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I've heard a lot of talk about USC getting harder to get into. Offered as evidence is that the mean SAT and GPA of their incoming class is getting higher. While I do believe it is getting somewhat harder, it is not as hard to get in as at Berkeley or UCLA even though their mean SAT is lower (fact offered up by USC President). I'd even say that being admitted to UCI or UCSD is more difficult overall (program dependent).

In the past few years, USC has been offering more and more full scholarships to highly qualified students who would otherwise have to pay to attend other schools. That has been increasing the mean SAT and GPA averages of their smaller (compared to Cal's and UCLA's) incoming freshman class. This does not mean getting into USC is all that difficult.

I know this for a fact because I knew (non-legacy, non minority) HS students who were accepted by USC this past year with 3.5 GPA's and 1150 SATs. Those numbers are far below USC's most recently stated mean 3.96 GPA and 1370 SAT scores.

So for those of you with similar stats but who have been intimidated by those misleading and inflated numbers, apply and your chances for admission are still good. For more info, look at US News rankings under the SAT/ACT 25-75th percentile and the freshman percentage of students in the top 10% of HS Class as well as acceptance rates. They are better indicators of your chances for admission.

By Cbm (Cbm) on Tuesday, May 27, 2003 - 07:50 am: Edit

I also know a student with 1200 SAT, 3.95 GPA, great EC's and a strong legacy that did not get in.

By Spartan858585 (Spartan858585) on Tuesday, May 27, 2003 - 11:57 pm: Edit

Gmoney I gotta agree with you on this because I too have heard that USC inflates their GPA and SAT scores on all published reports that they send out.

By Spartan858585 (Spartan858585) on Tuesday, May 27, 2003 - 11:59 pm: Edit

Admission wise the difficulty of getting into USC is in between UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara. But it is more towards the UC San Diego side.

By Kow (Kow) on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 12:51 am: Edit

my friend got into USC with a 3.6 GPA, 1280 SAT's, 3's on AP History and AP English, non-minority, non-legacy. HOWEVER she was a very talented dancer. She did ballet since she was 5, danced in, as well as choreographed 4 school plays, teaches kids ballet during the school year and in summer, etc.
As you can see, without her extensive dance background, I doubt think her academic merits alone would have gained her admission.
I think USC likes special talents that contribute to their diversity.

By Howsah (Howsah) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 02:09 am: Edit

I was just at USC's East Coast Orientation. The average SAT score is 1340 and the average GPA is 3.8 (for incoming Freshmen to the Fall 2003 semester). I'm non-legacy, non-minority.. I got a 1290 with a 3.8 GPA with 6 APs total (between junior and senior year), with concert band and theater experience. So, I agree that USC is both academically and talent diversified and therefore, they accept different types of students. If you're afraid of applying, do it anyway. Your talents and extracurriculars may give you that extra boost you need to help you out in the long run. If you're seriously interested in SC, have an interview, too. If the school feels it knows you sort of better than what you give them initially, they may look at you more positively than not.

By Chiangkaishrek (Chiangkaishrek) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 06:30 am: Edit

Guys and gals.

If you have a high GPA and very high SAT score, I'd recommend you attend UCLA or Berkeley, rather than USC. Don't get me wrong, I used to attend SC as an undergraduate, and graduated a year ago.
And you folks are right, you still can get a 1250 on your SAT, and get accepted to USC. It's really not that competitive...well...in terms of MY criteria. My friend got accepted to the architecture program at SC with an 1190 on his SAT and a 3.90 GPA. Hm....that was 2 years ago...and maybe the competition might have increased.
But overall, if you're looking for an intellectual experience, I would not recommend USC.

By Selmer (Selmer) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 05:46 pm: Edit

Could I have gotten in USC, I know its too late but I just have the question in the back of my head.

1320 (720v, 600m)

3.8 UC GPA

610w riting, 600 mathIC, 690 USHist

EC's were average and I think my essays would have been decent

I didn't apply because 1)I didn't think I'd get in 2)I didn't think I could afford it

I'm going to UC-Davis this fall but I regret not having applied to USC, NYU, and Occidental.

Oh well, use me as an example, apply WHEREVER you want.

By Gogo (Gogo) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 02:28 pm: Edit

I just heard that I got in and I am so happy! I have wanted to go to USC for years! I feel like spreading my job: I love you all!

By Selmer (Selmer) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 07:47 pm: Edit

Congrats gogo, how did you just hear now? Are you a trasfer?

By Gogo (Gogo) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 02:01 pm: Edit

I am a transfer and they said they couldn't decide on me until they got my spring grades. I had all my profs email them my grades and then called to see if they got them and they told me I was admitted!

By Lethalfang (Lethalfang) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 03:48 pm: Edit

University of California reports your SAT score on one single sitting.
USC and many other schools combines your best math score and best verbal score as your SAT score.
If you score 700M and 600V the first time, and 600M and 700V the second time. UC will report that you have a 1300, while USC will report you have a 1400.

By Tsdad (Tsdad) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 09:16 pm: Edit

Selmer:

Don't have regrets. Enjoy Davis.

USC was very hard to get into this year. I think the average was 1370. Money is available. My son was rejected for the quarter merit scholarahip he applied for, but the student aid office on their own decided to give him $4,000 a year. Not much in the sceme of things, but that's $16,000 I don't have to pay.

If you're still interest next year think about transferring.

Gogo--Congats. Have fun.

By Fiza (Fiza) on Sunday, June 15, 2003 - 09:24 pm: Edit

i wanna go there..

By Shitakirimusume (Shitakirimusume) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 03:52 am: Edit

To Selmer

>Could I have gotten in USC, I know its too late but I just have the question in the back of my head.
1320 (720v, 600m)
3.8 UC GPA
610w riting, 600 mathIC, 690 USHist
EC's were average and I think my essays would have been decent I didn't apply because

>1)I didn't think I'd get in

・Yes, you could have gotten in.

> 2)I didn't think I could afford it

・With yours, you couldn't have got scholarships.
so yes, you coudn't afford it.


・I'm going to UC-Davis this fall but I regret 　　not having applied to USC, NYU, and Occidental.

UCD is a good school. So great choice for you
provided you are not strong in Math.
(SAT 600 SAT Math IC 600 are weak. Math IIC?)
USC is a SAT whore.
You need 1450 to get scholarships.

USC without scholarships, you are in.
NYU & Occidental. No, you couldn't get in.
You need 1400 SAT unless you have Strong ECs.

By Bignate (Bignate) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 10:40 am: Edit

if I get a full ride to USC, am I better off in USC or UCLA/UCB (in state)

By Jlq3d3 (Jlq3d3) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 11:17 am: Edit

If I got a full ride at Usc, I would go there instead of UCLA. They have a lot more money, smaller classes, more personal attention...

By Shitakirimusume (Shitakirimusume) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 04:26 am: Edit

Full ride. Go to SC. You end up going to
SC b-school, SC L-school , SC M-school
which are pretty good for free.

By Cbm (Cbm) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 10:37 am: Edit

I would go there if they offered you the money. It is a decent undergrad progam and on the uprise. My son is going in the fall with a scholarship. (GPA 4.0, SAT 1510)When he weighed the pros and cons, he definitely felt it was worth it. I have to say that they have been very welcoming to him and he appreciates how they have treated him.

By Scoobasean (Scoobasean) on Saturday, April 10, 2004 - 04:43 pm: Edit

SC stats:

approx. 30000 applied, approx. 3000 accepted
average SAT: 1377

approx. 3600 applied to engineering school
approx. 390 accepted (i'm one of those)

I applied for financial aid. My fafsa said my EFC was 17900. USC is going to give me 23000 in grants (free money), 2500 in work study, and about 4000 in subsidized loans. the rest, my parents are going to help me cover. So, if you're worried about money, apply anyways and wait to hear from their financial aid office.. They're very generous.

I recently visited USC and found the campus to be very pretty. The weather was nice (from a washingtonian perspective). It wasn't the nicest part of LA, but they have lots of security in order to keep the students safe. They have challenging academic programs. Lots of undergraduate research opportunities. They're a great school.