Complete Placement Tests
Placement tests are used to help your academic advisor identify the correct courses for you to take during your first semester. Advisors use these placement results in collaboration with any transcripts, AP/IB credit, etc. to determine the best courses to start your academic journey.
There are two main placement tests that you should take before your advising appointment:
Students in all majors are required to show a certain level of proficiency in a foreign language to meet degree requirements. All students must meet the Carolina Core Global Foreign Language (GFL) requirement and some may have to meet additional foreign language requirements for their specific program of study. The Foreign Language Placement Test is used to determine the course that is right for your level in a specific language. Students may exempt needing to take additional college-level foreign language by showing proficiency through earning a minimum test score.
It is recommended that students take the Foreign Language Placement Test prior to meeting with your academic advisor. Register to take your exam on the Language Placement Testing Website. Upon registering, students will receive an email confirmation with details about the exam. Be aware that the exam may only be taken one time per language.
All students should complete the Math Placement at least one week prior to their academic advising appointment. The Math Placement Test helps determine your current math knowledge and your score will determine your ability to register for certain STEM courses. This information will be used by your advisor (in conjunction with any AP/IB scores and/or dual enrollment course credit) to plan your options for fulfilling your STEM requirements based on your major and course placement. Failure to complete your math placement test prior to your advising appointment will impact your advisement.
Updates to the Math placement test, including how to access the test and scores/placement determinations, will be available soon.
Check Registration Holds
Check that you have taken care of all necessary steps in the admissions process before your academic advising appointment to avoid any holds on your account. Common holds for first time students include Citizenship holds and Immunization holds. You can also learn more about which immunizations are required and about other registration holds you may encounter during the registration process.
Complete the Pre-Advising Worksheet
The Pre-Advising Worksheet is your chance to share important information with an academic advisor prior to your meeting and should be completed at least one week prior to your scheduled advising appointment. Access your Pre-Advising Worksheet through your Enrollment Checklist in the USC Admissions Portal.
When completing the worksheet, you will be asked to confirm your expected AP, IB, or prior higher institution coursework (aka dual enrollment). Your advisor will recommend courses based on your reported credit, so it is critical that you review and report all anticipated credit within your USC Admissions Portal.
Send Test Scores and College Credit
In order to advise you correctly for courses, it is important that you send in any AP/IB test scores and any dual enrollment credits taken at another institution as soon as possible.
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions maintains a table of the USC credit you may receive for high scores on Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams. Be sure to request that testing agencies send official AP/IB credit directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The AP code for USC is 5818.
In order to apply dual enrollment credits (courses taken at a college or university while still enrolled in high school) to your academic record, USC requires a copy of your college-level transcript. We cannot count any courses or credits listed only on your high school transcript. Send your college transcript with your dual enrollment records to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
How prior coursework will transfer to USC is a key concern for many transfer students. If you have questions about how and if prior coursework will apply to your major, review the transfer student guide to credit articulation and/or the Transfer Equivalency Tables provided by the University Registrar.
Submit official, sealed transcripts for all coursework at non-USC institutions to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Review College-Specific Information
Certain colleges and/or majors may have additional information for you to review before your academic advising appointment in order to help your academic advisor prepare. Details will be sent to your USC email account.