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Fall 2024 On-Campus MSW Application Main Deadline: April 1, 2024
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Trojan Guardian Scholars

Trojan Guardian Scholars at USC

Our Mission

The Trojan Guardian Scholars program is committed to supporting current and former foster youth who attend the University of Southern California and to building a regional network that creates new pathways for college-bound students exiting the foster care system. Through providing comprehensive support services, the Trojan Guardian Scholar program helps enable students who attend the University of Southern California to experience the campus to its fullest and to achieve their goals of academic excellence, self-sufficiency, and successful professional careers in their desired fields.

On Campus Support & Services

Trojan Guardian Scholars

Trojan Guardian Scholars provides a variety of wrap-around support services for students attending USC. TGS as an organization does not provide direct scholarships, however, it does provide comprehensive support in navigating, obtaining, and maintaining various forms of financial support available to current and former foster youth.

  • Assistance applying for financial aid
  • Help identifying and maintaining scholarships
  • Budget workshops and financial counseling
  • Potential year-round on-campus housing
  • Supplemental academic mentoring
  • Registration and enrollment assistance
  • Referrals to health and counseling services
  • Internship, fellowship, and career counseling
  • Peer mentoring and student programming
  • Cohort social events and holiday dinners
Students talking on campus

Trojan Guardian Scholars Has a New Home in Social Work

In May of 2022, Sara Jimenez McSweyn, senior lecturer at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, took over the reins of the Trojan Guardian Scholars (TGS) program as it moved to its new home at the school. It is a challenge she is honored to undertake, and one which she feels the school of social work is uniquely qualified and committed to support.

 

 

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About Us

The TGS program is a working partnership between the University of Southern California, private foundations, public agencies, private citizens, and other regional institutions of higher education. This partnership allows us to support our students through expanded internship and academic opportunities, and to build a regional pipeline between secondary and post-secondary institutions. Our goal is to increase the number of foster youth who apply to all colleges in the region and ensure they thrive once they are there. If you are interested in partnering with us, either through supporting our Trojan Guardian Scholars or through helping build our larger network please contact us.

Funding for TGS Students

USC’s Financial Aid Office provides generous financial aid packages to admitted students with demonstrated need. For most TGS students, the combination of university aid, federal grants and outside funding for foster youth covers the total costs of their entire higher education. For more information please visit the USC Financial Aid website.