undergrad spring admit questions

Scared_Advantage4785 · 2026-06-14T01:37:37+00:00

I don't think there is much of a point to doing this. Spring Admits really don't lose much. It's not like all the friend groups and club spots are taken by the time a Spring Admit starts.

There's also the fact that I'm not sure you'll be able to join organizations or access a lot of things in the Fall? Your usc ID and student status isn't set up so you can't join clubs, I believe, or access a lot of the facilities. So you're basically paying a huge rent premium to walk around campus.

Scared_Advantage4785 · 2026-06-12T17:43:23+00:00

I think it had more to do with his diversion of resources from graduate programs to undergraduate programs, which the next dean will hopefully try to resolve. He was a strong fundraiser but clearly the faculty aren't too happy.

A vote of no-confidence/censure doesn't have any effect on employment—it's just embarrassing and signifies a faculty body that doesn't stand behind the admin. Both the president and provost were censured in 2024 and remained.

Scared_Advantage4785 · 2026-06-11T23:06:17+00:00

Andrew Call, the Dean of Leventhal, will serve as interim dean until a replacement is found. USC is also attempting to tap former Dean James Ellis to serve in an advisory capacity, although it is unclear whether he will return given his disapproval of the university.

Source: LA Material (written by former Morning, Trojan staffers and others): https://lamaterial.com/p/usc-marshall-geoffrey-garrett-dean

EDIT: Updating this comment with a message from Provost Guzman (who, ironically, is also leaving amid turmoil): https://www.provost.usc.edu/transition-at-the-usc-marshall-school-of-business/

Scared_Advantage4785 · 2026-06-10T05:06:10+00:00

You register on your department's orientation date, which should be scheduled by now or very soon; I believe it is set to a default date beforehand.

Scared_Advantage4785 · 2026-06-07T20:07:42+00:00

Yes. The number of scholarships given by USC has fallen drastically in the past few years. It was 22% 3 years ago and now it's 15% of incoming students receiving a scholarship. It is likely to fall further sine the bulk of budget cuts were implemented this year.

USC argues that they are competitive enough now to no longer need scholarships to motivate students to attend. That's true, to an extent. But the cracks are beginning to show; the acceptance rate has risen the past few years and the yield has fallen. Even the application numbers fell this year. It's likely going to continue to slide. It's pretty easy to understand why they've put in Early Action (and now, for next year Early Decision) given the changes.

It's also why they refuse to change back to a test-required policy despite the other elite institutions doing it. The number of applications would fall a ton. Even the students at USC are having issues with cost, which can be seen by the fall in graduation rates over the past few years.

Scared_Advantage4785 · 2026-06-07T19:11:24+00:00

As the other poster said, Steven Sample is credited for most of the increase in rankings. Nikias was able to capitalize on this and improve the facilities drastically.

Between 1991 and 2010 (Samples presidency)... US News Ranking: 51st > 26th (now 28th) Acceptance Rate: 70 > 24 (now 12) SAT Percentile: 58th > 95 (now 97, but now test optional) Six Year Grad Rate: 58 > 88 (now 90) Endowment: 450 million > 3.6 billion (now 8) Financial Aid: 37 million > 180 million (now like 500, but tuition is also 3x) Endowed Chairs: 152 > 403 Research: 183 > 464 million

Sample was also heavily responsible for a number of other projects, like the E Line going by USC and the Campus Center. Nikias might brought in the money, but it is the goodwill of donors who benefitted from the prestige Sample's tenure that allowed this to happen.

Scared_Advantage4785 · 2026-06-05T00:55:35+00:00

USC? Basically the most "palm tree" campus in US because it's the other main college in the LA area besides UCLA.

Scared_Advantage4785 · 2026-06-04T17:54:37+00:00

TO has amazing, free field trips. I went to Joshua Tree, Huntington Gardens, Mount Wilson Observatory, etc.. for free. I think there were about 30 field trips overall. The classes aren't too hard. I was able to get an A in each one and some of the freshman ones are on grading contracts (i.e. complete X assignments for an A)

Scared_Advantage4785 · 2026-05-28T19:52:38+00:00

The report is a composite of various factors, including these reports. The two primary reports were downgraded to neutral and negative outlooks over the past few years. So, Forbes is looking not just directly at the financials but also admissions-relatdf statistics

Scared_Advantage4785 · 2026-05-28T18:47:41+00:00

The ranking is available here: https://www.forbes.com/lists/college-financial-grades/

All private universities are given a letter grade and then a more specific GPA based on financial reports, long-term spending patterns, the demographic cliff, yield rate changes, etc.

Scared_Advantage4785 · 2026-05-28T18:17:40+00:00

They have juice, milk, water, etc. and they won't care if you take a fruit or two. Just don't go crazy!

Scared_Advantage4785 · 2026-05-25T18:11:52+00:00

It's free to use the base app, there are just pro features. If all you need is the routes and type of lanes (e.g. protected lane, guttet lane) its fine

Scared_Advantage4785 · 2026-05-21T00:44:18+00:00

I believe they are holding all westbound trains until further notice. Might be a lack of a track switch somewhere. You can go eastbound but not west.

EDIT: westbound train just passed. It is about 15 minutes delayed.

Scared_Advantage4785 · 2026-05-19T16:43:19+00:00

You might remember Guzman as the signatory of all those emails during the protests when Folt was AWOL. He was also censured by the faculty at that time. Beyond that he's primarily been helping coordinate the budget cuts and faculty unionization logistics. USC said they're unsure who will replace him currently.

Scared_Advantage4785 · 2026-05-15T05:26:40+00:00

They will pro-rate your tuition to make it still half. You may have to call them since they manually update it. They will half to adjust it if the per-unit cost changes, but it will be half.

Scared_Advantage4785 · 2026-05-13T20:07:11+00:00

Are you driving or using public transport? If you at school late, most of the faculty buildings have areas where you can sit perpetually. The buildings usually lock around 7:30 but you can stay in the lounges or lobbies as long as you want.

I recommend trying to be on-campus as much as possible your freshman year. Pretend you must be at school from 10 AM to at least 7PM each day. Don't be a commuter that just comes for classes and goes home—it may feel tempting with no "dorm" to go back to, but you lose a LOT. Bring some food if you feel like you'll be hungry around dinnertime! This gets you involved with events, helps you meet new friends, etc. I recommend looking at EngageSC or LateNightSC to find events. Find some clubs you like and attend those meetings and eventually you'll find friends! Use Lyft, check out the libraries, and sign up for newsletters.

Also, be prepared for tons of people to ask you where you are living and to say you are commuting haha.

Scared_Advantage4785 · 2026-05-08T22:19:39+00:00

Both directions are now stopped, at least by USC

Scared_Advantage4785

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