If you weren’t admitted to USC as a first-year student, or you’ve realized your current college isn’t the right fit, a transfer application offers another opportunity to join the Trojan Family.
While transfer admission is selective, the process is also straightforward. Last year, USC received more than 10,800 transfer applications and admitted nearly 2,900 students. One of the strengths of our process is that we can clearly explain what we’re looking for. The best way to prepare is to understand those expectations before you submit your application.
Start by taking advantage of our transfer resources. Attend a virtual or in-person Transfer Information Session to learn about the admission process, transfer credit, and the Articulation Agreement/ History pages. You can also connect with a Transfer Ambassador to hear firsthand what it’s like to transfer to USC.
So, what does a competitive transfer applicant actually look like? While every student’s path is different, the strongest applicants are succeeding in full-time, transferable academic coursework while making strong progress toward their intended major and overall graduation from USC. Ultimately, we’re looking for students who are doing the same quality of academic work as current USC students. That means earning strong grades, completing USC’s minimum writing and math requirements and taking prerequisite coursework whenever possible. Our average admitted transfer GPA was 3.80, but your course selection and academic progress matter just as much as your GPA.
Here’s what competitive transfer applicants do.
Take a full-time academic course load. Aim for 3 to 4 transferable academic courses each semester or quarter, completing approximately 30 semester units or 45 quarter units each academic year.
Make progress on General Education requirements. Take two or more transferable GE courses each term, whenever possible, and use the USC Articulation Agreement and Transfer Planning Brochure to identify courses that will keep you on track.
Prioritize your major preparation. Fill the rest of your schedule with lower-division courses required or recommended for your intended major—especially if you’re pursuing a science major or pre-health track, where course sequencing is important.
Earn strong grades. While there’s no minimum GPA that guarantees admission, the average GPA for admitted transfer students last year was 3.73.
Once you’ve built a strong academic foundation, it’s time to tell your story through the Common Application for Transfers. If you’ve applied to an institution using the Common App before, much of the application will feel familiar. Beyond reporting your college coursework, you’ll have the opportunity to tell us what you’ve accomplished since high school. Share experiences that have shaped your college journey, whether that’s work, internships, research, student organizations, leadership or family responsibilities. Your essays should also help us understand why USC is the right place for your academic goals and why now is the right time to transfer.
Finally, make sure your application is complete. Some of the most common delays happen when students forget to report every college they’ve attended, fail to submit the required final high school transcript or send unofficial transcripts instead of official ones. If you choose to have test scores considered, those must also be sent directly from the testing agency.
One of the strengths of USC’s transfer process is that we want you to understand exactly what we’re looking for. By attending a Transfer Information Session, planning your coursework intentionally, and submitting a complete application, you’ll put yourself in the strongest position possible. We look forward to learning more about your journey and wish you the best throughout the transfer process.
Written by: Rosa Garcia Rios, Assistant Director – USC Office of Undergraduate Admission