I completed my undergraduate application back on December 1st, but I was just looking up the USC screenwriting program’s acceptance rate and I freaked out when I saw it only accepts 24 undergrads annually.
Do I have a chance at getting in or do I need to adjust my hopes?
Biography:
White, seventeen-year-old female
Academics:
4.15 GPA
5 AP classes currently, including Calc AB, Chem, and Lang
Notable extra-curriculars:
Speech club president
Section editor of HS newspaper
President of charity outreach
President of Poetry Club
Mock Trial team captain
Shift leader at my job
Achievements mentioned in my application:
Iowa Young Writer’s Studio graduate
Wrote a musical for my school’s drama club to produce
But I think my actual application may have shot me in the foot, especially with such enormous odds. I want to mention that my writing was pretty well, done, but…
-I didn’t get to mention all my resume in my application.
-My pieces didn’t always very closely answer the prompt. Will that kill my chances?
-I also linger on my family problems extensively in my essay, because that’s facilitated a lot of changes in my life and so was involved in my character sketch and my most challenging moment essay. Will that make me look over-dramatic?
-Finally, my Creative Challenge B I freaking wrote about Fortnite, because I was running out of time with no better ideas. So it’s a comedy-parody. Could that eliminate me right off the bat?
Finally, I’m graduating a year early from high school. Do you think that affect their decision?
Generally speaking… In terms of getting “Chanced” for USC, it is virtually impossible for others to predict what may or may not occur in your specific case. With an admit rate now below 12% and falling, and with 4K+ applicants with 4.0 unweighted GPAs and test scores in the 99th percentile among those not gaining admission, your success will instead likely depend on too many potential factors for anyone to correctly evaluate… making predicting admission nearly impossible. But this also shows that they admit many without perfect grades or test scores. They are after all seeking to craft a well-rounded and diverse freshman class comprised of those who actually have a strong affinity for or connection to USC. They do aim to admit those who they project will thrive well at USC and bring something unique to the campus environment.
So your individual admission decision will likely come down to a composite and holistic analysis of your stats coupled with writing ability / essays, ECs, potential leadership roles, potential other unique qualifiers (URM, First Gen, geography, demographics, etc.), your Why USC? explanation/reasoning, etc. And that “Why USC?” explanation is likely the most important single component of your application. You do need to provide a well-thought out and well-researched answer as to why attending USC is truly significant and important to you specifically. And moreover, USC does want to gain a sense as to what you will be uniquely contributing to the greater USC community if admitted.
I suggest reading through the very helpful insider’s guide to USC admissions…
But in terms of SCA, the admission rates are even lower. The writing program will likely only accept 2-3%. It is extremely competitive, and your admission decision will quite simply come down to your writing ability, unique perspective toward your craft and how they perceive your skill set in terms of creativity and creative expression.
Keep in mind, that it is possible to be admitted into USC but only Undeclared. Such happened to my younger daughter in 2017. She later transferred into SCA as an internal transfer. Those internal transfer admit rates are quite better. So if SCA is you dream… that is a possibility or option too.
