<p>I'm a current high school junior, getting ready to start applying this fall. I was wondering if USC's SCA (School of Cinematic Arts) looks at your portfolio first before the University looks at the Common application. I take challenging courses and multiple AP classes but my unweighted GPA for freshman and sophomore year was a 3.7 (though this year it is around a 3.9). However, my portfolio and resume for film is much more impressive than my transcript. I was just hoping that it might have a little more weight in the application process for potential film students.</p>
<p>SCA has said that they only look at your application after you have been accepted to the main school. So you first have to be accepted to USC and then your application is passed on to SCA.</p>
<p>Unless things have changed in the last year or so, I don’t think that is correct, leorabk. SCA doesn’t wait until you’re admitted to the University. Madbean has 2 kids in the SCA (Interactive Media) and he knows a fair amount about the process. But it is my impression that they will lower the academic standards bar a little bit for talented SCA applicants. Good luck, Addodd!</p>
<p>A 3.7 will hardly sink you, especially if SAT/ACT is high. They review applicants holistically and portfolio is very important.</p>
<p>According to CB’s 2011 College Handbook freshman class profile, 50% had 3.74 gpa or lower.</p>
<p>SCA’s admissions rep tells visiting families/applicants that they put a lot of weight on the portfolio and essays when making decisions–looking for evidence of dedication, passion, talent, leadership, creative ECs that are heavy involvements over the years plus internships, work experience and awards. They said they do, of course, also look at each applicant’s GPA/test scores, etc because their final list (compiled by professors in each SCA major plus SCA’s admissions committee) is coordinated (somehow) with general USC admissions and each student must be admissible.</p>
<p>Comparing your stats to admitted students for 2011/12, if you place near the mean grades (3.72 ugpa) and above the 25% level in SATs (>1970), I would suspect this will present no problem. For those with somewhat lower stats than that, SCA seems to be able to make a case if they really are committed to a student. However, SCA says that some students have just not shown the rigor in coursework in HS or the grades earned to convince general admission they can thrive at the university, no matter how much promise for filmmaking they may show.</p>
<p>It appears, however, that OP has grades/scores in a good range for admission to USC. No matter what the decision from SCA, it is always possible he will be admitted to his second choice major or as undeclared major in Dornsife. </p>
<p>But in case the question is: will having exceptional grades or even higher test scores help with SCA admissions, we observers on cc don’t see that as having any additional impact for SCA admissions.</p>
<p>Hope that helps clear it up a little.</p>