Graduate Decision Release

Graduate admission decision release has begun.

USC Annenberg does not require an enrollment deposit.

The graduate applicant certification deadline is April 30, 2025.

Graduate Application Deadline Update

Communication Management has extended the application deadline for U.S. citizen and permanent resident applicants only.

Public Relations and Advertising has extended the application deadline for all applicants.

All other graduate application deadlines have passed.

Application Deadline: Feb. 21, 2025

Graduate Appeal Requests

Graduate applicant appeal requests will be accepted from Digital Social Media applicants only until further notice. Applicants may request the appeal by completing the appeal request form.

https://annenbergadmissions.formstack.com/forms/appeal_requests

Graduate Preview

The Graduate Preview Days April 9-11, 2024

The agenda with links to virtual sessions is available online:

https://annenberg.usc.edu/admissions/usc-annenberg-graduate-preview

Graduate Admission Decision FAQs

Applicants are being admitted and are often inquiring about the following.

1. What is the enrollment deposit for Annenberg? The Annenberg school does not require an enrollment deposit.

2. When do I have to complete the Intent to Enroll Form? Applicants must certify their enrollment plans by completing the Intent to Enroll form by April 30, 2024 (masters). Master’s applicants that are awarded a scholarship have a deadline of April 15, 2024 unless otherwise stated in their scholarship offer letter.

   Ph.D applicants must certify by April 15, 2024.

3. When will I receive a decision on my application? Decisions will be released by March 30, 2024. All decisions are released by USC Graduate Admission via youSC (https://you.usc.edu/login/).

4. When does the MS Journalism program begin? The summer immersion for the graduate journalism degree programs (MSJ, SJ and SJAC) run June 24 - August 9, 2024.

5. May I defer my graduate admission?
   USC does not offer graduate deferrals. Applicants may request an update of their application. Updates are available only for applicants who have been admitted or who have not yet received a decision. An application may be updated to the next available term within one year of the original application. An update request may be submitted online https://annenberg.usc.edu/applicationupdate

6. I was not offered admission. How do I appeal my graduate admission decision?
   A graduate applicant may request that their application for admission be reconsidered by submitting an appeal request form online https://annenberg.usc.edu/applicationappeal.

Progressive Degree Program (PDP) Information

There are no information sessions or office hours this fall. However, interested students may email the PDP email at ascjpdp@usc.edu to ask a question or to request a meeting via Zoom. Dates and times for Zoom office hours with Maeve Lee, the Annenberg Admissions PDP coordinator, will be posted on the Annenberg Current Student PDP website at https://annenberg.usc.edu/current-students/usc-students-applying-annenberg/progressive-masters-degree

Making a blog announcement!

1. Go to squarespace.com and log-in into our Annenberg Admissions Office blog.

   Username: ascadm

   Password: ASCJ0123

2. Go to the “Website” section.

3. Go to the “Home” page to select the page.

4. Select the “+” on the right of the Main Navigation text to add a post. Clicking on the + will direct you to the new page will be editable as shown below.

5. After creating your announcement, publish the page to view on the home page. The picture below shows as example of the home page. It has the date created, the post title in red, and a read more link that will direct users to the page you created.

6. Finish your announcement by adding a preview of your page. To do that, move your arrow on the right of your post and select the “…” that appears as shown below and select “Settings.”

7. Add what you want to be seen on the homepage in the “Excerpt” section. This acts as a preview to the page.

Don’t forget to save your post and review your published announcement!

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is now available on the intern desk computers.

To access Teams, click on the start icon and select the Microsoft Teams tile. This should automatically connect you to Teams. You may need to select the option for web-based use of Teams until we can get it downloaded as an app on the desktop.

This will be very useful if an admissions officer is working remote or out of the suite and you need to connect with them.

Parking Reservations Update

As of August 2023, interns do not have access to make parking reservations through the USC Transportation website unless provided permission from an Admissions Office representative by contacting the email parkrsvp@usc.edu. Otherwise, representatives should have access to create a parking reservation.

For any questions regarding this new process, call (213) 740-9339 UPC and (323) 442-1203 HSC.

Did you know about our USC Directory?

There is an easy way to reach USC departments through our USC Directory! Find the best contact of departments, faculty/staff, and USC websites all in one place.

Explore here: https://uscdirectory.usc.edu

Note: Students may call about another department. Transfer the call to the best department representative from our USC Directory. Otherwise, questions about our USC Annenberg School programs can be referred to the “Officer of the Week,” if necessary.

Admissions Office Overview and Protocols

Objective

The Annenberg Admissions Office staff develops and executes short-term and long-range plans for the recruitment, selection, and yield of first-year, transfer, master’s, and doctoral students to meet the enrollment goals set by USC Enrollment Services (for undergraduate students) and the Annenberg School Dean (for graduate students).

Hours of Operations and Office Details – fall and spring semesters

• Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. (individual staff hours vary).

Intern shifts: 9 a.m. – 12 noon and 1-4:30 p.m.

• Main Telephone (landline): 213-821-0770

Phone hours: 9-11:30 a.m. and 1- 4:25 p.m.

• Main Email: ascadm@usc.edu

• Office locations: Main location: ASC 140; Information session room: ANN 203 (drop-in office: ANN 202)

Intern Supervisor: Bryant Gomez, associate director of admissions, ASC 146, 213-740-2362

Admissions Officers (office number) *phone numbers start with 213 area code

Allyson Hill, Associate Dean (ASC 307C) 821-0766

Valerie Jones, Director of Admissions (ASC 148) 740-0890

Bryant Gomez, Associate Director of Admissions (ASC 146) 740-2362

Maeve Lee, Assistant Director of Admissions (ASC 175)

Taylor Trentham, Assistant Director of Admissions (ASC 145)

OPEN, Assistant Director of Admissions (ASC 145)

OPEN, Assistant Director of Admissions (ASC 173)

Admissions Program Specialist – Quyen Nguyen (ASC 172)

Admission Cycles and Major Activities

• Recruitment Cycle – July through December – primary (year-round – secondary)

• First-year, transfer and graduate information sessions; Prospective Graduate Student Day(s); first-year and transfer admission conferences for counselors and community-based organization leaders; progressive degree information sessions and application management; and USC Admission events on- and off-campus

• Other activities include virtual information sessions and graduate fairs, e-marketing, responding to general and progressive degree inquiry emails.

• Admission Cycle (Selection) – December through March – primary (April – June secondary)

• First-year scholarship candidate selection and interview process

• Graduate application processing and management of application review process

• Graduate application file review and scholarship award process by faculty admission committees

• Graduate admission decision coordination with USC Graduate Admission

• Transfer file review and merit scholarship selection

• Conversion (Yield) Cycle – February through April – primary (May – August secondary)

• Plan and execute programs in collaboration with USC Admission for admitted first-years

• Plan and execute graduate programs for Annenberg master’s degree admits

• Transition certified students (undergraduate and graduate) to Annenberg advisement for orientation and course enrollment

• Participate in graduate orientation and new student welcome events

Preparing for Meet USC

Meet USC’ Annenberg sessions are back! And that means that we will be having an info session in ANN 203 most Mondays and Fridays. As an intern, please recognize that you will be in charge of setting up ANN 203 and greeting early arrivals.

Step-by-step guide

1. On Mondays and Fridays, check if we have a scheduled info session on our calendar on this website: https://applyto.usc.edu/portal/ascj

2. Check in with the Officer of the Week, or any Admissions Officer, by 10 a.m. to see how many people will be attending the info session.

3. Go to ANN 203 at 10:45 a.m. and change your Simple In/Out status to ANN 203

4. Place Annenberg Undergraduate publication, red pens in a red or black mug, viewbooks, and reporter notebooks for the number of expected guests on the rectangular table.

Meet USC Material Set Up

5. Turn on the computer and go the Annenberg Admissions undergraduate applicants page. Note: Some Admissions Officer may provide you with a flash drive to start the introduction to the video. Be flexible.

6. As you set-up, keep the door open for early arrivals. Greet, chat and direct to the restrooms if asked. Wait inside ANN 203 or just outside the door until the presenter arrives at 11:15 a.m. (summer) or 10:50 a.m. (fall/winter/spring).

When interacting with guests, make sure to always introduce yourself with your name, year, major, and position throughout the whole process! And before leaving the ANN, recognize that some guests may be coming in late so be vigilant of guests looking around and always ask if they are looking for an info session to direct them to ANN 203.

Check out our Preparing Interns for Meet USC page here.

Grad Application Appeal Deadlines

MSJ, SJ, SJAC – no new appeals accepted

DSM – May 31, 2023

MCG – May 26, 2023

PRA – June 12, 2023

MPD – TBD

Graduate Application Updates

Admitted graduate students may update their applications to the next available term. (USC does not use the term “defer.”) An update allows their application to be reconsidered for admission within the pool of new applicants or guaranteed admission (depending on the program). Applicants may update an application once, within one year of the original application. Scholarship offers are not guaranteed.

The following degree programs will guarantee admission when an applicant chooses to update:

MS JOUR
SJ
SJAC
PRA
DSM
MPD
MCG (domestic only)

Admission is not guaranteed for the following programs if an applicant elects to update:

Ph.D
MCG (international)

Progressive Degree Program (PDP)

Refer to the Progressive Degree page under Students on the Annenberg website.

The application deadline was March 1, 2024. However, late applications will be accepted. Encourage students to submit as soon as possible since there is no deadline.

Six critical points about PDP:

1. Must be a USC student.

2. Apply in the junior year and start to take graduate classes along with undergraduate courses in the senior year. Graduate with your bachelor’s degree and return to USC Annenberg to complete master’s degree.

3. Find the application on
   the USC Undergraduate Education website at https://undergrad.usc.edu/programs/progressive/requirements/

4. Seniors graduating December 2024 and May 2025 must apply for graduate admission through the regular graduate application process. Refer to graduate applicants on the Annenberg Admissions page.

5. No online degree programs are offered as PDPs.

6. The Annenberg PDP coordinator is Maeve Lee, assistant director of Annenberg Admissions. Email her at ascjpdp@usc.edu. Allyson is the co-coordinator.

Student Services Suite Safety Procedure

In light of a recent incident where an unknown individual entered our suite and made his way into one of our staff member’s office, please be vigilant and stay alert to any activity that seems suspicious.

Please remember to greet any visitors entering past the front desk.

If you see something, say something. The safety of our faculty, staff, and students is our top priority.

Contact the USC Department of Public Safety:

Emergencies (213) 740-4321

Non-emergencies (213) 740-6000

Graduate Application Update Requests

2023 applicants that requested to update their applications to 2024 admission consideration will receive detailed instructions by/on October 31, 2023. If an applicant calls with questions, you may direct them to email ascadm@usc.edu . Ask the caller to include their full name and USC ID in the email message, and an admissions officer will respond.

Intern Folders

Please check your folders regularly and toss old materials. (Folders are in the first drawer under the staff mailslots.)

Stow your backpacks and personal items in the second drawer during your shift.

Application Updates for 2024 Admission

• Explain the update process and inform applicant if new language testing will be required if their scores will expire before the new admission term (ITNL only). Provide a deadline for request.

• Once an applicant requests the update, an appropriate response is as follows:

  • thank you for confirming your decision to update your application to summer (or fall) 2024. Annenberg Admissions will contact you by October 1, 2023 with instructions to complete the process. All correspondence will be sent to the email address on your application for 2023 admission.

• Please BCC Quyen on responses to update requests. She will upload the document to the application, change the local status and make notes on the application.

MS Journalism

• WILL GUARANTEE DECISION

• WILL NOT GUARANTEE SCHOLARSHIP

SJA

• WILL GUARANTEE DECISION

• WILL NOT GUARANTEE SCHOLARSHIP

CMGT

• Domestic WILL GUARANTEE DECISION

• International APPLICANTS RE-EVALUATED IN NEW APPLICANT POOL

• WILL NOT GUARANTEE SCHOLARSHIP

PRA

• WILL GUARANTEE DECISION

• WILL NOT GUARANTEE SCHOLARSHIP

SJ

• WILL GUARANTEE DECISION

• WILL NOT GUARANTEE SCHOLARSHIP

DSM

• WILL GUARANTEE DECISION

• WILL GUARANTEE SCHOLARSHIP

MPD

• WILL GUARANTEE DECISION

• WILL NOT GUARANTEE SCHOLARSHIP

PhD

• WILL UPDATE TO FALL 2024

• APPLICANTS RE-EVALUATED IN NEW APPLICANT POOL

Graduate Certification Deadline Extension

Communication Management, Digital Social Media and Public Relations and Advertising applicants have until May 7, 2023 to submit their intent to enroll form via the youSC portal.

Applicants of any graduate degree program may email ascadm@usc.edu to inquire about the possibility of an extended deadline.