Helpful tips for applicants including Frequently Asked Questions

1. The Online Graduate Application
Tips for Master’s Applicants

2. Selecting a Program
Use these
filters to
refine your
search.
Click this
icon to
select a
program.

3. Adding and Deleting a Program
Click this
icon to
add a
program.
Click this
icon to
delete a
program.

4. Research/Teaching Assistantships
(Personal Information Quadrant – Other Information Section)
IMPORTANT: Please note that Research/Teaching assistantships and
department fellowships are reserved for PhD students and are not available
to Master’s students within the Viterbi School of Engineering.

5. Academic History Quadrant – Colleges Attended Section
If you are an International applicant, this link will provide you with information
on what degree-related documents you are required to submit.
The Transcript Cover Page helps make sure the transcript gets attached to the
proper application. If necessary, it can be submitted without the USC ID number.
Transcript submission details (both
mailed and digital) can be found here.
Transcripts for Exchange Programs
Transcripts for exchange program schools do not need
to be provided if they were no more than a year long.
However, exchange schools should also not be listed
in the Schools Attended section as that automatically
triggers a transcript request.

6. Academic History Quadrant – Colleges Attended Section
If your school is not found, click on “Can’t find your
school?” and continuing filling in the information.
EARNED/EARNING MULTIPLE DEGREES FROM THE SAME UNIVERSITY
List degrees from newest to oldest (i.e. list a Master’s degree before a Bachelor’s degree).
This is particularly important if your current program is still in progress.
ATTACHING SCANNED OFFICAL TRANSCRIPTS
Because only one document can be submitted per college, all documents (i.e. transcripts
for multiple degrees, native language and English translations, degree certificates, etc.)
must all be put together as one document. The easiest way is to create one PDF document.

7. Academic History Quadrant – GPA Entries Section
If you do not have this information,
leave this section blank.
Enter the GPA in the format used by the issuing
school. Do not convert it to the U.S. 4.0 scale.

8. Academic History Quadrant – Standardized Tests Section
IMPORTANT
Self-reporting test scores is optional. Do not hold off on
submitting the application because you are waiting for
test scores.
This section remains active after the application has been
submitted. Applicants are encouraged to log back into the
application to add test scores once they have them.
All test scores must also be submitted electronically to
USC by the testing agency.

9. Supporting Information Quadrant – Documents Section
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
Although required for formal admission, these documents
can be submitted after the application deadline.
However, we recommend submitting them through
the Graduate Admission Ask a Question form
(http://uscesd.custhelp.com/app/ask) before receiving
an admission decision to avoid I-20 processing delays.
There is no required format for the CV/Résumé.

10. Program Materials Quadrant – Documents Section
There is no required format or length for the
Personal Statement.
These remain active even after the application
has been submitted. They can be used for
submitting corrected or updated documents
including personal statements and CV/résumés.

11. Program Materials Quadrant – Recommendations Section
Enter your message to
the recommender here.
The date you enter here
sets the amount of time
the recommender has to
submit their letter.
NOTE: If your recommender
did not receive the request
and has checked their
Junk/Clutter folders, you will
need to contact the online
application help group by
clicking on the Contact Us link
in the lower left corner of the
online application.
NOTE: This section remains
active after the application has
been submitted.
Recommenders will still be
able to submit their letters so
do not hold off submitting the
application because you are
waiting for letters.
Also, you can log back into the
application to check on letter
submission, send reminders
and even send additional
recommendation requests.

12. Program Materials Quadrant – Questions Section
Some programs have the option of being an online student. This is where you let USC know whether you plan on
being an on-campus or online student. Select No if you want to be an on-campus student. If you are going to be an
on-campus student, only answer this question and then click on Save My Responses at the bottom of the page.

13. For more assistance, visit our FAQ page at
viterbigradadmission.usc.edu/programs/masters/faq