How to get into USC

<p>What undergraduate school at University of Southern California is the easiest to get into? Acceptance rates? What are the hardest?</p>

<p>I’m not positive, but I’m pretty sure the easiest school to get in to is the college of letters, arts, and sciences, and the hardest is the film school (something like a 5% acceptance rate?). Overall, USC’s acceptance rate is somewhere in the low 20%s I think.</p>

<p>Ditto molliegym.</p>

<p>Also: if you apply to, say, Marshall (business school) or Viterbi (engineering school), it’s possible that you could get in to CLAS, but not the school you originally applied to (though it may be possible to transfer in).</p>

<p>I’m assuming your either a sophomore or a junior. Make sure you prepare well for the PSAT (if you’re a sophomore), SAT, and ACT, because that’s (apparently) one of the main ways USC calculates merit aid. They have scholarships for 1/4, 1/2, and full tuition; if you are a National Merit Commended Student, you automatically get the 1/4 tuition scholarship (I’m almost positive on this); if you are a National Merit Semi-Finalist/Finalist, you automatically get the 1/2 tuition scholarship (I think?).</p>

<p>***EDIT- In response to your thread title (How to get into USC)- get good grades, and study for those standardized tests! Essays are important. I’m not sure if USC tracks interest (that is, if they keep track of whether or not you’ve visited or gone to an info session). Interviews can be helpful, but they’re not at all necessary- apparently only like 10% of people who apply actually interview (I didn’t interview, and I got in).</p>

<p>Thank you! =)</p>

<p>You are very welcome!</p>

<p>Also, a heads up: make sure to get your application in by the scholarship deadline (I think it’s December 1?) if you want to be considered for the scholarships. The application is kind of confusing and a pain to figure out (USC is not on the common app), but it’s worth it. You have to enter your grades (for every class), so you’ll want a copy of your transcript when it comes time.</p>

<p>I really would say interest is key. I was definitely less qualified stat wise in comparison to other applicants and I can only say that the reason I got in was because I really showed my interest in my essays/shortanswers. Also send in recs because USC doesn’t require you to send teacher rec’s in but I sent like three in anyway. best of luck.</p>

<p>Good point, nastynate0315. There is an essay question that asks why you chose USC (or something like that); show you’re really interested (for example, I mentioned some courses and professors from my major that sounded really cool, and an elective that interested me).</p>

<p>I would also add that legacy means nothing unless you are overly qualified, and if you are a URM it is a HUGE help. Last year at my D’s school 10 of the 12 kids admitted were minority, and this year one student didn’t get in whose mother teaches at the university. It’s very, very tough.</p>