Hey all, I'm really contemplating applying early decision to USC next year and I was just wondering if there's any clarity on how the ED acceptance rate compares to the regular one? I understand there's no guarantees, but I'd love hear any intel you guys may have! Thanks!
It's great that you are considering USC as your top choice. While USC itself doesn't publicly release its Early Decision admission rates, data from past years suggest there may be a slight advantage to applying early, although this varies from school to school and year to year. The Early Decision acceptance rate is often slightly higher than the Regular Decision rate because the Early Decision applicant pool is usually smaller and may be more self-selective, with a higher concentration of academically strong students.
Nevertheless, the acceptance rate shouldn't be the only factor you consider when deciding to apply Early Decision. Remember that Early Decision is a binding agreement: if accepted, you are committed to attend, barring significant financial aid issues. It means you perceive USC as your absolute first choice and you're willing to withdraw all other college applications if admitted. Therefore, be sure about your commitment to USC before going down this route.
It might also be beneficial to evaluate your application profile against the middle 50% or average profile of accepted students at USC to get a sense of your chances. If you are in range, applying Early Decision might give you an extra edge. Lastly, since USC reinstated their standardized testing requirement starting from the 2024-2025 application cycle, be sure you have your SAT or ACT scores ready if you decide to apply.
Best of luck with your application!
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