Undergraduate Admission

Spring Grades Request for Transfer Applicants

If you are a current transfer applicant and have received a request for your spring-term grades, please wait until all grades are finalized before uploading an unofficial transcript to your USC Applicant Portal for review. Admission decisions will continue to be released through mid-July as these grades are received by our office.

Admission letters and certificates will be mailed following the release of admission decisions online.

Roles

Back to Tour Guides

So that we can welcome guests of all ages, the USC Admission Center recruits students for both paid and volunteer positions. 

Paid Position

USC Student Ambassadors

Student Ambassadors are the face of the university and serve as paid USC Tour Guides who welcome and introduce guests to the university. Day-to-day responsibilities include giving tours of our University Park Campus in Los Angeles, engaging with guests and answering their questions, and completing office tasks to support the operations of the USC Office of Admission. Shifts often include a combination of giving a campus tour and working in the office at the Admission Center.

Student Ambassadors practice skills ranging from customer service to public speaking in order to present expert information about everything our university has to offer. They are the chief liaisons between prospective students and families and the university. The work they do is essential and important—and fun, too!

In this role, you will complete an intensive, paid training process that will prepare you to:

  • Deliver 90-minute tours of campus to prospective students and their families, alumni, K-12 students, community-based organizations, and other visitors to the university.
  • Support admission counselors in giving in-person and virtual admission presentations to school groups, imparting information about the importance of college and what it takes to get there.
  • Share your knowledge, passion, and why you chose and continue to choose USC.
  • Interact with guests via phone and email to make tour reservations and answer questions about the university, student life and the admission process.
  • Gain invaluable experience working in a professional and friendly environment.
  • Write personalized thank-you notes for tour guests.
  • Work alongside professional staff and admission counselors to complete administrative tasks.

Eligibility

Currently enrolled undergraduate students (work-study and non–work-study) who are not in their final year of study are welcome to apply. Positions are open to both U.S. and international students. No previous experience is necessary.

Any students interested in working at the Admission Center must be enrolled at USC for the entirety of the 2025-26 academic year. Students who will be abroad or on leave from the university are ineligible to apply.

Additional eligibility requirements may be added and will be reflected in the 2025 Student Ambassador application.

Important Student Ambassador Considerations

    • Two- semester, paid training program (late October through mid- to late March), consisting of ten to twelve (10-12) hours/week, that include:
      • Required Friday Training Sessions from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM during the academic year.
      • Shadow shifts of three (3) hours per week to observe tours, presentations, office tasks, memorize scripts and practice giving tours.  To be completed in the office between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM, based on your schedule.
      • Three to four (3-4) asynchronous hours weekly working on memorizing and practicing a full 90-minute script.
      • Required weekly staff meetings on Wednesdays from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM during the academic year.
      • Work during the Discover USC Open House event taking place on a weekend day, likely in October 2025 (date TBD).
      • Admission Center office retreat to workshop skills and expectations (early spring, date TBD).
      • Passing a written final and a final approval tour covering tour script content.

  • Post-training, Student Ambassadors will be expected to:

    • Be available for a minimum of three (3) shifts per week (with the expectation that you will be scheduled a minimum of one [1] shift per week). Shifts are scheduled within the following time blocks:
      • 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM (2.5 hours)
      • 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM (3 hours)
      • 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (3 hours)
    • Attend weekly staff meetings, Wednesdays 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM during the academic year.
    • Work during the Explore USC Open House event taking place on a weekend day in April 2026 (date TBD).
    • Work during academic-year breaks (Fall Break, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Break and Winter Recess). See Break Availability Requirements below for further details.

  • The Admission Center provides year-round tours. Therefore, all Student Ambassadors are expected to work some shifts over academic breaks.

    Spring Break 2026

    Student Ambassadors in training must work at least 1 day Monday through Friday during the 2026 spring break (March 16–20, 2026).

    Summer 2026

    Due to year-round demand for campus tours, all newly trained Student Ambassadors are expected to work during their first summer break (there are no exceptions). All new Ambassadors will be expected to work Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week (excluding university holidays) from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM during one of the following time blocks:

    • Summer Block A Working Dates: Tuesday, May 26 – Thursday, July 2
      • Move-In: Sunday, May 24 / Move-Out: Saturday, July 4
    • Summer Block B Working Dates: Monday, July 6 – Friday, August 7
      • Move-In: Sunday, July 5 / Move-Out: Saturday, August 8

    Students will be provided housing at no cost, on behalf of the Admission Center. Summer housing accommodations include shared rooms in USC apartment-style housing. It does not include parking, dining, or access to recreation centers. Students will not be able to work other campus jobs during their Summer Block, as they will be working the maximum allowable hours. It is also not advised to pursue external opportunities during the assigned Summer Block.

    Academic-Year Breaks Beginning Fall 2026

    After training is completed Student Ambassadors are expected to be available to work during academic breaks including Fall Break, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Break and Winter Recess.

    Availability requirements are determined annually and will be communicated prior to the start of the academic year. Ambassadors will not be required to work the entirety of breaks.

  • Student Ambassadors are paid minimum wage ($17.87 per hour beginning July 1, 2025).

After a tour, I had a guest come up to me and say that my anecdote about transferring reassured them to apply to transfer to USC—their dream school. They were later accepted, decided to commit, and sent me a very nice message thanking me for sharing my experiences. Definitely the most rewarding part of this job! The training process is long, but the people you meet and the bonds you create make everything worth it.

Kiley Gilbride (she/her)

Volunteer Position

For those looking for a smaller commitment, USC VolunTour Leaders conduct tours through the Tommy’s Tours program. Volunteers:

  • Give 50-minute, age-appropriate group tours to middle and elementary school students.
  • Share their journeys to and through college while inspiring younger students to pursue higher education.
  • Assist in hosting College Day(s) events for elementary and middle school students.
  • Develop professional skills through public speaking and interacting with guests.
  • Learn about other academic programs and campus organizations while making new friends.
  • Attend weekly/bi-weekly meetings and events.
  • Live their dream of being a college tour guide!

Eligibility

All undergraduate students who are not in their final year of study are welcome to apply. No previous experience is necessary. Prior to leading any tours, volunteers participate in a thorough training process.

To learn more, visit the Tommy’s Tours website.