Student Perspectives: What I Wish I Knew When I Was Applying as a Transfer Student
Hi! My name is Ilona and I am a senior studying Business Administration at the USC Marshall School of Business. I am originally from Atlanta, Georgia, which is also where I spent my first year of college before transferring to USC. While I begin to wrap up my journey at USC, here are three things I wish I would have heard when I was applying as a transfer:
Framing your story is important.
Oftentimes, people choose to transfer because they are unhappy where they currently are or strongly believe that there is a “perfect” school for them elsewhere. While this can be true, it is important to optimize your current circumstances and reflect on why you want to end up at USC. This will certainly help with the essay section of the transfer application. It will also help with your mindset–knowing that USC would be a great fit while also recognizing that there are opportunities, as well as pros and cons, with any institution and that there is not one linear or correct way to go about your future.
For me, my first year of college at a different four-year university close to home was a very positive experience. However, it was a comfortable one. I knew the people in my classes from high school and commuted from home, where I lived with my family. I spent this time focusing on school and realized that I genuinely loved to learn and be challenged. That first-year experience provided the “buffer space” I needed post high school to figure out what I wanted to study and that I wanted a completely new environment as I moved into adulthood. To me, I would be getting the best of both worlds in my college experience by transferring.
Honestly, I did not think that I was capable of thriving at a university like USC when I applied as a high school senior, but I came to understand that every student has different experiences and can contribute something unique to the university. When I believed that I would be an asset to USC, I felt like it came across in my application. I was drawn to USC because of how many interdisciplinary academic opportunities there were, how well-rounded and passionate the students were, and the level of academic excellence that preceded the business school. I made sure that my excitement came across in the application.
There are resources meant to help people who are going through the transfer journey. Utilize them!
Transferring can be isolating, daunting and confusing. I didn’t know any current USC students when I was going through the transfer process—which didn’t help ease the stress. After months of trial and error, google searches, and scrolling through Reddit posts, I was able to reach out to the right resources to guide me through the process.
Articulation Agreement or History
This was probably the single most useful resource during the transfer process. It lists which courses at your current institution have previously counted for credit when students have matriculated to USC. This is how I found the course equivalencies for General Education classes (side note: I was encouraged to take all of my classes in person, as sometimes the same class online will not count for credit at USC) as well as major-specific coursework. This is not a definitive or end-all-be-all comprehensive list, but it shows you roughly what will be your best options when choosing which classes to take.
Transfer Student Profile
Published transfer student profile statistics can be found online at https://admission.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/transfer-student-profile.pdf.
It may be helpful to see the demographics for recent incoming transfers at USC. The general age of transfer students, first-generation status, submitted test scores (though USC is test optional), and GPA can be found on this document. An updated version is posted publicly each year.
Brochures
These pamphlets indicate what kinds of courses you should be completing at your institution (community college or four-year university) to strengthen your application. For me, this was a lot of GE coursework and a Calculus class.
Admission Counselors
Find your USC Admission Counselor at https://applyto.usc.edu/register/findcounselor.
Based on where you go to school, USC has dedicated an admission counselor to your region. They are familiar with the academic opportunities that are available to you —which can be helpful if you have any school-specific questions. Although they cannot tell you what will explicitly help you get admitted to USC, counselors are a good resource to point you in the right direction and offer guidance along the way.
Virtual and In-Person Information Sessions
USC doesn’t track demonstrated interest, so following their Instagram, attending campus tours, and signing up for events will not increase your chances of being admitted. It wouldn’t be fair since not everyone who wants to is able to do these things. However, some of these may serve as a helpful resource to you. You can find these events through the USC Admission website.
The admissions process is slightly different when it comes to first-year versus transfer applicants.
This is something that I came to know with some back and forth with counselors at USC. While the admission process for transfers is still holistic and the admission committee will consider multiple variables—including your personal circumstances and involvement—the primary focus will be your college grades. By taking the recommended classes, showing that you can perform well in these classes at a college level, and submitting compelling essays to complement your application, you are creating a strong portfolio to be considered for admission as a transfer.
There are so many variables that go into the transfer admission process that should be talked about. While it is reassuring to realize that so many students get into USC by transferring, I hope the advice I shared provides some guidance while you’re in the thick of the application phase. Know that the waiting game is the hardest part. Things will work out the way they are meant to, and there are so many people—myself included—who are rooting for you!
Good luck and fight on!
Written by: Ilona M, Class of 2025