27% Accept rate???!/Chances

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

<p>half chance/half how hard question </p>

<p>collegeboard lists USC as having 27% acceptance rate and an average gpa of 4.0. However, my college consular says USC is in my likely range (between safety and reach) I have a 3.29ish UW GPA and a SAT of 2120 (660CR/710M/750W) with a fair amount of ECs. I shouldn’t have a chance to be a Trojan (GPA wise), but some message boards say that getting a 3.3 and 2000+ can get you in. Do I have a shot at getting into USC or is my consular insane? Is the 27%/4.0 just some hogwash? </p>

<p>Any response would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>I think 27% is a bit high actually. Wasn't it under 25% for the class of '06? Someone correct me if I'm wrong.</p>

<p>3.29 UW is a bit low, unless you have a good weighted GPA or outstanding and unique EC's or something else stands out about you.</p>

<p>Don't count yourself out though, I didn't think I would get in but I did!</p>

3

<p>The answer is that it depends on a lot more than GPA and SAT. It depends on your essay, reccomendations, extracurriculars, and not least of all, what major you apply to. For instance, it's not too hard to get into the college of Letters, Arts, and Sciences as an undeclared major, but the School of Architecture acceptance rate is around 12%, and I bet the film school is even tougher. </p>

<p>So, with just those numbers to go by, I'd guess that SC is a 'slight reach' for you, but that's really not much to judge by.</p>

4

<p>im probably going undeclared so thats pretty good news. ive also got intresting ECs which may help. Thanks for yalls input!</p>

5

<p>i had a 3.4 1980 and I got in</p>

6

<p>Does USC automatically consider you as undeclared in arts and sciences if you're not accepted to your first choice major's school?</p>

7

<p>I think you have some chance of getting in. I had an uw gpa a tiny bit heigher than yours (3.4ish) and 2200+ SAT's and got in. USC really looks at stuff other than your gpa as well.</p>

8

<p>Yes, USC automatically considers you as undeclared if you don't get into your first or second choice majors.</p>

9

<p>you might have a chance to still get in.</p>

<p>with a gpa around 3.3 you would really need to bulk up your ecs and i definately recommend an interview it really helps!</p>

10

<p>USC is about more than numbers. Don't really know my son's unweighted GPA, but at the end of junior year, his weighted GPA was only about 3.8 & had some honors & AP grades boosting it.
Your good test scores can only help & I think you have a good shot if you work hard on your aps & getting good recs. Definitely worth applying, but not a "sure thing."
Actually USC is not a "sure thing" for lots of good students. My son's good friend was admitted to Penn & got great merit & need aid from Boston U & rejected from USC, so there is some randomness factor in admissions.</p>

11

<p>It's hard to gage your chances with such little info. How hard has your course load been-have you taken a lot of honors/AP/IB classes? Are there any sort of extenuating circumstances that you want the adcom to take into account? If you've proven that you've challenged yourself and that you've used every available resource to help you perform at your best, I think USC will look at your grades more kindly. Your SAT score looks to be in line, although if you could boost it a bit more in a retake, it certainly wouldn't hurt.</p>

<p>A really strong essay, good recs and an interview may help to gloss over your GPA. And USC does like more unusual ECs, especially if they fall under the fields of study in which the university specializes. If you don't mind my asking, what are your "interesting" ECs?</p>