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Freshman
Admissions
Admission of freshmen students at USC Aiken is competitive. Students should prepare for the challenges at USC Aiken by taking a strong college preparatory academic curriculum in high school. High school course selection, standardized test scores, and a Predicted Grade Point Average (PGPA) are all used to determine admission. The PGPA represents the academic average that a freshman applicant is predicted to earn at USC Aiken at the completion of his/her first year. The (PCGPA) is determined by a formula which uses two variables: the high school core academic grade point average computed by using only the required college prep courses listed below, and the SAT or ACT scores. Of these two variables, the high school grade point average is the more important and has more weight in the formula.
Students must present an SAT score of 800 or higher (Critical Reading and Mathematics sections) or a composite ACT score of 17 or higher in order to be considered for admission. Students graduating from high school in 1988 or after are required to have completed the following high school courses at the college prep level:
Area - Units:
English - 4: At least two units having strong grammar and composition components; at least one unit in English literature; and at least one unit in American literature.
Mathematics - 4: These include Algebra I (for which Applied Mathematics I and II may count together as a substitute, if a student successfully completes Algebra II); Algebra II, and Geometry. It is strongly recommended that the fourth unit be a higher-level mathematics course. (i.e., precalculus, calculus, statistics, or discrete mathematics.)
Laboratory Science - 3: Two units must be taken in two different fields and selected from biology, chemistry, or physics. The third unit may be from the same field as one of the first two units (biology, chemistry or physics) or from advanced environmental science with laboratory or marine biology with laboratory for which biology and/or chemistry is a prerequisite. Courses in earth science, general physical science, or introductory or general environmental science for which biology and/or chemistry is not a prerequisite will not meet this requirement.
Foreign Language - 2: Two units of the same foreign language.
Social Sciences - 3: One unit of US History is required; a half unit of Economics and a half unit in Government are strongly recommended.
Electives - 4: Four college preparatory units must be taken from three different fields (no more than two units from the same field) selected from among Computer Science, English, Fine Arts, Foreign Languages, Humanities, Lab Science (excluding earth science, general physical science, general environmental science or other introductory science courses for which biology and/or chemistry is not a prerequisite), Mathematics above the level of Algebra II, and Social Sciences. It is strongly recommended that one unit be in Computer Science which includes programming (not just keyboarding) and one unit in Fine Arts (appreciation of, history, or performance).
Physical Education or ROTC - 1
