How to Apply

Applicants/Prospective Students - JD

Before an applicant receives an admission decision, there is little to be done concerning financial aid. One task that can and should be done before you have received an admission decision is:

• Complete the 2012-2013 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Designate University of Southern California (code #001328) as a recipient of the information. There is no charge to file a FAFSA so beware of similar websites which charge a fee to file the FAFSA. The earliest you can begin filing the FAFSA application for the 2012-2013 academic year is January 1, 2012.

Admitted Applicants - JD

If you have been admitted to USC Law, please follow these steps in order to be considered for USC Law Scholarships:

• Submit the USC Law Scholarship Application. The USC Law Financial Aid Office will send an email to all admitted students shortly after their acceptance. This email will include a link so that the application may be submitted electronically. For full consideration of all available scholarship funds, you should submit this application immediately after receiving an admission decision.

If, in addition to scholarships, you also wish to be considered for and to receive additional information about available student loan programs, you must do the following:

• Complete the 2012-2013 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Designate University of Southern California (code #001328) as a recipient of the information. There is no charge to file a FAFSA so beware of similar websites which charge a fee to file the FAFSA. The earliest you can begin filing the FAFSA application for the 2012-2013 academic year is January 1, 2012.
• Complete the Graduate Supplemental Form. The Law School Financial Aid Office will send all admitted students an email that will provide a link so that this form can be submitted electronically. For full consideration of all available financial aid funds, you should submit this application immediately after receiving an admission decision.

Upon completing the steps above, admitted applicants will receive a letter informing them of the decision with regard to a USC Law scholarship award, followed by electronic notification of their full financial aid package, which will include USC Law scholarship, if any, as well as eligibility for student loans. At this point, admitted applicants will be informed of the additional steps required to secure the student loans that they may wish to borrow.

International Applicants - JD

International applicants should complete the step above for USC Law scholarship consideration. The remaining steps listed above are not needed, however, since federal student loan funds are available only to U.S. Citizens or U.S. Permanent Residents (green card holders). It may be possible to apply for a private educational loan with a qualifying cosigner who is a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident. Please contact our office if you wish to inquire about this option further.

FAFSA Completion Tips

• Do not delay submission of the FAFSA because you have not yet filed your federal income tax return. Instead, use your best estimates of income. You will have the opportunity to revise your figures later.
• To electronically sign your FAFSA, you will need your four digit federal PIN. If you do not have one or you do not remember your PIN, you can request a new or duplicate one at http://www.pin.ed.gov/
• Applicants may list up to ten schools in the FAFSA school report section. If you are applying to more than ten schools, you should wait until your initial FAFSA has been processed and then you can revise the school report secti