Hello, I’m currently a sophomore in high school and I would like to get into a BFA Acting program, hopefully at USC. I have a couple questions about it, mostly grade related. First, how much do your grades factor into getting into the drama program? Is USC one of those schools where you have to get into the school as a whole and then into an individual school? In the first term of this year I did poorly with regards to grades(three Cs and an E(failing with effort, my school is odd)) as a result of switching schools and the curriculum being more rigorous than I was expecting and admittedly a lack of trying on my part. I have had an upward trend though which I know they like to see, and I got all As and Bs last term, which is what I’m shooting for this term as well. I’ve been working a lot harder and am more motivated now. How much will that first term haunt me in regards to admission to USC? Just a note I’m planning on two APs next year and 3-4 senior year and intend on working my butt off. Now more specifically with drama, if I don’t have years upon years of plays under my belt, will that hurt my chances? And while studying, would I be able to audition for outside-of-school acting projects, like movies and TV shows? Thank you so much for all your answers and help, I really really appreciate it!
Good work on pulling your grades up, @sebbysabby! USC general admissions does have to agree to every admit from their talent-based schools, so take a look at their freshman profile for 2016. I wouldn’t worry as long as your gpa / scores fall somewhere near their lowest quartile of admits. The major/school makes selections based on audition, supplements and creative statements. For the BFA in particular, the audition is king! But again, if your stats are much lower than the lowest quartile, USC adcoms can veto. All students take GEs and performance majors have time-consuming rehearsals and show schedules, so USC adcom tries to make sure kids can handle the academic load in addition to performing. They have seen over time which kids tend to get into trouble and it correlates to HS grades. But good going on taking APs. If you can do well in those hard classes, it will go a long way to showing you can handle university work.
At USC, the BFAs may not audition for professional work. If that is important to you, you should also look at USC’s BA in Theatre. The specific scheduling of courses is less rigorous (BFAs must take all their core Acting classes together as a cohort, so there is less flexibility with dropping a course and picking it up later, as one can while getting a BA).
Wow, thank you so much for this! @madbean The information about the BFA/BA will really help when it actually comes time to decide which to apply to if I find that doing auditions outside of school is something I really want to do. (By the way, “good work on pulling your grades up” made my day so thank you for that, you are so nice!)
Don’t worry about not having tons of performing credits! I auditioned alongside people with agents who have been acting since the age of 4, whereas I started getting into theatre late in middle school and go to a high school where it’s not offered as a class. I went into auditions without expecting anything good to come out of them and I’ve gotten into BFA programs. Alongside talent, they want to see that you have the passion and drive and that they’ll want to work with you for the next 4 years 
USC’s Theater BA is an academic admit though, as it is non-audition. My D has auditioned for the BFA and at the same time interviewed for the BA (no audition, interview only). We are still waiting on the decision but although she has excellent grades, her SAT/ACT scores are just average so I’m not banking on a BA admit. We shall see! Just know that in order to get any merit aid you have to have stellar standardized test scores. At $67,000 a year it will be a tough decision to make if she gets in. And before you get your hopes up make sure you talk to your parents about the cost. Also you should know that the BFA Acting has changed names to Acting For Stage Screen and New Media. They have taken out the study abroad component and also stopped allowing students to audition for outside work. Previous to the change they allowed I believe a two week leave of absence for that. They explained all this at the info session before my D’s audition in NY.