<p>Should it be “The USC” or just “USC” in my essay?
Thank you!</p>
<p>also in the optional info box, can I explain why my senior yr grades dropped? I got two Bs but I culd have done better… I caught the swine flu and my family member passed away so I had to fly back to my country and missed almost a month of school.</p>
<p>While “The USC” would technically be grammatically correct, it’s not a commonly used term. The University of Southern California would be appropriate, but when it comes to abbreviations stick with USC.</p>
<p>In terms of your second question, that would be an appropriate place to explain. Make sure you don’t sound too whiny or apologetic though, just explain the circumstances briefly. Two Bs is also not horrible for USC.</p>
<p>Thank you!! your username is actually funny hahaha</p>