Hey there, I'm a junior planning to apply to the University of Southern California (USC). Does anyone know what the average SAT scores are for students they admit? Also, has the pandemic affected how they view SAT scores? Any info would be appreciated!
USC, like many universities, does not publish the average SAT score for admitted students. However, they provide a middle 50% range. For the most recent admitted class, the SAT score range was roughly between 1450 and 1550. This means that 25% of admitted students scored below 1450, 50% scored between 1450 and 1550, and 25% scored above 1550. Always keep in mind that these are estimates and may slightly vary each year.
For your second question, even though the pandemic has indeed changed the admissions landscape somewhat, USC has decided not to continue being test-optional for the 2024-2025 application cycle and will require all applicants to submit an SAT or ACT score. This shows that they still value standardized testing as a part of the evaluation of a student's application, despite the disruptions caused by the pandemic. So, a strong SAT score would definitely be advantageous in the admissions process.
Remember to focus on the other parts of your application, too. Your SAT score is just one component of a holistic review process that takes your academic performance, essays, letters of recommendation, and extracurriculars into account.
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