What’s the status of my freshman application to USC?

This week has seen an increase in phone, email and web traffic all centering around one question: “I heard some people have been admitted – when will I hear?!”

1. Yes – a small amount of students have received offers of admission.
2. Yes – some have also been named Presidential or Trustee Scholarship finalists.
3. No – we are not done with reading applications and making decisions.
4. The overwhelming majority of our freshman class for Fall 2011 hasn’t even been admitted yet
5. Only about 15% of our total offers of admission have gone out as of today.

Here are some details regarding what is going on right now:

Earlier this week the university sent out letters to those applicants who have been chosen as finalists for the Presidential and Trustee Scholarships.  For those who applied by December 1st  (about 22,000 students university-wide) we got about 1,000 who are moving to the next stage of scholarship consideration.  If you did not receive one of those packets – I am sorry to say you were not selected for further consideration for either of those scholarships.

All applications filed by the December 1st deadline are still being considered for other scholarships.  All applications are still under review and being read very carefully. Every applicant is being considered for admission.  Additionally, anyone who is named a National Merit Finalist, and selects USC as their first choice institution will receive a USC Presidential Scholarship (1/2 tuition).

I know this is a very stressful time.  Waiting to hear something from all the universities you applied to – its nerve racking!  Please know that everyone involved in admission at USC is working diligently to review each and every applicant.  We are reading everything you submitted, and taking great care to make decisions.

All applicants will hear from us sometime in late-March/early-April.  If you want to check online in the meantime – go to www.usc.edu/USConnect.

Finally – if you haven’t done so already – please submit your senior year grades to us at www.usc.eduy/midyeargrades.

Thanks again for all your patience as we get through this process.  If you have any questions, or would like to discuss your concerns – please feel free to contact us at any time!