<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I have a quick question. Is it true that you must get into USC as a university before they look at you for a particular school? Then, AFTER you get into USC you have to get into the actual school? Also is there a standard of GPA and SAT that you must pass through? </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Hi Greengecko,</p>
<p>I am not an authority on this topic, but I can share my impressions. If the program is one with specialized talent – flim school, theater, music etc – the admissions office will wait to see if they get accepted into that specialized school. If they’re in at the school, they’re in. They don’t have to meet the same rigorous GPA and test standards required for general admission. I think this is a fairly recent change. It seems in the earlier 2000s, everyone was screened first for general admission – test scores etc – before they were considered for the specialized schools.</p>
<p>Of course, when there are kids strong enough academically to merit an “early decisions” like the Presidential and Trustee kids, they will be admitted before a decision is made about their specialized school. In those cases, they just have to wait to see if they got into their desired school. </p>
<p>For other schools, like Marshall, you are accepted first to the University and then they determine if you get into the school. But in those cases, they usually wait and send both decisions in one letter. </p>
<p>I don’t know if there is an official GPA and/or test standard at which students are screened, but I imagine there must be an unstated threshold.</p>
<p>My son applied to the film production program (very competitive) and his admission counselor said that his app would be reviewed by the film department first who would say yes or no and then the app would go on to general admissions. We did get the impression that it was a joint decision, in the end both groups had to agree that the student, (regardless of how brilliant they were at film production) could survive at USC academically. I do agree with legacy Mom that the admission standards are probably more relaxed and less rigorous if a particular school wants the student. The admissions person said that if he got rejected by the film program he would then be evaluated on his second choice major and might still be admitted.
About 3 more weeks to go- good luck everyone!</p>
<p>Hi San Fran,</p>
<p>My son also applied to the film production program 2 years ago. He did not get in…(I think all areas of his application were good except for the portfolio. He went to a small school, with no media opporunities whatsoever and we knew it would be a long shot.)</p>
<p>Anyway, he got his general acceptance in early March, with no decision yet on the film school. The letter advised him that the school of Cinematic Arts had not yet made their decision and that he would be notified when they did. They also provided him with a number to check on his status with the film school.</p>
<p>When he called, the person (not sure who it was) seemed surprised that he had been accepted to USC already since they hadn’t sent out their notices. She said USC must “really want you”. She looked at his application, congratulated him on his test scores and said they didn’t typically get film school applicants with test scores that high.</p>
<p>The point of all that babbling is, if the student is good enough to get into USC on academic merit and they really want him, he will get in regardless of what the film school decides. (And my son had no alternate major listed when he applied.) If, however, the applicant’s standards aren’t competitive with the general acceptance level, they will defer to see if the film school wants the student.</p>
<p>Good luck to your son! Incidentally, not getting into the film school turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I was worried that, with the film industry being a tough business, he should have something practical to fall back on. Someone in the industry advised us about the BCA and it was the best advice he ever got. Marshall has a major called Business Cinematic Arts – it is a joint major between the business school and the cinema school. They are the only school in the country to offer such a major. He loves it – he gets all the insights from the film school and all the practical advice from the business side. He is only a sophomore and already has an internship. The BCA is also competitive – they only take 50 kids per year and it is a 4 year program, so you have to make it in as a freshman. One advantage, though, is that the BCA is only open to admitted students, I think. So you aren’t competing against everybody off the street – just those who get admitted to Marshall. If he does get into USC, but doesn’t get into the film school, keep this major in mind and act quickly. My son did get into the Tisch film school at NYU, but he would rather be in the BCA at USC than in film production at NYU. He has never regretted his decision and is so very happy at USC.</p>
<p>That is terrific advice Legacy Mom! Thank you very much!</p>
<p>Just a few more comments on the order of application consideration. Certain Schools (SCA, Theatre, Thornton) evaluate applicants for admission based on talent/portfolio/audition criteria but they do also look at the student’s record. When they make their top choices, they get together with general admissions and see who will fit and who maybe won’t. They have said they may “go to bat” to admit a student who the gen admissions feel may not show the academic strength they normally look for, but SCA said they only will go out on a limb for a relatively few candidates. They note the student’s record to be sure they bringing in a group that will most likely pass muster with general admission. And, there is a general threshold, although they never discuss this or give out numbers. We’ve seen a few kids admitted to the talent majors with SATs around 1900–well below the midpoint of USC’s admitted students. But we’ve never seen kids with very low 1800s or lower. Depending on just how low the GPA, SAT, some kids will not be approved no matter what. I believe this is similar in other talent-based majors. </p>
<p>However, at the same time, USC Dornsife (general admissions reps) are also reviewing applicants. They may independently put a student into the admit pile for Dornsife (undeclared). Timing is tricky, since SCA may take a long time to review all their applications so Dornsife cannot wait on those thousands of apps, too. If after portfolio review, the SCA passes on a student that Dornsife wants, the student will be mailed admission to Dornsife. </p>
<p>In some cases, LegacyMom, the various parties do not act in perfect sync, so occasionally a top academic candidate (with fabulous scores, ECs, recs, etc!) will get their notice from Dornsife before SCA has made it known who they will admit.</p>
<p>Incidentally, one of my sons got admitted to 2 different USC Schools, received invitations to admitted student events for both–but when his packet arrived, it just listed SCA (the major he listed first on his app). He found out later, the 2nd major had indeed also admitted him, but when his package was compiled through the general admissions, they dropped him from the 2nd major, as is their policy.</p>
<p>And, LegacyMom, congratulations to your S for BCA. It’s truly a fabulous program and one that opens hundreds of doors.</p>
<p>SanFran,</p>
<p>Glad to help. (I wish someone had told us this stuff 2 years ago – it would have spared me a lot of anguish.) Actually, we didn’t learn about the BCA until it was too late – they had already filled all the spots. But my son was so invested in USC that he wanted to go anyway. (I am a USC alum, so he grew up loving SC, even though we live in the midwest.) Of course, knowing he could go to film school at NYU made things tough. But his heart was always with USC. He decided he’d rather go to USC and minor in film than major in it anywhere else. It was just good luck (or a serendipitous reward) that a spot in the BCA opened up early his freshman year. They held a special interview for the one spot and he got it. Anyway, the bottom line is go where your heart is and never give up – it’ll all work out.</p>
<p>Thanks, madbean, and serious props to BOTH your boys getting into the Interactive Media program. That is indeed impressive!</p>
<p>It is my prayer to have (at least) 2 sons at SC as well…keep your fingers crossed for son #2 and for San Fran’s!</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies!</p>
<p>Madbean: You said “But we’ve never seen kids with very low 1800s or lower. Depending on just how low the GPA, SAT, some kids will not be approved no matter what.” I am just wondering (because you sound like you’re an admissions counselor) where you got your information that you’ve NEVER seen kids with low SAT’s. Because I know there are exceptions to the rule with some random outliers. Are you saying if someone had an 1800, they would be automatically rejected?</p>
<p>Does Architecture department follow the same pattern of admission acceptance ?</p>
<p>greengecko, many of us posters are parents and students who have been following USC admissions patterns as reported here on cc for some years. No one posting is from USC admissions! So we (us USC watchers on cc) have never seen kids (posting there stats here–which is completely voluntary and anonymous–so take this with some grains of salt) with sub-1800 SAT scores. You should do a search of the USC Official Results threads from prior years to see many students’ self-reported stats and whether they were admitted or not. </p>
<p>My point is simply to keep this thread informative and to try to correct mis-impressions so no one feels a rude shock when results come out. LegacyMom above posted her thoughts that schools like SCA make the final decision on applicants-- saying “If they’re in at the school, they’re in. They don’t have to meet the same rigorous GPA and test standards required for general admission.” That is a little different than what the SCA admissions rep tells families in current info sessions and so I hope to add another perspective. While SCA does make the first and most important decision on their applicants, they say they do also look at grades and scores. They tell applicants that they cannot get certain students past the general admissions committee, so will not push it with those candidates.</p>
<p>I do think it’s possible for a student with an 1800 to be admitted. Since we hear relatively few results here on College Confidential, of course it can happen. But there are likely hooks involved, like recruited athlete, special hardships, student moving to a new country, illness, and exceptional talent. But USC does not want to admit students who will struggle academically.</p>
<p>Great. Thanks for the information.</p>