Did the USC get rid of legacy?

No, USC (University of Southern California) decided to continue considering legacy status in admissions, even after a California law (AB 1780) banned such preferences for private universities starting September 1, 2025, with USC's interim president citing the importance of the "Trojan Family" and believing the law didn't narrowly define "relative," thus circumventing the ban for the 2025-2026 cycle.

Does USC still have legacy?

USC is reinstating legacy admissions. They announced that they're breaking a California law that went into effect September 1st that prohibits the consideration at private universities. USC is going to continue legacy admissions.

Did California get rid of legacy admissions?

In a landmark decision, California has announced a ban on legacy admissions, set to take effect in 2025. This move signals a significant shift in college admissions practices, particularly in a state known for its influential higher education institutions.

Is legacy admissions ending?

After September 2025, no universities or colleges in California will be allowed to distinguish between legacies and non-legacies during the admissions process.

Do you get free tuition at USC if your family makes less than 80k?

The USC Affordability Initiative applies to students who are eligible for financial aid and start at USC as first-time freshmen, beginning with the 2020-2021 academic year. To qualify, your family must have: An annual income of $80,000 or less.

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Do parents who make $120000 still qualify for FAFSA?

Yes, parents making $120,000 can still qualify for some federal student aid through the FAFSA, as there's no strict income cut-off, but eligibility for need-based grants like the Pell Grant decreases with higher income, though they might still get federal loans or access to merit-based aid/work-study. Eligibility depends on the Student Aid Index (SAI), considering family size, assets, and the college's Cost of Attendance (COA), so always fill out the FAFSA to see what your specific situation qualifies for. 

Is a 1450 a good SAT score for USC?

A 1450 SAT score is considered competitive but on the lower end (around the 25th percentile) for USC, meaning it's a decent score that gives you a chance, especially with strong grades and extracurriculars, but you'll need to stand out in other areas, as the average admitted student scores higher, often around 1490-1530. USC is test-optional, so submitting a score around 1450 can boost your application if it's strong overall, but it's not a guaranteed ticket in, and scores closer to 1500+ are generally stronger for the general applicant pool. 

What percent of USC is legacy?

Of the 2025-26 first-year class, 14.5% are legacy students, in line with previous years: The percentage of legacy students in each incoming class since 2020 has hovered between 13% and 15% except for the 2023-2024 class, for which data was not immediately available.

What is the #1 hardest school to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it changes slightly by year and criteria, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top with extremely low acceptance rates (often 3-4%) and intense competition for spots, though other top global universities like Oxford and Tsinghua are also incredibly selective. Harvard is frequently cited as the hardest due to its high volume of applications and focus on global leadership potential, while Caltech is known for its extreme difficulty in STEM. 

Why is Gen Z not going to college?

Gen Z is questioning college due to skyrocketing costs, overwhelming student debt, and a perceived poor return on investment (ROI), especially with AI changing jobs and stronger alternatives like skilled trades emerging, leading many to seek faster, cheaper paths to financial stability and job security. They've seen Millennials' debt struggles, witness online success stories, and value hands-on training over traditional degrees, making college less of a guaranteed ticket to success.
 

Do Lori Loughlin's daughters still go to the USC?

No, Lori Loughlin's daughters, Isabella Rose and Olivia Jade Giannulli, are not currently at USC; they left the university in 2019 after their parents' involvement in the college admissions scandal was revealed, and the university confirmed they were no longer enrolled, according to reports. They were involved in the scandal, which saw their parents pay bribes to get them into USC as fake crew recruits, and both sisters quickly departed the school amidst the fallout, notes CNN. 

Did Stanford ban Legacy?

Stanford to continue legacy admissions through 2026 despite state ban. Stanford University will continue considering legacy status in admissions through fall 2026, despite California's ban on preferential treatment for applicants with alumni and donor ties, the Mercury News reported.

What is the UC 9% rule?

The UC 9% Rule refers to the University of California's Statewide Guarantee, which offers a guaranteed spot at a UC campus (if space is available) to the top 9% of California high school graduates, identified using a formula based on A-G courses and UC GPA, not just class rank. It's part of UC's effort to provide access to high-achieving California residents, working alongside the Local Guarantee (ELC), which recognizes top students within their specific high school.
 

Is UCLA or USC harder to get into?

It's extremely competitive for both, but UCLA is generally harder to get into for in-state applicants due to higher GPA demands and a public university quota, while USC becomes exceptionally difficult for out-of-state applicants, often balancing academic rigor with the ability to pay, though recent acceptance rates are similar (around 9-10%), with UCLA receiving far more applicants. The specific difficulty depends heavily on your residency, major, and extracurricular profile, as UCLA emphasizes grades (test-blind) and USC weighs extracurriculars and financial contribution more heavily. 

How important is legacy at USC?

Some colleges give preference to legacy applicants. While USC does factor legacy status, it's never going to be the deciding factor. Priority Deadline: Just as you would think, students who apply by the priority deadline are given extra consideration in the admission process.

What are the top 3 UC's?

The top 3 UC campuses consistently ranked highest in recent years by publications like U.S. News & World Report and Forbes are UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego, often trading the top spots, with UC Davis and UC Irvine also frequently appearing in the top tier. These rankings consider factors like academics, selectivity, and return on investment, with Berkeley and UCLA often leading as the top public universities in the nation.
 

Is Cal Poly or UCLA harder to get into?

Generally, UCLA is harder to get into than Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (SLO) based on overall lower acceptance rates and higher applicant competitiveness, but Cal Poly SLO is extremely competitive in specific, popular majors like Engineering and Computer Science, sometimes rivaling or exceeding the difficulty of certain UC programs. While UCLA's overall admissions are tougher, Cal Poly SLO's focused programs make it very selective, often considered the most competitive Cal State school and rivaling some UCs. 

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, referring to those from the highest income brackets, tend to attend elite universities like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and Yale that consistently rank high in national and global lists, with some even having more students from the top 1% income bracket than the bottom 60% combined, according to The New York Times data. Top-ranked institutions like MIT, Princeton, Harvard, and Stanford are frequent top contenders in various 2026 rankings from U.S. News & World Report and Times Higher Education. 

What is the easiest ivy to get into?

While all Ivy League schools are highly selective, Cornell University is generally considered the "easiest" to get into due to having the highest acceptance rate (around 8-9%), partly because it's the largest Ivy with diverse colleges, like the less competitive Agriculture and Life Sciences, though its engineering programs are tough. Dartmouth College and Brown University often follow as the next most accessible Ivies, while Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia are typically the most difficult, with lower acceptance rates. 

Is USC or UCLA bigger?

UCLA is generally considered bigger in terms of undergraduate population and campus size/spread, while USC has a larger graduate student body, making their total enrollments quite comparable, though UCLA has more undergrads and USC has more grad students, resulting in different campus feels and research opportunities. 

How much money is it to go to the USC for 4 years?

Attending the University of Southern California (USC) for four years costs roughly $360,000 to over $400,000 when factoring in tuition, fees, room, board, books, and living expenses, with 2025-2026 estimates putting annual costs near $90,000-$100,000, depending on your living situation, though actual costs vary significantly with financial aid, scholarships, and chosen lifestyle. 

Why is the USC so prestigious?

Famed for its prestigious creative programs, particularly film, the University of Southern California (USC) is the oldest private research university in California. USC is highly selective and offers a wide range of top-ranked academic programs.

What was Taylor Swift's SAT score?

Taylor Swift's SAT score is not publicly known because she left high school early to pursue her music career and never officially took the SATs for college admission, though she was academically successful in high school, graduating early with a 4.0 GPA before focusing on music. She famously called out a practice test for misquoting her lyrics, highlighting her strong grasp of grammar despite not needing the test.
 

Did Mark Zuckerberg get a 1600 on his SAT?

Yes, reports widely state that Mark Zuckerberg scored a perfect 1600 (or sometimes a near-perfect 1590) on his SAT, achieving top marks before attending Harvard University, consistent with his reputation as a gifted student and programmer.
 

What was Bill Clinton's SAT score?

Bill Clinton

The 42nd president of the United States scored a 1032—12 points above average—on his SAT. Still, Clinton excelled at Georgetown University, where he majored in Foreign Service and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Later, Clinton attended Yale Law School and earned a Juris Doctor in 1973.