USC 2020-2021 Transfer Students STATS & DECISIONS ONLY

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

With admission decisions looming in the near future, I think it is time that a decisions thread be made. All credit goes to @NotLonelyIsland and @iheartkitties.

Copy and Paste the following into your post. Choose one from the three (accepted, rejected, SGR). Please take out the space after each opening bracket and delete the italicized text for clarity and proper formatting!

[ color=green][ b]Accepted - SCHOOL/MAJOR[ /b][ /color]
[ color=orange][ b]Spring Grade Request - SCHOOL/MAJOR[ /b][ /color]
[ color=red][ b]Rejected - SCHOOL/MAJOR[ /b][ /color]

[ color=blue][ b]Decision Date & Time: (FILL IN THE BLANK)[ /b][ /color]

[ b]Stats:[ /b]
[ list]
[ *] College transferring from:
[ *] Trojan Transfer Plan (TTP)/Legacy: Answer “Yes” or “No”, indicate which if applicable
[ *] Entering as:
[ *] GPA:
[ *] Units completed:
[ *] Units in progress:
[ ] Pre-reqs completed: A list helps but a fraction (5/8, 3/6, etc) works as well
[ ] GEs completed: same idea here
[ /list][ b]Subjective:[ /b] b
[ list]
[ *] ECs listed on app:
[ *] Job/Work Experience:
[ *] Essays (subject and responses):
[ *] Letters of Recommendation:
[ /list][ b]Other:[ /b]
[ list]
[ *] Other schools applied to:

[ /list][ b]QUESTIONS:[ /b]
[ b]1. Were you surprised by the results?[ /b]
Answer here
[ b]2. What do you think was your biggest strength/what got you in?[ /b]

[ b]3. Did you have any help with the application?[ /b]

[ b]4. Are you going to attend? Why or why not?[ /b]

[ b]5. Is USC your first choice?[ /b]

[ b]6. Did you submit/did the materials (transcripts, etc.) arrive on, before, or the deadline?[ /b]

Good luck to all applicants!

2

Spring Grade Request - Viterbi/Engineering

Decision Date & Time: April 15 6PM

Stats:

[ul]
[] College transferring from: Pasadena City College (PCC)
[li] Trojan Transfer Plan (TTP)/Legacy: No[/li][li] Entering as: Junior[/li][li] GPA: 3.97[/li][li] Units completed: 123 (Semester)[/li][li] Units in progress: 21[/li][li] Pre-reqs completed: All[/li][li] GEs completed: All[/li][/ul]Subjective:

[ul]
[li] ECs listed on app: None[/li][li] Essays (subject and responses): Pretty meh but somewhat entertaining. I’m not the strongest writer.[/li][li] Letters of Recommendation: None[/li][/ul]Other:

[ul]
[] Other schools applied to:
**UCLA/b, **CSUN/b
[/ul]QUESTIONS:
1. Were you surprised by the results?
No, but I’d be surprised if I get a decent scholarship.
2. What do you think was your biggest strength/what got you in?
GPA and not-so-strong but somewhat entertaining responses
3. Did you have any help with the application?
No. I wanted to gauge my competency of independence.
4. Are you going to attend? Why or why not?
If I get a decent scholarship, I’ll attend, but CSUN offered me full scholarship (plus some). I’d rather enter the workforce debt-free. It’s not like I’ll be learning 1+2=4 at CSUN or UCLA.
5. Is USC your first choice?
Yes
6. Did you submit/did the materials (transcripts, etc.) arrive on, before, or the deadline?
On the deadline. Procrastination ftw (I’m working on it)

3

Accepted - Marshall Business Administration

Decision Date & Time: 04/15/2020 6:00 PM

Stats:

[ul]
[] College transferring from: Santa Monica College (SMC)
[] Trojan Transfer Plan (TTP)/Legacy: Yes, TTP and Legacy
[] Entering as: Sophomore
[] GPA: 4.0
[] Units completed: 24
[] Units in progress: 15
[] Pre-reqs completed: All (Bus. Calc, Writing req.)
[] GEs completed: 6/8
[/ul]Subjective:

[ul]
[] ECs listed on app: Community service, school business club, research assistant at USC
[] Job/Work Experience: 3 years of part-time work experience in retail and for school
[] Essays (subject and responses): 8/10
[] Letters of Recommendation: 2 LOR, one from Accounting professor and one from employer
[/ul]Other:

[ul]
[li] Other schools applied to: LMU (Accepted), Chapman (Accepted), Northwestern, Northeastern, UW-Madison, NYU (Accepted), BostonU (Accepted), Cornell, Stanford[/li]
[/ul]QUESTIONS:
1. Were you surprised by the results?
Not surprised by getting in since I’m TTP, but surprised by how soon the decision came.
2. What do you think was your biggest strength/what got you in?
High GPA, completion of all major requirements and GE’s in Fall semester before applying, and essays
3. Did you have any help with the application?
All done on my own, First Gen Student!
4. Are you going to attend? Why or why not?
I will attend as soon as I make sure I get the expected aid from them
5. Is USC your first choice?
Yes, dream school
6. Did you submit/did the materials (transcripts, etc.) arrive on, before, or the deadline?
Submitted all materials on February 1st deadline, submitted updated winter session grades late February as soon as they were finalized.

Fight On!!!

4

Spring Grade Request - Communications/Psychology (second choice)

**Decision Date & Time: April 15 2020 at 6 PM **

Stats:

[ul]
[] College transferring from: Pasadena City College
[] Trojan Transfer Plan (TTP)/Legacy: No
[] Entering as: Junior
[] GPA: 3.81
[] Units completed: 58
[] Units in progress: 12
[] Pre-reqs completed: All
[] GEs completed: Just foreign language left

[/ul]**Subjective:/b

[ul]
[] ECs listed on app: None
[] Job/Work Experience: Tutoring center
[] Essays (subject and responses): Talked about being an First Gen Asian-American, wanting to be a voice for women, etc
[] Letters of Recommendation: My Econ Prof
[/ul]Other:

[ul]
[li] Other schools applied to: UCLA (end of April), UCSB (April 22), UC Berkeley (April 17)[/li]
[/ul]QUESTIONS:
1. Were you surprised by the results?
Yeah, I didn’t think I’d get a response on my application that fast
2. What do you think was your biggest strength/what got you in?
Upward trend in GPA and definitely my essays
3. Did you have any help with the application?
Yeah, from my brother
4. Are you going to attend? Why or why not?
Yes, it’s my dream school
5. Is USC your first choice?
Yessss, fight on!
6. Did you submit/did the materials (transcripts, etc.) arrive on, before, or the deadline?
Yes, I submitted my high school and college transcripts on time, along with my winter grades.

5

Accepted – Sociology/Dornsife

Decision Date & Time: April 15, 5 pm

Stats:

  • College transferring from: 4 yr University in CA
  • Trojan Transfer Plan (TTP)/Legacy: Yes, TTP & Legacy
  • Entering as: Sophomore (not sure because Maximum 8 AP credits)
  • GPA: 3.74
  • Units completed: 29 quarter units
  • Units in progress: 17 quarter units
  • Pre-reqs completed: Yes (Writing req in fall)
  • GEs completed: Need Foreign languages

Other:

  • Other school applied to: None, USC ONLY

Questions:
Did you submit/did the materials arrive on?
Submitted all materials on February 1 deadline, submitted updated after winter
quarter official transcript in 1st week of April.

6

Accepted - Dornsife/ Political Science

Decision Date & Time: April 15th at 6:30

Stats:

[ul]
[] College transferring from: California CC, in the San Joaquin Valley
[] Trojan Transfer Plan (TTP)/Legacy: Yes/ TTP & Legacy
[] Entering as: Sophomore
[] GPA: 3.78 first semester
[] Units completed: 17
[] Units in progress: 16
[] Pre-reqs completed: All except 2 foreign language classes
[] GEs completed: 6/8
[/ul]**Subjective:/b

[ul]
[] ECs listed on app: On my CC’s student board with a position.
[] Job/Work Experience: Working at my family farms, and I have started two businesses related to agriculture
[] Essays (subject and responses): I talked about helping my CC and the lack of diversity through my position on the student board
[] Letters of Recommendation: My English Professor
[/ul]Other:

[ul]
[li] Other schools applied to: Cornell, Vandy, Notre Dame, UPenn, Northwestern, some others in CA[/li]
[/ul]QUESTIONS:
1. Were you surprised by the results?
Yes, I was expecting an SGR or a rejection, but ended up with an acceptance!
2. What do you think was your biggest strength/what got you in?
I think my position on the school board, and my love for government is what pushed me forward
3. Did you have any help with the application?
No
4. Are you going to attend? Why or why not?
Yes, I am attending!
5. Is USC your first choice?
Yessirrrr
6. Did you submit/did the materials (transcripts, etc.) arrive on, before, or the deadline?
Yes, the only thing that arrived late was my high school transcript
Good luck to all applicants! Follow what you love, and don’t stress! There is a plan for you! Please lmk if you have any questions!

7

Accepted - Dornsife/International Relations (Global Business)

Decision Date & Time: April 15, 6:20 PM

Stats:

[ul]
[] College transferring from: CC
[] Trojan Transfer Plan (TTP)/Legacy: Yes (both)
[] Entering as: sophomore
[] GPA: 4.0
[] Units completed: 15
[] Units in progress: 16
[] Pre-reqs completed: finished math & writing requirement during first semester
[] GEs completed: all except art
[/ul]Subjective:

[ul]
[] Letters of Recommendation: none
[/ul]Other:

[ul]
[] Other schools applied to: none

[/ul]QUESTIONS:
1. Were you surprised by the results?
Not too much, but I still feel very blessed.
2. What do you think was your biggest strength/what got you in?
I had TTP & legacy.
3. Did you have any help with the application?
No.
4. Are you going to attend? Why or why not?
Yes, it’s my dream school.
5. Is USC your first choice?
Yes.
6. Did you submit/did the materials (transcripts, etc.) arrive on, before, or the deadline?
I submitted my application 2 days before the deadline and I turned in transcripts and materials as soon as I was asked.
Good luck to all applicants!

8

Spring Grade Request - Dornsife/Political Science

[ *] College transferring from: California Community College
[ *] Trojan Transfer Plan (TTP)/Legacy: No
[ *] Entering as: Sophomore
[ *] GPA: 4.0
[ *] Units completed: 16
[ *] Units in progress: 19
[ *] Pre-reqs completed: all except working on Writing req this semester
[ *] GEs completed: all except 2
[ *] ECs listed on app: lots from high school (like 13). During community college I worked part-time 20-25 hours, podcast, and newsletter coordinator
[ *] Job/Work Experience: yes 20-25 hours
[ *] Essays (subject and responses): pretty solid in my opinion! My why USC was the best
[ *] Letters of Recommendation: 1 from my Writing professor, really close with her
[ *] Other schools applied to: none. USC is my dream school

QUESTIONS:

  1. Were you surprised by the results?
    YES! Did not expect to hear from them anytime soon since I am not TTP
  1. What do you think was your biggest strength/what got you in? My essays were solid and I think it demonstrated why I want to major in political science/why I want to be a lawyer. I am also First Generation. Solid Letter of Rec. GPA. I really demonstrated how much I want to go to USC.
  2. Did you have any help with the application? Yes, I had my friend who goes to USC read them and her mom who was an alumni before I submitted.
  3. Are you going to attend? Why or why not? Yes!! I really hope I get admitted once I submit my spring semester grades.
  4. Is USC your first choice? Yes always will be! #FTFO
  5. Did you submit/did the materials (transcripts, etc.) arrive on, before, or the deadline? Before. There was a problem with my community college sending my transcript, but once I called the office of admissions, it got resolved. I submitted my application a week before it was due though.
9

Spring Grade Request - Viterbi/Engineering

Decision Date & Time: April 16 7PM

Stats:
College transferring from: Santa Monica College
Trojan Transfer Plan (TTP)/Legacy: No
Entering as: Sophomore
GPA: 3.80
Units completed: 16
Units in progress: 16
Subjective:
ECs listed on app: Working as a part-time computer programmer making web apps.
Essays (subject and responses): Talked about my Chinese background.
Letters of Recommendation: Calc 1 teacher
QUESTIONS:

  1. Were you surprised by the results?
    Surprised that they sent a spring request so early on.
  2. What do you think was your biggest strength/what got you in?
    Decent GPA and job is relevant to my major
  3. Did you have any help with the application?
    No.
  4. Are you going to attend? Why or why not?
    If I get accepted, I will attend for sure.
  5. Is USC your first choice?
    Yes
  6. Did you submit/did the materials (transcripts, etc.) arrive on, before, or the deadline?
    On the deadline.
10

Spring Grades Request - Annenberg/Communications, Sociology as my second-choice.
Decision Date & Time: (April 15th at 6:38 p.m.)
Trojan Transfer Plan (TTP)/Legacy: No TTP/Legacy
Entering as: Sophomore
GPA: 3.206
Units completed: 34
Units in progress: 18
Pre-reqs completed: none are needed for my major
GEs completed: all except two courses
ECs listed on app: ICC Representative for French Club, Member of Critical Theory Club, XQ Super School Live, Show Choir(2 years), Dance(4 years)
Job/Work Experience:n/a
Essays (subject and responses): Transfer Journey(8 or 9), my passion for Dance(8), My Identity(10).
Letters of Recommendation: 1 LOR from my English professor(the best English professor I had thus far in my college journey!)
Other schools applied to: Chapman University(accepted but declined offer of admission)

QUESTIONS:

  1. Were you surprised by the results?
    Yes!! I didn’t know they would come out so fast for non-TTP applicants.
  2. What do you think was your biggest strength/what got you in?
    I think the essays, my ECs, the amount of units I took, and hopefully my LOR:)
  3. Did you have any help with the application?
    I seeked feedback on essays and personal supplements from the Transfer Center and my peers on numerous occasions.
  4. Are you going to attend? Why or why not?
    I am definitely going to attend if accepted! It’s simply the best school that is the right fit for me.
  5. Is USC your first choice?
    Yes!
  6. Did you submit/did the materials (transcripts, etc.) arrive on, before, or the deadline?
    I submitted the day before. I did send transcripts around late February for the units I took in the Winter session. I also submitted my essay about my identity yesterday and my admissions counselor uploaded the essay onto my portal. I believed that essay helped tremendously.
11

Accepted - Marshall/Business Admin

Decision Date & Time: 04/20/2020 @ 5:15pm via email

Stats:

  • [] College transferring from: CCC
    [    ] Trojan Transfer Plan (TTP)/Legacy: No
    [] Entering as: Junior
    [    ] GPA: 3.8
    [] Units completed:55
    [    ] Units in progress: 17
    [] Pre-reqs completed: English/Math
    [ list]
    [li] ECs listed on app: n/a[/li][    ] Job/Work Experience: 5 years active duty US Navy.
    [] Essays (subject and responses):
    I wrote about my difficulties in community college after high school and being lost. How the Navy helped change me and my educational journey up to this point.
    [    ] Letters of Recommendation: 1 from an English professor and 1 from my squad leader in the Navy.

[/list]QUESTIONS:
1. Were you surprised by the results?
Yes and no
2. What do you think was your biggest strength/what got you in?
My essays. I devoted months to specifically USC and I believe it reflected on the essays.
3. Did you have any help with the application?
No.
4. Are you going to attend? Why or why not?
Yes. Because it is my dream school.
5. Is USC your first choice?
Yes.
6. Did you submit/did the materials (transcripts, etc.) arrive on, before, or the deadline?
I submitted everything required before the deadline.

12

Accepted - Viterbi/Engineering-Computer Science

Decision Date & Time: April 20 5PM

Stats:
College transferring from: Santa Monica College & Ajou University
Trojan Transfer Plan (TTP)/Legacy: No
Entering as: Junior
GPA: 4.0 For SMC (19 units completed), 3.7 for my former international university(69 units completed)
Units completed: 88 (Semester)
Units in progress: 19
Pre-reqs completed: All the prereq courses for Compsci major except for Linear Algebra, Data Structures, which is in progress. I’m also retaking Physics series because the courses I took before were not calculus based.
GEs completed: Not sure how to list them. They’re taught in my international university, so they need evaluation.
Took GE courses regarding storytelling techniques, Laws, History, etc. (Basically all the GEs my international Uni requires for graduation)
Subjective:
ECs listed on app: Band, music production, etc.
Essays (subject and responses): Pretty much copied what I wrote on my UC application. Stated my bilingual background, and my achievements in the US Army.
Letters of Recommendation: None
Other:
Other schools applied to:
UCB(rejected),UCLA(waiting),UCSD(waiting),UCD(rejected),UCR(accepted),UCSC(accepted),UCSB(rejected), UCI(rejected), Cal Poly SLO(accepted),
QUESTIONS:

  1. Were you surprised by the results?
    Yes. Although I got 4.0 average on major prep courses, I was denied by most UC’s since I had 5 UC prereq courses in progress.
  2. What do you think was your biggest strength/what got you in?
    2 years in US Army, 4.0 GPA for major prep courses. I was also a double major in computer science and biochem engineering back in my foreign university so I have a variety of courses completed.
  3. Did you have any help with the application?
    Yes. Got help from a trustworthy lawyer who graduated Harvard.
  4. Are you going to attend? Why or why not?
    If rejected by UCLA, which will probably happen, then yes.
  5. Is USC your first choice?
    No. UCLA was my first choice. USC was second.
  6. Did you submit/did the materials (transcripts, etc.) arrive on, before, or the deadline?
    On the deadline.
13

Spring Grade Request - Annenberg School of Communications/ (2nd choice) philosophy

Decision Date & Time: April 15, 2020 @ 7pm

[ *] College transferring from: Pierce College
[ *] Trojan Transfer Plan (TTP)/Legacy: nope
[ *] GPA: 3.88
[ *] Units completed: 46
[ *] Units in progress: 14
[ *] Pre-reqs completed: all
[ *] GEs completed: all

[ *] ECs listed on app: helped with a non-profit for 6 years
[ *] Job/Work Experience: postmates
[ *] Essays (subject and responses): I think I did pretty well on my essays (8.5/10)
[ *] Letters of Recommendation: yes, from a college professor

[ *] Other schools applied to: UCLA (awaiting decision), UCSB (accepted), UCSD (awaiting decision), Chapman University (awaiting decision)

[ /list][ b]QUESTIONS:[ /b]
[ b]1. Were you surprised by the results? No

[ b]2. What do you think was your biggest strength/what got you in? my grades I guess since they aren’t perfect and I’m currently taking the lab class and elective GE, which are the last two I need to do to complete all my GE’s.

[ b]3. Did you have any help with the application? yes

[ b]4. Are you going to attend? Why or why not? If I get in and get enough financial aid haha

[ b]5. Is USC your first choice? Yessirski

[ b]6. Did you submit/did the materials (transcripts, etc.) arrive on, before, or the deadline? before the deadline

Good luck to all applicants!
04-04-2020 at 2:37 pm
11 replies

14

Spring Grade Request - Dornsife/Biology with Pre-med emphasis

Decision Date & Time: April 28, checked portal around 8:28 PDT

Stats:

[ul]
[] College transferring from: CCC
[] Trojan Transfer Plan (TTP)/Legacy: Neither
[] Entering as: Sophomore? Not sure
[] GPA: 4.0
[] Units completed: 25 + 24 in AP credit
[] Units in progress: 19
[] Pre-reqs completed: English/math
[] GEs completed: 5/8 Everything but one class in category B, D, and G
[/ul]Subjective:

[ul]
[] ECs listed on app: Not much, mostly high school stuff, HOSA (placed at state and national level), Boy Scouts, a lot of volunteer hours, musical instrument for like 9 years, tennis and basketball
[] Job/Work Experience: Nothing relevant to major
[] Essays (subject and responses): They were good, the “what is something essential about you” essay was my favorite. Spent a decent amount of time on them and I think it helped.
[] Letters of Recommendation: One from physics professor
[/ul]Other:

[ul]
[li] Other schools applied to: USC or bust[/li]
[/ul]QUESTIONS:
1. Were you surprised by the results?
Not really because I know most sophomore applicants get SGR’ed. There’s just not enough credits/information to go off of and USC really wants to see if you can maintain your academic standing (especially in a time like this where they know students are considering dropping classes). I’m also currently taking the final required Physics course and first Biology course for my major, so they probably want to see how I do in those core classes. To be fair, I was anxious and I sort of expected the worst (outright rejection) as any frustrated and nervous college applicant would, but I’m confident in my grades and essays and I think that if I’m able to keep my GPA up then I’ll be fine.
2. What do you think was your biggest strength/what got you in?
Not sure, I’ll update this section if/when the time comes. In terms of why I got an SGR, see above.
3. Did you have any help with the application?
Yes, essay help from friends
4. Are you going to attend? Why or why not?
If classes are on campus, then probably yes (financial aid looks good on the Net Price Calculator), but if it’s still online then I’ll probably stay at community college to save money and wait out the pandemic.
5. Is USC your first choice? Yep

6. Did you submit/did the materials (transcripts, etc.) arrive on, before, or the deadline? On the day of the deadline (Feb 1)

Good luck to everyone! Don’t get discouraged if you haven’t heard back. Good news are worth the wait! And for those who have received SGRs/will receive SGRs, we’re all in the same boat. Just gotta push yourself to stay motivated and June will be here in a flash.

15

[ b]Spring Grade Request - DORNSIFE/ECONOMICS[ /b][ /orange]

[ b]Decision Date & Time: Tuesday, April 28th [ /b][ /blue]

[ list]
[ *] College transferring from: Private 4-Year University in California
[ *] Trojan Transfer Plan (TTP)/Legacy: No/No
[ *] Entering as: Sophomore
[ *] GPA: 4.0 so far(still waiting on spring-semester grades)
[ *] Units completed: 16
[ *] Units in progress: 18
[ *] Pre-reqs completed: Completing Math and Writing Requirement this spring semester. Not sure about major or GE requirements though.

[ /list][ b]QUESTIONS:[ /b]
[ b]1. Were you surprised by the results?[ /b]
Not really, I’m freshman with only one semester of grades. I don’t see this is as a good sign or a bad sign but I saw it coming nonetheless. However, a lot of freshmen with 4.0s get rejected, so I don’t know if I have a strong chance.

[ b]2. What do you think was your biggest strength/what got you in?[ /b]
I applied to USC out of high school with terrible grades. To no, surprise I got rejected. This year I’ll be hopefully applying with a college 4.0, so I think that this upward trend in my grades is my main strength. My essays were good, nothing to incredible, but I talked about the main reason why I want to go to USC which is so I can study the major I most interested in.

[ b]3. Did you have any help with the application?[ /b]
No

[ b]4. Are you going to attend? Why or why not?[ /b]
If I do get in, which I’m not too confident about, I will definitely attend.

[ b]5. Is USC your first choice?[ /b]
Yes, they teach the major I want to study. Plus, it has always been my dream school.

[ b]6. Did you submit/did the materials (transcripts, etc.) arrive on, before, or the deadline?[ /b]
Everything by the deadline

Good luck to all applicants!

16

Accepted - Thornton BS Music Industry

NO SPRING GRADE REQUEST

Decision Date & Time: 05/15/2020 5:00 PM

Stats:
College transferring from: California Community College
Trojan Transfer Plan (TTP)/Legacy: No
Entering as: Sophomore
GPA: 4.0
Units completed: 25
Units in progress: 7
Pre-reqs completed: Yes (Econ)
GEs completed: 6/8
Subjective:
ECs listed on app: Community service, school business club, research assistant at USC
Job/Work Experience: 3 years of part-time work experience in retail and for school
Essays (subject and responses): 8/10
Letters of Recommendation: 2 letters, 1 from writing professor and 1 from NYU professor I worked with.
Other:
Other schools applied to: Pomona College (Rejected), NYU (Accepted), Boston University (Accepted)
QUESTIONS:

  1. Were you surprised by the results?
    Yes, I think I had a great chance because of my 4.0, but in high school I had a 3.3 so I was still nervous!
  2. What do you think was your biggest strength/what got you in?
    My college GPA and my honesty in my application (letters and the Thornton portfolio). I really showed an upward trend and how hardworking I became in the past year.
  3. Did you have any help with the application?
    A good amount of help was from my sister, a UCLA student, but no one else!
  4. Are you going to attend? Why or why not?
    Yes, I committed immediately!
  5. Is USC your first choice?
    YES!! Dream school hehe <3
  6. Did you submit/did the materials (transcripts, etc.) arrive on, before, or the deadline?
    Submitted my application on the last day of November (Arts apps are due December 1st so it was very last minute), but then immediately sent in all materials the next day. I think I didn’t get an SGR because I had submitted unofficial Spring grades as soon as I could!

Fight On!!!

17

Accepted - Dornsife/Applied and Computational Math

Decision Date & Time: 05/21/2020 8:00 PM EST

Stats:

[ul]
[] College transferring from: Out of State 4 Year University in Florida
[] Trojan Transfer Plan (TTP)/Legacy: No, and this is my first time applying.
[] Entering as: Sophomore
[] GPA: 4.0
[] Units completed: 32 college + various AP
[] Units in progress: 6 over summer
[] Pre-reqs completed: Yes
[] GEs completed: 6/8 I believe
[/ul]**Subjective:/b

[ul]
[] ECs listed on app:
College: Quiz Bowl, volunteered to get local community interested in math
High School: Participated in Academic Challenge Club, Math Honor Society, SAT/ACT Tutor
[] Job/Work Experience: N/A
[] Essays (subject and responses): No idea sorry
[] Letters of Recommendation: Didn’t submit any
[/ul]Other:

[ul]
[li] Other schools applied to: UIUC[/li]
[/ul]QUESTIONS:
1. Were you surprised by the results?
Somewhat yes, even though I thought I was for sure going to get in.
2. What do you think was your biggest strength/what got you in?
GPA and Essays
3. Did you have any help with the application?
No
4. Are you going to attend? Why or why not?
Absolutely!
5. Is USC your first choice?
Yes
6. Did you submit/did the materials (transcripts, etc.) arrive on, before, or the deadline?
Yes

18

This is my first post ever! If you’re reading this and you haven’t gotten your decision yet or are wondering about applying do not worry! I read hundreds of posts on this website and all it did was drive me crazy lol.

Accepted - Dornsife B.A. Political Science (NO SGR)
Decision Date & Time: 5/21/2020 5:15 PM

Stats:
College transferring from: Santa Monica College (SMC)
Trojan Transfer Plan (TTP)/Legacy: Nope
Entering as: Sophomore
GPA: 3.86
Units completed: 23
Units in progress: 17
Pre-reqs completed: None
GEs completed: Not sure yet
Subjective:
ECs listed on app: Community service, President of Two Clubs in H.S. as well as heavily involved in Student Government. In college, I was apart of the Black Collegians Program and another Pan-African society outside of school.
Job/Work Experience: I did lots of volunteer work in high school (75+ hours), and had a job working with kids for a couple weeks.
Essays (subject and responses): 8-9/10, I wrote my essays the day of, and actually submitted a poem for one of my essays because I wanted to try something risky.
Letters of Recommendation: One from my psychology professor who really liked me.
Other:
Other schools applied to: UVA (Accepted) BU (Accepted) NYU (Waitlisted), Pomona (Rejected),
QUESTIONS:

  1. Were you surprised by the results?
    Very! I only had one full college semester of coursework completed, and I graduated from a high school that doesn’t get many students into USC. I also didn’t receive an SGR, and had 2 W’s despite only being in college for one semester (I sent a formal letter explaining my W’s).
  2. What do you think was your biggest strength/what got you in?
    Probably my essays. I took an extreme risk with everything I wrote, and was feeling super unconfident, but I wrote about what I cared about, and was pretty unconventional in writing my essays. If you would like to read them, let me know.
  3. Did you have any help with the application?
    Nope! I actually did the whole application the night before it was due.
  4. Are you going to attend? Why or why not?
    Yes! I really wasn’t enjoying the whole community college thing, and I’m so happy I get to go to USC now!
  5. Is USC your first choice?
    Yes, dream school
  6. Did you submit/did the materials (transcripts, etc.) arrive on, before, or the deadline?
    Wayyyy after, like a month after. SMC does the winter semester situation kind of weird, and the grades for us don’t come out until the middle of Feb. Not only that, I had tons of trouble with sending transcripts and stuff.
19

** Accepted - Viterbi/Computer Science **

**Decision Date & Time: Thursday May 21, 8:26 PM EST **

Stats:

[ul]
[] College transferring from: OOS East Coast Community College
[] Trojan Transfer Plan (TTP)/Legacy: No
[] Entering as: Junior?
[] GPA: 3.94 (Applied before spring semester with a 4.0)
[] Units completed: 71
[] Units in progress: n/a
[] Pre-reqs completed: Calc 3, Physics 2 (Electromagnetism), DS&A, 2 English
[] GEs completed: Sociology, Communications
[/ul]**Subjective:/b

[ul]
[] ECs listed on app: Nothing really, some volunteering
[] Job/Work Experience: Worked for two years in sales after high school.
[] Essays (subject and responses): I spent a lot of time on my essays, like over a year. I would say they were maybe 8/10.
[] Letters of Recommendation: 2 from professors who barely knew me.
[/ul]Other:

[ul]
[li] Other schools applied to: Various Safeties (Accepted to 3), UVA (Accepted), UMich (Accepted), [/li]Rice, Johns Hopkins, Duke, UCB, UCLA, WUSTL, Northwestern, Cornell, CMU, Stanford, Brown, Yale. - All rejected.
Vanderbilt (Waiting), UWashington (Waiting), Northeastern (Waiting).

[/ul]QUESTIONS:
1. Were you surprised by the results?
I wish I could say no but obviously yes! I was rejected by so many schools before this accepted. I was definitely not expecting this decision.

2. What do you think was your biggest strength/what got you in?
Definitely my essays and college GPA while taking rigorous courses. I took the SAT once in 2015 and the score was very low. My high school GPA was like a 2.9.

3. Did you have any help with the application?
No.

4. Are you going to attend? Why or why not?
Hopefully. Waiting for financial aid offer. If not, I will be attending UVA, because of their great fin aid.

5. Is USC your first choice?
Yes.

6. Did you submit/did the materials (transcripts, etc.) arrive on, before, or the deadline?
Before the deadline. I think my app was completed in late December / early January.

20

**Accepted - Dornsife/Sociology[ /b][ /color]

[color=blue]Decision Date & Time: May 21, 2020 5:26PM (PST)

Stats:

[ul]
[] College transferring from: Moorpark College
[] Trojan Transfer Plan (TTP)/Legacy: Yes (Both)
[] Entering as: Sophomore
[] GPA: 4.0
[] Units completed: 31
[] Units in progress: 7
[] Pre-reqs completed: English/Math completed
[] GEs completed: 6/8 (Category A, B, C, F)
[/ul][ b]Subjective:/b

[ul]
[] ECs listed on app: Nothing from college, all from high school. (Student council, Art classes…)
[] Job/Work Experience: Family restaurant (cashier)
[] Essays (subject and responses): I wrote about a syndrome that I was born with and how I overcome the challenges it comes with (and also why I want to go to USC lol).
[] Letters of Recommendation: Submitted 1 from Sociology professor
[/ul][ b]Other:**

[ul]
[li] Other schools applied to: Columbia University[/li]
[/ul][ b]QUESTIONS:**
1. Were you surprised by the results?
Absolutely!!!
2. What do you think was your biggest strength/what got you in?
Definitely my grades and the fact that I was legacy and TTP
3. Did you have any help with the application?
No
4. Are you going to attend? Why or why not?
Yes!
5. Is USC your first choice?
Yes!
6. Did you submit/did the materials (transcripts, etc.) arrive on, before, or the deadline?
My high school sent the wrong transcripts to USC and I only found out about it in early April but everything else was submitted on time (before the deadline).