Student Perspectives: Being a Spring Admit
My name is Canela Castro. I’m, a spring admit and part of the Class of 2027. I am majoring in Political Science and on a pre-law track in USC’s Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. I’m also a minor in Cinematic Arts in USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. I was born and raised in Los Angeles and, my family is just thirty minutes away from USC’s main campus, which is great when I want a home-cooked meal! I am a student ambassador at the Admission Center, and I am a part of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority.
I was really anxious while waiting for my college decisions and, when I finally received mine, I was surprised to find out that I had been accepted as a spring admit to USC. I was thrilled to be accepted, but I was also a bit confused about what it meant to be a spring admit. It turns out that a portion of incoming freshmen at USC start school in January. While this is somewhat unconventional, it allows more students to attend USC. There are many different paths that spring admits can take. Since I’m from Los Angeles, I decided to work and take classes at Los Angeles City College to earn some credits. Some of my friends chose to study abroad instead. In fact, a few of my closest friends (who are also spring admits) chose to study abroad in Rome and Paris! My friend Talula, whom I have known since high school, studied abroad in Rome. Here is what she said about her experience as a spring admit abroad:
“When I was admitted to USC as a spring admit, I was understandably confused and immediately asked why I was not “good enough” to start in the fall. Being admitted for the spring negatively influenced my decision when choosing where to commit for college; but, despite my reservations, I chose to enroll at USC and explore different options for freshman year in the fall. I was connected with other spring admits who made the decision to study abroad, and because I was financially able to undertake that risk, I went to Rome for four months! Studying abroad was by far one of the highlights of my experience at USC.”
Like Talula, initially being a spring admit was challenging, as I did not feel connected to USC or my fellow classmates until arriving on campus in the Spring. I was also a little sad that I was not studying abroad the fall before my first semester at USC, but my choice provided my family with the opportunity to save up more money for tuition. And, I was able to gain credits, so I was on track to graduate once I started at USC in January. At the time, I did not see the big picture of how waiting a semester to start school could be beneficial. But, now that I am a Junior, I can confidently say it was very much worth the wait. It is finally my time to study abroad and, in January 2026, I will be studying at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland! I will also be graduating a semester early because of some AP credits and the credits I took my fall semester before starting USC! The logistics of being a spring admit can be overwhelming, but everything always works out, especially since USC has been taking spring admits for around 20 years.
For anyone admitted to the spring semester, the one thing I want you to take away is that being accepted to USC in the spring does not devalue your intelligence, nor does it make you unworthy. It took me a while to realize that I was chosen to be at USC. Being a spring admit means learning how to be flexible and having the understanding that every person’s college journey is unique. Some of my closest friends are spring admits I met the first night at USC during a movie mixer. Adjusting to a new environment is hard, but the adjustment does happen, and you will feel at home at USC if you want it to. Join clubs, talk to people in your classes, talk to your professors, and go out and explore all the events USC has to offer! You will find your community! Embrace your college journey because it’s yours to shape.