).  These students must submit three SAT Subject exams, including one in mathematics.  For all other applicants, these exams are optional, but recommended.  We find them helpful in evaluating applications for merit scholarships.

     

    AP Exams
    First-year applicants who have taken Advanced Placement (AP) examinations are encouraged to provide those results.

     

    TOEFL
    All international applicants (first-year and transfer) whose native language is not English must take the TOEFL.  International first-year applicants with minimum scores of 600 on SAT Critical Reading or 27 on ACT English are exempt from taking the TOEFL.  The TOEFL must have been taken within the past two years from application date.

• What is the last SAT or ACT sitting that USC will accept for fall applicants?

  • We suggest that freshman applicants take all SAT and/or ACT exams by December of their senior year. Although we will accept scores from later sittings, we cannot guarantee that your results will reach us in time to be considered by our admission committee.

• How does USC treat Advanced Placement (AP) exams? Are AP scores factored into admission decisions? What kind of advanced credit does USC offer for these exams?

  • Credit: USC awards 4 units of elective credit for most AP examinations taken Spring 2009 or later with a score of 4 or 5. (Most AP tests taken before Spring 2009 with a score of 3 will also earn elective units.)

    Restrictions:

    1. AP scores do not earn course equivalence.
    2. Students may not receive credit for both an AP exam and a college course taken before high school graduation covering the same subject matter, nor for AP and IB exams covering the same subject matter.
    3. A maximum of 32 units will be granted for AP exam credit.
    4. No credit is given for Calculus AB Subscore, Music: Aural Subscore, or Music: Nonaural Subscore.

    Additionally, scores of 4 or 5 on the following AP exams provide general education credit:

    - Art History (fulfills USC GE Category I)
    - European History (fulfills USC GE Category I)
    - Biology (fulfills USC GE Category III)
    - Chemistry (fulfills USC GE Category III)
    - Physics (any one of the 3 exams fulfills USC GE Category III)

    In order to receive USC credit as outlined above, AP exam results must be officially sent from the College Board to USC. We will not grant credit for AP scores reported on high school transcripts or on student test reports.

    * Please note that a score of 4 of 5 on the AP Physics B exam will waive Architecture majors of the USC Physics for Architects (Physics 125) requirement. 

    For more information about AP exam credits, please visit the USC Office of Articulation

• Can college units taken before high school graduation satisfy general education requirements? What kind of credit may be earned by college courses taken during high school?

  • All undergraduate students entering USC may receive a combined maximum of 32 elective units for college courses and/or examinations (e.g., AP or IB) taken before graduation from high school. A maximum of 16 of these 32 units will be allowed for college courses taken before high school graduation. These courses must appear on the college transcript as part of the regular college curriculum and are expected to be taught on the college campus by college faculty and not used toward high school graduation. Students whose courses are taken at a college and were not used toward high school graduation may file an articulation petition to request more than 16 units. These courses (as well as AP and IB exams) will not receive course equivalence or credit toward writing, diversity or foreign language requirements, although they may fulfill general education categories I, II, III or V where appropriate.

• If I am applying for scholarships, do the recommendation letters from my teachers and/or counselors need to be submitted by December 1 as well?

  • We prefer that scholarship applicants submit all required materials by the December 1st deadline.

• Is a personal interview required?

  • Personal interviews are an optional part of the freshman application process.  The University's Office of Admission offers on- and off-campus interviews throughout the fall. USC’s admission interviews are evaluative in nature, and the notes from each interview are considered by the committee during the review process.  The School of Architecture does not conduct interviews.

    The size of our applicant pool preludes the University from interviewing every applicant, therefore this element of the application is strictly optional. Appointments are limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Past history has shown that there is no appreciable difference in the admission rates of students who are not interviewed.

    To sign up for an admission interview, please Click Here.

Transfer Applicants

• How many units do I need in order to apply as a Transfer Applicant?

  • USC does not require a minimum number of transfer units. If you have earned fewer than 30 transferable semester units, we will base our decision primarily on your high school record and SAT I or ACT scores.

• Transferable course work and General Education courses

  • Seventy-five percent of your transferable courses should satisfy General Education or other Core courses, including Pre-Calculus. We do not, however, expect you to complete all General Education courses at your current institution, as we encourage transfer students to take advantage of our General Education program. You do not have to complete an A.A. or A.S. degree prior to transferring to USC.

• What is the English Composition requirement?

  • Successful candidates MUST complete a course equivalent to USC’s WRIT-130, which is usually the second course in an English-language college composition sequence. This course may not be taken on a Pass/No Pass basis. Professional, technical, creative and remedial writing courses will not satisfy this requirement.

• What is the Mathematics requirement?

  • You must demonstrate a minimum mathematics proficiency. For the Architecture major, the equivalent of USC’s Math 108 (Pre-Calculus) course MUST be completed by the end of Spring 2013 if you are applying for Fall 2013 consideration.

• What standardized tests are required for admission? Do I need to submit my high school transcript?

  • Students with fewer than 30 USC-transferable semester units must submit scores from the SAT I or the ACT. You must submit high school grades and proof of graduation. We expect to see a rigorous college preparatory curriculum.

• When should I plan to apply to transfer?

  • Unlike many colleges or universities, there is no minimum number of units required to transfer to USC. The exact timing of your transfer to USC is an individual decision, but we offer the following recommendations:

     

    If you are a student with a strong college record, you should consider transferring as soon as possible. Transfer applicants should note that placement level and the amount of time to complete the studio sequence are dependent on skill level, not unit count. Students who transfer here earlier have the advantage of being part of the USC community for a longer time. They make friends and contacts, and have more opportunities to get involved with our campus life.

     

    If your academic record in high school fell short of USC standards you may be able to position yourself as a stronger candidate if you complete two years of solid course work at another institution.

• Can I transfer directly into second or third year studio?

  • The architecture program is a five-year first professional degree program designed to be completed in sequence. Occasionally, students who have taken numerous architecture courses, and have shown an advanced skill level as a result of these courses, may be placed into the Summer Transfer Studio. Successful completion of the studio will reduce the program to eight semesters. The majority of transfer students, however, must complete the ten consecutive studios beginning in first year. It is not necessary to complete all the requirements toward the architecture A.A., as it does not guarantee advanced placement.

• How can I apply for the Summer Transfer Studio?

  • All applicants must apply to the University and the School of Architecture during the normal fall admission cycle. All transfer applicants will be considered for Summer Transfer Studio placement.

• What classes should I take at my university or community college?

  • It is recommended that students take General Education courses, along with two semesters of English Composition and Pre-Calculus. While the University requires intermediate algebra, architecture applicants must complete the equivalent of USC’s Math 108: Pre-Calculus. A few art or architecture classes are recommended if you need pieces to include in your portfolio, but please keep in mind that the majority of architecture classes are not eligible for transferable credit. It is not to your advantage to take an excessive number of architecture courses. If you have questions about what courses are transferable, please visit USC's articulation website. Please be sure to review the information on the Transfer Planning Guide for help with coursework selection.

     

    IGETC courses do not automatically fulfill USC GE requirements, however the courses are generally transferrable.

• Are architecture classes from another university or community college transferable? Is there an architecture articulation agreement between my school and USC?

  • Although we do review all transcripts to determine placement, most architecture courses are not transferable for credit. In conjunction to the transcript, the portfolio will be evaluated to determine if advanced placement is possible. It is advised not to follow another university's articulation agreement or list of suggested courses.

• There are Architecture courses listed on the articulation agreement for my school. Will they transfer for credit?

  • Courses listed on the articulation agreement will transfer for elective credit, but not major/subject credit.

• What is the minimum GPA?

  • There is no minimum requirement or absolute "cutoff" for grades, class rank or test scores. Admitted transfer students average a 3.5 cumulative college GPA. The portfolio is a significant factor in determining admission to the School of Architecture. USC evaluates prospective students through an individualized, comprehensive review process that takes many factors into account.

• Can I get a credit evaluation before I apply to USC?

  • We receive so many inquiries that it is not possible to perform individual credit evaluations. To better assist you in determining which courses you will need, the USC Articulation Office has created the interactive Transfer Planning Guide, which can be accessed at www.usc.edu/articulation, by clicking on “Transfer Planning Guide.” You can also obtain an unofficial checklist of General Education courses and pre-major requirements by attending a USC Transfer Day. Additionally, your college transfer counselors can help you review our articulation agreements and admission policies.

• When will I receive a credit evaluation of my work?

  • Admitted students will receive a transfer credit report before registering for their first USC semester. It will indicate your transferable courses, the number of transferable units, your transfer GPA, which general education categories have been met, and what will transfer as a USC equivalent course. Credit evaluations can only be completed using official transcripts.

• Can I transfer classes taken pass/no pass or credit/no credit?

  • In general, we discourage students from taking required courses on a Pass/No Pass basis when letter grading is available, as this may negatively impact an admission decision. Transfer students can, however, take as many as 24 semester units on a Pass/No Pass basis, including up to 4 units of General Education requirements.
    Exceptions:
    - Composition courses cannot be taken as Pass/No Pass.
    - If a course is offered only as Pass/No Pass, these limits do not apply.

• Is it possible to obtain a second bachelor's degree at USC?

  • USC offers students the opportunity of obtaining a second bachelor's degree. Second bachelor's degree applicants are considered transfer students and, if accepted, must fulfill all of the core requirements of their new major (112 units in Architecture), along with any mandatory general education requirements not fulfilled during their first degree.

     

    We would suggest that students who hold a non-architecture undergraduate degree look for a 3-3.5 year professional Master of Architecture degree program. USC does not offer this option.

     

    Students who are pursuing their second bachelor's degree are eligible for a limited number of financial aid programs only - Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan and the Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan. Students who meet all financial aid application deadlines may also be considered for the Federal Work-Study and Federal Perkins Loan programs.