I didn’t get a housing assignment in the General Lottery. Does the Sophomore Guarantee still apply to me?

Yes.  If you will be a sophomore next year and participated in the USC Housing Renewal process, the guarantee extends to the Wait List.  Sophomores will be the first to be offered space when Wait List assignments begin. Please be sure to sign up for the Wait List on our portal.  For more information on the Wait List, please review the FAQ.

Are sophomores guaranteed spaces in particular buildings?

It is important to note that the Sophomore Guarantee ensures a housing space for those who qualify. It does not promise or guarantee acceptance into a Living Learning Community or any particular location, building, configuration, or roommate assignment.

What is the definition of a sophomore for the purposes of this guarantee?

The guarantee applies to those students that are current new freshman in university housing that are applying to return to university housing for the following academic year. This would include new freshman who entered university housing in either the fall or spring terms.

Is there a timeline or expiration of the guarantee?

The guarantee will cover all those current freshmen applying during the USC Housing Renewal (UHR) process. Once the deadlines on the UHR process have passed, sophomores applying for university housing will be treated like any other continuing, non-resident student regardless of class-standing. They will lose the priority given to students participating in UHR.

Can sophomores request juniors or seniors as a roommate in the Sophomore portion of the UHR General Lottery?

During the online selection and contracting period for sophomores, they will only be able to pull in roommates that are also sophomores. Sophomores and juniors/seniors wishing to room together, should first secure housing assignments through UHR and then submit a group reassignment request when the reassignment process opens in March. (Reassignments are not guaranteed.)

If USC Housing is not able to offer me an assignment, are there other resources for housing?

Yes.  USC Housing has partnered with Off-Campus Housing 101 to provide students with listings of available rentals from private landlords in the North University Park area, around the main campus.  All their listings are within the USC Department of Public Safety Patrol Zone and they offer customer support services to assist you with obtaining private rental housing