Am I good to go?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
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<p>I need to know if I'm safe to get into USC. </p>

<p>My ACT is 32, my SAT is 2050 but I'm gonna take that again. I have a 4.0, I'm valedictorian, and I take AP classes. I'm in lots of organizations and serve as the sr. class president. I've volunteered on political campaigns and at FEED the Children. I've got some college credit already and I plan to page at the capitol. I was a Boy's State attendee too. I plan to do some more stuff this next year that would help me. </p>

<p>Is this enough to get into USC, and if it's not, what can I do to improve my chances.</p>

<p>Also, what can I do to improve my sat scores? (650CR, 710M, 690W)</p>

2

<p>I think you've got a great chance, but there is no way to guarentee an acceptance. I don't know how you can improve your SAT scores. I improved mine by 140 points just by sitting on my ass for 6 months and taking it in January. lol... Who knows if that works for everyone.</p>

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<p>how do you already know your valedictorian as an incoming senior?</p>

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<p>To be valedictorian at my school you have to have straight A's and take at least 14 AP or Honors classes and take at least 1 AP class in science, history, english, and math.</p>

<p>I'm the only student in my grade with all A's
If I should make a B next year, they look at the highest weighted GPA and that's still me. I'm confident but not cocky that I'll make all A's next year so I'm not worried. </p>

<p>The next students in line for valedictorian have made more than one B and the chances of me doing that are slim. :)</p>

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<p>You sound like you have a good chance. It also sounds, though, like you are excelling in not a very competitive school, which they do consider.</p>

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<p>sjw2001, you got it exactly right. There are very few students who excel at my school. We hardly, if ever, send students to top schools. Last year, we sent one student to USC. Most everyone else when to state colleges or regional public schools or community colleges. You're right, I don't have a lot of competition but I'm hoping that because my school doesn't send many grads to top schools that that will be an advantage for me. </p>

<p>I don't know how much geography makes a difference but I'm from Oklahoma, applying to Princeton, Penn, USC, and Stanford.</p>

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<p>If you can raise your SAT by at least 50 points, I think you will be looking good. Work on your essays- show your passions.</p>

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<p>Yeah, I second that you work on your essays and also your short answers. & do show passion... looking at my application, i had soooo many typos, despite checking many times, but i guess the message still came through. don't procrastinate on the application, like I did. it all worked out, but it was stressful. good luck&fight on!</p>

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<p>Jonathan its Jon Willbanks. SAT will probably be fine. Get Senator Brannan's wife to write you a letter of recommendation. She will help a lot. And your geography gives you a lot of leeway. Last year I was one of only eight students in the state got accepted to USC out of only like 20 applicants, so you've got a pretty darn good shot. </p>

<p>Penn and Princeton are the ones we have to worry about.</p>

<p>And don't listen to our counselors. They are idiots. </p>

<p>Not sure if we'll have time to do the NP this summer though. Don't worry though I still think you'll be fine.</p>

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<p>After seeing this whole thread so far- I'd say the odds are you're IN to 'SC.</p>

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<p>Will having a part time job (20-25 hours a week) while I'm doing all this other stuff be an advantage?</p>

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<hr>

<p>Here, this is what I put in the 'What are my chances forum' and has most of my stuff on it i think.
High School Jr., male, white, middle class</p>

<p>Choices:
1. Princeton
2. Penn
3. USC
4. Stanford</p>

<p>From OK, high school sends little if any grads to top schools</p>

<p>Valedictorian
Ranked #1 in class of 300
GPA: 4.0, 4.6 weighted
AP classes I've taken:APUSH, English Lang, Calc AB, Chem, Art History (haven't got back scores) and next year I'm taking English Lit, Gov't, Euro History, Calc BC</p>

<p>ACT- 32, plan to take once more
SAT-2050 (650 CR, 710 M, 690 W), plan to test once more to get scores up
SAT Subjects- haven't taken any yet but plan to take: Math II (800 on practice), US history, and Spanish</p>

<p>EC's</p>

<p>Boy's State delegate
Senior Class President
NHS
FCA
Business Professionals of America
Academic Team
Spanish Club
Youth and Gov't
Model UN
Patriots against world suffering
Mu Alpha Theta</p>

<p>I also served on the OKC youth council which is like a gov't/leadership program for 18 kids from the whole city</p>

<p>I've volunteered as a political campaign intern and at Feed the Children. I am also set up to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity this summer. </p>

<p>I plan to page at the capitol. </p>

<p>I will be in a mentorship program my senior year in politics or business</p>

<p>I will have college credit for macroeconomics and calculus from OCU</p>

<p>I can get a letter of rec. from the OKC mayor, and possibly my Representative. </p>

<p>My interests include history, politics, government, humanities, literature, music, international studies, economics, business, and volunteering. </p>

<p>Now, can I get in, and if not, what can I do to improve my chances</p>

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<p>Thanks everyone. How can I boost my SAT scores, especially reading. What I struggle with in the reading is the vocab part.</p>

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<p>Here's one way to study! :)
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=340072&highlight=oxford%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=340072&highlight=oxford&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>Thanks, anymore advice?</p>

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<p>Check over in the SAT area of this board: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/forumdisplay.php?f=9%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/forumdisplay.php?f=9&lt;/a> . There is a lot there on preparing for the SAT.</p>

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<p>^wait you are from Oklahoma? Are you from Edmond by any chance? I'm from Edmond Memorial so I'm curious. LOL I know what you mean by most people not going to top schools. Everybody just end up going to OU,OSU or UCO (well where I was anyway)</p>

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<p>uyulove, no I'm from okc, I went to putnam city west, where it is everyone's goal to get into ou, osu, uco, or drop out.</p>

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<p>Ooh one of my friends went to one of the PC schools (I think PC original?) well nice to see another Oklahoman ^^;; Yeah even when i go through facebook most people went to those 3 schools... hmm only like 5 people went to places like rice, Washu or places like that</p>

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<p>you sure sound like you can get in. keep in mind that some majors are more difficult to be accepted into than others (i.e. choose a 2nd choice major - they might even let you choose undecided for 2nd choice - when you apply), and also that things will be stepped up a bit admissions wise because the incoming c/o 2011 is huge</p>