<p>Interesting that the OP appears to think it was a choice between the OP and applicants with an “IQ of 70*.” Again, IQ is not considered in college admissions, and so clearly others offered more to USC than the OP. Universities look for applicants who will bring something to the university, and the ability to collaborate, engage in productive discussions (as opposed to simply stating how gosh-darned smart they are and dismissing/diminishing everyone else’s opinions) and to work cooperatively are valuable traits in an applicant. Pompousness, smugness and an air of superiority appeal to no one.</p>
<p>Given the OP’s self-proclaimed “genius,” one would have to wonder why the GPA is a 3.9 (an outstanding GPA, certainly, but given the OP’s statement of superiority to all one would certainly expect a 4.0)? Was your community college populated by students with “IQs” greater than 155 (given that you state the main factor in selecting potentially successful students is “IQ,” shouldn’t the genius among them have risen head and shoulders above the rest)? Was the curve at your school so very steep that even one with an “IQ of 155” unable to reach the pinnacle?</p>
<p>I work in a field where, as a part of a larger evaluation, I administer psychometric assessments of nonverbal cognitive ability (or as the OP refers to it, “IQ”) and consider that information in the context of the individual’s present levels of achievement and I can tell you, unequivocally, that adaptive skills (in other words, what one DOES with that cognitive potential) are far more important than the raw numbers.</p>
<p>*The OP mentions that they are under the impression the “average” human “IQ” is 78. It seems our genius needs to do a bit more research. “IQ” scores as discussed here are reported as Standard Scores. When considering Standard Scores, the “average” score is 100 and every 15 points of variation is called a Standard Deviation (SD). Typically, depending on what cognitive measure is being used, the “average range” is considered to be 1 SD either way, or 85-115. <a href=“http://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/articles/bellcurve.pdf”>http://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/articles/bellcurve.pdf</a> . Lucky day for the OP - I bet he/she didn’t expect to learn anything new today!</p>
<p>The purpose of an application is to explain why you are above other applicants. In fact, the wording is almost verbatim to how my counselor explained it to me “waste your time applying anywhere else, unless it’s somewhere you would prefer to go over USC” etc. Secondly, I asked her if I should mention my IQ, and she said “yes, now is not the time for false modesty. You have to sell yourself.”, and I still did not mention my IQ. If I had left my post the exact same way, minus the mention of IQ, nobody would have perceived me as having a “bad attitude”. It’s simply a knee jerk reaction after so much conditioning to fear and revile the fact that the universe isn’t an egalitarian. Also, my being more qualified than the majority of current alumni is relevant, since that is where my confusion stems. If I did not believe I was “good enough” for USC, I wouldn’t question the decision, so it is natural that someone questioning it, is doing do on the basis that they are indeed more qualified over others that were admitted. It’s silly that one can appeal a decision (which implies the same), but cannot merely state it straightforwardly, and being aware that even modern societies still subscribe to much silliness, I didn’t speak in such a manner in my essay so any citations of these posts as a reason why I didn’t get accepted is absurd, for the reasons that a) I didn’t mention my iq in the essay and b) even if I had, that would be an absurd reason to deprive a university of qualified alumni. Not to say that I am as intelligent as Einstein, but simply to illustrate, imagine of Einstein had not been accepted into a university because he was rude in an interview, or if Steve
Jobs had been fired and not allowed to return because he was rude with his employees and other subordinates. </p>
<p>Elliemom, I appreciate your post, and I agree with it. I am aware that some find it offensive and are put off by the mentioning of one’s IQ, and this is why I decided not to mention it even though in reality, it should have given me a great boost. It is a delicate issue, and I played it safe and did not mention my IQ. Thank you for being able to respond in a respectful manner.</p>
<p>I’d say most of the time schools like USC are not picking between students with an IQ of 150 or 70, but picking a lot of students in the 120-135 range (known or unknown IQ). Intelligent, able to learn, good grades and good test scores.</p>
<p>I probably would prefer the doctor with a 150 IQ to one with a 70, but I might not prefer the 150 over a talented and kind 120.</p>
<p>If you feel like your above everyone, why go to school? Wouldn’t that be a waste of time? Go start your own business and be your own boss, then you could be the genius you claim to be. On another note, I just had to add this. If you claim to be a genius that you say you are, why didn’t you apply to a safety school? Oh wait… it would be wasting your time!! How hard is it to apply to another school?</p>
Is an IQ test a better indicator of intelligence/reasoning than the SAT? If it is, why don’t colleges require IQ testing?</p>
<p>Also, refer to the above post by elliemom. Everybody is a dime a dozen. I am sure there are people in USC’s incoming class just like you, people who think that there exists a magic number that wholly describes you as a human. I am also sure that there are people in the incoming class that are “less qualified” by your standards. However, your standards vary from those of the admission committee, evidently. Perhaps the committee was able to see through the essays that you attempted to mold to their ideal. Maybe they had an inkling that you were one of the million pretentious highschoolers in America today. That inkling could be enough to can your application. It’s no skin off their nose to reject you. </p>
<p>This next bit might be useful for you in the future, so if nothing else, read this:</p>
<p>You are not special. Good grades don’t make you special. High test scores don’t make you special. Potential is not special. Many people have that. Only once that potential is realized will you become special. The sooner you drop the sense of entitlement, the better off you will be.</p>
Okay, let’s test that theory and take out your reference to “IQ”:
3.9 is an acceptable transfer GPA for USC (though you will note on the transfer acceptance thread - linked on your other thread - that a large % are reporting 4.0) as the average transfer GPA last year was 3.7. It may be higher this year. That part looks okay, however 80 units (if they are semester units - if quarter units you are right on target) is a lot. It may seem counter-intuitive, but having so many units can be a detriment. USC allows up to 64 transferable units. If you are applying in the future to other universities, you might include a note of explanation for the excess units (such as, changed major/future plans, needed to obtain certification for employment, etc.). IMPORTANT: Did those 80 units meet the requirements listed by USC below? If not, that might be the reason for which you are looking.
Honors? I am not sure what you mean by this? Do you mean being on the Dean’s list each semester? If so, that is pretty much what nearly every applicant was presenting - if you look at the transfer thread you will find yourself in the company of a bunch of Dean’s list students.
N/A - we took that one out.
ECs are not nearly as important for transfer applicants as for freshman applicants. USC details the things they look for in the Transfer Planning Brochure:
</a> and there is nothing about ECs. Check on the transfer thread for more info.
5. This might be a plus IF it was verifiable, but to be honest, many applicants state on their applications that they started a software company - the statement alone would not make you stand out.
6. If you had 12 years of piano lessons, that would actually be better. There is no way for an admissions committee to know what you mean by 12 years of piano “experience.” That could mean that there was a piano in your house for 12 years… And, as mentioned in #4, ECs really don’t count for much in transfer admission.
7. This is where things go south… Did you really say you wanted to dedicate your “intellectual gifts…?” And by that do you mean that you intend to work in the poorest areas/countires as a doctor or that you intend to get a good-paying job as a medical researcher? BIG difference. Many applicants would like to someday become doctors/go into medicine. This would not be a selection factor.
8. This was probably in your favor. USC values diversity.
9. This depends on how it was presented. Go back to your essay and count the number of times you used the pronouns “I, me, my and mine.” I bet it was a lot. Perhaps use the story, but do your best to frame it in a larger perspective of how others could be positively affected by your journey or how you learned something from it (assuming you did).</p>
<p>Your closing paragraph, which insults both alumni (easily more qualified than 90% of 'em) and current accepted transfer applicants (sub-par qualifications), comes of as arrogant even without any mention of cognitive level. Your follow-up posts reinforce that perception, so I would hazard a guess that you would have been (rightfully) responded to forcefully on this thread even had you (sensibly) omitted your views on “IQ” and your assertions that you are superior because of it.</p>
<p>So your GPA was on target and you had diversity going for you. Your counselor may not have been aware that USC’s admission for transfer has increased greatly in selectivity in recent years.</p>
<p>In an IQ test, the average is 100 with a standard deviation of 15 points. It’s a bell curve. Approximately 2.5% of the population has an IQ two standard deviations above the mean, ( above 130) and 2.5% has an IQ two standard deviations below the mean.( below 70). The range of low average to high average IQ is about 80-120. </p>
<p>IQ is a measure of intelligence, but it does not measure achievement. People with certain learning differences can have a discrepancy between ability and achievement. Other factors that influence achievement include motivation, work ethic, attention span, and some environmental factors. IQ tests can also be broken down into sections such as verbal and non verbal. The IQ is an average of all those subtests. One could possibly have high and low scores in them, so IQ on it’s own doesn’t necessarily indicate that someone is good in everything.</p>
<p>College admission is based on assessments of a student’s achievement. An IQ test doesn’t tell the college nearly as much as what you do with it. This is why it isn’t part of the application.</p>
<p>USC’s acceptance rate was about 17% this year. A 3.9 gpa is great for a lot of schools but USC has become incredibly selective. Unless I missed it, you didn’t mention your ACT or SAT scores. That’s conspicuously absent from your post. Your high IQ should translate into a high SAT or ACT score. If it didn’t, there’s your answer.</p>
<p>I agree with many of the posters that mentioning your IQ is poor form. Even if you didn’t mention it on your application, the fact that you brought it up here points to a feeling on entitlement. if this came across in your essays or if your standardized scores weren’t where they needed to be, these could be two reasons for your rejection.</p>
<p>Sorry.</p>
<p>As for being more qualified than 90% of the alumni, speaking as an alum, I don’t disagree with you but you should not take any credit for that fact. There are macro factors that have made all elite colleges more competitive now than they were twenty years ago. High school student graduation rates in the US are at an all time high. The largest percentage in our country’s history now go on to some form of higher education. And if that wasn’t bad enough, international student applications are at an all time high.</p>
<p>And international students do not receive financial aid so those are full pay students that colleges love!</p>
<p>Pick any school in America and you will see the number of applications have gone up 400% to 500% in the past ten years. Don’t compare yourself to those of use who came before you, compare yourself to your contemporaries. That’s what colleges are doing as you discovered the hard way at USC.</p>
<p>OP IQ is not static - your brain is like a muscle that atrophies if it isn’t used. Correspondingly, IQ can go up or down, depending upon the extent to which one is being challenged to learn and master new concepts and ideas. </p>
<p>You may want to consider that your IQ is not what it was in 1st grade, unless you were preoccupied doing some extremely intellectual pursuit after you dropped out in 9th grade - and even if it is, the response to your post should help you realize that people generally don’t care. </p>
<p>IQ is merely a metric to estimate your aptitude - or potential to achieve - but colleges and others will judge you more on actual achievements rather than prospective ability. </p>
<p>I commend you for returning to school and fighting your way back - as a drop-out and prospective cc transfer student. But your attitude needs to catch up with your intellect and ability in order for you to succeed in college, and in the workforce. </p>
<p>Otherwise or until then I think @MarshallBound has the best advice - which is to be your own boss and forge an entrepreneurial path for yourself. </p>
<p>Aside from the fact that you did not list any EC with campus involvement at your current school, your stats sound stellar. So, given the case that reviewers overlooked what sounds like no campus involvement in your application, IMHO it was definitely the way you told your story.</p>
<p>You have to remember that USC wants to see why you belong in USC not why USC desperately needs you. Two different stories told in different ways. This means fitting in their standards, not having them fit yours. </p>
<p>Do not take this personally but if you are a genius as you claim at least IQ-wise, you would have maximized your opportunities to get in. Man, at least use your genius to make a kickass Appeal! I mean perseverance and dedication just went out the window, IMO the opposite of Fighting On! (You see what my angle is?)</p>
<p>Son got into USC’s Viterbi School of Engineering: we don’t know why but can show you some stats:
(wasn’t a transfer student and but he’s worked his butt off studying every night after sports events)
SAT: 2370, Top 10 student in class of 600, GPA: 4.0, National Merit Corporate Winner, CA Senate awards from Boxer and Feinstein
Multiple EC’s: Eagle scout, Suzuki violinist for 11 years with Suzuki lessons from instructors from the local Cal State and syphony violinist, work at homeless shelter
Hooks: Hispanic, Athlete
I don’t know if it answers your question but he got in; his IQ has never been measured.</p>
<p>The reason you didn’t get in is clear to anyone reading your posts on this thread. You attitude probably came across in your essays, and your reference writers likely also mentioned it. Colleges are looking for pleasant people who will improve the college experience for others.</p>
<p>I also want to add that I don’t understand why you alluded to the idea that African Americans don’t have to work as hard and if you had been aa you would have gotten in. That’s a false assumption, irrelevant to the discussion, and extremely offensive</p>
<p>Appeals guys - I agree with @TRT. I’ve interviewed some gifted kids who were shocked they were turned down by my alma mater. Sometimes it was the attitude during the interview combined with things in their essays which knocked them out of the running. Still - I tell students to “be themselves” during this process so the right school can find them and choose them. Those processes allow us to see who is a good fit for the class and for the campus culture.</p>
<p>In this case, USC determined you weren’t a match. But they had 51,000 applications so they were also telling tens of thousands of other students they didn’t have room for them either. All perfectly qualified and very bright. It didn’t mean you weren’t qualified.</p>
<p>So sorry to be the bearer of bad news. But you weren’t the only gifted student in the pile. And you weren’t the only gifted student turned down. It is what is is. Learn to love the college that chose you.</p>