Can you switch schools within USC?

vinceh
Fri, 12 Jul 2013 14:00:44 +0000

Cygnus I don’t see where it says that you only need to better than a C-. Below is a cut and paste from the link listed in post #2.



Approved: Your application will be approved if you earn grades of B or better in your math, science, and engineering courses and are in good academic standing with the university.
Further Review Required: If you earn one or more grades of a B- or below in your math, science, or engineering courses, or withdraw from any courses, your application will require further review by the Review Committee. Applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine if an additional semester of enrollment is needed to make an admission decision.
Denied: Your application is denied if you earn grades of:
C- in two or more of your math, science, or engineering courses
D+ or below in one or more of your math, science, or engineering courses
W in two or more of your math, science, or engineering courses



To me that reads you need at least a ‘B’ in your math classes to be admitted; anything below that requires further review. I also suspect that there’s a cap on the number of students that can be in Engineering, further limiting the ease with which you can transfer.

It’s hardly surprising that 17 & 18-year-olds would want to change their academic paths after sampling college. On one college tour (Northwestern I think) the Admissions person stated that the average undergrad changes their major 4 times before graduation. I found that high but know plenty of students who’ve changed a number of times. Viterbi (and the other schools) allowing students to take up to four classes without declaring as an engineering major is a great benefit to the students facilitating their final path decisions.

USC has admitted all of these students; they’ve made the decision that they want them to be there. The fact is that there are policies in place to allow students to change their minds and still remain at USC. It’s up to the Engineering School to decide if they want to admit them. To my knowledge a process like this is standard operating procedure at most schools.

Finally, alamemom is a great asset to visitors of this board. People are of course free to disagree with anything posted on here; it’s a pity that responses can’t be kept on-point and civil.