USC Application for Admission
All music applicants are required to submit an application for admission to USC, as well as all supporting documents required by the University (e.g. academic transcripts, standardized test scores, etc.). Applicants are urged to contact the USC Office of Admission or visit the USC Admission Web site for specific information regarding University admission requirements. For applicants to the Fall of 2010, there will be a Thornton Online Supplementary Section to be completed at the end of the USC online application.

Thornton Supplementary Application (For Spring 2010 Applicants ONLY)
Applicants to all degree and certificate programs in music must submit the completed Thornton School of Music Supplementary Application directly to the Thornton School of Music Office of Admission. The supplementary application and all required supporting documents must be received in the Thornton admission office by October 1, 2009. Applicants should carefully note that this is NOT a postmark deadline. All materials must be received by this date in order to be fully considered for admission. This materials received deadline also applies to all standardized test scores, including the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) for MA, MM in Music Education, DMA and PhD students as well as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for all students whose first language is not English.

Audition
Most programs in the USC Thornton School of Music require a performance audition. Some programs require an audition recording to be pre-screened by the faculty, followed by an invitation to a select group of applicants to perform a live audition on the USC campus in Los Angeles. Applicants must carefully review the specific requirements for their chosen program to be sure these requirements are met.

Statement of Objectives
Applicants are encouraged to prepare a brief statement of their professional goals, as well as their purpose in applying for the particular program. (All applicants to the Historical Musicology department please see the Historical Musicology Application Requirements page for specific instructions on the Statement of Objectives.)

Resume
The resume should list musical, professional and academic experience.

Repertoire List
This list should include works studied and performed. Etudes, scale studies, arias, art songs, chamber music and solo pieces are all examples of what could be included in this list.

Transcripts
Transcripts are required from all applicants and in most cases, should be submitted directly to the USC Thornton School of Music Office of Admission. For more details, please refer to the application requirements section for your intended program of study.

Writing Sample
Applicants to some programs, including transfer applicants to music industry, are required to submit samples of academic and analytical writing. For the music industry programs, the writing sample should be a 3-5 page analytical or research paper (creative writing projects are not recommended). The music industry writing sample need not be on a musical topic.

Letters of Recommendation
Applicants to some graduate level programs are required to submit one to three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant's academic and professional background. These letters should be submitted through the USC Graduate Application. Please see the USC online application for instructions on how to submit them.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Scores from the general test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are required of applicants to the Master of Arts Degree, the Master of Music Degree in Music Education, and all Doctor of Musical Arts and Doctor of Philosophy programs. The music subject test is not required. Scores from tests taken more than five years before the date of a student’s application to the USC Thornton School of Music will not be considered valid for admission review purposes and a more recent score will be required.

Applicants must carefully note that the materials received deadline for all required application materials applies to GRE scores as well. These scores must be received by the appropriate deadline in order to be given full consideration for admission.

The minimum combined GRE score (i.e. the Verbal section score plus the Quantitative section score) required for admission to the Thornton School is 1000. Admission to the USC Thornton School of Music is determined as a result of a comprehensive file review process involving a number of review criteria. A score from the GRE which meets the minimum scores described above shall not be construed as a guarantee of admission to any Thornton School program. However, scores not meeting this minimum may still be considered with an otherwise stellar application.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
In addition to all other application and audition requirements, all applicants to the MA, MM, DMA or PhD programs at the Thornton School whose first language is not English are required to submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), regardless of immigration status or educational background. Scores from either the computer-based TOEFL (cBT) or the Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) will be accepted. Scores from tests taken more than five years before the date of a student’s application to the USC Thornton School of Music will not be considered valid for admission review purposes and a more recent score will be required.

Applicants must carefully note that the materials received deadline for all required application materials applies to TOEFL scores as well. These scores must be received by the appropriate deadline in order to be given full consideration for admission.

In order to be eligible for admission, applicants to an MA or MM program who are otherwise qualified for admission to USC and the Thornton School must receive a total iBT score of 83 or higher (with no score less than 20 on any one section of the test) or a total cBT score of 220. Applicants to a DMA or PhD program who are otherwise qualified for admission to USC and the Thornton School must receive a total iBT score of 100 or higher (with no score less than 20 on any one section) or a total cBT score of 250 in order to be eligible for admission.

Admission to the USC Thornton School of Music is determined as a result of a comprehensive file review process involving a number of review criteria. A score from the TOEFL which meets the minimum scores described above shall not be construed as a guarantee of admission to any Thornton School program.