Undergraduate Honors Programs

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Frequently Asked Questions

If we have not addressed your questions, please feel free to call us.  We also welcome calls from parents, counselors, and teachers.

(213) 740-2961 or (800) USC-2961

  • What are the requirements to apply?

    In addition to the support and endorsement of your high school counselor and your principal or headmaster, you will need:

    • A strong high school GPA with few grades lower than A-minus
    • A minimum combined SAT I score of 2050 or composite ACT score of 32
    • A charged resume that demonstrates a readiness for college work
    • Evidence of the high level of maturity necessary to enter college

    In the past, RHP class score averages have been over 2200 on the SAT I or 33 on the ACT, and the average weighted GPAs have been over 4.0.

  • Can I apply online?

     

    The RHP Application will be available on this website beginning in September. You should print the RHP Application and submit a paper copy directly to the Resident Honors Program. Mailing information is available within the application PDF.

    You must also apply to USC through the Common Application, which is available online. More details regarding the Common Application and the USC Supplement are available at the USC Undergraduate Admission website. Please note that some programs or majors have additional application instructions within the USC Supplement.

  • The Common Application says that the deadline to apply to USC is January 10, but this website says December 1. What is the correct deadline?

     

    Certain groups of USC applicants must apply by December 1, 2011. This includes RHP applicants and all students who wish to be considered for merit scholarships. Be sure to submit all materials, including the Common Application, by December 1, 2011.

  • How much does the Resident Honors Program application cost?

    Applicants to the Resident Honors Program will be required to include a $70 application fee as part of the Common Application.

     

  • How much does it cost to attend USC?

    As a Resident Honors student, you will become a freshman at USC and will pay all regular undergraduate tuition and fees. The estimated total cost of attendance for the 2011-2012 academic year is $57,876. This includes the application fee ($70), tuition, fees, room and board, as well as the cost of books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.

     

  • What scholarship opportunities are available?

     

    All RHP students are awarded the Deans Scholarship, a substantial merit scholarship equal to one-quarter of tuition. Last year's scholarship was worth approximately $10,540 per year. The Deans Scholarship is renewable for all four years at USC, as long as you maintain an acceptable GPA and carry a full course load. In addition, you will be eligible to compete and perhaps interview for other merit scholarships with all other entering freshmen (including the half-tuition Presidential Scholarship and the full-tuition Trustee Scholarship). Apply to RHP by December 1, 2011 to ensure your eligibility for these scholarships.

     

  • What if I have financial need above the amount of the scholarship(s) I receive?

     

    USC guarantees to meet 100% of your USC-determined financial need, provided that you meet all University, state, and federal requirements and deadlines. Please visit the USC Financial Aid website for full details and deadlines.

     

    • Register for and complete the 2012-2013 CSS Financial Aid PROFILE as soon as possible at www.collegeboard.com/profile. Complete the PROFILE using your best estimates of 2011 parent and student income. Enter USC's CSS School code: 4852. The deadline for CSS is February 2, 2012.
    • Complete a 2012-2013 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1, 2012, at www.fafsa.ed.gov. On the FAFSA, fill in USC's Federal Code: 001328. The deadline for FAFSA is February 2, 2012.
    • If you are a California resident, a Cal Grant is worth approximately $9,700 annually at USC. Have the registrar at the school you currently attend complete a Cal Grant GPA Verification form, available from your high school. Submit it to the California Student Aid Commission as soon as possible. The Cal Grant application deadline is March 2, 2012.
    • Submit complete copies of your and your parents' signed 2011 federal income tax returns including all schedules and W2 forms to the USC Financial Aid Office as soon as possible after January 1, 2012. If you are not legally required to file a federal income tax form for 2011, complete the 2012-2013 Student Non-Filing Statement. If your parents are not legally required to file a federal income tax form for 2011, they will need to submit a 2012-2013 Parent Non-Filing Statement form.

    If your custodial parent is currently single, divorced, separated, remarried, or was never married, send the completed Custodial Parent Form with the appropriate documentation to the USC Financial Aid Office. USC does not require the CSS Non-Custodial Parent Form. USC will determine an expected contribution for the custodial parent, the non-custodial parent, and the step-parent, as appropriate. In order to determine this contribution, USC may ask the student to submit each parent's 2011 federal tax return.

  • What if I am unsure of my major?

     

    Many bright students are unsure of what they would like to specialize in, since they often have many interests and strengths. You do not need to declare a major to apply to RHP. Just list your major as "Undecided" and tell us about your various interests. You will have plenty of time while you are in college to explore different options and make a choice. The academic advisors at the Thematic Option Honors Program and other academic departments will be here to help you shape your education. 

     

  • What classes will I take in RHP?

     

    There are no courses specific to RHP. As full-time college freshmen, RHP students take major courses, general education courses, and elective courses with other USC students. Some of your courses may be taken through the Thematic Option Honors Program, the University's honors general education curriculum. All students accepted to the Resident Honors Program are invited to apply to Thematic Option. This is a challenging interdisciplinary program where students read, write, analyze, and challenge the assumptions of various fields of study. A description of the Thematic Option Honors Program and samples of courses are available on the T.O. website.

     

  • How hard will it be, really?

     

    This experience will be challenging, but your workload will be manageable. On average, students take a normal course load of 16 units per semester, which is typically comprised of four 4-unit courses. Your tuition covers up to 18 units, allowing room for more demanding majors and additional elective coursework. Your program of study will largely determine your course load. In addition to your academic work, you will have time to take advantage of the full range of social, cultural, and extracurricular opportunities that USC offers.

     

  • Can I get a high school diploma?

     

    You are not required by USC or RHP to earn your high school diploma. Some high schools will grant diplomas or honorary diplomas to RHP students, usually after the completion of the freshman year at USC. This is an issue to be discussed with your high school; RHP cannot facilitate this process. The Resident Honors Program is not a dual enrollment program. Students should not plan to take courses that count toward high school requirements. Instead, students are expected to approach their coursework as full-time college freshmen. If your high school will not grant you a diploma, you may choose to take the GED. However, once you graduate from USC, your college degree will serve as your first educational credential.

     

  • My parents are worried about my being ready to go off to college early. What can I tell them?

     

    The decision to enter college early should be a family decision. Ideally everyone in your family will support you in your efforts to begin your future now. USC offers many resources that help students adjust to college life and deal with any problems that may arise. Your primary resource will be the Resident Honors staff, who will work with you throughout the year. We have frequent meetings to keep in touch with you as a group, and our doors are always open to help with anything that comes up, including academic, administrative, medical, and personal issues. Other resources available to you will include the University Residential Student Community (URSC), your residence hall staff and faculty-in-residence, the Student Health Center, Counseling Center, and Career Planning and Placement Center on campus.

     

  • What provisions are in place to supervise younger students?

     

    All student housing is staffed by trained residential advisors that monitor and participate in life on campus. Many residence halls also have faculty-in-residence. The Resident Honors Program staff stay in close contact with students at all times. Students will have more freedom than in a high school setting, but a staff member can always be located if needed.

     

  • Where will I live as an RHP student?

     

    RHP students are not housed all together. In your first year, you will live on campus in one of the traditional University residence halls, where students from many programs, as well as specially selected faculty-in-residence, live together. A sense of community develops when you study together in the wee hours of the morning, discuss what you're learning over meals, and participate in various social activities and discussion programs. After your freshman year, USC offers many housing options, including residence halls, suites, and apartments on or off campus.

     

  • May I bring my car?

     

    Students are not permitted to bring a car to campus in their first semester. In the second semester, we leave that choice to parents. We expect students to get to know USC's campus and focus on building a community of peers during the first semester. There are plenty of activities for students throughout the year, and all necessities can be bought on or near campus. The University and the Resident Honors Program provide transportation for many events. USC offers a free tram service as well as Campus Cruiser, our safe ride home service. Public bus stops and a subway station are located near campus.

     

  • Do I need to bring my own computer?

     

    Although the University maintains several computer labs, we strongly recommend that students bring their own computer and printer. The desktop/laptop and PC/Mac decision is up to you. The USC Bookstore offers many computer options at a discounted educational rate.

     

  • Will I have time for a social life?

     

    Absolutely. RHP students have participated in various social, political, athletic, and cultural clubs and activities on campus, including the USC Trojan Marching Band and the Daily Trojan Newspaper. They have also found time to explore L.A.'s cultural scene, go to the beach, ski, hike, etc. The Resident Honors Program and Thematic Option will provide tickets and transportation to several theatre, music, and sports events around L.A. throughout the year. The possibilities are endless . . . the challenge is learning how to best structure your time to suit your needs.

     

  • Can I transfer after the first year if things don't work out for me?

     

    RHP is not a transitional program. Students are admitted with the understanding that they will complete their undergraduate degrees at USC. Almost every student in the program continues on at the University after freshman year. However, if you decide to leave USC, you will have to apply to another university as a transfer student, not as an entering freshman. This means you will need to be aware of how your units at USC will be counted at the university to which you are applying.

     

  • What deadlines do I need to remember?

     

    The deadline for all application materials is December 1, 2011. Take your SAT I or ACT as early as possible and no later than December 2011. For Financial Aid, submit the CSS/PROFILE and FAFSA by February 2, 2012, and submit your Cal Grant Application (if applicable) and tax documents by March 2, 2012. If you are accepted to the Resident Honors Program, we will send you a timeline to help you keep track of additional deadlines related to admission, housing, and financial aid.