The University of Southern California

“Do everything: sports, volunteering, theater,Aug 01 2010Chemical Engineering
Do everything: sports, volunteering, theater, academics, A.P classes, clubs ect. Never pass up an opportunity to brag on yourself either. Play up any volunteering you did. Don't focus on stuff you failed at. Don't try and explain the mishaps. Pretend they don't exist. Sell yourself. Put down everything on the app no matter how small.
ACT: 34 SAT: 1890 Female

“-Take as many AP classes as you can to get inMar 18 2010Aerospace Engineering
-Take as many AP classes as you can to get in
-Don't only focus on good GPA/ACT/SAT... USC is a very well balanced school that looks for people who take initiative in things outside of academics
-Get good at writing if you want to get in Thematic Option honors GE program. I felt like I was one of the top writers at my large high school in Dallas and writing at USC is tough.
-I personally feel like the admissions essay is ridiculously important for getting in, but especially for scholarships to differentiate yourself from others who have good grades
-The section of the online application that has all those little "fun" questions like what you want to do for your career and what your favorite food is, etc. got me recognition for a scholarship. I was told this personally by my admissions counselor who read my essays/application. I put that I wanted to either be a CEO or a fiction author for my future career. She said this kind of stark diversity of interest is what really stood out and highlighted me as the type of person USC wanted. This really told me everything I needed to know about what USC looks for: brilliant, crisp, energetic people who want to be involved and make a difference in the world while leading diversified lifestyles.
ACT: 34 Male

“Try to get above a 2100 on the SATDec 15 2009Business - Management and Administration
Try to get above a 2100 on the SAT and have at least a 3.7 unweighted GPA. USC seems to prefer students with high SAT scores, they even give a scholarship for national merit finalists
SAT: 2200 Male

“Overall, be well-roundedNov 23 2009Undecided
Overall, be well-rounded. This entails some of the following:
academic success, athletics, drama/ music/ art, volunteering, leadership, and testing scores (ACT/ SAT/ AP/IB).

Find something you love to do and stick with it throughout high school. Work hard on your academics but realize they aren't everything.
ACT: 27 SAT: 1970 Female

“Do a great job conveying how you're special orOct 01 2009Fine Arts - Painting/Sculpture/Photography/etc
Do a great job conveying how you're special or interesting in your college essay. They read thousands of those a year.

Focus on your portfolio if entering a major that uses one.

Do well on your SAT's, but don't stress over them.

Strong academics is important, but they care about hard workers more.

People said don't ask for financial aid - that's just stupid. If you need assistance - ask for it! I need probably more than anyone and it was not an issue for them at all - even in a recession year. If they want you, they will make it happen.
SAT: 1950 Male