USC SAT Requirement?

Hi all! I'm starting to compile a list of colleges I'm interested in, and USC is definitely on the top of my list. Does anyone know if they require the SAT for this year? Thanks in advance!

USC (University of Southern California) has a test-optional policy for the 2024-2025 application cycle, which means that you are not required to submit your SAT scores as part of your application.

However, if you believe that your SAT score is a strong point in your application and represents your academic abilities well, you have the option to include it. If you decide not to submit your SAT score, the admissions committee will focus more on other aspects of your application such as your GPA, curriculum rigor, extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation.

Keep in mind that, at selective schools like USC, you generally want to showcase your strengths in as many ways as possible, so submitting an SAT score, while not required, can be a good idea for many applicants. For detailed guidance on how to navigate test-optional policies, check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/does-test-optional-mean-test-optional

Alternatively, if you're looking for ways to strengthen your overall application to USC, regardless of whether or not you're submitting a test score, check out this CollegeVine blog post, which breaks down how to tackle their school-specific supplemental essays: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-usc-essays/. After all, at selective schools like USC, many students have strong academic credentials, and the essays are often just the thing that distinguish one talented applicant from another.

Good luck with your application process!