What are the typical GPAs and SAT/ACT scores of student admitted to SCA. Would being a running start (dual–credit) and already having my AA help at all? What are some tips for the portfolio
4.0 and 2350
I had to laugh at @SeattleTW’s response.
@fprod00 - this question comes up all the time. ALL the time - and the answer is the same. There is no one criteria. In fact, USC looks at your grades and scores - SCA is more focused on your body of work, your passion, and a lot of subjective things that change from year to year - including who else is in the talent pool that year.
So no - having dual credit and an AA may not be attractive to them - but may be attractive to USC in general. Both have admissions decisions independent of one another.
Do your best - people will have advice - but since SCA takes only 4% of the applicant pool - there is no real answer that will help you get a leg up. They take some people with no experience, and some with a lot. They turn down a lot of kids with experience and without.
See - no pattern other than their own internal subjective criteria not known by anyone on this board.
So again - I have a kid in SCA. It’s fabulous. Just do your best and have a back-up plan.
As for Seattle’s 4.0 and 2350 comments - USC and SCA both turn down a lot of those kids too. The incoming class has a pretty wide range of talents, scores and grades. Just depends. On what USC is looking for that year. They’re holistic. They look at the people, not just the quantitative stats.
I have been admitted to class of 2019 SCA. I had a 4.32 weighted GPA and a 32 ACT score. I can tell you that they really look more at the quality of work that you submit than the stats. Although the stats have to be there too. I just came back from orientation and I can tell you the facilities and staff was out of this world. The staff are accomplished professional. If you do not get in this time, keep trying as from what I have seen, it is very worth the effort. I hope this helps and good luck.
You have to have the numbers, but I think that evidence of intrinsic motivation is really what helps distinguish applicants. It’s one thing to have taken a film class in high school, but it’s another matter entirely if you’ve worked at your local public access television station, acted in a bunch of school plays, etc. and done activities like speech competition or contest plays. Hollywood is an extremely competitive place, and in my experience the people with the 4.0’s and the 1600/2400 SAT’s were among the very first to wash out, while it’s the people who were intrinsically motivated who were the ones who’ve “made it” professionally.