how hard is it really to get into usc ?

Question

i am a sophmore highschool and any kind of tips would greatly help. i live in the los angeles area and would love to go there. my mom is even thinking about getting a job there so my tuition can be lowered. thanx.

Answer 1

Hi! It's great that you're thinking about this early so you have time to prepare. Like any university, the key is studying and working hard. Grades are important, so work hard to keep your grades up in high school. If you can take AP classes, do so. AP classes are graded on a different scale and help boost your GPA, and are also good for college credit if you pass the AP exams. Also, take practice exams for the SAT so you can be ready to take it when the time comes. I began preparing for the SAT a year before taking it, and it really helped to improve my scores.

Other than that, extracurricular activities may also give you an edge if your grades aren't so stellar. Universities do like to have a diverse student body, so join a lot of clubs, maybe try to volunteer at some nonprofit or join a volunteer club at school. Try to attend special conferences or events held by your clubs or take up a sport. Just try to do things that will distinguish you from the pack.

Just to give you an idea of what you're up for, the average high school GPA of the 2006 class was 3.8 and the average SAT score was 2054 (1372 on the old SAT). So USC is pretty competitive, but not impossible to get into. Of course preference is given to relatives of 'SC alumni.

Here's more data on the profile of the average freshman this year, in case you're interested:

http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/parents/images/profilefreshman2006.pdf

Good luck!

Answer 2

well make sure your sat scores are way high, you have a gpa of 4.0 or higher, and that your ready to pay about 45,000 for 4 years. o_o