USC Early Decision Acceptance Rate
Does USC Have Early Decision?
Many students wonder “Does USC have early decision?”, especially those who are creative and in favor of attending the University of Southern California. There is fantastic news if you want to join the Trojans, regardless of whether you want to be an actress, dancer, filmmaker, or screenwriter. A recent policy change at USC is known as early action.
USC is a place where you can follow your cross-disciplinary interests to the hilt if you wish to double major in Nuclear Engineering and Dance. Admission is quite competitive due to the vast array of options the college offers. If you know how to portray yourself in the best way, the new USC early action rule can assist put your application at a competitive advantage.
Early action, typically in November of the senior year, is a non-binding admissions process that allows students to apply to colleges earlier than the typical deadline. USC early decision acceptance rate will also be released in the same year thus allowing the students to know their application status way earlier.
Frequently Asked Questions on Early Action
What distinguishes Regular Decision (RD) from Early Action (EA)?
Early Action candidates submit their applications sooner, and they may hear about their acceptance to USC in January. Most students who want to be considered for merit scholarships must take Early Action. Additionally, it can be a desirable alternative for people with very impressive records who rank USC as one of their top choices. Regular Decision candidates adhere to a more conventional schedule, with later deadlines and an April 1 decision notice date. Neither strategy calls for accepted candidates to enroll at USC.
Is Early Action (EA) required to be considered for a USC Merit Scholarship?
Unless your desired major doesn’t take part in Early Action, the answer is yes. If you are applying to the Iovine and Young Academy or majoring in architecture, art and design, cinematic arts, dance, dramatic arts, or music, early action is not an option. To be considered for admission and grants, applicants to these majors must submit their applications by December 1.
There are more scholarships available through USC-affiliated groups, but they call for a different application. For additional details, you may please visit their Scholarships page. Additionally, USC has a strong need-based financial aid program. Visit the USC Financial Aid website for further details.
Will my autumn senior year grades be taken into account if I apply for Early Action (EA)?
No, if you apply for Early Action, USC cannot promise that your fall grades will be taken into account.
Will I also be awarded a merit scholarship if I am admitted Early Action (EA)?
Not all early accepts will be chosen to proceed in the merit scholarship selection process at USC. Following receiving their admissions decision in February, students who are chosen as scholarship finalists will be informed of the following steps.
Do I have to attend USC if I am admitted to Early Action (EA)?
No, acceptance into the Early Action program is not a commitment to enroll in USC.
Will students who applied during the Early Action (EA) round receive denial letters?
No one will get a refusal letter in January, I assure you. Students who do not receive early admission will have the option of deferring their application for review in the Regular Decision round. It is anticipated that between 75% and 80% of the class, including those who were not able to represent the USC early decision acceptance rate, will be accepted under Regular Decision.
Do Early Action (EA) applicants who are accepted receive financial aid before Regular Decision (RD) applicants?
Financial aid summaries will generally be sent to accepted students at the same time. To be considered for all types of financial help for which you may be qualified, EA applicants must apply for need-based financial aid by January 9, 2023, and RD applicants must apply by February 10.
Are transfer students awarded Early Action (EA) admission?
No, although transfer candidates must submit their applications by December 1 if they are interested in the Iovine and Young Academy, dance, music, or BFA majors in dramatic arts and cinema. For all other transfer students, the deadline for acceptance and scholarship applications is February 15.
When Does USC Early Decision Come Out?
When does USC early decision come out? USC early decision acceptance rate will be made public in the middle to end of January 2023 and applicants who chose Early Action will be informed of their acceptance or deferral to regular decision. The deadline for applications is November 1, 2022. If you are still a high school student or have not enrolled in college since graduating from high school, you are regarded as a first-year candidate.
More Deadlines for USC Early Action Application
By April 1, 2023, applicants who choose or defer to regular decision will be informed of the outcome.
For majors requiring an audition or portfolio, the deadline for submission is December 1, 2022.
The following schools‘ final application deadline for students pursuing the following majors:
Academy Iovine and Young
Dance school Kaufman
School of Art and Design at Roski
Architectural Institute
School of the Arts in Film
Dramatic Arts Schoo
Music School of Thornton
For details about your chosen program, see Additional Major Requirements. All other majors’ deadline for applications is January 15, 2023.
The financial aid deadline for early application will be January 9, 2023. To be eligible for need-based financial aid, applicants must submit their FAFSA and CSS Profile forms by the due date. Undocumented students who are under DACA should send their 2020 tax return and a letter from a third party verifying their status rather than filling out the FAFSA. Californians should submit their Cal Grant applications by March 2, 2023.
What Is the Early Decision Acceptance Rate at USC?
Of course, one thing we need to consider is “What is the early decision acceptance rate at USC?” Beginning with the subsequent school year, USC will implement an early action program for college admissions. USC early decision acceptance rate will be about 20–25 percent of the class as predicted by the institution. If they are not accepted in January, early action candidates can defer their application to the regular decision process.
It was recorded that 8,number198 people were given admission offers out of roughly 69,000 candidates for the 2022–23 academic year. This year’s acceptance rate of 12% is nearly equal to the previous one.
Class Rank, SAT, and ACT Scores for USC Admissions
The middle 50th percentile standardized test scores for members of the Class of 2025 were 31-34 on the ACT and 1370-1520 on the SAT. One-fourth of this group received a flawless 4.0 GPA, and the middle-50th percentile GPA ranged from 3.75 to 4.00.
Notes & Trends in Admissions for Class of 2026
- The Class of 2026’s accepted students had an average unweighted GPA of 3.91.
- International applicants made up 18% of the freshmen class accepted for 2022–2023.
- The Golden State was the home state of 38% of the admitted Class of 2026.
- More first-generation students made up 20% of the accepted Class of 2026 compared to 17% in the Class of 2025.
- From 8% to 9% of admitted African American students grew.
- There were 69,000 applicants overall, a modest drop from 70,971 the previous year.
The USC admission rate decreased from 16% to 12% in just one year. Many variables can have an impact on the USC acceptance rate. These include the overall application pool and the number of open spots for the freshman class. Additionally, each year, students submit more college applications. Therefore, it is expected that the USC acceptance rate for regular decision will continue to decline for the upcoming application cycle. To add, USC early decision acceptance rate will have to be considered by the end of the year.
The test-optional policy at USC is one element that could be responsible for this rise in applicants. Even though USC will continue to have a test-optional policy until 2023, it is strongly advised that you take standardized examinations if you can. During your junior year, you should prepare to take your first standardized test. You’ll have plenty of time to retake the test if necessary thanks to this.
Does Early Decision Increase Chances at USC?
Now, moving on to the next popular query, “Does early decision increase chances at USC?” The main benefit of applying to USC early action is that you can demonstrate to the university that you are genuinely interested in the program by taking the time to prepare your application by November 1st.
Schools can accept a higher proportion of applicants during this round, so it won’t be a surprise if USC follows suit. However, you shouldn’t blindly file a shoddy application in the hopes of boosting your chances of acceptance and believing it to be a given. Early applicants often have their act together pretty well.
Competing against students who are confident in their academics, test results, and extracurricular activities. It’s likely that you won’t do well if you submit a lousy application. If you apply EA to USC and you’re a lousy applicant, the university won’t accept you because they know that they can’t rely on you to produce.
Because USC’s new policy is early action rather than early decision or restrictive early decision, you can still apply early decision to USC while also applying early decision to another school—possibly an even more competitive one like Columbia or UChicago depending on whether you have a dream school.
Additionally, you can use the limited early action application process to apply to universities like Harvard or Yale. In addition to these, you have the option to apply to as many institutions as you choose under the standard non-binding early action policy; this includes prestigious universities like the University of Michigan and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Additionally, USC early action isn’t a commitment, so they are aware that you might not stay if you are accepted. You might submit an EA to keep your options open, which they might see as an indication of a candidate who won’t sign a contract if approved.
If you want your chances of getting into USC to be as good as possible, follow these procedures. You will be more prepared for what you need to accomplish to have a chance at USC. Here are some helpful hints from the pros:
- Make sure that your grades are taken care of in advance.
- Make an informed decision regarding your intended topic of study and areas of particular interest to you, and research the prerequisites that universities must have in order to admit you.
- Create an outstanding application essay, please (you can turn to a professional for that).
- Because USC does not conduct interviews, the only thing they will see about you is what is written down in your application. Make sure that your performance is flawless.
- Utilize every internet prompt to your advantage in order to ensure that you are exactly what the members of the committee are looking for.
- If you want results, you need to be willing to push yourself to your limits. Check that the application accurately reflects your goals.
These will raise your chances of getting into USC, at least to the 25th percentile, if not higher.
What Kind of Students Does USC Look for?
What kind of students does USC look for? Due to the high level of competition at USC and the large number of applicants that submit applications each year, this university only accepts the top candidates.
On their website, USC states the following regarding applicants:
“We look for those students we believe will thrive at USC. Our application process is designed to discover your individual story, so that we might see how you would take advantage of the many opportunities available at USC. … We will review your performance in school, the rigor of your program, writing skills and test scores. We also consider personal qualities, as revealed in community involvement, leadership and achievements.”
Applicants with high “personal traits” are preferred by USC over those with outstanding academic credentials (such as test scores, grades, and GPA). These abilities can be demonstrated by academic or extracurricular achievements, volunteer work or community service, or leadership roles (for instance, being the captain of the track team or having previously led a successful food drive at your school).
You’ll undoubtedly need something to make your application stand out considering that USC receives over 60,000 applications a year.
To help you better understand what qualities USC is seeking in applications, here is how they define their most successful students:
“USC students pursue ambitious intellectual and professional goals by studying across disciplines and taking advantage of the diversity of programs available. They are willing to venture outside their comfort zones. They are interested in the world, in other peoples and cultures, and enjoy examining important issues from a global perspective.”
As you can see, USC seeks candidates who are not only academically talented but who are also eager to push themselves, discover new things, and adopt a global viewpoint.
It’s crucial to consider whether USC is the perfect school for you while you consider how to get into USC. Yes, the acceptance rate at USC is very high, and students who enroll there will gain access to Los Angeles and benefit from the 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio. This does not imply that USC is appropriate for everyone, either.
As seen by the USC average GPA and USC SAT scores, academics play a significant role in a USC education. Among USC students, business, biology, and communications are the most sought-after majors.
When evaluating an applicant’s application, USC admissions representatives will also take their alumni connections into account. In actuality, 13% of the freshman class at USC includes legacy students. Your “how to get into USC” plan will be greatly influenced by this information as well as the average GPA, average SAT scores, and the steadily declining USC admission rate.
USC also employs a need-blind admissions policy. This indicates that the admissions procedure is unaffected by a student’s ability to pay for tuition and other costs.
USC provides well-deserved merit scholarships to students who meet the criteria. Students must submit their documents before the final USC application date to be eligible for a USC merit scholarship.
Ask yourself the following questions as you consider how to get into USC:
- Am I interested in going to an institution that prioritizes education and research?
- Do they offer the major I wish to pursue at USC?
- How might USC assist me in achieving my future objectives?
Being a very elite institution, USC is challenging to get into. You’ll need a high GPA, a demanding schedule, great exam results, and a proven track record of community service and extracurricular involvement in order to compete with the 50,000+ applications. Your writings should showcase your unique qualities and personality to help you stand out from the competition.
Your chances of becoming a USC Trojan will increase if you put in a lot of effort in school, perform well in the classroom, and ask for help from experts like AdmissionSight. We have been in the college admissions counseling industry for more than 10 years. USC early decision acceptance rate will be something new that students should consider since it is a new policy this year. AdmissionSight surely knows how long the does it take to finish your application and what strategies work for your college application. Set up an initial consultation with us to acquire further knowledge.