Frequently Asked Questions

When can I apply for the Discovery Scholar designation and for the $10,000 prize?
You may apply for the Discovery Scholar designation during your final year at the University. Each school will nominate a short-list of Prize Finalists from the roster of Discovery Scholar candidates within that school. A university panel will then select the Prize Awardees from the list of Finalists.

 Is this a scholarship?
No, this is not a scholarship. The Discovery Scholar designation is an academic honor, awarded upon graduation to students who meet the criteria. The Discovery Scholar Prize is awarded to students for the purpose of post-baccalaureate study. Prize recipients must show evidence of enrollment in a graduate program of study.

What does it take to be designated as a Discovery Scholar?
To become a Discovery Scholar, students must meet the criteria established by their school for outstanding original research or creative work. The criteria may include submission of a research thesis, an artistic portfolio, or some other evidence of original contributions to the discipline. Students must also graduate in no more than five years at USC with a minimum 3.5 overall grade point average.

How do I know whether or not my work qualifies me as a Discovery Scholar?
The first step to being considered for the Discovery Scholar honor is to complete the online application form found on this website. You will then be contacted with directions on the process for submitting materials to the Dean’s Office within your school. A faculty panel will certify work that meets the Discovery Scholar standards within your school.

What is the deadline for submission of the online application and materials?
This year’s deadline is Monday, March 23, 2009.     Materials should be emailed to ugp@usc.edu or dropped off at GFS227.

What is the latest date I can make a submission of materials to my school?
In order to be considered for nomination as a Prize Finalist, you must submit materials to the Office of Undergraduate Programs by 5 PM on Monday, March 23, 2009. (In some cases only a preliminary submission is required by this date – check the criteria for your school to see whether a preliminary submission is sufficient.)

If you do not want your work to be considered for the Discovery Scholar Prize, you do not need to abide by this deadline. You may still earn the Discovery Scholar designation if materials are submitted to your school for certification at any time before the completion of your final semester.

When will I know if I have been nominated as a Prize Finalist?                                             
The deadline for schools to submit Finalist nominations to the Office of Undergraduate Programs is 5 PM, Friday, April 3, 2009. You will be notified whether you are a Prize Finalist during the following week.

When does the selection of Prize Awardees take place?
Submissions by Prize Finalists are due in the Office of Undergraduate Programs at 5 PM on Friday, April 24, 2009. A university panel will select the Prize Awardees in time for announcement at commencement, which takes place this year on Friday, May 15.

If my research or creative work is certified, does that mean I am automatically a Discovery Scholar?
In addition to the certification, you must graduate within five years at USC with a minimum 3.5 overall grade point average.

Can graduate students apply for the Discovery Scholar designation?
No. Only undergraduates who are enrolled in an undergraduate major may apply for the Discovery Scholar designation.

If  I graduate in the fall semester, can I still apply for the Discovery Scholar prizes to be awarded the May before I graduate?
No. If you graduate in the fall semester, you may apply for the Discovery Scholar prizes to be awarded in the spring of the following year. However, you will still need to keep apprised, read, and comply with all of the deadline requirements and updates that are published on the Discovery Scholars website.

I plan to take time off to do something else before graduate school, such as a job, or the Peace Corps.  Do immediate post-graduation plans have to be concrete or can the prize be deferred, then accepted upon enrollment in a graduate program?
Your immediate plans do not have to be concrete. Once your undergraduate degree has been posted, you will have up to 5 years to demonstrate evidence of enrollment in a graduate program.

May I earn both the Discovery Scholar and Renaissance Scholar designations?
Yes, if you meet both sets of program requirements, you may earn both designations. In addition you may apply for both the Renaissance and Discovery Scholar Prizes – however, no student will be awarded more than one Prize.

Can I submit materials in a discipline other than my major?
Yes, in principle you may submit in any discipline. However, in order to qualify, a submission outside the major should be comparable in scope and substance to a senior project within the major.