The upper division application includes the following:

1. Application form (not used as part of application scoring)
2. Progression GPA (PGPA) 
3. One audio-visual interview
4. One written interview

Progression GPA (PGPA) will account for 95% of the final admission score. PGPA is calculated based on the following:

• Individual grade earned in each designated progression course will be used to calculate PGPA. Students have unlimited access to the university GPA calculator. At the time of receiving the preliminary ranking, students are provided a read-only PGPA calculator to calculate PGPA. A tutorial is available for students to determine how to calculate PGPA with scenarios, such as transfer credit or grade forgiveness. Additionally, advisors calculate a student’s PGPA during each course planning appointment. 
• If a student chooses to retake a progression course, any/all final, graded attempts will be calculated in the student's final PGPA. This includes lab-designated progression courses (i.e. BIOL 243L, etc.)
  • Grades earned in any course within the USC system, regardless of attempts, including the original grade, will remain on the transcript and will be counted towards the institutional GPA. If grade forgiveness is applied, the grade will not be counted in the institutional GPA but will remain on the transcript.
  • Grades earned in progression courses outside the USC system will be applied to the PGPA, but not the institutional GPA. 
• Students who earn grades of D+, D, F, FN, or WF in designated progression courses are eligible to apply for university grade forgiveness. Students must adhere to all University Registrar policies related to grade forgiveness.
  • Grade forgiveness may only be applied to courses taken through USC-Columbia, Lancaster, Salkehatchie, Sumter or Union. If grade forgiveness is applied, the original failing grade will not be counted in the institutional GPA or the PGPA but will remain on the transcript.

Interviews will account for a combined total 5% of the admission score. Students will complete interviews through a third-party vendor including completion of one audio-visual interview and one written interview. General rubrics for the audio-visual and written interviews will be published at least two weeks prior to the opening of the upper division application to aid student preparation.