Please check your account at www.commonapp.org for status updates regarding your application.

The essay and resumé must be entered on the Common Application, but you do have the option to print them for your records. Though the essay and resume section of the application allows you to paste text from a word processor, you may lose some or all of your formatting. This is acceptable if the information remains clear and readable. If pasting the essay and/or resume makes either of them hard to read, you should type them directly into the Common Application in the space provided.

The Common Application allows you to complete your application in multiple sessions. USC will not receive your application until you choose to submit it.

For technical difficulties with the application, we encourage you to contact the Common App Support Team.

For general questions about USC’s admission process, application requirements or deadlines, please feel free to contact us or (213)-740-1111.

We prefer that applicants adhere to 500 word limit set by Common Application.

Applications postmarked after USC's deadlines will be considered late and may not be considered for the term in question.

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

The Common Application will prompt you to answer one of six essay questions. Your response should be approximately 250-500 words and demonstrate your ability to express yourself in a clear, organized manner. This will help admission counselors get to know you and assess how well you might fit in at USC. To view a list of this year’s essay questions, please visit our Fall Essay page.

Applicants to our various professional schools may be required to send additional materials, such as a portfolio or other writing samples. Please refer to the USC Supplemental Application Instructions for details.

The application fee is $80, payable online via www.commonapp.org when you submit your application for admission.

The fee applies to all applicants, regardless of state of residency or citizenship status.

If paying the fee causes a financial hardship, applicants may request a fee waiver from the Payments page of the Common Application website.

International students are not eligible for application fee waivers and USC does not accept international reply coupons for application payments. Full-time USC employees and their dependents are exempt from paying the application fee. Dependents of full-time USC employees should submit the request for a fee waiver.

We do not encourage the submission of supplemental materials outside of those required by specific academic departments.

If paying the fee causes a financial hardship, applicants may request a fee waiver from the Payments page of the Common Application website.

International students are not eligible for application fee waivers and USC does not accept international reply coupons for application payments. Full-time USC employees and their dependents are exempt from paying the application fee. Dependents of full-time USC employees should submit the request for a fee waiver.

You may log in to your USConnect account or contact the Office of Admission by e-mail or by telephone at (213) 740-1111 (weekdays, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Pacific Time).

To change your address, please contact us at (213) 740-1111 or send an e-mail message to admitusc@usc.edu.

If you e-mail us, please put "Address Change" in the subject line of your message.

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.