<p>AT2018,</p>
<p>USC is not an early action University. They are a regular decision University. Regardless of when you apply (Dec 1 for scholarship consideration, or Jan 15 regular deadline) it won’t affect your status in Princeton’s pool or violate their policy. In contrast, for example, a student could not simultaneously apply to my university (top tier) at the same time because we although we nonbinding, we are a private university not a public university (Public “is” allowed as long as it is nonbinding) </p>
<p>Most schools pull only a tiny percentage of applicants from the early pool. So having a back-up plan is a good idea. Last year Princeton took just under 700 students from a pool of 3800 SCEA applications</p>
<p>Princeton will get its SCEA decisions out by mid December. If you are accepted, withdraw your application from USC. Likely your application will still be in processing or staff “reading” phase. No harm, no foul. They’ll appreciate having one less application to vett out of the tens of thousands. It’s as simple as that. But on the off chance that you are not accepted, you can let your application stay in the USC scholarship pool.</p>