Any chance at all? D=

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

<p>All right, so maybe you fine fellows can help me. I love the sound of USC, I've researched it to some extent, but I have sort of a weird situation and I'm not from California at all (other side of the country in fact, southeast!), so I really don't know what to think.</p>

<p>Here's the deal: I'm a rising junior at a public high school, definitely one of the best in the state but that's not saying too much... I'm white, female, and have a single mother who makes <10k a year, so I better get some kind of funding haha. Anyway, the thing is I screwed up my first two years pretty bad.</p>

<p>Freshman year I got mostly A's, but a D the first semester of biology (and an A in the second semester, go figure). Then sophomore year I took mostly honors classes and got A's and B's, BUT I did not do well in art. At all. It's a complicated situation with some apparent messups, but although I got a B the first semester it looks like I may end up with a D (C, best case scenario) the second semester! </p>

<p>Now, this is bad. Believe me, I know it is. Overall my unweighted GPA is somewhere between a 3.0 and a 3.3, and my class rank isn't even in the top quarter.</p>

<p>As for SATs, I obviously don't know yet but I've been taking practice tests over the summer, the ones you get in the CollegeBoard book (that's how bored I am!) and I seem to pretty consistently get 800s on the writing and CR and 660-680 on the math, so hopefully when SAT time rolls around I'll at least do okay. </p>

<p>Junior year I'll be taking two APs and 4 honors, for what it's worth, and then some more senior year. Extracurriculars, nothing national or amazing, but I'm founder and co-president of Amnesty International (we're already planning trips for next year), founder and co-president of the Film Club, a member of the Academy of International Studies, and hope to be an editor for the school paper, which I work for, start an English tutoring program and be on the Junior Class Council.</p>

<p>So here's the real question: If by some miracle I manage to get a 4.0 junior and senior years (not implausible, really) and do well on my SATs - I know it's not very likely, but what do you think the chances are I might get into USC? =/</p>

<p>(By the way, if you read this, I seriously commend you. I realize it was very long and rambling and boring.)</p>

2

<p>Not rambling and boring. What you are omitting from the equation is what special qualities you bring to the table. Be prepared to explain why your grades have been up and down.</p>

3

<p>It's really early to try to chance you with any reliability, but if you get great SAT scores and bring your GPA up dramatically, you have a chance, depending on what major you plan to apply to. I'll paste what I said in an earlier thread about how to get the most out of a chances request:</p>

<p>"This forum is full of current students, alums and parents who are willing to "chance you" if given the right information (as opposed to other high school students who probably have no more of a clue than you do!). Here's what will help:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>It's really hard to predict chances without an SAT reasoning or ACT score. Please provide it, along with PSAT/National Merit status and AP scores if you have those.</p></li>
<li><p>Give some context for your unweighted GPA (your school's GPA scale, your relative position in the class, the difficulty of your courseload).</p></li>
<li><p>Tell us if you're an under-represented minority (URM), a first generation college student, or low income enough that you would enhance the diversity of the student body. People don't like to ask questions about those things, but they are hooks that can improve your chances significantly.</p></li>
<li><p>Tell us whether you intend to apply for a specific major. Some of them are very, very selective (e.g. around 4% for the production major in the School of Cinematic Arts). Your intended major makes a huge difference in your chances for admission.</p></li>
<li><p>We often see chances threads by "out of state" students. That makes us think you don't know much about USC, which is a private institution that has no preferential treatment for in-state students. In fact, if you're from Kotzebue, Alaska you probably have a startling advantage over your basic Angeleno! </p></li>
<li><p>To be honest, I personally don't find a laundry list of EC's to be that useful. But if you can tell us something about the plot-line of your life, that could be helpful. You want the adcoms to be able to slap a descriptive label on you, and that means your application should have a theme of some sort. Do you see yourself as a student leader/organizer type who has activities that go along with that identity? Are you a creative type who has performed or displayed art or composed music? Have you always been the person in your group who mediates disputes and helps people when they need you, and have you participated in groups that helped you develop those skills? You get the drift, I hope....</p></li>
<li><p>Keep in mind that none of us really knows, and we chance you somewhat reluctantly. So take it with a grain of salt! Admissions is something of a moving target. The latest round saw USC's selectivity go down almost 4%, to 21%. For the most recent class, the average SAT score for admitted students is 2108, an increase of 18 points over the previous year. The average GPA of admitted students is 3.8 unweighted."</p></li>
</ol>

4

<p>Since your mom has low income, do you work part time to help out? If so, this can be an added consideration and well looked on by USC, as well as a possible reason for your grades. If you are first generation, that could be another factor in your application.</p>

<p>If you are consistently getting 800s in CR in the Blue Book, and in writing, you may be in good shape to do very well on the SAT. CR is normally the most difficult to excel in. Are you looking at the humanities, English, history etc. as possible fields of study? If you are, the D in Bio in the first semester may not be such an issue. Besides you improved, and USC may see that grade as adjusting to HS. Better in 9th than in 11th grade.</p>

<p>Just do your very best to raise the GPA in Junior year, the most important year. With 3 semesters left you could raise it quite a bit. Also, you have the PSAT this fall. If you do well you may be a NMF which would give you a presidential scholarship if USC is named as 1st choice, and if you are admitted.</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

5

<p>Is your guidance counselor on your side? It would be a big help if he/she was able to write about your two poor grades and put them into context and perhaps explain special circumstances, if any. The biggest problem may be how adcoms view your great performance in many classes but bombing on those two. If they think you just give up or have problems with certain teachers, it could hurt you. Even if that was the case--all can be explained in the extra essay where you get to talk about your extra challenges and what you learned from any mistakes.</p>

<p>Good luck. The best advice is to learn from the past and make great strides in junior year.</p>

6

<p>All right first of all - thanks so much, you guys! I really appreciate the feedback. I'll try to answer all the questions that were raised.</p>

<p>1) I'm not hellbent on any particular major, but I'm DEFINITELY not going into either art or ANYTHING on earth to do with science or math. I was considering political sciences, but generally something in that sort of field, I'd say.</p>

<p>2) I'm fairly positive that I'll be able to do a good job on my essays and really convince them that I'm a wonderful special fantastic person. =D If they can get past the bad stats...</p>

<p>3) Junior year I will have something that I never really had before: the actual will to get straight A's! It won't be easy, but I think I can probably do it. Particularly since I will NOT be taking art again. Ever. Lol.</p>

<p>4) I haven't gotten a job yet although I'm looking into it, but unfortunately uhhh...my mom's a Princeton grad. x.X Which just goes to show that an Ivy League education is NOT everything. Well okay, actually she's a grad student right now.</p>

<p>5) I don't know my counselor well at all, but in the particular art class my teacher was gone for more than half the year with health problems and came back with two months in the year to bomb me. Which was just great. Best case scenario we might be able to get the class struck off the record somehow. </p>

<p>So I don't know...I guess it's a gamble I'll just have to take. Basically I'll just try to enjoy my junior year, excel in my classes, and pursue my interests - in my application I'll try to convince them that I saw the light halfway through high school. If I'm lucky enough, maybe it'll work. </p>

<p>And once again, you guys, thank you so much for all the advice you've given! (And any advice you may give in future.)</p>

<p>Oh, I do have one other question...about the interviews. The USC website /said/ that it didn't make much difference, but is that entirely true? Would it add anything for me?</p>

7

<p>Maybe going on the interview might help if you have a very good reason to explain your D's.</p>

8

<p>It sounds as if you have only two poor grades. The D in bio is something you were able to bring up to an A second semester. Although obviously getting an A both semesters would look better, the fact that you were able to turn things around and end up with such a solid result is, and will look, admirable. The fact that you struggled with a subject but were ultimately able to excell will not be lost on an admissions committee. </p>

<p>Are you sure that your hs sends both semester and final grades to colleges on your transcript? At some high schools, only the end of year grade goes out -- check and see. Also, colleges probably will not count your art grade in your academic average. Your high school might, and that could make a difference in terms of your class ranking, but things like studio art (as opposed to art history) and music performance do not generally go into the academic GPA as calculated by colleges. (Does anyone know if the is the case for USC?) Given the odd situation, see if your GC can maybe intervene in some way -- stricken from your transcript sounds like a nice alternative. But getting a low grade in art is a lot different from bombing an academic solid. And if you're wanting to be an art major, or are considering using art as a major EC, you can always add a portfolio so the college itself will be in a position to evaluate your work for itself.</p>

<p>Just focus on doing your best over the next two years and don't freak out about what came before.</p>

9

<p>Start practicing for the PSAT RIGHT NOW! (If I remember, the math might be a bit remedial for some on the PSAT, so make sure your review and know your stuff.) In the past, USC has looked favorably on National Merit Semi-Finalists and offers them a guaranteed half tuition scholarship if admitted. (Some don't get admitted) Plus, USC is very generous with financial aid. My son was in a position similar to yours and was able to raise his gpa by doing very well junior year and first semester of senior year.</p>

10

<p>Okay. I'll try hard not to set my heart on USC (because you just never know!), but you guys have been very, very encouraging. (And helpful.) I'll definitely be talking to my guidance counselor, and I will look into the interview thing when the time rolls around. Hopefully I can show them that I've learned how to work.</p>

11

<p>Best of luck!</p>