<p>You don’t need to send the your transcripts or any financial statement info (mercy!) to SCA! They simply want a copy of your main USC application. If I recall, they don’t even require copies of your USC essays, although it couldn’t hurt to copy them if you wish. </p>
<p>In general, they will see your self-reported grades (from the USC app), test scores, along with other basic info. In order to save time, USC adcoms are in charge of the official docs and if there is any discrepancy between what is reported and the official SATs, GPAs etc, USC adcoms keep track of that. </p>
<p>Assuming you have the grades/score to do well academically at USC, the SCA will primarily look at your supplemental material, which includes extra letters of rec and the essays SCA requires. When they put together their list of admits, they then consult with the main USC adcoms about each student. If there has been a mistake in reported grades/scores, etc, that’s when the conversation occurs. It is possible to be acceptable to SCA but not be acceptable to USC–or so I’ve heard. </p>
<p>The strongest candidates will be impressive in their supplement as well as their high school records, ECs, and test scores. If your SCA major really loves your supplement, you may have a little leeway in your academic grades–just like some favored athletes are given a bump. But they will not admit a student who can’t handle the level of work required to receive a B.A. degree at USC–because you will be taking many general ed, language, and other courses.</p>