@socaldad2002 I did not say that USC could get a “perfect” class. I said reach the 25/78 numbers at any college. The 25/75/average at Harvard is 1520/1590/1560 so even Harvard has less a 1/4 of its Freshman class with perfect scores. If USC decided to concentrate purely on numbers they could push their numbers at least closer.
This was my D’s experience. I believe she was a 29ACT, GPA maybe 3.7? She was accepted, I believe due to her Theater major and experience. Also, USC has both BFA and BA in Theater, which gives them proportionately even more theater students.
@Greymeer, you are so, so wrong about USC admissions. But evidently you don’t allow your ignorance, combined with your hatred of USC, get in your way.
USC admissions are NEED-BLIND. That is not my opinion. That is fact.
Need more? I personally know SEVERAL local kids, who would have been 100% full-pay, who have been rejected to USC over the past several cycles.
Why do so many posters need to come to the USC section of CC and insult USC? Can someone please explain this to me?
This can said about any top university.
@pablolibre said, incredibly: "Few top students are going to actually go to USC. It’s not appealing if you are a 1500 SAT coming from a good high school with descent grades. These students will go to elite Universities almost always even if USC is there safe choice. USC is a good University if you just can’t master the junior high math of a SAT. Honestly even places like BU, BC, Tufts and Northeastern just to name 4 2nd tier schools in Boston are going to attract better students. I’d hire a good student from a good high school without attending college before I’d hire your average USC grad. "
I’m curious, why did you personally feel the need to come onto CC today and call USC students and alumni dumb? I’m quite serious, as your absurd opinions, clearly based on things other than, you know, facts, have brought you to a sad, jealous state. Good luck to you.
@sushrito It could be said about a lot but not any.
^^^ The original flawed premise was that "USC could choose to fill their entire freshman class of 3000 with nothing but such stellar applicants (4.0 uw / 99th percentile test scorers). IMO this is not possible as you would need to have 30K + such applicants each year to achieve the matriculating class (yield) of 3,400 freshman.
@JohnGaltIII Depends on what you and I define as “top university.”
Edit: I forgot to mention that USC is one of the few “top universities” to offer merit scholarships to attract NMF’s for example.
Yes I get it, the weather is better at USC but the 2 schools aren’t even comparable. Northwestern is better than half the Ivies and a top University year in and year out. It’s Elite. USC isn’t even a 2nd tier University. Don’t let they turn down high GPA and score students fool you. Most of those students never show real interest in the school and USC, like all University’s aren’t going to lower their yeild on a 1% chance those students will attend. Nope, that would lower their ranking. Look it’s not a bad school for the masses or really a bad school at all. But don’t pretend it’s almost comparable to Northwestern, Duke, Vandy Wash U, U of Chicago or an Ivey.
As far as the cheats that bribed their kids way into USC. The one kid scored the equivalent to 1045 on her psat. Not the brightest bulb but maybe she had a chance to graduate at USC. Sure USC is a big University it will get some top students because they are intimidated by the competition elsewhere, the weather or moving too far from their parents. For them USC probably is their best choice. But having 5% of its students being able to get into Elite Universities doesn’t begin to make it an Elite University.
My DS is a current Presidential Scholar at USC. He was accepted at Northwestern, WashU, Berkeley, UCLA, UCSB, USCD and a couple others. Waitlisted at other T15’s but withdrew before knowing if he would be accepted once he decided on USC. 35 ACT, 4.3w/3.98uw, tons of quality/time consuming EC’s including varsity sport, volunteer, paid jobs. He also received a few outside scholarships. I am tired of all the hate toward USC. I am also annoyed with all the scandals that have plagued USC. His decision was extremely difficult. He is involved in a few clubs, Greek life, honors classes, volunteering, managed to get straight A’s first semester and finds the academics challenging.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Closing thread. The OP asked this question a year ago, and has long dropped off the site. Now the thread is simply a debate. And ToS states that this is not a debating society.