My DREAM in life is to get into USC. I am an extremely driven and passionate high school student (I’m going to be a sophomore in high school next year). Since I still have a lot of time in my high school career, can anyone give me some tips and help in getting accepted to USC? Thank you so much!
By the way, so far my stats are:
4.0 GPA
I tried taking the PSAT as a freshman, only scored a 200, but I’m going to work really hard on getting that up.
I do lots of health and medicine related community service (Red Cross, Hospital, ETC)
Why would you take the PSAT as a freshman…?
I can’t imagine that this was advise you got from a GC.
I suggest that you wait to take it again during junior year, in conjunction with your prep for any other standardized tests (ACT or SAT) that you’ll be taking in the Spring of your junior year.
Some schools, such as the UC’s, require that ALL test scores on attempted tests be submitted. Some private schools do allow for ‘score choice,’ but I’m not sure about USC.
While a PSAT in freshman year won’t really hurt you, it may be seen with your other scores and could make those USC counselors reading your application during your senior year, really wonder about why you thought this was a good idea.
It’s good to have a dream and USC is a good one.
Try to be patient. The best thing you can do now to increase your chances is to get the best grades/GPA possible
for the next three years.
Here is a link to the USC freshman profile, so that you can compare yourself and hopefully project your future stats into these probable admission ranges:
But beyond these basics, I would recommend that you identify a true passion and then focus an appropriate amount of time and energy toward such. Colleges like USC generally prefer admitting applicants who can demonstrate having a passion and elaborate upon the efforts and results that come from dedicating time and energy toward it. And it is generally better to focus on just one or two activities versus spreading yourself too thin trying to be someone who joins a # of activities. Ultimately, showing commitment and then possibly advancing into a leadership role with that one activity would be preferable than being in 10 clubs with only a marginal attachment to each.
It is USC’s goal to produce a well-rounded freshman class. That does not necessarily mean that every applicant needs to show effort toward being well-rounded themselves. And USC, like most elite colleges, professes to using an holistic approach toward evaluating applicants.
Here is what USC Admissions says about the process themselves: “First-year applicants are evaluated on the content and rigor of their high school coursework, their grades, standardized test scores, activity summary, essay, short answers and counselor/teacher recommendations. There are no absolute “cutoffs” or minimums for grades, rank in class, or test scores. We are interested in the interplay of these elements as well as your personal accomplishments and potential for success.”
@hop not OP but it’s not uncommon for freshman to take the PSAT. My HS had students take the PSAT every year, although the scores didn’t matter, it’s a good way to expose underclassmen to what the SAT is like (also helps them track their progress and prep for junior PSAT)
Thanks @GudMornin.
I guess that I am just responding to that which perpetuates and ramps up the overall anxiety levels of students and parents surrounding admission.
The OP is equating their current low scores as a freshman to dashed USC dreams – just a bit too prematurely, which to me is evidence of ‘trickle down’ admission pressure.
Although I fully understand the reasons for standardized testing as a baseline for comparing students, many tend to forget that the CollegeBoard and the ACT are businesses first and foremost.
By extension that means that they need to expand and move their product lines whenever possible, including multiple PSAT’s. In my highly populated state, the chances of a student actually getting to NMS are very low.
Taking and re-taking meaningless test (each time for another fee) to raise scores that could be improved by adequate prep, seems questionable to me.
Working toward a solid GPA, followed by test prep in the months immediately prior to the test, seem like a saner approach. Since most student will already take either the ACT or SAT more than once to take advantage of potential super-scoring, plus AP tests, that works out to an inordinate amount of testing…
The best test-taking strategy we found, we found by accident.
They both took the SAT when they were young (at age 12 for one, age 11 for the other), in order to qualify for Johns Hopkins CTY/SET. They felt no pressure at the time, did well for their age, and have never been scared of standardized tests since then.
It’s great that you’re starting early with testing and preparing yourself as a freshman. My one advice is to not get too caught up in testing tho. Of course you should study, take a class here and there and take it a few times but it’s not the end all be all. I was never that diligent with testing and I got into USC with a 1860 SAT and 30 ACT. That being said I have a ton of extra curriculars and leadership positions, good grades, and other things that made me appealing like my essays . My advice would be to keep up your extra curriculars and join a diverse range of them and of course keep your grades up. Good luck! Hope to see you in 3 years!
Make sure, when you eventually get there, to apply by their “merit aid cut-off” deadline (Dec. 1 in 2015, I think.)
USC seems to be very aware of student interest. Find things about the school that interest you and initiate a dialogue with admissions.
Schedule your interview EARLY. If you are close enough or in a position to get to LA for an interview - they only give a certain number and they fill up really fast. It seems to me USC is big on, and rewards, true passionate interest. Things like early deadline and getting in time for an interview seem to add weight to applications.
Like many schools, I think USC is a place where artful campaigning can tip the scales for a bubble applicant.
Also be aware of which school/program you are applying to. I would never suggest a student change or modify their interest in order to get into a certain school, but you should be aware that USC has a couple of different undergrad schools with different admissions standards and applicant profiles.
Last, I’d be sure to look around a lot before you get to application time, the idea of a school is often a lot different than the reality of a school. There are tons of great schools. Don’t get too set on one - the admission process can be too unpredictable.