<p>USC admissions are limited by housing space and, due to space opening in the spring (study abroad students leave campus, for one thing), they offer a certain number of students places in the freshman class starting in spring. Last year, around 200 students received offers of spring admits but perhaps this year will see more as all colleges are trying to figure out how the economy will affect matriculation and yield. </p>
<p>To some, getting a guaranteed spot to attend USC is a far better outcome than the waitlisting done at other schools or a dreaded full out rejection. On the other hand, if you are hoping to start school with the rest of your peers, it can be a big disappointment to miss the fall start. Some options are to take a semester of classes at a community college close to home–and transfer those credits to USC, or doing volunteer work or a travel program. </p>
<p>I know three kids who got spring admit offers last year. One is at Marshall and started this spring after doing a semester of cc. He jumped in, rushed (but didn’t pledge) and has a great roommate (also a spring admit). He’s meeting lots of kids and loves USC. The second guy (SCA Critical Studies) got bumped up to fall! It doesn’t happen often, but it certainly can happen. The third one declined USC’s offer, feeling it wasn’t worth it to miss fall rush and also concerned he hadn’t been accepted into his first choice program.</p>
<p>There are rumors that spring is when USC admits students with legacy affiliations, but only one of the above students was a legacy. One was actually a NMF and got the automatic Pres. scholarship (and his mom is active on this board!) As I recall, spring admit packages went out in early April.</p>