The college admission process is a bit murky and confusing—in part because many schools have what’s called “holistic” review. Some schools have a formulaic admission process, which focuses on quantitative metrics such as your GPA, standardized test scores (SAT or ACT), and class rank. Holistic review means that both quantitative and qualitative factors are considered—and people are the ones who are evaluating those qualitative factors; rather than plugging your stats into a computer and deciding to admit based upon a mathematical algorithm, a person is evaluating all parts of your application. It’s an imperfect, human process that’s impossible to predict. (Heck, I have no clue if a student will be admitted or not the first time I sit down to read their application; by the time we’ve gotten through the full applicant pool and others have reviewed the application, who knows what will happen.
In a holistic review process, everything is considered. For example…
When it comes to your academic profile, admission counselors won’t just be looking at your GPA, but how you arrived at that GPA. So, in some ways, even your academic profile is reviewed holistically. Check out our articles The Anatomy of a Transcript: How We Review Your Academic Record (for students attending schools in the U.S.) and Understanding Your Academic Record as an International Applicant (for students attending schools abroad) to learn more about how we consider your transcripts.
We’re test optional, so you can choose whether or not to submit your ACT or SAT scores. You won’t be penalized if you don’t. If you do, they help provide us with additional academic context.
Then there is your activities list. We’ll be paying attention to your level of commitment—given the amount of time you’ve participated in a certain activity. We’ll also be looking for any leadership positions, which are not always necessary. (Clubs need followers too). We’re essentially trying to understand what you’re doing with your time outside of the classroom.
Now we get to the writing samples... You’ll have your larger Essay, which will be on the Common Application for USC. There are numerous prompts to choose from—so you shouldn’t have trouble finding a great topic to address. Here, we’re certainly looking at how well you write. But, more importantly, we hope to get to know you as much as possible. Your short answers will also be telling. USC’s short answer asks you to discuss your academic interests and how you plan to pursue them at USC. This question is pretty straightforward: why your major or majors and why USC. When it comes to the writing pieces, we’re trying to understand what makes you who you are, what your aspirations are, why you think you would make a good member of our community, and so much more.
Finally, you have your letter of recommendation. Depending upon your major, you may be required to submit more than one. This letter of recommendation, from an academic teacher or a counselor, helps provide context. It lets us know who you are inside and outside of the classroom, from someone who has watched you grow throughout high school.
In essence, all of these materials come together to paint a picture of who you are—as much as is possible—because that’s what we most want to know.
Written by: Anne Aubert-Santelli, Associate Director, USC Office of Admission