You'll provide your high school courses/grades for your senior year only, choose your major, complete the essay, and list your extracurricular activities, honors and awards regardless of application type. You will also decide whether you want us to consider your ACT / SAT scores in the review process. 

Regardless of which application you select, you must pay the nonrefundable $100 application fee.

English proficiency scores are not required for students from countries on our exempt list nor from graduates of high schools in the United States.

If you are unable to obtain a minimum English proficiency score, our English Programs for Internationals  might be an option. Undergraduate students interested in conditional admission should complete the undergraduate admissions application and indicate their interest in both English Programs for Internationals (USC's intensive English program) and conditional admission. Students will also need to contact English Programs for International (EPI) to submit the EPI application.

You may also be interested in learning about the University of South Carolina's International Accelerator Program, a one-year transition program for international students that leads to a four-year degree at the University of South Carolina.

Official secondary transcripts must be from all secondary schools.

If your transcript is not in English, you must submit a certified transcript translated into English by a school official.

If you apply for admission before graduating from high school, you must submit an official (or attested copy) of all final transcript(s) after you graduate from high school.

A document is considered official if it comes from an original source and is not opened prior to arriving at the university. Stamped and sealed envelopes that we receive from your school, a credential evaluation company, or a test center are considered official. Official documents submitted via email by a verifiable school is also acceptable.

All official documents can be sent to: 

The test-optional policy for spring, summer and fall 2026 applies to international freshman applicants. You should decide if you want to include an ACT or SAT score for our review. We still require proof of English proficiency in our review process, depending on your country of citizenship.

Review frequently asked questions about USC's test-optional policy. 

Part of our review process includes your choice of major. You have the option to choose a second choice major on your application. This ensures the highest consideration for admission based on the competitiveness of each class and the capacity of some majors. If you are unsure of your major, you can select “Undeclared” in the College of Arts and Sciences. 

The essay is your opportunity to tell us something about yourself that is not already in your application. The purpose is to get to know you better. The best essay topic is going to be the one you are most excited to write about and one that reflects on a personal experience. Make it less about the topic and more about you! 

There is one required essay on the application that is reviewed as part of our holistic admissions process. You will choose an essay prompt from the list provided in the application, regardless of application type. 

This section allows you to list and explain up to 10 extracurricular activities you’ve been involved in throughout high school. In the description, include your duties, recognitions or leadership roles. Explain the activity and your specific involvement. It’s more about quality than quantity in this section!