What Grades to Get Into Art and Design High School

The University of Southern California (USC) is a highly-ranked individual school located in Los Angeles, and, every bit a upshot, it draws thousands of qualified applicants each year. If y'all're applying hither, yous are probably wondering what the USC admissions requirements are and what you'll demand to stand out as an applicant.

In this article, we explain how to go into USC, offering you specific tips for what you lot can improve in your application. But first, how hard is it to get into USC?

Characteristic Prototype: Ken Lund/Flickr

How Difficult Is Information technology to Become Into USC?

USC is a very selective university with an credence charge per unit of only under 12%—this means fewer than one in 8 students gets accustomed.

Here'south how USC's official news website describes its student body:

"Boilerplate GPA held steady at an impressive 3.88 unweighted, with more than a tertiary earning direct A'south throughout high school."

Looking at this data alone, nosotros can say with confidence that it's generally pretty hard to get into USC.

So what kind of applicants is USC looking for? Let'southward take a look.

What USC Looks For in Applicants

Because USC is so competitive, and considering there are then many applicants applying each year, this schoolhouse is looking for the best of the best when it comes to applicants.

Here's what USC writes about applicants on its website:

"We await for those students we believe volition thrive at USC. Our application process is designed to discover your individual story, so that we might see how you lot would take advantage of the many opportunities available at USC. … We will review your performance in schoolhouse, the rigor of your program, writing skills and test scores. We also consider personal qualities, as revealed in community interest, leadership and achievements."

In add-on to potent numbers (i.e., test scores and grades/GPA), USC wishes to acknowledge applicants with strong "personal qualities." These qualities tin can be illuminated through either bookish or non-bookish accomplishments, community service/volunteer efforts, or leadership experiences (for example, maybe you're the captain of the track team or yous once organized a successful food bulldoze at your school).

Every bit PrepScholar co-founder and perfect Sat/Human action scorer Allen Cheng discusses in his detailed guide to getting into Harvard, USC, similar Harvard and other top schools, prefers applicants with "spikes" in their extracurriculars—those with strong passions for specific activities or interests.

After all, with USC's over 60,000 applicants each year, you lot'll definitely need something to help your application stand out!

Here'southward how USC describes its near successful students to give y'all more of an idea of what they're looking for in applicants:

"USC students pursue ambitious intellectual and professional goals past studying across disciplines and taking reward of the multifariousness of programs available. They are willing to venture outside their condolement zones. They are interested in the world, in other peoples and cultures, and enjoy examining important issues from a global perspective."

As you tin run into, USC is looking for applicants who aren't merely academically gifted but who are besides willing to challenge their limits, learn near new fields, and assume a global perspective.

Tin can You Apply Early Action or Early Conclusion to USC?

Unlike many other private and prestigious universities, USC does non offering an early action/early on conclusion plan to first-yr students. Therefore, anyone applying to USC must exercise so by the aforementioned borderline (refer to the adjacent section for more information on important dates).

While yous tin't utilize early on to USC, if USC is indeed your first-choice school, it'south a smart thought to tell the admissions commission this so they can annotation information technology in your application.

Here's what USC admissions expert Joe Beltran recommends applicants do in the example USC is their showtime choice:

"Students often ask me how they can permit the admission function know that USC is their first choice. It's simple: But tell us. Tell u.s. in your awarding, over email, telephone or in person. And nosotros brand note of that. We add together these things to your files if you ask us to, and we keep them in heed also."*

*Bold emphasis mine

Although you lot can't use early to USC to demonstrate your interest in attending the university, you tin can (and definitely should) let the admissions committee know most your involvement in it and then they can have this into consideration as they sift through the thousands of applications they get.

Don't hide your true feelings—if USC is your first choice for higher, let them know!

Getting Into USC: Logistics and Deadlines

All freshman applicants to USC must apply through the Common Application. Here'due south a checklist of all the major USC admission requirements:

• Common App

• USC Writing Supplement (on Mutual App)

• Official Sat/Deed test scores (OPTIONAL for students applying during the 2021-2022 school year). Applicants may too submit Sat Subject Test scores, AP test scores, IB test scores, and TOEFL scores (if international)

• Transcripts showing all loftier school coursework and any college coursework completed

• Letter(south) of recommendation—the number of messages you must submit to USC depends on the program/school y'all're applying to

• Boosted materials, such equally a portfolio, writing sample, or resume (only if required by your specific plan/school)

• Autumn grades—these tin exist submitted via the Mid-Year Written report Form on the Mutual App

Every bit indicated to a higher place, certain schools and programs at USC require additional materials from applicants. The post-obit table shows the schools and programs that require supplementary documents and information (in improver to all the components listed above):

School/Program	Required Supplementary Materials
School of Architecture	Portfolio, Compages Writing Supplement
Roski School of Art and Design	Art/Design Essay, list of creative experiences, portfolio
Iovine and Immature University for Arts, Engineering and the Business of Innovation	Proposal video, portfolio, interview (if selected)
Marshall School of Business — World Bachelor in Business Programme	Video introduction, Earth Bachelor's Business concern written prompts (on USC Writing Supplement)
USC School of Cinematic Arts*	Cinematic Arts Personal Argument, writing sample, creative work sample/portfolio, artistic portfolio listing, video/photograph sample, video introduction, aspirational portfolio, epitome essay, audio portrait, autobiographical character sketch, artistic challenges, "Most Challenging Moment" task, projection question, collaboration question
Glorya Kaufman School of Dance	Portfolio, which includes: dance resume, short answer, video response to a question, ii video solos and descriptions, three video demonstrations, ii photographs (a head shot and an action shot), live audition (if selected, depending on COVID-xix situation)
USC School of Dramatic Arts*	Headshot, drama resume, "Accept Three" image chore, letter from drama teacher/double-decker, essay questions, artistic submission, pre-screening audience videos, live audition (depending on COVID-19 situation)
Thornton School of Music	Portfolio, music resume, repertoire list, introductory video (sure majors just), audition recording, alive audition (if selected, depending on COVID-19 situation)

*Exact supplementary materials required for admission will vary depending on the major.

Now, permit's take a await at all the major USC deadlines , ordered from soonest to latest.

December i, 2021

• Freshman application deadline for merit scholarship consideration (note that this is non an early on action or early decision borderline)

• Freshman and transfer application deadline for the following schools/programs:
  • Dramatic Arts (all programs)
  • Cinematic Arts and Music (all programs)
  • Kaufman School of Dance
  • Thornton School of Music
  • Iovine and Young Academy
  • World Bachelor in Business (WBB) program

January xv, 2022

• Freshman application borderline (this is the regular freshman application deadline without merit scholarship consideration)

February one, 2022

• (For freshman applicants) Final solar day by which merit scholarship notifications will exist sent out

• Transfer application borderline for all other programs

February 11, 2022

• (For freshman applicants) Financial help borderline for FAFSA and CSS contour applications

March two, 2022

• (For transfer applicants) Financial aid deadline for FAFSA and CSS profile applications

Apr one, 2022

• (For freshman applicants) Last mean solar day by which concluding admission notifications will be sent out

May 31, 2022

• (For transfer applicants) Last mean solar day by which final access notifications volition be sent out

• (For transfer applicants) Final twenty-four hours past which scholarship status notifications will be sent out

Heed these side by side tips so you can exist the happy face.

USC Admission Requirements: 5 Tips for Getting In

Now that you lot know the logistics of applying, allow's have a look at how to get into USC. What do y'all need in your awarding to increase your chance of getting into USC, one of the most prestigious colleges in the country?

#1: Get a High GPA

Admitted applicants to USC typically have very potent GPAs.

For the autumn 2021 class, the 25th/75th percentile high school GPA range was iii.75-4.0. This ways that the bulk of admitted applicants had relatively potent grades, getting mostly or all Equally and mayhap a few Bs.

If your GPA is below three.75, you'll most likely have a more difficult time getting into USC. Therefore, information technology's best to aim as high as y'all can, preferably at to the lowest degree around a 3.85, then you volition be well to a higher place average but won't suffer too badly if you get a B in one or ii classes.

If you're having trouble maintaining a high GPA, effigy out which classes are bringing down your grades and then consider spending more time studying for those classes or hiring a tutor to give you the actress back up you need.

#ii: Have a Rigorous, Challenging Grade Load

Another important aspect USC wants to meet in applicants is evidence of a strong and challenging course load. Ideal applicants will have taken a fair share of AP, honors, and/or IB classes.

Here's how USC describes its ideal applicants on its undergraduate admissions website:

"No specific curriculum is prescribed or required, though students offered admission typically pursue the about rigorous program available to them in English, mathematics, science, social studies, strange language and the arts. Conscientious attention is paid to grooming for the intended major."

In improver to doing well in classes, strong applicants will have excelled in a rigorous bookish program, particularly in classes relevant to their intended majors.

If yous're a junior or younger and oasis't taken whatever challenging courses withal, effort to sign up for some AP, honors, or IB classes the post-obit academic year and for each subsequent yr you're in high school.

Information technology's all-time to choose challenging classes that focus on the fields in which you lot're already strong or have a large involvement in studying. For example, if you're a science buff, you lot could take AP Bio or AP Physics.

While you don't need to make every class yous accept a super hard one, aim to accept most three to five upper-level classes each school year, at the very least starting your junior year. This doesn't necessarily hateful yous must take the AP tests that go with these courses, though information technology's non a bad idea to practice then since it might earn you some college credit!

Potent test scores—and possibly super strong back muscles—will definitely catch USC's middle.

#3: Earn Strong Saturday/Human action Scores

Notation: For students applying during 2021-2022, USC is test-optional. For the 2020-2021 application year, 47% of applicants submitted Saturday or ACT scores. However, you may still want to consider submitting test scores if you take particularly high scores, or if you feel your scores represent your abilities better than your GPA.

In general, USC expects fairly high SAT/ACT scores from potent applicants.

Beneath are the eye 50%, or average, score ranges* for both the Saturday and Human activity for the fall 2019 USC freshman class:

Sat

• Blended: 1420-1520
• Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW): 670-740
• Math: 690-790

Deed

• Blended: 31-34
• English: 32-35
• Math: 28-34

*The lower score in each range is the 25th percentile (pregnant 25% of applicants or fewer got this score), and the higher score is the 75th percentile (significant 75% or fewer got this score).

Clearly, you'll demand to take a pretty high Saturday/ACT score in social club to be considered a competitive applicant to USC. For the SAT, near applicants have a minimum score of 1420, or the 95th percentile nationally.

Meanwhile, for the ACT, most applicants take a minimum score of 31, or the 95th percentile nationally. In other words, you'll demand to score in the summit 5% of test takers in gild to come across just the 25th percentile score at USC.

Although getting a score below USC's 25th percentile threshold doesn't automatically hateful y'all'll be rejected, it does point that it'll likely be harder for you lot to go into USC unless you have other significantly impressive qualities.

If y'all don't run into this "minimum" threshold (1420 on the SAT and 31 on the Human action), the all-time class of action is to try to raise your SAT/Deed score. One way to do this is to brand an SAT/Human activity written report plan that caters to your weaknesses. I as well recommend checking out our guides for some tips on how to increment your SAT or ACT score.

If you adopt having more than easily-on guidance in your examination prep, consider using our online SAT or Human action prep program, which is 100% customized to your exam-prep needs and includes realistic questions written by existent elevation scorers.

#4: Write Splendid Essays

In addition to the Common App essay, you're required to write two shorter essays equally part of the USC Writing Supplement. Each essay must be no longer than 250 words, or about half the length of a typical college admissions essay.

For the commencement USC essay, you must choose ane of three prompts to answer to:

USC believes that one learns best when interacting with people of different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Tell united states of america near a time you were exposed to a new thought or when your beliefs were challenged by another point of view. Please discuss the significance of the experience and its effect on you.

USC faculty place an emphasis on interdisciplinary bookish opportunities. Describe something outside of your intended bookish focus near which y'all are interested in learning.

What is something about yourself that is essential to understanding you?

Choose the prompt that appeals to you the most and that you'll be able to respond to easily and effectively.

For the beginning prompt, you should write well-nigh a specific incident in which a conventionalities or opinion of yours was challenged. The central here is to focus on your reaction and what this particular incident taught you about yourself. This could exist a political opinion, a religious conventionalities, or a personal stance on a social issue.

The 2d prompt is all about a field outside your intended major that you're also interested in studying. This is a great opportunity to discuss how you became interested in this particular field and what yous might practice with information technology in the future. For instance, possibly y'all plan to major in information science but accept recently realized, past taking a required art class, that y'all also accept a strong interest in learning about the history of paintings.

The third essay prompt is quite broad and allows you to talk nearly anything yous feel is important for the USC admissions committee to know about y'all. You could innovate a specific interest, skill, or experience y'all have, or even offer an caption for a trouble in your bookish record, such equally a dip in your grades one semester or a beneath-average Saturday score.

A great tip to recall equally I write my acknowledged novel yous write your USC essays.

In addition to this first essay, you lot'll take to write a 2nd essay for the USC Writing Supplement. This essay just has one prompt (then you don't get a pick here!):

Describe how yous programme to pursue your academic interests and why you lot want to explore them at USC specifically. Please feel free to address your first- and second-selection major selections.

This essay prompt simply wants to know what you program to major in at USC and how y'all'll achieve your academic goals as a educatee. Basically, what's the intellectual path you look to take at USC?

For instance, if you plan to major in English, you lot could write most how you lot intend to take a more interdisciplinary approach by integrating foreign literature classes into your class load.

Overall, in order to ensure you're submitting 2 splendid essays to USC, exist sure to utilize specific details, exist honest most your experiences and feelings, and edit and proofread each essay before sending it in. Get more than proficient tips past reading our guide to the USC supplement.

It'due south also important to note that some programs and schools require additional essays or curt answers. For example, those applying to the Schoolhouse of Compages must reply extra questions in the Architecture Writing Supplement.

These schoolhouse-specific essays are merely equally of import as, if not more than, the 3 general USC essays you must write. Why? Because these essays ask you even more specific questions that chronicle to your intended field of study. Thus, you'll need to exist able to clearly explain exactly why you're interested in the field/program/schoolhouse you're applying to.

#5: Craft an Impressive Portfolio (Required for Certain Programs)

Some programs at USC require the submission of creative portfolios along with the more general requirements listed to a higher place.

If a portfolio is required, information technology'll probable exist 1 of the about important parts of your application. Make sure your portfolio follows all instructions, is 100% original, and is allegorical of your own creative mind, abilities, and goals.

Here are all the schools at USC that require the submission of a portfolio:

• School of Architecture
• Roski School of Art and Design
• Iovine and Immature Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business organization of Innovation
• USC Schoolhouse of Cinematic Arts
• USC School of Dramatic Arts
• Glorya Kaufman School of Trip the light fantastic toe
• Thornton School of Music

What's Next?

USC is a corking higher in California, but it's non the merely one there! If you want to attend college in the Golden State, you'll benefit from learning how to employ to the UC schools and getting info on the cheapest colleges in California.

How does USC's selectivity compare with those of other top colleges? Get the answer in our guide to the virtually selective schools in the nation!

USC likely isn't the only schoolhouse you're applying to. Check out our guides to larn more virtually how to get into Columbia and how to get into NYU.

Want to go into USC or your personal top selection college?

We can assist. PrepScholar Admissions is the earth's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-course admissions counselors with our information-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. Nosotros've overseen thousands of students become into their top choice schools, from land colleges to the Ivy League.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your hazard of getting in.

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About the Author

Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

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Source: https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-get-into-usc

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