Can I be a Trojan next year?

<p>Chances for USC.
I know my scores aren't so hot but they have to accept SOME average students, right? I applied to CLAS for Political Science/Pre-Law.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.5UW, 3.7W (Includes 1st semester senior year)
Class Rank: Top 20%.. 50/315
SAT: 1710/2400 (1110/1600) 590CR 520M 600W
ACT: 25</p>

<p>3 AP classes (2 Junior, 1 Senior) Difficult courseload.
HUGE upward trend in grades.
9th: 2.5/2.8
10th: 3.7/3.7
11th: 4.3/4.2
12th: 4.3
(Recieved 5 As and 1 B first semester & submitted Mid Year report.)</p>

<p>Teacher/Counselor Recs were amazing. My essays were great. I wrote one on a passion and submitted an extra essay explaining my freshman year and how I changed direction. I also interviewed and that went great as well.</p>

<p>ECs, Awards, Work</p>

<p>-Varsity Hockey (9 10 11 12, Senior Leader, 4X letterman)
-Hockey Intramural (10 11 12)
-Summer Hockey Camp (Summer 06)
-Summer Hockey Training (Summer 07)
-Academic Exellence award for Hockey</p>

<p>-Stock & Investments Club (10 11 12, President)
Placed in top 10% in '06 and top 18% in '07 (in the state)
-Community Awareness Club (11 12, Senior Leader)
-National Spanish Honor Society (11 12, Secretary)
-Tutoring in Spanish (11, 12)
-Student council (9 10 11 12)
-Senior Class President
-School Committee Representative (12)</p>

<p>-Job at Law Office (2 years)
-Lawyer Shadowing (Summer 07)
-Internship at Marketing company (Summer 06)
-Have own web/graphic design business (4 years)</p>

<p>I'm not too familiar on SC admissions policies, but you look like a big reach for any top university based on GPA/ACT. There are tons of people with 30+ ACTs who think they have "amazing essays/recs/ECs" (seriously, when was the last time someone thought theirs were bad?), so USC is going to look at why they should take you over them. Now obviously there are other aspects to the application (maybe your essays truly are once-in-a-lifetime), but stats-wise you are a reach. Good luck though!</p>

<p>Your upward trend is a definite plus. Even though USC does take Freshman grades in consideration, the really look highly on that upward trend. The test scores may be the problem, but, of course, you never know. You have good leadership and law experience, so that could be your hook.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>retake ACT or try SAT (I found them to be easier than ACT) and get a 30 or a 2000 and you should be fine.</p>

<p>well it's too late to retake because my app is already submitted (I applied for Fall 08). I've tried to bring my scores up but I'm just not good with timed tests. I have no problem with the content I juct can't finish in the time alotted.</p>

<p>Don't fret. My SAT scores aren't too high either. I was counting on my high class rank and GPA to help me. I also have a lot of extracurriculars geared around law and some of my classes are geared around the law too such as Pre-Law in junior year. I mentioned it in my interview by talking about my school's law academy, mock trial, and an internship I did with a law firm over the summer. Law is my hook, I suppose. </p>

<p>I'm sure things will be fine; just wait it out.</p>