If you are not sure where to begin - your first best step may be to check out this webinar on USC Financial Aid.  The webinar is only about 20 minutes, and it covers a ton of information including the USC Financial Aid philosophy, types of financial aid, determining your financial aid eligibility, and how to apply.

Applying for Financial Aid

If you haven’t applied for Financial Aid (FAFSA, CSS PROFILE, Tax Information, etc) – go to our Financial Aid website for the steps you need to complete, and need to complete soon!

Completing the Process (Getting Missing Info In)

If you believe you have completed the process – login to http://USConnect.usc.edu and check your status.  If the Financial Aid Office has all of your information it is likely that your package has already been completed.  If not, you can upload any missing information…. right there, online.

If USC is missing any information for you, I highly recommend uploading all information electronically via USConnect.  Any documents mailed to the Financial Aid office may incur many days of processing before acted upon.  Uploading via USConnect gets your documents directly into your file.

If you need help uploading information electronically via USConnect click here for a step by step tutorial.

If you have any questions about the Financial Aid process or which documents you still need to submit, you can contact them directly at (213) 740-4444.

We are excited to offer you admission and hope that you will choose to join us next year as part of the Trojan Family!  We know you have a number of great opportunities when it comes to your education, and choosing between them can be a bit overwhelming.  To make a good decision, you should learn as much as you can about the programs and schools to which you have been admitted.  Make sure to complete all financial aid paperwork to find out how much it will actually cost to attend.  Soak up as much information you can via campus visits and online info to see if you “fit” with the rest of the student body.

Be sure to keep an eye on this blog.  We will be continuously posting about stuff you may want to know as you make your decision.

If you have not heard from us yet, no need to worry.  We are still in the process of reviewing applications and decisions are going out as they are made.  Everyone who submitted their application by the February 1st deadline, will hear back from us with a decision, or request for more information, by June 3rd.  If you are interested in learning more about the Transfer Admission Process, click here.

As always – never hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.  This can be a very fast paced and sometimes confusing process – add a comment below, or contact us directly at any time!

Fight On!

Sometimes the hardest part of the admission process is waiting to hear back! In fact, many of you seem to be getting antsy about when you’ll hear back from USC.

Hang tight. You only have to wait a little bit longer.

All transfer applicants who submitted a complete application by the deadline will be mailed an admission decision or a request for spring semester grades by June 3rd.  

I sat down with some of our alumni recently to discuss their time at USC and what they have been doing since graduating.  From medical school to starting their own company, these young alumni have done it all. I am pretty sure you’ll enjoy hearing not only why they chose USC, but what they got out of their time here, and maybe a few pieces of advice as you start down the path they traveled prior.

If you haven’t done so already, please complete the financial aid process for USC!

Applying for financial aid is NOT an admission requirement. However, if you are admitted to USC you’ll probably want to know if you can receive financial aid (financial aid can make USC an affordable option!).  You don’t want to wait to hear back from USC to apply for financial aid.  You should complete this process now.
If you are not sure what to do - your first best step may be to check out this webinar on USC Financial Aid.  The webinar is only about 20 minutes, and it covers a ton of information including the USC Financial Aid philosophy, types of financial aid, determining your financial aid eligibility, and how to apply.

Applying for Financial Aid

If you haven’t applied for Financial Aid (FAFSA, CSS PROFILE, Tax Information, etc) – go to our Financial Aid website for the steps you need to complete, and need to complete soon!

Completing the Process (Getting Missing Info In) ASAP

If you believe you have completed the process – login to http://USConnect.usc.edu and check your status.  If the Financial Aid Office has all of your information it is likely that your package has already been completed.  If not, you can upload any missing information…. right there, online.

If USC is missing any information for you, I highly recommend uploading all information electronically via USConnect.  Any documents mailed to the Financial Aid office may incur many days of processing before acted upon.  Uploading via USConnect gets in right in your file.

We Can Help You With This Process

All this said – it can be a confusing process.  Please call the financial aid office directly (213-740-4444)… or call us if you have a basic/general financial aid (213-740-4530).

I’ve spoken to several transfer applicants over the last couple of weeks who want to know when they will hear back from USC. My bet is that a lot of the students I’ve talked to have noticed that decisions have gone out…for freshman (i.e. those who are still in high school) applicants.   All transfer applicants who submitted a complete application by the deadline will be mailed an admission decision or a request for spring semester grades by June 1st.

Between now and June our office will work closely with USC Office of Admission to complete a comprehensive review of your application.  If USC requires additional information to review your application you will be contacted.

Below is a list of the common reasons USC will be unable to move forward with the review of your application – which means we won’t be able to get back to you by June 1st.

• You haven’t submitted an official high school transcript – with graduation date.

Whether you graduated high school last June or a several years ago, we need to verify that you graduated from high school (or earned your GED).  Be sure that the official high school transcript you submit includes your graduation date.

• You haven’t submitted official college transcripts from all schools attended since high school graduation.

First, let’s talk about what qualifies as an official transcript.  Official transcripts are sealed in an envelope and marked official.  Scanned, faxed or emailed reproductions of your transcript will not be considered official. If you pick up your official transcript from your school be sure not to open the envelope or tamper with the seal. Doing so will make your transcript unofficial.

Next, USC needs official transcripts from ALL the schools you have attended since graduating from high school.   We need your full academic history to make an admission decision.

• You haven’t submitted your fall 2012 grades (or your winter 2013 grades, if applicable)

Your official transcript(s) should include your fall 2012 grades.  If you submitted your transcripts to USC before your fall grades were reported, be sure to send in  your updated transcript(s) with fall 2012 grades.

Additionally, for those of you who took coursework during the winter – please be sure to send us your winter 2013 grades ASAP.

Official Transcripts and other admission related correspondence can be mailed to the following address:

P.S. a few of you are suspicious of the address listed above because “it doesn’t look like an address”.  This IS the address.

• SUBMIT SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: Review the application checklist to ensure that you have submitted all the  supporting documents we need to consider your application complete.

• APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID by submitting the FAFSA, CSS PROFILE and Tax Information. Learn more by visiting the USC Financial Aid page.

If you still need to submit your official transcripts please mail them to:

USC will contact you if you need to submit additional documents/information to review your file.

Some of you may have last minute questions about submitting the application. Here is a quick list of resources that will assist you in submitting your application:

Application Deadline FAQs

Check out our post about application FAQs which answers your questions about submitting transcripts, answering the short answer questions, etc.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with Common App

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with the Common Application, or have forgotten your login information, please visit www.commonapp.org and click on “Help” at the bottom of the page.

Here’s a Handy Application Checklist

1. Apply online using the Common Application and the USC Supplemental Application (www.commonapp.org)
2. Submit these items:

☐ All official college transcripts.  Be sure that your transcript(s) include your fall (and winter grades, if applicable).

☐ Official high school transcripts.

☐ International Applicants: Financial Statement  & TOEFL Score

For Questions or concerns regarding your application

Of course, our office is more than happy to take your calls, too.  We’re open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., PST. You can contact the Viterbi Admission Office by phone: 213-740-4530 (Monday – Friday) or email: viterbi.admission@usc.edu.