General College Requirements for USC

Graduating from high school is a milestone in a young person's life. The next step is college. Gaining admittance into a premier university isn't easy. Prospective students at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles are evaluated on their high school course work, standardized test scores, recommendations, grades, essays and activity summarys. The university maintains there are no "absolute cutoffs or minimums for grades, rank in class or test scores." However, potential USC students are expected to show a strong history of academic and personal success.
  1. Online Application

    • Applying for admission to the University of Southern California begins by completing an online application. Visit the university web site and complete the online application. This creates a file for your information at the undergraduate admissions office. This application should be completed by all incoming freshmen. Returning students should contact the office of admissions for further information. During this time, prospective students are required to supply an address, high school grade point average, test scores and potential majors. Documentation of these should be mailed to the admissions office. Students may also download the form and attach it to their supporting documentation.

    Academics

    • USC does not publish a minimum GPA or class rank for students to meet. It is expected that prospective students take a rigorous high school curriculum in math, social studies, English, foreign languages and science. High school students are advised to take the highest level of classes available to them. Students should show a consistent record of strong academic performance during their high school career. Consideration is given to consistently improving student records. The freshman class statistics for 2008-2009, show the average GPA of admitted students at 3.8.

    Standardized Tests

    • All U.S. students applying to USC must take either the SAT or the ACT. For students taking the test multiple times, USC records the highest score in each section or composite score. Prospective students who did not attend a regionally accredited high school, for example home schooling or a non-accredited parochial school, are required to take SAT Subject Tests. Prospective students should submit three exams, including one in math. The freshman class statistics for 2008-2009, provide middle 50 percent of composite SAT scores of 1960-2230 and middle 50 percent of composite ACT scores of 29-33.

    Activities and Recommendations

    • In addition to a strong academic record, prospective students must display a record of activities outside the classroom. An activity summary allows students the opportunity to showcase their talents, community service, special skills, interesting experiences, personal accomplishments and extracurricular activities. Students should focus on experiences that show leadership and involvement. The admissions committee looks for ongoing commitments, passion, and a significant investment of time. Prospective freshman must submit one counselor or teacher letter of recommendation to fulfill the application process. Students may submit more, but the number of recommendations does not factor into the decision-making process.

    Essays and Interviews

    • Completing an essay is the final component of the application process for USC. This provides students with the chance to speak to the admission committee in their own voice. Students are encouraged to use a style and vocabulary that are familiar to them. Essays are evaluated on organization, thoughtfulness, content, spelling, diction and grammar. Essays should be 500-700 words in length. An example essay follows: "The 18th century French philosopher Denis Diderot said, 'Only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things.' Describe one of your passions and reflect on how it has contributed to your personal growth." An optional element of the application process is a personal interview. Interviews take place during the fall on- and off-campus. The notes from the interview are considered during the review process.

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