All undergraduate applicants to USC are required to hold a high school diploma and are expected to have completed coursework in English, mathematics, science, social studies, foreign language and the arts. USC further requires all incoming freshman to have completed the SAT or ACT. The admissions office will consider high school Grade Point Average and extracurricular activities, though no minimum requirement is made in either field. Potential students are required to submit a teacher or guidance counselor report and letter of recommendation. Advanced Placement tests and personal interviews with USC staff are recommended but not required.
All applicants to graduate programs at USC are required to hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Transcripts from undergraduate degree programs must be submitted along with application materials. Exceptions apply to USC alumnae, who are not required to produce transcripts. Students applying to graduate school at USC from undergraduate programs must have completed at least six semesters of coursework before applying. Graduate applicants are also required to take the GRE, or Graduate Record Examination. GRE scores older than five years will not be accepted.
International students applying to USC at the undergraduate level who are not native English speakers must take the TOEFL English language proficiency test. Non-native English speakers who score more than a 600 on SAT Critical Reading or more than 27 on the ACT English portion are exempt from this requirement. International freshman are expected to hold the equivalent of a high school diploma and must submit a financial statement of personal or family support to the United States government in order to obtain a visa.
International students applying for USC at the graduate level must produce proof of the equivalent of an American bachelor's degree. Accepted equivalent degrees are listed on the USC admissions webpage by country. For instance, students from Mexico are expected to have a four-year Licenciado or Titulo and must submit an official academic transcript, diploma and English-language translations of both. Minimum grade average requirements include: B, Japan; 15.0/20, Iran; Khorosho, Russia; Bien, Mexico; Gut, Switzerland; Mnogo Dobar, Bulgaria; and Second Class Honours, Hong Kong.
Applicants to the USC joint Baccalaureate/M.D. program are expected to submit all undergraduate application materials along with additional forms and information supplied by the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and the Keck School of Medicine. Medical school applicants must take MCAT to qualify for admission. Architecture students must submit a portfolio of work. Applicants to the USC School of Cinematic Arts must submit supplementary material such as writing, directing and animation samples. Potential music and theater students must pass auditions held by the respective schools. Other special requirements apply for USC schools of pharmacy, independent health professionals, business, communications and journalism, pharmacy, fine arts and dentistry.