How to Apply as a First-Year Applicant
Apply to USC as an engineering or computer science student by completing the Common Application.
Application Deadlines:
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Early Action (Merit-Scholarship Consideration)
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Application Deadline: November 1*
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Applicants selecting Early Action will be notified of their admission or deferral to Regular Decision in mid- to late January.
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Regular Decision
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Application Deadline: January 15*
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Applicants selecting or deferring to Regular Decision will be notified of a decision by April 1.
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For more information on application deadlines, including an explanation of USC’s Early Action Application process, please see the link below.
*Deadlines are made official when the Common Application opens August 1st.
We Don’t Want Anything Extra
There are no additional applications, test scores, or extra materials you need to submit in order to be considered for any of the Viterbi School programs. Simply follow the instructions for applying to USC, and list a Viterbi School major as your first choice major. Any major prepended with ‘VSE’ (Viterbi School of Engineering) is an engineering or computer science major.
You Aren’t Locked In To A Major
We ask you to list an engineering or computer science major on your application, but that doesn’t effect your chances of admission. If you are admitted to any of the Viterbi School programs, you won’t need to re-apply should you ever want to switch. Current Viterbi Students have the flexibility to switch majors when they want.
Your GPA is Only a Small Part of Your Story
There are no absolute “cutoffs” for individual grades, overall GPA, or rank in class. We are interested in each of these elements as well as your personal accomplishments to better understand you and how you may contribute to our incoming class.
Requirements
- Common Application
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended (including college transcripts, if you have taken college courses prior to your high school graduation). Official transcripts can be sent electronically or mailed.
- One letter of recommendation, also known as the counselor report, is required from either your school counselor or a teacher from your school.
- At least one calculus course (the course can be in-progress when you apply) is strongly preferred.
- You must list one of the engineering or computer science programs as your first choice major. If you are not sure which one fits you best, please choose “Undeclared Engineering.”
USC Viterbi is Test Optional. Learn more about the test optional policy and how it may affect your application if you choose to submit scores.
*Note: If you are an international, home-schooled, DACA, or transfer applicant, please review our Notes and Requirements for Certain Populations section.
What We Look For
Courses:
Strong candidates for admission are prepared with the highest level of rigor available to them at their high school. It is expected that each first-year student entering USC will have completed a combination of higher level courses in English, social studies, foreign language, and the arts, with demonstrated success in challenging math and science courses. At least one year of Calculus is important preparation for all engineering or computer science majors.
Activities:
We are particularly interested in learning about our applicants’ activities outside the classroom. The Activities Summary gives you the opportunity to highlight special skills or talents, interesting experiences, and personal accomplishments. When reviewing activities, the admission committee is looking for those experiences that might suggest your potential for leadership and involvement at USC. We are interested in learning more about your passions, potential, and what you spend your time pursuing. Your application will paint a picture of you and how you might contribute to the community, tradition and spirit of USC.
Writing:
The written elements of the application (Essay, Short Answers, and Quick Takes) give you the opportunity to speak directly to the admission committee in your own voice. USC carefully reads and considers everything submitted, so make sure to use a style and vocabulary with which you are comfortable. This is your chance to tell us more about yourself. Take your time answering the questions appropriately and letting us know more about you and your interests and passions.
Notes and Requirements for Certain Populations
International Applicants
Every year, USC Viterbi admits students from all over the world to study engineering or computer science. To review the requirements of international applicants, please follow the instructions on the USC Admission page.
Home-Schooled Applicants
Home-Schooled applicants must also submit answers to the home-school questions on the Common Application Secondary School Report. Please see the Office of Admission’s FAQ regarding the Test Optional policy as it relates to Home-Schooled applicants.
Undocumented Applicants
USC admission, enrollment, and tuition policies are not based on your immigration or DACA status. Your admission and enrollment will not be affected if you do not have, or if you lose your immigration or DACA status. Financial assistance is available for undocumented students who meet certain criteria. California residents may qualify for additional assistance under AB540 (the “California Dream Act”). For more information, please visit dream.csac.ca.gov.
For more information about resources available to undocumented Trojans, please visit the following:
- First Generation Plus Success Center
- The First Generation Plus Success Center provides community, connection, and support for USC students who are first-generation, undocumented, or former foster youth.
Transfer Applicants
This information on this page is relevant to first-year applicants only. If you are a transfer applicant, you must follow the transfer application process. If you are not sure which type of applicant you are, please follow the guide below:
- You are a transfer applicant if you have completed any college level courses since you graduated high school or achieved the equivalent of a high school diploma.
- You are a first-year applicant if you are currently enrolled in high school, even if you have completed college credits OR you have graduated from high school and have never attended college.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Is it more difficult to get into Viterbi than other majors at USC?
No. It is no more difficult to be admitted to Viterbi than the rest of the university. We admit our students at a similar rate as the university, and the average GPA for Engineering students is the same as the average GPA for all USC students.
Is it easier to apply for a non-engineering major and then switch to Viterbi after I am admitted?
No, and this is not advisable. If you are thinking about studying engineering or computer science (in any capacity), you should indicate that on the Common Application as your first-choice major. By starting in the Viterbi School, you have the opportunity to determine if it is right for you. If it isn’t, you can always transfer to another major at USC.
Which engineering major is the hardest/easiest to get admitted to?
We do not have any impacted programs or majors. There are no set numbers of seats per major. As a result, you do not have a better or worse chance of admission to any program. The application requirements are also the same for all majors. If you are admitted to one of our programs, you have the flexibility to change your major to any other Viterbi major without having to reapply.
What is the average GPA for engineering students?
The middle 50% GPA is a 3.86-4.0, but a GPA only tells us so much. We approach the review of first-year applications through a holistic, comprehensive process. That means we take everything that you submitted through the Common App into consideration, including academics, activities, involvement, essays, short answers, etc.
My GPA/Scores are lower than your average. Should I even apply?
Our averages are just that…averages. Some students are admitted with higher GPAs, and some students are admitted with lower GPAs. There is no formula that can predict or guarantee admission.
The only guarantee we can give is that you can’t be admitted if you don’t apply!
Can I still apply if I do not plan to have calculus completed by senior year?
Yes, you can still choose to submit an application. However, competitive applicants will have completed at least one course in Calculus or will have it in progress their senior year.
I am a current student at USC and I would like to change my major to engineering. Do I need to go through the admission process?
No. If you are already a current student at USC and you want to change your major to engineering, you will need to work directly with the academic advisors in the Viterbi Admission & Student Affairs Office. You can email them at viterbi.studentservices@usc.edu.
Can I apply as a transfer student?
It depends. If you have not graduated from high school, and are taking community college or university courses, you need to apply as a first-year applicant. Yes, even if you will have an Associate’s Degree when you graduate high school. So long as you are enrolled in high school, you are considered a first-year applicant.
If you have graduated high school, earned a high school diploma (or the equivalency), and have enrolled in community college or university courses, you are considered a transfer applicant.
If you have graduated high school and earned a high school diploma, but have not taken college or university courses post-graduation, you can apply as a first-year applicant, so long as you take a gap year. If you enroll in any college courses during your gap year, you will automatically be a transfer applicant.
Early Action (EA) vs. Regular Decision (RD)
Do I have to apply Early Action (EA) to be considered for merit scholarships?
Yes, you will only be considered for USC Merit Scholarships if you apply EA. There is nothing else you need to do to be considered for merit scholarships and there is nothing special you need to indicate on the Common App. You will automatically be considered for merit scholarships when you submit your Common App though the EA process.
Other scholarships offered through USC-affiliated organizations are available but require a separate application. Visit USC’s Scholarships page for more information. USC also offers a robust need-based financial aid program. More information is available at the USC Financial Aid website.
Do I have a higher chance of being admitted through Early Action (EA)?
No. The University only anticipates admitted 20-25% of the incoming class through Early Action. The majority of applicants will be admitted through Regular Decision.
Can I still be considered for merit scholarships if I apply through Regular Decision (RD)?
No, you will only be considered for USC Merit Scholarships if you apply Early Action (EA). Other scholarships offered through USC-affiliated organizations are available but require a separate application. Visit USC’s Scholarships page for more information. USC also offers a robust need-based financial aid program. More information is available at the USC Financial Aid website.
If I am admitted through Early Action (EA), do I need to enroll at USC?
No. USC’s Early Action (EA) is non-binding and non-restrictive. You can apply to other schools (so long as they allow you to), and if you are admitted, you are not bound to enroll.
When will I hear back from USC?
If you applied Early Action (EA), you will receive an admission decision or be deferred by mid- to late January.
If you applied Regular Decision (RD) or were deferred from EA, you will hear back from the Office of Admission by April 1.
Can I apply for Spring?
No. USC only accepts applications for the fall semester. However, if you are admitted for the fall semester, you can request to defer your admission to the spring. Please keep in mind that space is limited, and deferrals are not guaranteed.
Application Questions
Do I have to list a Viterbi major as my first-choice on the Common App?
Yes, we only consider first-choice majors for admission to the Viterbi School. Any major prepended with ‘VSE’ (Viterbi School of Engineering) is an engineering or computer science major, including Undeclared Engineering.
Do you want any extra documents (resume, CV, portfolio) as a part of my application?
No. If you have anything else you want us to see, please take advantage of the “Additional Information” section of the Common App. You can also link to a personal website there if you wish, but there is no guarantee that we will have time to review items/information external to our application.
Can transcripts be submitted after the deadline?
Yes. You have met the application deadline if you submit the Common App by the deadline. Supporting documents – such as official transcripts – can be submitted soon after the deadline.
That being said, please get your transcripts to us as soon as possible, because we cannot review your application until we get them!
Are letters of recommendation required?
Yes, one letter of recommendation (AKA the Teacher/Counselor Report) is required from either your school counselor or a teacher from your school via the Common App.
Can I submit more than one letter of recommendation?
The truth is… we don’t want more than the Teacher/Counselor Report included in your Common App.
Where should I send my transcripts?
Official transcripts from all institutions attended (including college transcripts, if you have taken college courses prior to your high school graduation) are required.
Do I have to send my official transcripts to the USC Office of Admission and to the USC Viterbi Admission Office?
No need to send duplicates.
When you send documents to USC they are uploaded into your file – and all offices can view your file/the documents you sent.
How can I verify that my application is complete?
You may get an update on the status of your online application by logging in to your application portal here: admission.usc.edu/status
Please keep in mind, it can take 10-14 business days or more (after USC receives documents) – like transcripts – to upload into your file. Do not be alarmed if you recently sent in your transcripts and they are not yet in your file.
USC will contact you if you are missing any required application documents.
Can I list a Viterbi major as a second-choice on the Common App?
We do not consider second-choice majors for the Viterbi School. You must select a Viterbi School (VSE) major as your first-choice to be considered for admission to the Viterbi School. Any major prepended with ‘VSE’ (Viterbi School of Engineering) is an engineering or computer science major.
