This section is for all freshman applicants as well as transfer applicants from outside of USC. All required materials must be received by December 1. Please note that this is a received deadline, NOT a postmark deadline.

Transfer students should also refer to Transferring to Thornton FAQ section

Step One:

• Complete the USC Undergraduate Application.

  Please note that applicants are permitted to apply to no more than one music program. This program must be selected as the first-choice major on the USC Supplement to the Common Application. Applicants who would like to be considered for admission to a second Thornton program must submit a written request following the process detailed here.

• Submit official transcripts and test scores to the USC Admission Office.

Step Two:

• Complete the USC Thornton School of Music Supplemental Section at the end of the USC application.
• You will also include a Resumé and a Repertoire List (where appropriate) through this supplemental section.

Step Three:

• Determine the specific Application Requirements for your chosen program, including prescreen recordings, compositions, or lyric sheets where appropriate. All other materials should be sent directly to the University Admission Office to be scanned into the applicant’s electronic record.
• All required materials must be received by December 1. Please note that this is NOT a postmark deadline.
• IMPORTANT MAILING INSTRUCTIONS: Send all required music-specific materials in one package directly to the Thornton Admission Office. Be sure that the contents of the package are clearly marked with your first and last name and date of birth to ensure the materials get matched up to the appropriate application. Please address the envelope as follows:

Mailing Address:
(for United States Postal Service only)

______________ Admission Review *
USC Thornton School of Music
Office of Admission
University Park Campus- LPB 200
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0851

Street Address:
(for private mail carriers only- e.g., Fed Ex, UPS, etc.)

______________ Admission Review *
USC Thornton School of Music
Office of Admission
3450 Watt Way- LPB 200
Los Angeles, CA 90089

* To ensure proper and timely processing of your application materials, please write the name of the program (Degree and Major) for which you are applying in the blank space of the address block above. If you are applying to a program which requires an audition, be sure to indicate the instrument and whether it is jazz or classical.

• If you are sending a recording (prescreen or otherwise) to us, using a permanent marker, please label the actual CD/DVD itself with the following information (the case that the CD/DVD comes in will be removed during processing):
• First and Last Name
• Date of Birth
• Program to which you are applying (e.g., BM Oboe)
• Year you are applying for (e.g., Fall 2010)
• If you are applying for multiple programs, the required materials for each program must be clearly marked as to which program each item is for. This applies to all required materials, including pre-screen recordings for performance programs and scores for composition.
• Please note that if these mailing instructions are not followed properly, it cannot be guaranteed that your application materials will be received by the appropriate faculty in time for review.

Step Four:

• Perform an audition if required according to the specific audition requirements for your chosen program.
• If you pass your department’s prescreen round, you will automatically be scheduled for one of the audition dates you selected in the Thornton Supplemental Form attached to the USC Application. You will be notified of your prescreen results/audition date and time by email. PLEASE DO NOT MAKE TRAVEL PLANS OR PURCHASE TICKETS UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION THAT YOUR AUDITION HAS BEEN SCHEDULED.

Transfer students: visit our Transferring to Thornton FAQ section for important information about transferring.

International students: visit our International Student Admission section for important information about applying as an international student.

Questions? Feel free to contact us at uscmusic@usc.edu or (213) 740-8986 or (800) 872-2213.