LegacyMom, the way it was explained to us by SCA Admissions is each SCA major makes up a list of the students they would like to comprise their major–based on the portfolio and SCA supplement. However, those lists of potential admits by major then go to SCA admissions and they eliminate students whose stats will not meet USC’s admit range. The admissions woman from SCA wouldn’t specify exactly where the lowpoint cutoff would be, but she said it was a process they had to comply with because the university would not let them admit a class of highly talented by stat-challenged applicants. She said SCA may fight to admit one or two on the lowest side, but they need a compelling reason to challenge USC’s standards (won exceptional awards? had a very challenging home life? come from a war-torn country?) and those students are asked to attend a summer program to get them ready for college level courses. So, while very high grades are not really a big selling point for SCA in themselves (no one in the early screening process may even notice, frankly), it sounds very unlikely that an extremely low gpa/score student could be admitted. The million dollar question is–what makes a score/gpa too low? We can only look at the self-reported stats here on CC and among acquaintances to get an idea.
The main qualifier for admission is (as LM and LayraS stated) mostly the supplement. I’ll also speculate, that while LayraS’s SAT score may be a little below the average for top scholarship candidates USC-wide, it is not a huge difference. Same is likely true for regular decisions.
@madbean , I don’t doubt that USC has a minimum threshold that must be met for the talent-heavy majors, I just don’t believe, from what I have seen, that they have to get admitted to the university before they are considered for the SCA. Talent gives SCA applicants some wiggle room on their test scores that other applicants don’t have, BTW, I think Layra’s scores are great – probably where the average admit would be. But, as others have noted, that probably means the non-scholarship admits in the SCA have lower scores, I don’t have a problem with that. I think the SCA should have a bit of discretion in that area. But that doesn’t mean SCA kids aren’t smart. I don’t remember my test scores, but I’m sure Laya’s are higher than mine were.
^^ Same. There are so many applicants these days, the process goes on simultaneously I believe. USC admissions (regional reps) review all the files from their areas and likely rank them, while at the same time the various specialty schools also are evaluating the files. It’s understandable that highly popular Schools (with small numbers of available profs to review applications) may not get to reviewing those who list their major as a 2nd choice these days. But 4 years ago, my son was admitted to both his 1st and 2nd choice majors–both talent/portfolio based, so I am pretty sure some of the schools do review them all. But maybe that was just a fluke. Anyway, when SCA gives their list to USC admissions, the finalists are reviewed/approved, unless there is a real outlier in the group. However, there are some who have excellent scores/gpa/ecs/ applications in general and they will have been selected for admissions by USC (and usually they get admitted as undecided major). It’s not a precise science (in my observation) but they are trying to process through a huge number of supplements, etc, and give each applicant a serious look–both by the 1st choice major and the university admissions office. So, while I agree with you that they don’t get processed FIRST by USC and given a thumbs up, then move along to SCA, I believe most of this is happening around the same time and they coordinate at the end. Sometimes there are misunderstandings–as in my S2’s double admission.
“However, there are some who have excellent scores/gpa/ecs/ applications in general and they will have been selected for admissions by USC (and usually they get admitted as undecided major.” Yes, that is what happened with my first son, but I got the impression (based on the reaction from the woman he spoke to at the SCA) that that was rare.
Does anyone know what the applicant pool is like as far as competitiveness? Like, is it Harvard-esque (every applicant is valedictorian), or is it possibly a bit more lax with a lot of LA residents applying for the heck of it?
@katcon, Here is the freshman profile. The far right column shows the stats for the applicant pool. As you can see, the stats for the applicant pool is less competitive than what you would expect to see from those applying to Harvard, My guess is that a combination of LA residents applying and the common app making it easier to apply to multiple schools makes the applicant pool a bit more lax.
Maybe my wording was not clear enough…what they told me at info sessions is pretty much what @madbean is saying, so if USC doesn’t admit you, SCA can’t either. Sorry about any confusion.
Also, what I originally intended to say was that if the average SAT score of scholarship candidates is 2290, and I’m nominated with a 2150, then that correlation might as well translate to general admissions, i.e. it’s possible to be admitted to SCA with lower scores.
@DL43516 although I wish with all my heart that they would come RIGHT THIS SECOND, yes, I believe that most likely they’ll be released sometime during the last week of March… Maybe on the 25th? In the past it looks like they went out on the last Wednesday of March but don’t quote me on this… But if not on that Wednesday sometime that week probably…
@dogluuuver97 same here. High five haha XD I’ve been so anxious lately because I’ve applied to a lot of schools that are WAAAAAAAY out of my league (–league-- Ivy league-- get it? get it? hahahah I’ll shut up now lol). I just hope I get into one school. ANY school. I’ve been deferred by UChicago and rejected by WUSTL and I’m feeling pretty darn anxious right now. I’m on the brink of going crazy XD
@dogluuuver97@gamink348 In the same boat as you both- especially with the applying to schools out of my league, Gamink! Rejections from UVA,UNC - CH, and most recently Wash U. Hopefully the west coast works out for all of us!
@gamink348@StressyMessi guys I got “waitlisted” from WUSTL… does your letter from wustl say things like if you want to get on the waitlist click on this button or whatever??? or not?