USC Deadlines

October 3, 2022
By AdmissionSight

USC Deadlines

What are the current USC deadlines for admission? Early Action for most majors, which also includes consideration for merit scholarships, was just recently made available by the University of Southern California. Early Action at the University of Southern California is neither binding nor limiting. 

Early action is a nonbinding admissions process that allows students to apply to college earlier than the standard deadline, which is often in November of the senior year. Students who take part in early action do not have to pay an application fee. Students are notified of their admission status based on the USC deadlines in December, and even if they are approved, they are under no obligation to enroll.

Early Action

Applicants selecting Early Action will be notified of their admission or deferral to Regular Decision in mid-to-late January 2023.

Application Deadline: November 1, 2022

Early Action is not binding, it does not restrict applicants in any way, and it is not accessible for majors that need a portfolio or an audition. Applicants to the EA program will have their USC Merit Scholarship applications reviewed.

Student using a laptop in a room with a glass window.

As part of the Regular Decision application process, students who are applying to majors that require them to submit a portfolio or audition will have the opportunity to be considered for USC Merit Scholarships.

Regular Decision

Applicants who opt for or defer to the Regular Decision process will be notified of a decision no later than April 1, 2023.

For majors requiring a portfolio or audition

The application deadline based on the USC deadlines is on December 1, 2022

Students who are applying to majors in the following colleges have until this date to submit their applications:

  • Iovine and Young Academy
  • Kaufman School of Dance
  • Roski School of Art & Design
  • School of Architecture
  • School of Cinematic Arts
  • School of Dramatic Arts
  • Thornton School of Music

Candidates for Regular Decision who submit their applications to these programs before the 1st of December will have the opportunity to be considered for USC Merit Scholarships.

For all other majors, the application deadline will be on January 15, 2023

Financial Aid

  • Early Application Deadline: January 9, 2023
  • Regular Decision Deadline: February 10, 2023

Applicants who want to be considered for need-based financial aid must submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile applications by the appropriate deadline.

Undocumented or DACA students should submit their 2020 tax return and the third-party letter confirming undocumented status instead of the FAFSA.

The application deadline for the Cal Grant is on March 2, 2023.

Residents of California have until this date to submit their applications for Cal Grants.

Transfer Application Deadlines

Regular Decision

By the end of May, prospective transfer students will have either received an admission decision or been asked to submit spring grades. In the event that your spring grades are requested, you will be notified of a decision regarding your admission by the middle of July.

Female student shaking hands with a woman.

For certain majors, submitting a portfolio or having an audition is required.

The deadline for applications is December 1, 2022.

This is the last day transfer students can apply to the following programs before the deadline passes:

  • Iovine and Young Academy
  • Kaufman School of Dance
  • School of Cinematic Arts – BFA programs only
  • School of Dramatic Arts – BFA programs only
  • Thornton School of Music

For every other type of major, the deadline for applications will be on February 15, 2023

Financial Aid for Transfer Applicants

The deadline for priority applications is on March 2, 2023.

If applicants want their applications to be considered for need-based financial aid, they have until this date to submit both the FAFSA and the CSS Profile.

Residents of California are encouraged to submit their applications for Cal Grants by the given deadline.

Students who are either undocumented or have DACA should submit their tax return for the year 2020 along with a letter from a third party verifying their undocumented status rather than the FAFSA.

Group of students signing up for internship.

Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that based on the USC deadlines for early action at USC is November 1. This indicates that you are free to submit an application to USC and, if admitted, choose whether or not you will attend the university. In addition, you do not need to let the school know when you have gotten all of your admissions decisions; you can wait until the month of May.

If you are a National Merit Finalist, have been admitted to USC, and identify USC as your first choice before the USC deadlines which will be on May 31, you will be eligible for the USC Presidential Scholarship, which covers half of the cost of tuition at USC.

Moreover, there are scholarships up for grabs through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which can be sponsored by either institutions or businesses. Students will be eligible to win either a scholarship from the sponsoring college or a scholarship from a sponsoring business. Students who have been granted a scholarship by a business entity are ineligible to receive a scholarship from their educational institution. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation is in charge of making those kinds of determinations.

USC will update your grant summary during the next four weeks once you have designated USC as your first-choice institution. The announcement that you have been awarded the scholarship will include any additional information regarding how the new scholarship will interact with any existing scholarships or financial aid that you currently receive.

In addition, requests for later deadlines for submission of applications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Students who are unable to fulfill the deadlines that have been publicized are encouraged to speak with an admissions counselor about the possibility of receiving an extension.

Does USC require SAT for 2022?

Does USC require SAT for 2022? USC, which stands for the University of Southern California, is widely recognized as being among the most prestigious private research universities in the world. Interdisciplinary study is encouraged and supported by USC’s well-rounded curriculum, which features a wide range of subject areas. Students who come here to further their education have the opportunity to work closely with eminent scholars in an extremely cutting-edge academic setting.

Students who apply to USC in the fall of 2022 or 2023 will be asked to indicate whether or not they want to submit scores; if they do, we will wait to receive them after we have reviewed their applications. If applicants opt not to submit their SAT or ACT scores, they will not be punished in any way, nor will they be put at a disadvantage. The selection of students for the University of Southern California has always utilized a holistic approach, and we are confident in our capacity to determine a student’s potential based on the entirety of what is offered to us.

Unidentified student writing in his desk for USC deadlines.

Scores on the SAT or ACT will not be required to be submitted by international applicants for the years 2022 and 2023 applications to the University of Southern California. Those individuals whose first language is not English, on the other hand, will be needed to continue submitting test results from an English proficiency examination such as the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, or PTE Academic English.

The pandemic of COVID-19 is only one of the numerous difficulties that families and communities are having to deal with right now. The pandemic, the economic downturn, and the country’s anti-racist social reckoning all require us to pay greater attention to how USC’s processes can best serve the diversity of students and families that they seek to add to the USC community.

This requires us to pay greater attention to how USC’s processes can best serve the diversity of students and families that they seek to add. USC will evaluate the effects of its test-optional policy over the next two years, and by the spring of 2023, the university will make a decision regarding its long-term stance on standardized testing.

In addition, individuals who were educated at home will not be required to take any tests as part of the application process. However, USC finds it advantageous to have work that is externally assessed or inspected. Because of this, USC recommends sending either SAT/ACT results, AP exam results, transcripts from college courses, or the results of other authorized online schooling programs if at all possible.

What GPA is required for USC?

What GPA is required for USC? The minimum cumulative grade point average required by USC is normally about 3.79. This figure represents the average grade point average of successful applicants who were granted admission to the University of Southern California; nevertheless, the university does not expressly disclose this information anywhere on its website. Because of this, USC is an extremely competitive college, and in order to attend, you will need to maintain exceptionally excellent marks throughout your academic career.

Having said that, highly regarded educational institutions such as USC don’t often stipulate a minimum grade point average for applicants, as this criterion is subject to alter depending on the applicant’s intended field of study and overall application. Because the University of Southern California uses a holistic evaluation process for all students, having a GPA or SAT score that is below average will not automatically eliminate you from consideration. 

Students sitted in their desk in a classroom.

As a general rule, you should aim to acquire four ‘A’s for every ‘B’ in order to prevent your GPA from going below 3.79. It has the potential to assist you in the formation of a portfolio that is more significant, which is required by USC. Changing your grade point average in time for college applications, however, can be difficult if you are junior or senior in high school. To improve your total USC Score today, you will need higher USC SAT Scores or ACT Scores. If your GPA is equal to or lower than the school’s average of 3.79, you will not be admitted.

Even if a candidate’s GPA is lower than 3.79, there is still a chance that they will be accepted into the University of Southern California (USC) if they have outstanding accomplishments in extracurricular activities, sports, great scores on standardized tests, or any other outstanding achievements that set their application apart from those of other applicants.

What kind of students does USC look for?

What kind of students does USC look for? The University of Southern California is a highly selective private institution that is well-known for its commitment to providing students of the next generation with an excellent education in a broad range of academic fields and fields of study.

The ideal student body at USC would have a wide range of interests and come from a variety of different backgrounds. As a result, the admissions process makes use of a variety of auxiliary materials, including short-answer replies, letters of reference, and other supplementary papers, to assist in determining what qualities and skills each prospective student may bring to the school.

The following is a list of characteristics that should be exhibited by an ideal USC student.

Ambition

Students at USC are provided with the resources necessary to help them achieve their goals even more successfully than they could have ever imagined. Students who are not afraid to compromise themselves in order to achieve their goals are likely to do well at the University of Southern California. This naturally denotes that students who come to USC with the aspiration to push themselves to their limits and grow in all aspects of their lives will find themselves in excellent company once they arrive.

Willing to question the established order or norm

The “how things have always been done” is not something that students at USC are scared to question. Students who are not afraid to challenge themselves or others, or to think creatively, are more likely to do well in classrooms and lecture halls at the University of Southern California (USC). USC provides a training environment for learning civic conversation, debate, and critical thinking for those who are not scared to take on the issue that is the proverbial “elephant in the room.”

Professionalism

Do not be fooled by the carefree atmosphere of Los Angeles; students at the University of Southern California are known throughout the country for their level of professionalism. Those students who are able to carry themselves in a professional manner and have an eagerness to learn are the ones who most effectively represent their university.

Participation in Community Activities

USC will provide you with the assistance and tools you require to take your involvement in your community to the next level if you are the type of person who derives satisfaction from being active in your community and having an effect on the people in your immediate environment. Students are strongly encouraged to make connections within their communities and to give back by volunteering their time, skills, interests, and talents.

The perfect student at the University of Southern California is one who is not afraid to take charge and who inspires others to think outside the box while simultaneously keeping their academic goals in the forefront of their mind. Students who are most likely to be successful at USC are those who are willing to push themselves academically and personally each day in order to pursue their interests.

Admissions Chances

The admissions process at the University of Southern California is extremely tough, with a low acceptance rate and high SAT/ACT scores on average for applicants. Nevertheless, USC has a holistic admissions process that takes into consideration a variety of criteria in addition to your GPA and test scores. Your application can be strengthened by writing compelling application essays, obtaining glowing letters of recommendation, and participating in important extracurricular activities in addition to maintaining a hard school schedule. 

Applicants to USC are recommended to research the specific criteria for their selected major in order to familiarize themselves with any additional requirements that may apply to their intended major.

The majority of applicants who are successful in getting into the University of Southern California have grade point averages of A, SAT scores (ERW+M) that are higher than 1200, and ACT composite scores that are higher than 25. The majority of students who were accepted into the program had an ACT composite score of 30 or above and a combined SAT score in the vicinity of 1300. Improving your test scores will increase your chances significantly. 

However, even if your grades and test scores are on par with what USC requires, there is no assurance that you will be accepted. Keep in mind as well that there are some students who are admitted despite having scores that are somewhat below the typical range. Students who fall under this category often possess some kind of exceptional ability or have extraordinary life experiences.

If you need help putting the finishing touches on your early applications, or want some advice on whether or not applying Early Decision or an Early Action is a good option for you, at AdmissionSight, we have over 10 years of experience guiding students through the competitive admissions process, including our athletic recruitment program. 

 AdmissionSight can help you put your best foot forward when applying to college this fall. Contact us today for more information on our services.

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