Welcome to the USC Dornsife Scholars Program

For many years, the University of Southern California has provided special recognition to undergraduates who demonstrate outstanding achievement in important dimensions of undergraduate education. Discovery Scholars are students who excel in the classroom while demonstrating the ability to create exceptional new scholarship or artistic works. The Global Scholars program recognizes undergraduates who have excelled in their studies both at home and abroad. Renaissance Scholars are students whose broad and diverse interests help them excel academically.

To these honors was added a program offering university-wide recognition to outstanding graduating seniors—available only to students whose major course of study is in the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. Dornsife Scholars are students whose academic achievements underscore the relationship between excellence in the core disciplines of Letters, Arts and Sciences, and the aspiration to have a positive impact on the world. (Eligibility Requirements are listed below.)

Dana and David Dornsife

Dana and David Dornsife are internationally renowned philanthropists with the highest regard for education.

Dornsife Scholars will be expected to demonstrate a comparable commitment to educational excellence and the advances that allow for improving the lives of people and addressing pressing global challenges.

Dana and David Dornsife are standing and smiling in the arched foyer of the Bovard Administrative Building.

Meet our Recent Dornsife Scholar Award Recipients!

Eligibility Requirements to Apply for Award

The Dornsife Scholar prize is awarded to USC Dornsife students to be used for graduate or professional school studies. The USC Dornsife Scholars program combines the talents sought in the USC Discovery and Global Scholars programs with an added emphasis on positive human impact. Dornsife Scholars will be named in the spring semester of their senior year.

Meeting the eligibility requirements to apply does not mean that an applicant will receive an award.

Requirements for consideration by the USC Dornsife Scholars Selection Committee are as follows:

  • Applicant must be a graduating senior with a major in Dornsife.
  • Graduating seniors for the 2025 Award are those graduating Fall 2024, Spring 2025, or Summer 2025.
  • Progressive Degree students may apply if their undergraduate degree has not yet been conferred.
  • A cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, and a demonstration that the applicant has taken challenging courses in USC Dornsife upper-division major coursework.
  • Must meet all of the university’s requirements for an undergraduate degree(s).
  • Participation in independent research involving close collaboration with a USC Dornsife faculty member in a laboratory or field project, or engagement in archival or library research.
  • Travel abroad: Academic study abroad or participation in short-term international internship, or program such as Problems Without Passports or other international faculty-led program–while studying at USC.
  • See also Award Disbursement Policy

It his highly recommended that the applicant confers with a Dornsife faculty member/mentor who can provide guidance with the submission. Applicants have found this to be extremely helpful. Share the Dornsife Scholar website URL with them.

Application

THE 2025 APPLICATION  IS CLOSED. 

The 2026 APPLICATION WILL OPEN FEBRUARY 2026 (date to be determined), and close MARCH 2026 (date to be determined), 5:00PM (Pacific Time). 

Only complete applications will be reviewed:   All documents must be submitted for an application to be considered complete.  This includes the Letter of Recommendation.

MUST INCLUDE:

  • Application Form (link below)
  • Academic Transcript (STARS Report with Completed Course Summary)
  • Sample of your Scholarly Work (ex: a completed project or paper)
  • Personal Essay.  May include interests, accomplishments, goals, and interesting personal information about you that is relevant to your application. Double-spaced preferred.
  • Resumé/CV
  • A 150 word bio — a brief statement written in first-person that lets the reader know how being a USC Dornsife student has impacted your educational and career choices. Tell about your plans. Let the reader know who you are. You may include awards, scholarships, and the significance and broader impact of your work, research, and extracurricular activities.
  • Letter of recommendation from a USC Dornsife faculty member who is familiar with this scholarly work.  The request for a Letter of Recommendation will be sent to your Recommender after  you submit your application with their contact information.  Submitting your application as soon as possible will allow your Recommender time to submit the letter before the deadline.

You will be notified of the status of your application.

If you have questions, please contact the Dornsife Scholar Program Coordinator @ studentrecognition@dornsife.usc.edu. Include “Dornsife Scholar Award” in the Subject Line. Be sure to study the entire website carefully before contacting. Most questions are answered within this website.

The Coordinator cannot provide direct instructions or guidance. For that, please work with a Dornsife faculty member.

You will be notified by email  if you are selected as an award recipient.  If you are selected, please be sure to refer to Instructions for Award Recipients  and  Award Disbursement Policy.

Award Disbursement Policy

  • Award funds disbursement can be requested only after an Award recipient’s undergraduate degree has been conferred.
  • To request disbursement of the award, recipient must show proof of enrollment in a graduate program within 5 years of the completion of your undergraduate degree(s). No exceptions will be given. Recipient must also show proof of registration in classes.
  • Awards will be disbursed only to support enrollment in a graduate degree program.
  • Award requests for retroactive award disbursement toward a completed graduate degree will be denied.
  • Award requests for pre-graduate school preparatory courses or exam fees will be denied.
  • Funds will be paid directly to the student’s graduate school institution to be applied to their student account.
  • For those attending a USC graduate program, funds will be credited to the award recipient’s USC student account.
  • Due to standard processing time, and any unforeseen delays, we cannot guarantee that payment will be received before tuition and fees are due or the start of classes.

For further information or to request disbursement, contact the Dornsife Scholar Program Coordinator @ studentrecognition@dornsife.usc.edu. Please include “Dornsife Scholar Award” in the subject line.

Instructions to Award Recipients

If you have been notified that you are an award recipient, please read.