The Basics About USC
USC is a private institution that was founded in 1880. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 16,751, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 226 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. USC's ranking in the 2011 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 23. Its tuition and fees are $41,022.
Overview: University of Southern California
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General Information
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Institutional Control:
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Private
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Year founded:
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1880
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Religious affiliation:
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N/A
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Academic calendar:
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semester
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Fall 2009 Total number of undergraduates:
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16,751
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Setting:
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urban
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2009 Endowment:
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$2,671,426,000
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Fall Admissions
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Application deadline:
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1/10
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Application fee:
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$65
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Fall 2009 Acceptance rate:
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24%
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Selectivity:
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most selective
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Expenses
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Costs:
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2010-2011 Tuition and Fees: $41,022
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Student Life at USC
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The University of Southern California’s central campus, referred to as the University Park campus, is located in Los Angeles’s Downtown Arts and Education Corridor. USC has other campuses in L.A. in addition to sites around Southern California and in Sacramento, Calif., and Washington. Students can participate in the more than 600 on-campus organizations, ranging from religious groups to club sports. USC students are not required to live on campus, but the university offers housing in its 40 or so residence halls and apartment buildings. A thriving Greek life comprises more than 60 chapters representing about 4,000 students. The USC Trojans compete in the Pacific-10 Conference and are known for their legendary football program, which has won more Rose Bowls than any other college team.
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Other Facts About USC
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USC is comprised of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and 17 graduate and professional schools. The number of graduates exceeds the number of undergraduates at USC, with students enrolled in such programs as the highly ranked Marshall School of Business, Rossier School of Education, Andrew and Erna Viterbi School of Engineering, Gould School of Law, Keck School of Medicine, and School of Social Work. USC is also well known for its Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and its highly esteemed School of Cinematic Arts, which has graduated students such as directors Judd Apatow and George Lucas. Films including The Graduate, Legally Blonde, and Forrest Gump all filmed scenes on USC’s campus.
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Mission (as provided by the school)
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Located in the heart of Los Angeles, a global center for arts, technology and international trade, the University of Southern California is a world-renowned private research institution enrolling more international students than any other U.S. university and operating an integrated academic medical center that serves more than a million patients each year. USC operates from two main campuses. The University Park campus, south of downtown Los Angeles, is adjacent to the museums and recreational facilities of historic Exposition Park. With its park-like atmosphere and rich architectural history, the campus fosters a stimulating academic environment as well as a vibrant cultural community. The Health Sciences campus, northeast of downtown, offers world-class patient care, classroom and laboratory facilities that draw scientists, patients and students from around the world, forming a dynamic, interactive environment that is shaping the future of health care. Within its College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and 17 professional schools, USC encourages all students to develop breadth with depth by crossing academic boundaries in their pursuit of knowledge. The university offers bachelor's degrees in more than 150 undergraduate majors, and, as of fall 2009, graduate students were enrolled in more than 340 master's, certificate, doctoral and professional degree programs. Hand in hand with this wide array of majors, USC offers some 150 different academic and professional minors -- the broadest selection of any U.S. university. Selected students also may elect to participate in Thematic Option, USC's interdisciplinary undergraduate honors program. The Renaissance Scholars program honors students who study subjects across widely separated fields. USC also presents unrivaled opportunities for travel and independent discovery. The Global Scholars program singles out undergraduates who excel both at home and abroad, and the Discovery Scholars program recognizes students who demonstrate original research and creativity. At the graduate level, each year the Provost's Ph.D. Fellowship Program supports 100 doctoral students who show outstanding promise. The USC Annenberg Graduate Fellowship Program provides funding for graduate study in cutting-edge communication and digital-media research. USC's Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) program offers grants and fellowships to increase the involvement of women in science and engineering. USC boasts a strong tradition of public service as well. Academic and administrative units across the university are involved with some 340 community-service programs that are making a real difference in the lives of USC's neighbors. The university also has a commitment to fostering research with wide-ranging social impacts and is one of a small number of premier research institutions upon which the United States depends for a steady stream of new knowledge, art and technology. USC plays an important role in making Los Angeles one of the world's great centers for the arts. The USC Thornton School of Music is the city's most active producer of live music performances, presenting more than 500 concerts annually. Additionally, the USC School of Theatre produces a full schedule of performances, the USC Fisher Museum of Art offers exhibitions ranging from contemporary works to antiquities, and the USC School of Cinematic Arts presents a variety of film screenings and other events. USC's storied Doheny Memorial Library also hosts lectures, readings, concerts and special exhibits. Through USC's innovative arts program, Visions and Voices, some 20,000 students each year go to theatrical productions, music and dance performances, conferences, lectures, film screenings and other events both on and off campus.
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Applications: University of Southern California
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Regular Decision
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Application deadline:
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1/10
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Notification date:
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04/01
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Deadline for accepting admissions offers:
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July 1 (Fall)
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Early Decision
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Is an early decision plan offered?
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No
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Early decision deadline:
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N/A
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Early decision decision sent by:
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N/A
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Early Action
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Is an early action plan offered?
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No
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Early action deadline:
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N/A
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Early action decision sent by:
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N/A
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Application Fee
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Application fee:
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$65
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Is the application fee refundable?
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No
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Can the application fee be waived for students with financial need?
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Yes
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Is it possible to defer admission?
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No
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Application Formats
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Can applications be submitted via E-mail?
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No
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Electronic application URL:
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http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/apply/
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Tuition and Room Deposits
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Tuition deposit:
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$300
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Is the tuition deposit refundable?
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Nonrefundable
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Room deposit:
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$400
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Is the room deposit refundable?
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Refundable
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Contact Information
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Admissions director:
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Timothy Brunold
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Admissions office phone number:
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(213) 740-1111
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Admissions E-mail:
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Requirements and Factors: University of Southern California
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Admission Requirements
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Admission interview?
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Neither required/recommended
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Campus visit?
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Recommended
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Off-campus interviews?
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may be arranged with an admission representative
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Does the school have an open admission policy?
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No
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Does the college use SAT or ACT scores in admissions decisions for first-time, first-year applicants?
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Yes
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Standardized tests?
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Either SAT or ACT required.
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ACT Writing test?
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ACT with writing required
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SAT/ACT scores must be received by:
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02/15
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SAT Subject Test scores must be received by:
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02/15
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High school completion requirement for admissions:
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High school diploma is required and GED is not accepted
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General college-preparatory program?
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Require
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Academic Factors Used in Admissions Decisions
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Rigor of secondary school record?
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Very Important
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Class rank?
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Considered
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Academic GPA?
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Very Important
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Standardized test scores?
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Very Important
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Application essay?
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Very Important
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Recommendations?
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Very Important
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Nonacademic Factors Used in Admissions Decisions
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Interview?
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Considered
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Extracurricular activities?
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Important
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Talent/ability?
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Important
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Character/personal qualities?
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Considered
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Being a first-generation college student?
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Considered
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Alumni/ae relations?
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Considered
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Geographical residence?
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Not Considered
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State residency?
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Not Considered
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Religious affiliation/commitment?
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Not Considered
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Race/ethnicity?
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Considered
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Volunteer work?
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Considered
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Work experience?
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Considered
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Level of the applicant's interest?
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Not Considered
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Required High School Course Work
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High school units required in English:
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4
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High school units required in Foreign Languages:
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2
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High school units required in Mathematics:
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3
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High school units required in Science:
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2
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High school units required in Science Labs:
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2
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High school units required in Social Studies:
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2
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High school units required in academic electives:
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3
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Total high school units required:
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16
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Recommended High School Course Work
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High school units recommended in English:
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4
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High school units recommended in Foreign languages:
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3
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High school units recommended in Mathematics:
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4
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High school units recommended in Science:
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3
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High school units recommended in Science Labs:
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3
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High school units recommended in Social Studies:
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3
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High school units recommended in academic electives:
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3
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Total high school units recommended:
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20
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Entering Class Statistics: University of Southern California
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Fall 2009 Selectivity
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Selectivity:
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most selective
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Fall 2009 Acceptance rate:
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24%
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Early decision acceptance rate:
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N/A
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Early action acceptance rate:
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N/A
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Acceptance rate (excluding early action and early decision students):
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24%
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Fall 2009 Applications, Acceptances, and Enrollments
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Number of applicants:
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35,753
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Number of applicants accepted:
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8,724
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Freshman enrollment for Fall 2009:
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2,869
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Percent of total enrolled incoming freshmen who been accepted under either early acceptance or early action:
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N/A
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Number of male applicants:
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16,634
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Number of male applicants accepted for Fall 2009:
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4,119
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Male freshman enrollment:
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1,359
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Number of female applicants:
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19,119
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Number of female applicants accepted Fall 2009:
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4,605
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Female freshman enrollment:
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1,510
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Fall 2009 Wait List
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Does the school have a waiting list?
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No
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Number of applicants placed on a waiting list:
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N/A
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Number of students on the wait list accepted:
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N/A
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Number of students enrolled from a waiting list:
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N/A
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Fall 2009 High School Rank
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Percent of first-year students submitting high school class standing:
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50%
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2009 Freshmen in top 10 percent of high school class:
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86%
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2009 Freshmen in top 25 percent of high school class:
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97%
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2009 Freshmen in top 50 percent of high school class:
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100%
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Fall 2009 High School GPA
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Percent of first-year students submitting high school GPA:
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88%
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Average high school GPA:
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3.7
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Fall 2009 Freshmen SAT Scores
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Percent of first-year students submitting SAT scores:
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82%
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SAT Critical Reading 25th-75th percentile range:
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620-710
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SAT Math 25th-75th percentile range:
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650-740
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SAT Writing 25th-75th percentile range:
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640-730
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SAT Essay 25th-75th percentile range:
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N/A
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 700-800 range:
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33%
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 600-699 range:
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50%
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 500-599 range:
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16%
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 400-499 range:
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1%
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 300-399 range:
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0.04%
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 200-299 range:
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0%
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 700-800 range:
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48%
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 600-699 range:
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42%
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 500-599 range:
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9%
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 400-499 range:
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1%
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 300-399 range:
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0.04%
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 200-299 range:
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0%
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Fall 2009 Freshmen ACT Scores
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Percent of first-year students submitting ACT scores:
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39%
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ACT English 25th-75th percentile range:
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28-34
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ACT Math 25th-75th percentile range:
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28-33
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ACT Composite 25th-75th percentile range:
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29-32
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 30-36 range:
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66%
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 24-29 range:
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30%
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 18-23 range:
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3%
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 12-17 range:
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0%
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 6-11 range:
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0%
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Percent with ACT English scores below 6:
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0%
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 30-36 range:
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60%
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 24-29 range:
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37%
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 18-23 range:
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3%
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 12-17 range:
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0.3%
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 6-11 range:
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0%
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Percent with ACT Math scores below 6:
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0%
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 30-36 range:
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65%
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 24-29 range:
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33%
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 18-23 range:
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2%
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 12-17 range:
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0%
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 6-11 range:
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0%
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Percent with ACT Composite scores below 6:
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0%
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Transfer Students: University of Southern California
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Deadlines
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Terms for which transfer students may apply for admission:
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Fall, Spring
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Application date for transfer students:
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February 1 (Fall)
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Admission decision sent:
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June 1 (Fall)
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Deadline for accepting admissions offers:
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July 1 (Fall)
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Requirements
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Do transfer applicants need a minimum number of credits to apply?
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No
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Minimum required high school GPA:
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N/A
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Minimum required college GPA:
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N/A
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High school transcript?
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Required of all
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College transcript?
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Required of all
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Essay/personal statement?
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Required of all
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Admission interview?
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Not required
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Standardized test scores?
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Required of some
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Statement of good standing from prior institution(s)?
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Not required
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Lowest course grade that may be transferred for credit:
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C-
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Maximum number of credit/courses that may be transferred:
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64 from a two-year school, 64 from a four-year school
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Is there a minimum number of credits needed to complete degree?
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64 credits for a bachelor's degree
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Transfer Student Application and Enrollment Statistics
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Total number of transfer students applying for Fall 2009:
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9,524
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Total number of transfer students accepted for Fall 2009:
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2,465
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Total number of transfer students enrolled for Fall 2009:
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1,370
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International Student Admissions: University of Southern California
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Deadlines and Requirements
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Application deadline:
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January 10 (Fall)
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Preapplication form required?
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No
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Separate application form required?
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No
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TOEFL
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TOEFL requirement?
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N/A
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May the TOEFL be submitted in place of the SAT or ACT?
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No
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Minimum TOEFL score required (paper test):
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N/A
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Minimum TOEFL score required (internet test):
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N/A
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Average TOEFL score (paper test):
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N/A
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Average TOEFL score (internet test):
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N/A
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