<p>"As USC continues its ascent in the world of higher education, more students are competing for the same number of coveted spots. This year’s admission rate, 17.8 percent, is the lowest in USC’s 134-year history."</p>
<p>“Our admission committee enjoyed getting to know the largest, most interesting group of students it has ever had the privilege of reading,” Brunold said in a press release. “USC’s distinctive academic programs, incredible diversity, vibrant campus life, global perspective and location in the heart of Los Angeles make it a very attractive option for the best and brightest students, not just from across the U.S., but from around the world.”</p>
<p>“Prospective students and families are quickly realizing that USC is the total package: career preparation, a thriving social scene, excellent athletics, incredible faculty, gorgeous campus, good food and amazing alumni networking,” Ofodu said. “There are now Trojans planted in every area of the world, and all of them are proudly talking up the university. </p>
<p>What the DT failed to report is that for at least the past two years, the official rate increased after the fall semester began because of spring admits who were added to the mix. Thus, at best the stats are misleading and at worst disingenuous.</p>
<p>@SeattleTW I heard the same information you did, though I don’t remember where. That’s something the university may not want out, but something I like to hear as a candidate for USC in the near future here. </p>
<p>Out of curiosity though, if we were to add the Spring admits, where would you estimate the actual % at?</p>
<p>Even accounting for the spring admits, the school is plenty of selective and the overall numbers support that. It also has a lot to do with the Common App. Not a huge deal. School has a several areas worthy of robust debate and reform, selectivity not chief among them.</p>
<p>Because one person can apply to multiple schools with one application (versus applying for each, individual school), the use of Common App for admissions increases the overall number who apply by A LOT. Whereas people wouldn’t spend the time to apply for a school they might consider a reach, the Common App eliminates that concern. The end result is that overall admissions goes up, and the acceptance rate is lowered. Also, schools make bank on fees from applicants who will never get in.</p>
<p>Interesting. Makes perfect sense. Can certainly see how the common app can be controversial.</p>
<p>Would it be fair to say that the entire Southern California culture and draw also leads to the increased number of applications. There’s always been something about our culture right here in news, media, music, movies and attractions that draws the out of staters as well as international students.</p>
<p>If USC, as it was, was located in say North Dakota, it wouldn’t get as many applicants I would reason. Not that we can really change that factor of course.</p>
<p>According to news reports spring admits are becoming more popular at colleges across the country. Many students save funds by graduating in 3 1/2 years. Study abroad in the spring semester is common. Colleges may perceive those empty slots as an opportunity to be filled with qualified applicants.</p>
<p>These are just some of the colleges/universities that have spring admits: </p>
<p>Univ. of Texas
Northeastern
Univ. of California at Berkeley
Univ. of Virginia (Some majors)
Bard
Colby
Middlebury
Pepperdine
Brandeis
American
Maryland
Syracuse
Loyola-Marymount
Franklin & Marshall
Texas Tech
Boston University
George Mason
Univ. of Florida</p>
<p>I always thought most schools allowed spring admits. I know back when I went to grad school at USC in the late 80s you could apply for spring admission, and my kids went to schools that allowed spring admits.</p>
<p>That’s not completely accurate. Most schools that require the Common App also require their own specific essay(s), sometimes as many as 5 extra essays. So if you’re applying to a school, you have to be prepared to write the extra essays and that may discourage some from randomly applying to schools where they realistically don’t have a good chance of being accepted. That said, having been through the process with my son over the past year, the acceptance criteria is very very difficult to judge from school to school.</p>
<p>@marcus… That’s true, some of the more selective schools have their own criteria, but for the most part, it’s just straight copypasta. And I do believe the university’s biggest undergrad school, Dornsife, doesn’t need additional essays. Even admissions concedes the drop has much to do with the Common App.</p>
<p>I think last year there were 21,000 applications or so. That was up from the year before. My own alma mater isn’t on the Common App, however, and our rate is up close to 50%. I think college admissions has become a sort of blood sport with students being pushed to apply to more and more schools as selectivity goes up. But that just makes it worse, IMHO. In the old days students applied to a handful - now it can be as high as 20 or 30 schools if the credit card has a large enough limit. Which really takes spots away from students who really want to attend a particular school.</p>
<p>I kind of wish college were more like a Medical School match. You rank your choices in order of preference. The schools rank theirs - and an algorithm makes the matches based on the two ranks. Kids with no options are then matched to open slots the day before the formal announcements are made. It would make life much easier.</p>