For further context I go to high school here in Los Angeles and have had my eyes set on USC for a really long time now, I plan on hopefully writing really strong essays alongside getting letters of recommendation from USC alumni at my current high school and if it matters, my sister is currently attending USC’s Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry. Idek what I expect to get out of this besides peace of mind or reassurance. Anyways, I appreciate any and all help trojan family!
Applying To
University of Southern California (USC) — Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies
Application Plan: Early Decision, deadline November 1
Academic Record
GPA: 3.5 unweighted / 4.0 weighted, trending upward to an expected 3.7 unweighted / 4.1 weighted by senior year
Upward academic trend: struggled academically freshman year and first half of sophomore year, then began dual enrollment courses the summer after sophomore year and AP coursework junior year
Junior year: AP English Language and Composition (score: 3), AP U.S. History (score: 4), Honors Chemistry, Honors Algebra 2 — first year taking AP courses
• Senior year course load: AP U.S. Government, AP Micro/Macroeconomics, AP Business and Personal Finance, AP English Literature & Composition
Over 30 college credits completed at Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC)
Participated in UCLA AP Readiness meetings junior year for AP U.S. History and AP English Language
Honors & Awards
Principal’s Honors, awarded twice
LAVC Part-Time Dean’s Honors List, for dual enrollment grades
LAVC Coursework
Term
Course
Grade
Summer 2025
Business 001
A
Summer 2025
Finance 008
A
Fall 2025
Anthropology 102
B
Winter 2026
Philosophy 001
A
Winter 2026
Chicano Studies 054
A
Winter 2026
Afro-American Studies 004
A
Spring 2026
Afro-American Studies 005
A
Spring 2026
Cinema 105
A
Summer 2026
Broadcasting 026
A
Leadership & Extracurricular Activities
Varsity Wrestling — Founding Team Member
• Competed varsity at 165/175 Ibs on the school’s first-ever wrestling team lineup (established 2025)
•Qualified for the CIF Los Angeles City Section Championship
Wrestling Team Manager
Designed promotional posters and graphics for the team
Raised funds to support team development
Researched tournaments for the team to compete in
Helped build homecoming parade floats for the team
Promoted the team through school club rushes, recruiting 30+ new members after the first season
Clubs
Member, Teen Court (2025)
Member, Social Justice Club (2025)
Work & Independent Projects
LA’s BEST after-school program (current) - leads activities, provides direct student support, and assists with homework at former elementary school
Managed father’s personal stock portfolio, growing net profit by over 200%
Wrote monthly articles on Substack and Medium (about 3 months) documenting the stock portfolio project
Guitar, self-taught and ongoing for over 5 years
Volunteering
Approximately 60 volunteer hours at school events, including Wrestling, Track & Field, and school events like culmination
Volunteered a full summer at grandfather’s shoe repair store in Hollywood
Do you go to a public high school or Private? Do you have a test score? USC claims to be need blind and yet only 1/3 of students get need aid - so I’m guessing they have a way to determine who is paying and who isn’t. Are you full pay?
With a 3.5, it will be difficult but I ask about public vs. private because a 3.5 at a private may be different than a public.
No doubt there will be many great schools out there for you if USC doesn’t work out.
Hi, I really appreciate your response thank you for the kind words, I attend public school and I’m planing on taking out loans to pay per semester. I’m not expecting to get any financial aid because I do I am upper-middle class ( leaning more on the middle side), also that 3.5 should be going up by a lot more considering the workload I plan on taking and how that would reflect on my first quarter transcript.
Again thank you.
If you need to take loans, then USC isn’t right for you. It’s $100k per year.
You can only borrow $27k or so total. The government is looking out for you bcuz you could wreck yourself financially.
With a 3.5 and no test score, I think your chances are slim but if you can’t afford it, that’s a blessing. You do not want to be financially upside down. Find a school you can afford.
You need to have your family do the net price calculator if you get in, they can’t pay…then what you’re bound. Make sure you understand the financial picture first.
You’re right It does sound pretty financially burdensome, but I think with private loans + some family help & part time work through the entirety of undergrad it’d be feasible no?
Depends what your parents could pay. But it sure doesn’t sound feasible, especially when you can get a four year education including room and board for less.
How much can your parents pay and go from there but if you have to take private loans and work, then no it is not remotely affordable. Honestly what you are describing will put you in the hole for many, many years. Sorry to say but it sounds like going to USC could very well wreck yourself financially future. When you are paying back loans, you lose choice - you are forced into things. There’s lots of less expensive schools. Choose one - whether a Ca State, WUE like Reno or a private that’s much less - like U Denver.
I think you need to ask your family what they are willing to contribute annually to your college education. For many private loans, you will need a cosigner and typically that would be your parents. Will they co-sign these very large loans for you?
Also, could you please do the chance me/match me again here, and answer ALL of the prompts on the template? Right now, you are giving us pretty incomplete information. The template really provides the places to give more complete information.
To be clear, this $27,000 total is only for federally funded Direct Loans which can be taken in your name only. For freshman year, this is $5500…which is a drop in the bucket for the costs of USC.
USC is very hard to get into. It has an overall acceptance rate of around 11% to 12% and receives roughly 80,000 applications each year. Admitted students typically have an unweighted GPA near 3.8 to 3.9+ and rank in the top 10% of their high school class
This is what USC reports. Do you fit this accepted student profile?
You can certainly apply ED and see what happens. Remember, it’s a binding acceptance. Do their net price calculator for a decent estimate of your net cost for first year to attend there. Do you have a chance? Apply and see!
I would also suggest you have regular decision applications either ready to submit…or submitted. You can always withdraw if you get accepted at USC.
I don’t think your sister attending the dental school gives you any advantage applying as an undergrad.
Make sure to have a Plan B. University of California offers bachelor degree programs in legal studies at the Berkeley & Santa Cruz campuses. You’ll need some financially realistic options to compare/contrast overall four-year cost with USC, should you get admitted.
None of these count as a 4th year of math for admissions purposes, I don’t think. I would drop finance and add pre-calculus (honors/ap whatever highest your school has is). And none of those is a science, either. Have you taken bio and physics? Generally colleges like to see a 3 years of science (at least). And have you taken 3 years of a foreign languages?
Honestly, I saw so much community college, I didn’t think about the prep.
Also, some schools (usually private) are tougher with credit transfer.
I do worry about the major - it shows up on worst majors and I can see why.. What do you do with it? If law school is in the future, one can major in anything.
So now we have an expense and I think - what do you do with it major.
There are WUE schools, which will cost much less and you can live on campus, and have some sort of legal major. They will cost a fraction of USC and be much easier admits.
U Central WA has a Law and Justice BA - WUE tuition is $11,204 so with travel, room and board, you’re likely under $30K.
U South Dakota - yes it’s way out there - but it’s similar. That’s $70K less and yes, i’m including on campus living
NAU would be $35K-ish - they have a few law minors that you can complement another major with - they’ll have some that interest you - poli sci type.
Dominguez (assuming close to home) has some relevant majors and there will be more too.
You can find interdisciplinary majors at most, if not all, schools.
. Anyways, I appreciate any and all help trojan family!
