USC class of 2023 Applicants Thread

@collegemom111111 that is a good question. My D is a “legacy”, my MIL earned at least one if not two degrees from USC. SIL also earned degrees there, but she didn’t seem to matter when D was filling out the application.

@jellybean5 Sounds correct. I’ve read that only parents, step-parents, and grandparents count as legacy. So your MIL would count but not your SIL. I’m trying to figure out if a grandparent who graduated from USC in the 60s carries as much weight as, for example, having both parents as alums and a sibling currently attending.

@queend98 when my D received her packet last January, it listed which major she was accepted into. It was her first choice although I’m not sure if she had a second choice. In any case, it clearly stated the major and which scholarship she was being considered for.

@collegemom111111 do you think/know that having a grandparent as an alum really boosts your chances? I would say my MIL last graduated in the 70s. I wonder if they look at their donations to USC over the years…

@jellybean5 here is where I read about it: https://admissionblog.usc.edu/the-trojan-family-legacy-students-applying-to-usc/. If you read the Q&A after the blog it sounded to me like if you qualify as a SCion it doesn’t matter if it was a grandparent vs. a parent. However, that is just my interpretation of what I read. Let me if know what you think. We’re in the same boat. It’s one grandparent who attended graduate school at USC in the '60s, and I don’t know for sure but doubt he donated much if anything.

USC’s CSS is due Feb 13th, so you will at least know if she gets accepted for the merit scholarships by that date.

From everything heard, there isn’t more legacy status “good doobie points” given for having one relative (parent/grandparent/sibling) over another, they are all viewed/weighted the same. Unless of course it is one of those mega families with generations having attended and particularly if buying buildings along the way. Those deep generational families also tend to be very active SCions, so it makes sense they may see a subtle boost, it is just how the world works. Legacy is certainly one of many many things factored in, but how much it helps is debatable since so many applies, but it is another box that gets checked. It is not going to overcome low stats or an unqualified applicant, for example. In terms of donations made, there are sooo many donors to USC including a lot of SCions. Perhaps not the building giving level, but USC alumni overall tend to be donors.

Agree with not filling out CSS until necessary. The Feb 13 date is so you get notified of FA with everyone else, but it is not a hard deadline from what I understand. You may just get FA info later than end March/beginning of April when most everyone else does.

@CADREAMIN Thank you! Your insights are very helpful.

@collegemom111111 You’re welcome and good luck to you and yours this application period!

@collegemom111111 thanks for that link about Scions, I had not seen that before. Parent, grandparent, seems the same as long as it’s not extended like an aunt or cousin. To me it sounds like as a Scion you get special scrutiny but not guaranteed admission, that seems about right. At least it’s something. My DH is a UCLA grad, and there is no special status for being a child of an alumni there, there’s just too many of them!

@collegemom111111 @jellybean5 According to the Insider’s Guide to USC Admissions ( https://news.usc.edu/trojan-family/a-guide-to-uscs-college-admissions-process/ ), in recent years, USC has had to deny many 1000s of legacy (SCion) applicants. SCions make up about 20% of the freshman class (600 or so of the 3000 or so), but over 10K apply annually. So… the simple answer is that a legacy connection does not hurt, but it guarantees very little. Every year there are many posts from those astonished that their legacy connection failed to secure an admission.

@queend98 It will mean admission into your first choice major as I understand it.

I really hope I get a merit scholarship because this wait until 3rd week of march is boutta be brutal

@WWWard Thank you so much for your reply and insight! Very much appreciated. Am hoping that the SCion status will help our D stand out at least a tiny bit. She is qualified from a stats standpoint (1560 SAT, 4.0UW/4.51W GPA) and has good athletic, music, work, and volunteer experience. But we know that’s not necessarily enough and that many people with similar qualifications won’t get in. Fingers crossed. Question: If 10K Scions apply, do you know what percent get in? You answered how many attend (600), and I’ve read yield overall is around 30%, so doing the math that does that mean about 1,800 of the of the 10,000 SCions are admitted? Is that about correct? Thanks, and if you have any more insight or suggestions, would love to hear them. She really wants to go to USC. Thanks!

@collegemom111111 You’re welcome. I have not seen those exact stats published anywhere, but I would actually expect that the yield rate may be much higher for SCion applicants admitted. I think that the yield rate is inching up to around 35-37%… and if so, that yield rate among SCion applicants should be considerably higher. I heard somewhere that they actually only admitted around 1,000 of the 10,000+ who applied. And that likely makes more sense… as that would put the SCion yield rate at 60%.

Hopefully any applicant who really wants to go to USC made that crystal clear via their written submissions when applying, crafting a strong and well-researched Why USC? answer… and also making it clear what USC would be gaining by adding them to the USC community. But… as it suggests in the Insider’s Guide to Admissions, you can also simply tell them directly. I do not suggest overwhelming them, but one single well-worded email to your specifically assigned admissions’ counselor & CC’d to the specific School admissions’ email making a definitive statement may potentially sway them favorably. I.E. - if you are 100% committed to attending USC if admitted, tell them. Regardless of what they may say… they are yield conscious. I can certainly attest that both of my daughters did so in no uncertain terms. And both were admitted and then enrolled.

Good Luck

@WWWard Would writing that letter only be a good idea for legacies?

Newbie parent here - I’ve read through all of these posts and wish we’d found this sooner! USC is DS’s 1st choice and he is hoping to eventually double major in Music Composition and Physics/Astrophysics. He’s a NM Semifinalist and HS counselor said he should be a NMF. I noticed somebody mentioned that NMF and the school scholarships don’t stack, which we were unaware of. I assume that means he can’t get 1/2 tuition through NMF and another 1/4-1/2 through scholarship? We were totally keeping our fingers crossed on the additional scholarships hoping it would all add up.

The USC scholarships do not stack. There is a Presidential that is also 1/2, that through interviews could get bumped up to Trustee (full tuition - not to be confused with full COA), or if super fortunate, he could interview for one of the big ones (Trustee/Mork/Stamps) in the Jan merit cycle. There are very few Mork/Stamps (5 or 10 of each) and 100 Trustees. Here’s to dreaming!

Wow, I’m glad to have stumbled onto this group. My son is really interested in the BME department, has great scores(1590 SAT, 3.95 UW, 4.32W, 7APs all 5s), no ECs because of a very challenging health situation during his last 3 high school years, but still managed these grades. Hoping that he’d make it, although he thinks it might be very tough.

@shs888 It would apply to anyone truly committed to USC and willing to declare such unequivocally. I suggest reading this article… https://news.usc.edu/trojan-family/a-guide-to-uscs-college-admissions-process/ and you will see what USC Admissions says about that topic themselves.

And for all of you posting or mentioning great stats, keep in mind that USC now routinely rejects 1000s & 1000s of applicants with 4.0 unweighted GPAs and test scores in the 99th percentile. There are just too many quality kids applying and way too many stellar applicants out there looking to gain admission to USC. USC could fill their entire freshman class with nothing but perfect stat applicants, but that is not what they are seeking. Instead, they are looking to craft a well-rounded and diverse freshman class.

They prefer above-average applicants with a specific passion or demonstrated creativity or some other unique aspect to their overall application packet. Often applicants with those perfect stats do not spend enough time and effort on their writing samples or in clarifying the other aspects of their application packet… ECs, leadership roles, writing ability, demonstrated passion, their Why USC? answer, etc.

And that Why USC? answer is likely the most crucial component by far. Yes… you may have stellar stats and may appear to be a great applicant on paper… but what else specifically sets you apart? What will you bring to USC that may make you an unique addition to the USC community? What does USC gain by admitting you? And have you actually researched USC? Why is USC specifically your dream school scenario? It is that - more than anything else - that sets apart most of the applicants who receive the coveted “white box” highlighting your acceptance vs the apology letter.

Good Luck

Thanks so much for the info.