<p>Hey guys, I was recently rejected from USC with a 3.7 UW GPA, 2310 SAT, 5s on all four of my AP tests, 200+ Community service hours, and some really strong extracurriculars (Editor of school paper, Executive Producer of School TV station, organizer of all school assemblies/rallies, two different sports, National Merit Finalist and alot more).
I applied for Marshall under Business Administration.</p>
<p>I just had a couple questions I wanted to consult the helpful CC USC thread members:
-Do I have a good chance of a successful appeal? (I would absolutely love to go to USC and don't have many other options)
-Is there a "first come first serve" policy for appeals? (Basically, do earlier submitted appeals get evaluated earlier?)
-How should I best present my appeal letter? I talked to USC admissions but they would not allow any letters of rec or portfolios... I don't feel extremely confident putting all my dreams on that one page letter.
-Will mentioning that I would be willing to be a spring admit help my chances at all?
-Will I still receive the half ride that USC gives National Merit Scholars if I have a successful appeal?</p>
<p>If you successfully appealed to USC in the past, please PM me! I would love to pick your brain if possible =]</p>
<p>I just had a couple questions I wanted to consult the helpful CC USC thread members:
-Do I have a good chance of a successful appeal? (I would absolutely love to go to USC and don’t have many other options)</p>
<p>No, because no one has a good chance of a successful appeal. They’re rare.</p>
<p>-Is there a “first come first serve” policy for appeals? (Basically, do earlier submitted appeals get evaluated earlier?)</p>
<p>Doubtful.</p>
<p>-How should I best present my appeal letter? I talked to USC admissions but they would not allow any letters of rec or portfolios… I don’t feel extremely confident putting all my dreams on that one page letter.</p>
<p>Has anything changed since you applied to USC? That’s what they want to know. If there is no new information to add, your chance of a successful appeal is extremely low.</p>
<p>-Will mentioning that I would be willing to be a spring admit help my chances at all?</p>
<p>No, they will assume you’re willing anyway. Most appeal spots are for spring anyhow.</p>
<p>-Will I still receive the half ride that USC gives National Merit Scholars if I have a successful appeal?</p>
<p>This is a good question, but I believe the answer is yes. I imagine that is a rare scenario.</p>
<p>I have no experience with appeals, but I would suggest you include updates–what have you been doing since you applied (grades, awards, etc), what you bring to USC (are all those volunteer hours in one area, etc), and what you want to do at USC. Re-read your original application with a very critical eye and see what’s missing (see if your GC/teacher/parent can help with this). Try to fill in the blanks.<br>
You might look at some of the wait list threads in other forums for ideas.</p>
<p>Sometimes applicants with strong stats such as yours are rejected because they didn’t demonstrate a lot of interest in the school. (They think you’re using USC as a backup for an Ivy or something.) In your essay, I would suggest you convey how very much you want to be part of the Trojan family. Being named a NMF is , technically, an update because no one was a NMF by Jan 1. </p>
<p>Have you always had USC listed as your 1st choice with the NMS foundation? IF so, I would point to that as an indicator of your interest. </p>
<p>Let USC know what you can BRING to the Trojan Family…how you can benefit USC. Included in that --but you do need more-- i would phrase the NMF status in this way. " I want to help make USC reach the goal of a record number of NM scholars enrolled" (i didn’t phrase that well but you get the point. It helps USC’s admission stats to have lots of NMF enrolled. You need to convey that benefit USC without sounding arrogant…you want to HELP USC.)</p>
<p>Of course, you need more than just the NMF status. Let them know how badly you want to be part of USC and what you can bring.</p>
<p>I was rejected out of high school. My appeal was rejected too. I transferred in after a year of community college, but it feels like I’ve been here from the beginning.</p>
<p>Even if you get rejected twice, there’s always another chance to try to get in.</p>
<p>yeah i remember you “dreamupsidedown” we are spring admits! Yeah I was rejected out of high school and I appealed as a spring admit and I got in! My advice is to meet with your admissions counselor! That’s what I did and he basically let me in a week after i met with him and he even proof read my appeal a couple times for me! I think he made it happen for me!</p>
<p>Thanks so much for all your help! I was accepted to USC Class of 2016 as a spring admit for Marshall Business Administration. So excited to be a Trojan, FIGHT ON!</p>