Any shot at USC?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

<p>I am going to be a senior next year, I am worried about where I might end up. So please help me out to get an idea of where I stand. Well here it is...</p>

<p>Ethnicity/Sex: Indian Male</p>

<p>State: CA</p>

<p>Parent's Income: My parents BOTH lost their jobs this year, most of my junior year was on my parents savings and unemployment. My mom recently got her job back, my dad just got his as well; he works in Boston now, and now I am living with my mom and my brother. But, as I said before, they both lost their jobs this year; which was my worst year GPA wise (If that helps at all). When they both have a job, I think they make around 100k-130k.</p>

<p>UW GPA: 3.417
UC GPA: 3.65ish
W GPA: Not sure how USC calculates this.</p>

<p>=(</p>

<p>Class Rank: 70-80/ 515 Top 20% for sure, UC wise, maybe top 10%?</p>

<p>SAT: 2050
Math: 680 =/
Writing: 680
Reading: 690</p>

<p>SAT 2:
Math: 670. (Retaking aiming for 800)
History: 630
Chem: In Oct. (Going for 800)</p>

<p>AP/HON:</p>

<p>My courses have been very rigorous. I have taken 3 or 4 Hon/AP out of 6 classes every year. We cant take AP classes till our Junior year... So, One AP Junior year, 4 next year. Total Hon/ AP classes: 14</p>

<p>USH: 3
Calc AB: Next Year
Stats: Next Year
Gov: Next Year
Ecom: Next Year</p>

<p>EC'S:</p>

<p>Summer Classes:</p>

<p>Took Psychology at a CC my Sophomore summer and got an A</p>

<p>This Summer, I am taking Chem 1A at UC Berkeley through the pre-collegiate program. It is a Undergrad class offered for High school students with a better then a B average. My parents had to bust out a lot of money for this, they insisted I go here, instead of a CC. Its basically a Berkeley class, you get 4 UC credits, a Letter of Recommendation and so on. Hoping to do well in this and get an 800 on Chem SAT.</p>

<p>Clubs:</p>

<p>Mediocre here... CSF 3 years.</p>

<p>Volunteering:</p>

<p>I have worked at a local community center for a program called Teen Leadership Academy. They say working there is as good as being on ASB, Boy Scouts,etc...</p>

<p>Freshman Summer: 88 hours
Sophomore Summer: 80 Hours
Junior Summer: I hope to do 40+ hours, will have to try to do this with my summer class.</p>

<p>I tutored math at my school for 30 hours my Junior year, 2 hours a week through the course of the year.</p>

<p>Total: Before summer: 198. After Summer: Prob will have 235-250.</p>

<p>Major: Engineering, any of these three will suffice: Electrical, Chemical, Bio.</p>

<p>I would like to go to a mid tier or high tier UC if possible. I have much respect for USC and I see it as a top college, so I know I probably have a very little chance. Anyway, I was just wondering if I had ANY chance to get in, and more then likely, my parents will not pay the full price, so if I get into a mid/high tier UC and I don't get anything from USC, I would go to the one that is cheaper.</p>

2

<p>If I could make a suggestion, repost this with a differently worded subject line. “Any shot …?” got my attention in a negative way.</p>

3

<p>haha uhh yeah. i thought you meant shot as in … shot with a gun</p>

4

<p>Oh…wow lol. I didn’t realize that. LOL.</p>

<p>Hm… I will keep it, it will attract more attention. </p>

<p>Opinions please?</p>

5

<p>Hahaha, I had the same thought as the other people.</p>

<p>Maybe something more generic as “Chances at getting accepted?” or something xD</p>

6

<p>Anyone actually going to chance me to see if I have a “shot?”</p>

<p>lol</p>

7

<p>(Don’t worry- most understand what you mean when you ask, “Any shot at USC?”)</p>

<p>You definitely have a shot but it’s going to require you to submit a great application with an excellent essay. </p>

<p>You can compare your stats to the latest freshman profile-
<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergr...file2008v3.pdf[/url]”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergr...file2008v3.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Study the USC admissions website and follow all instructions as closely as possible. Make sure you submit before December 1 so you will be eligible for some of the scholarships. Look for independent scholarships and apply to all of those you can find.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

8

<p>haha you know you’ve been on CC too long if after reading the title you think of a chance thread instead of the other possibility :(</p>

9

<p>Thanks for the replies guys. </p>

<p>I seriously have a chance at USC?</p>

<p>What about financial aid? Can I get enough to pay a fair price?</p>

10

<p>Legend, if you review the link provided by cc411, (you need to cut and paste the following address: usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/private/0910/FreshmanProfile2008v3.pdf), you’ll see that while you have “a shot” it is going to be a bit of a reach.</p>

<p>2008 Admits had an average UW GPA of 3.8 which is far above your 3.4, (even your 3.6 UC is below the average - does USC even do the UC recalculation?). Secondly, your SATs, while within the 50th%-tile range, are closer to the 30th%-tile overall. </p>

<p>This doesn’t mean you have no chance, but if there is a strong class of applicants this year, you could be in trouble. You should make sure you have some safety schools you’re comfortable with.</p>

11

<p>Although you seem like a well-rounded candidate, I would consider USC a reach for you. I think engineering is a pretty competitive major. It’s certainly possible to get into USC generally with a 3.4 GPA, but I think it would take very strong SAT scores. For engineering, it would definitely help if you raise your Math/Science SAT II scores. Have you considered taking the ACT? If you can score 32 or above, that would be better than your current SAT.</p>

<p>If you get in, USC will meet the amount of financial need you qualify for. Have you tried any online aid calculators? There’s not one specific to USC, but look for any that calculate aid based on the CSS Profile.</p>

12

<p>Yeah, I kind of know it was a reach. That is why I was surprised to hear that I had a chance at all. I just made this thread to see if I should even bother applying. </p>

<p>As far as testing, I am not going to take the SAT again or the ACT. I will be retaking Math 2 and I am confident of a 750+, hopefully 800. Also, I will be taking Chem and aiming for a 750+. </p>

<p>Also, I will check the financial aid. </p>

<p>I am probably applying to all the UC’s, and now I am looking for some privates in and out of state.</p>