How to Get Into USC SAT and ACT Scores, GPA, and More

USC, short for the University of Southern California, appeals to students because it’s an elite academic institution situated downtown in one of the hippest cities on earth: Los Angeles. What’s cooler than going to class at a super prestigious university and then seeing movies on the weekends before the rest of the country?! Not much. According to USC’s â€Å"About† page, â€Å"An anchor institution in Los Angeles, a global center for arts, technology and international business, USC’s diverse curricular offerings provide extensive opportunities for interdisciplinary study and collaboration with leading researchers in highly advanced learning environments.† Basically, USC has it all. In fact, USC was recently ranked 18th by the Wall Street Journal of 1,061 public and private schools, among only two other schools from California in the top 25‒Stanford and Caltech. So, as you can see, USC is an impressive university, and as you might imagine, it’s not super easy to get into. Before we jump into a thorough overview of exactly what you’ll need to get accepted, here are some quick facts on USC. Quick USC Admissions Statistics USC SAT scores (average composite score of admitted students)100. This means that if you score a composite 1300 or below, you will be below average compared to the students admitted to USC. The 75th percentile for USC SAT scores is 1500. This means that if you score a composite 1500 or higher, you’ll be above average compared to the students admitted to USC. Depending on which program you’re applying to specifically, and because USC looks at only the highest scores in a given section, you may be interested in knowing how the percentiles for each test section shake out: SectionAverage25th Percentile75th Percentile Math710650770 Reading690650730 Composite 1001500 Knowing what scores to aim for in each section can help you put an effective SAT study plan in place, and help you target areas most in need of improvement. So, at the end of the day, if USC is your dream school, we suggest that you take the SAT as many times as necessary to get a composite score of 15% last year for the class of 2022! USC received 66,000 freshman applications this year, a whopping 2,000 more than last year! At the end of the day, this is good news! USC is thriving, and should you be admitted, you’ll be attending one of the most selective colleges in the country. But it also means that you’re going to have to really stand out as a candidate if you want the chance to call yourself a Trojan! USC Freshman Profile According to the article linked above, The incoming Class of 2023 is the most diverse admitted class in USC history, with underrepresented minority students making up 29.5 percent and first-generation students making up 15 percent of the admission pool — a jump from last year’s respective 26 and 14.28 percent. The most recent USC freshman profile available is for the class of 2022, which gives us some great insight about the demographic breakdown of USCs recently admitted students. The USC News article, â€Å"USC sees record number of applicants for fall 2018 admission† also has tons of comprehensive information on USC’s class of 2022. Here is some of the most notable data on these students: 85% have standardized test scores at or above the 95th percentile. 60% enrolled in seven or more Advanced Placement and/or International Baccalaureate courses in high school. Nearly 800 are non-native English speakers. 25% are Asian, 16% are Latino, and 6% are African American. 26% are from underrepresented minority populations. They come from 3,287 different high schools. 39% of students came from California. After California, the leading U.S. states for students are, in order: Texas, New York, Illinois, Washington and Florida. They come from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and American Samoa. 17% of students are international, representing 87 countries. After the United States, the most represented countries are China, India, South Korea, Canada, and Brazil. So again, the trajectory of admissions at USC is accepting a highly diverse and academically impressive group of students! USC Other Admissions Requirements and Info USC contends that there is no one formulaic tactic for getting admitted, and that they consider the well-roundedness of your application. This is a really thorough and helpful overview of all of USC’s undergraduate admissions requirements, but here’s a quick checklist of what you’ll need to apply: Common Application with essay Official test scores Transcript with all high school coursework and grades earned Letter of recommendation (from either your school counselor or a teacher); applicants to the School of Cinematic Arts must submit 3 letters of recommendation. Portfolio, resume, or additional writing samples, depending on the program you’re applying to (scroll to the bottom of the admissions requirements page linked above for specifics) Your fall grades, when available Additionally, USC will consider the following when reviewing your application: Your academic promise. In addition to test scores and GPA, it’s important to note that most admitted students are in the top 10% of their graduating class. The more challenging classes you take, the better, especially if you receive high grades in them; this indicates that you can keep up with the academic rigor of the courses at USC. Your personality, values, and character, as reflected in your essays and in your letters of recommendation. According to admissions, â€Å"Your application will paint a picture of you and how you might contribute to the community, tradition, and spirit that make USC the dynamic place it is,† so the more you can stand out from the crowd, the better! Pursue activities that you’re passionate about, not activities that will supposedly impress colleges. When reviewing your activity summary, USC doesn’t evaluate how well-rounded or busy you are. They want to understand what makes you tick. Show dedication and commitment over time to specific areas of interest. Highlight what matters to you and why it matters. If you want to impress the USC admissions team, stop worrying about what they want to hear. Focus on being open, honest, and authentic. Write what matters to you and let your personality and passion shine through. Transizion expert Ashley C. on how to make your USC application stand out USC FAQs Does USC use the Common App? It sure does! The Common App, which stands for the Common Application, is a universal undergraduate college admissions application that many schools use. Arguably, the most important part of the Common App is the essay portion, so here’s a guide to writing an impressive common app essay that will make your application stand out! Does USC accept AP credit? The short answer is yep, it does! USC will award 4 hours of elective credit for all AP exams earning a 4 or 5. For more information, check out this page about AP credit at USC. Does USC accept spring transfers? Yes, unlike a lot of other schools, USC accepts mid-year transfers during their freshman year. Here’s more specifics on how to transfer to USC. Is USC need-blind? Yes. What this means is that USC does not take your need (or lack thereof) for financial assistance into consideration when reviewing your application. USC also offers plenty of financial aid options in the form of scholarships, grants, and more. Does USC interview? This is a great overview of the interviews at USC, but the short answer is that USC does not require them. Interviews at USC are optional (and in fact, not everyone who requests one will get one), and are intended to help you gain a better understanding of the school. Your interview will be included in your application review, but it won’t hurt you not to have one. In fact, USC encourages requesting an interview only if you’re someone who feels you’re â€Å"better in person† than on paper. How To Get Into USC How to get into USC? Let’s recap! Here’s your â€Å"How To Get Into USC† Checklist†¦You need: Earn as close to a 4.0 GPA (or higher) as possible Score at least a 1500 on your SAT Score at least a 34 on your ACT Write a very strong and compelling essay Demonstrate participation in extracurricular activities, particularly in leadership roles, if possible. Have a very strong letter of recommendation (or multiple letters, if your department requires them) And of course, in order to do well on your SAT and ACT, start studying as early as possible! Check out this 1-week SAT free trial as well as a great 1-week ACT free trial to get you started! You got this!