Into USC with low SAT (international student)

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

Hi, everyone. I’m extremely passionate about applying to USC but I have 1110 on the SAT. Do I still have some chances to get into and get a scholarship? My unweighted GPA is 3.9, a lot of extracurriculars, volunteering and stories to write about in essays.

2

https://oir.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/CDS_2018-2019_FINAL1.pdf section C9 says the 25th percentile is 1350, so you’re on the low side.

3

Your chance of getting admitted is very very low. Probably zero unless you have a hook. Your chances of getting a scholarship are even lower. As an international student financial aid and scholarships will be even harder than for U.S. citizens.

4

Thanks, what about ASU? Do you think I can get in?

5

ASU? Probably, but not with a scholarship.

6

Agree with the above, but also depends on your major. If you’re applying to one of the arts schools, your portfolio and awards might carry more weight than your SAT score.

7

Actually, getting a scholarship - at least one large enough to make a notable difference in affordability - anywhere with a 1110 SAT is going to be very, very difficult.

A high GPA coupled with a low SAT may possibly suggest that your school could have a bit of grade inflation. If there are extenuating circumstances for the low score, you should ask your guidance counselor/headmaster to explain them in his letter of recommendation.

8

Agree but doesn’t it make a difference that I’m international. How could I score that much as Americans do on the SAT?

9

It doesn’t make a difference because in theory, the SAT is supposed to measure how ready you are for college. Since grading is done differently at each school, your SAT score is the only true indicator of where you stand in comparison to other applicants. It makes no sense to lower the standards for internationals, because ultimately, you’ll be taking the same classes as everyone else.

Of course, whether or not the SAT actually measures how ready you are for college is an entirely different can of worms, and you could start a whole conversation about unequal access to resources such as prep courses, inadequate fee waivers for low-income students etc. But like I said, that’s a different conversation.

EDIT: I will add that I was an international student on a Trustee scholarship. My scores were above USC’s average, but below the Trustee candidate average, which was a 2260, I believe (old SAT). I was also in SCA, though, so my portfolio probably carried more weight.