The University of Southern California (USC) is a private research university located in Los Angeles, CA. Students who want to study business, communications, and film are drawn to this school, and it’s known for having a robust campus culture and a real work-hard, play-hard vibe. If you’re reading this, though, you probably know this, because one (or both!) of your parents went to USC, and you want to go there too.

Legacy admissions are a hot button issue, and in case you didn’t know, USC is no longer allowed to factor legacy into their admissions decisions. That doesn’t mean you’re out of luck as a legacy student, it just means you need to amp up your application in other ways. Let’s dive into what you need to do to stand out.

What’s up with Legacy Admissions?

Legacy admissions are under scrutiny after the Varsity Blues scandal and affirmative action Supreme Court decision. Forbes recently reported that colleges utilizing legacy in admissions decisions has dropped by half in the last 10 years, and numerous states, like Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Virginia, and yes, California, have banned or restricted legacy admissions.

Starting in the fall of 2025, using legacy as a factor in admissions is banned at USC. We imagine USC is very upset by this, as they were always historically a very legacy-friendly school, even calling them SCions. Now, like most colleges, USC has claimed that all admits, legacy or not, meet their academic requirements. We find this to be mostly true – across the board – and our advice to any legacy hopeful at any school is to be a student they simply can’t deny. That means excellent grades, scores, extracurriculars, and essays. USC is no exception, especially with the new ban.

Even though legacy is not a factor in admissions, our guidance remains the same. Keep reading for our tips on getting in to USC.

What Can You Do?

For some reason, a lot of clients come to us thinking USC is not a “serious” school, and don’t get why it is a reach school. And we understand why you might get that idea from – in 1995, USC had a 42% acceptance rate, and in 2005, a 25% acceptance rate. But, in 2015, they dipped under 20%, and in this cycle, they’re predicting under 10%. That’s less than schools like Georgetown, Notre Dame, Michigan, and UVA. So, it is safe to say that in order to be a strong applicant, you need to do the work.

Grades

We work with legacy applicants every cycle, and they almost always have 4.0s. Legacy students often come from highly resourced backgrounds – think private schools, top-tier tutors, and significant investments in their education. While your legacy might not be an admissions factor, they will still see that your parents attended the school and that you probably come from a privileged background. This means you cannot slack in classes – you need to take the hardest classes your school offers and get the highest possible grades in those classes. This is non-negotiable.

Scores

USC remains test optional, but we almost never recommend opting for this route. We want your application to be bulletproof – don’t give them a reason to reject you! For serious candidates to USC, we recommend at least a 1500 on the SAT or a 34 on the ACT, but higher is better.

Extracurriculars

Being team captain or dabbling in a few clubs won’t cut it – you need to demonstrate real substance if you want USC’s attention. If you say you’re passionate about, say, screenwriting or engineering, but there’s zero evidence of that outside the classroom, admissions will move on. This is true across the board, whether your interests lie in the arts, sciences, or business. That’s why we encourage legacy students to start early, ideally in 9th grade, so they can build a story that reflects genuine interest, initiative, and impact.

Apply Early

USC recently introduced early application options, after never previously having them. They offer ED for business school applicants and EA for everyone else. If you are serious about USC, you need to apply early. It’s the absolute best way to get on their radar and convince them that you’re going to be a positive addition to their incoming class.

Stay Involved

Parents, this part’s for you. If you’re truly committed to helping your child follow in your footsteps at USC, it’s important to show the university that your connection runs deeper than just being any random alum. The legacy families we see succeed most often are the ones who stay actively engaged with USC post-grad. Even though legacy isn’t a factor any longer, getting involved, and involving your kid, is a way to build and demonstrate interest in the school. If USC is the dream, it’s worth being intentional.

If you’re a USC legacy and genuinely aiming to get in, your application needs to be rock-solid. That means top-notch grades, strong test scores, and standout extracurriculars. With so many qualified applicants (and a sub 10% acceptance rate) you can’t afford to give admissions any reason to hesitate.

If you need help crafting an application that helps you stand out among the crowd, reach out to us today. We can help.