University of Southern California Admission
University of Southern California Undergraduate Program
University of Southern California Application

The Facts

USC, once known primarily as a party school, has revamped their academic program and brought in new and prestigious faculty to give USC the reputation of one of the best schools in the country. Unlike the schools within the University of California system, USC is private, and therefore quite a bit more expensive for in state students, however, its benefits outweigh the costs. Additionally, USC has a large amount of students scholarships available due to several recent endowments.

The school is quite large, housing over 15,600 undergraduates as well as a staggering 15,224 graduate students. Admission to the school is extremely competitive; last year over 30,000 students applied while only around 8,800 were admitted. The Class of 2004 had an average combined SAT score ranging from 1250 to 1420, and an impressive average GPA of 3.99. The school is extremely popular with students from all over the globe, so competition for admission is extremely tough.

The university is comprised of 17 schools offering a total of over 100 majors is many various fields. In recent years, USC has come to be known for their excellent film program with many distiguished and famous alumni such as George Lucas. However, many other schools within the university are quite strong including the Annenberg School for Communication, the Marshall School of Business, as well as the engineering school. Some of the most popular majors at USC include business, visual and performing arts, engineering, communications and psychology. The general education required classes can be in lecture halls with up to 400 students, however, most upper level classes are less than 30 students, and the professors tend to be highly accessible for both.

The school is located in South Central Los Angeles, an area notorious for gang violence and crime, however, the campus itself is quite beautiful and secure.

The Social Scene

As a result of the sketchy surroundings and exorbitant prices, more than 90% of USC students choose to live on campus in one of the many dorms at the school. All are directly on campus, and many students rely on bicylces to help them get from class to home. The student body is also known for being incredibly diverse, a quality many students love.

There is a prominence of Greek life at USC (which many students say stands for “The University of Spoiled Children”) with over 33% of students joining an organization. The many houses host a variety of large-scale parties and fundraisers over the year, which are always big draws for many students.

What’s Good

“The number of prestigious and successful alumni is incredible-- I would like to think its proof that USC really shapes you well.”

“LA is such a diverse city. If you are coming to USC from a smaller town or city, expect to be wowed by all the new culture.”

“The dorms are the best college housing I’ve seen anywhere. It was my initial hook into the university.”

What’s Bad

“South Central LA is a pretty scary place sometimes. When you are walking down the streets, even near campus, you don’t feel terribly secure.”

“The introductory classes are ENORMOUS! I feel like I’m at a cattle call sometimes.”

“There’s alot of red tape to cut through if you would like to put a word or two in with the administration.”

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