This is the official thread for those applying EA to University of South Carolina.
List your unweighted GPA, any SAT /ACT scores, and ECs. What majors are you going into?
Ask your questions, the CC community is here to help!
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S25 applied today (he’s on a roll and I’m posting in all the threads 
)
GPA 3.98 u/w; 4.37w (4.75 I think for USC GPA);
31 ACT (taking again in Sept);
10 APs, 3 DE. 1 honors as honors isn’t really a thing at our school.
EC/volunteering/work: mostly revolve around sports (football and basketball (captain)), founder/president of film analysis club
Major: Business Economics in Darla Moore
Good luck to all! It’s going to be a LONG wait.
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D25 applied a few days ago. In-state.
Rank: top 3% at mid-size hs
GPA 4.0 u/w; 5.08/6 weighted (SC weights both honors and AP’s)
Test optional (scores were at the low end of USC range)
2 AP’s, 3 currently, every Honors offered was taken
Palmetto Scholar (official today!)
Two sports, lifeguard, academic awards/clubs
Major: Biological sciences
What does your kiddo love about USC?
Mine took a Duke tip class there and loved it. Official tour scheduled in a couple of months. We’re worried she’ll get lost in the crowd. She leans introvert.
Good luck to all!
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S25 loved the school spirit, campus vibe, business school. He’s leaning towards rushing. Wants to play intramurals.
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So U of SC came to D25’s school for a college fair today. She said the admissions rep was dismissive and rushed through her questions. D25 has been keeping an open mind and was surprised. She is pretty turned off now. The rep wasn’t busy or occupied from what I understand.
These kids scan QR codes with their stats before arriving, so the reps can quickly look them up while they chat. D25 qualifies for multiple merit awards there (in-state) and should be auto-admitted with the 10% policy for SC residents.
Has anyone else had an interesting experience with admissions reps or tours yet?
I’ve told her to keep an open mind during this whole process, but she really enjoyed other colleges welcoming her and selling themselves. We will still be touring this Fall.
We are OOS. The tour is what sold both my S25 and S26 on applying. Our tour guide was amazing. S25 had a couple questions for his AO since then and she’s been “fine”. Not fast to respond or super engaging but I’m chalking it up to her being very busy.
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Anyone heard back from admissions yet?
In what way? Yes, my son her back from his AO regarding his questions.
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Regarding admission decisions. My D25 hasn’t yet, but just checking in to see if anyone has received a decision yet
According to the admissions website, EA decisions will be out in mid-December. SC is not rolling admissions.
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I’m curious to talk test score strategy. We are OOS. My D25 has a SC GPA of 5.01, u/w GPA 3.81 and her SAT score is above the 75th percentile for admission to U of SC. However. Her heart is set on honors college. While her GPA is right on target, her SAT is about 20 pts below the mid 50% range for honors. So, CC community, what do you think about sending the score vs applying test optional? For her, I think it’s honors or nothing, which is what is making me pause. 
. Additional info: she comes from a super competitive magnet HS. Her counselor said if she applies TO, an AO is going to wonder why and assume her score is way lower than what it actually is.
We were in a similar situation with S25. His ACT when he applied originally was a 31. We decided to submit for the reason you mentioned above. He got it to a 32 with the last ACT but we went back and forth on what to do. He likes SC but he really loves the idea of the SCHC. I don’t know what the answer is, but I am interested in what others think.
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I totally wish she’d take it just ONE more time but alas, after the August one she was like NO MORE. She’s happy with her score but getting another 30 pts would probably put her right in the “submit no question” range. Siiiiigh. None of this is easy!
How are you recalculating for the SC GPA? I am in NC and always wonder about that.
I’m guessing based on the SC Uniform grading, see this… Grading Scale & GPA Calculator | Abbeville High School
our school using A-F with +/- except no A+.
I can understand her not wanting to test again. No, it’s not, easy! I’m sure I’m overthinking just about everything. ha
Our daughter is a freshman Neuroscience major (pre-med) in the Honors College. I wouldn’t describe her as introverted, but given the size of her high school in NJ (less than 300 kids in graduating class) and the size of Carolina, I highly recommended she live in the Honors Residence. Best decision! She’s already made great friends, her floor is one of the most social in the building, but they do a lot in SCHC to bring kids together, so if she goes, that would be my suggestion on where to live. Good luck!
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If you Google the South Carolina Uniform Grading Policy, you’ll find it!
My S24 is in the SCHC, he submitted his SAT scores, and his SAT scores were below the middle 50% of published SCHC scores. I think that, if the scores are close, it is good to submit them. I also think that that the SCHC application carries a lot of weight, and they look closely at the essays, recommendations, and activities. Most of my S24’s friends and the students I have met are really great all-around kids who were very involved in high school. The Honors College is a very engaged, dynamic community, and it seems to me like they are looking for more than just the very top grades and scores. So, if your D25 has the GPA, the SAT is close, and she has a strong resume, I think she has a good shot!
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