can i get into usc? what should i do to better my chances?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>hey im about to be a senior and im looking hardcore at USC, but this is certainly a reach school for me. i just wanted to list what i have and see what my shots are. before i get rated, i want everyone to understand im shooting for spring semester and plan on applying to an easier school within USC and transferring sophomore year into my true interest. simple acceptance is what im looking for</p>

<p>GPA: 2.94 (messed up freshman year bad, 3.0 sophomore year, 3.33 junior year)
senior year grades projected: 3.75
upword trend helpful?</p>

<p>ECs:
chapel committee 2 years (co president this senior year)
football 4 years
lacrosse 2 years
ceramics 3 years
lion and sword honor society 2 years
honor roll 3 years
ebuddies organization 2 years
McDonalds week fundraisor sub chairman 1 year
senior class secretary
Staff editor on literary magazine 2 years
community service 140 hours total
fine arts board 1 year
senior shirt committee chairman </p>

<p>ACT: 30</p>

<p>what else should i try to accomplish guys, i think this is possible but i know i have to work hard. im applying as a creative writing major fyi. im also taking the optional interview. any help?</p>

2

<p>Your only problem is your GPA. Everything else looks good. Get the best grades possible this year, and you may want to write something in your application about your rising trend as you've gotten your act together. If you don't make it in on the first try, you can transfer in from somewhere else.</p>

3

<p>USC is going to be very hard with that GPA - but with your 30 ACT and 1 year at a JC with a 3.7 + you should have no problem. </p>

<p>Perhaps USC will show you grace if you play the hard life card. Being a male minority (non asian) student would also be very helpful.</p>

4

<p>That's really not going to help getting into USC. I would suggest like ^ to just go to JC for a year or two. If you want a rough percentage of chances, you're probably in the 10~20% the-only-chance-this-college-will-accept-me-is-if-I-really-strike-a-note-with-adcoms-on-my-personal-statement range. That might seem like a mean statement to make, but no one on here is willing to bet that you'll get in. If you still want to apply undergraduate, again, try and make the personal statement as meaningful as possible, and nail the interview.</p>

5

<p>i mean it is pretty easy to understand my chances are pretty slim for fall admission if not at all, but im centering my chances around the spring admit, how do i rank there? i've already started talking to the rep and know a few USC grads who can speak on my behalf. its not really when i get into the school, its if, and ill take that. what else can i do to better my chances?</p>

6

<p>The difference between spring and regular admissions usually won't vary tremendously. I doubt applying spring could lower the standards as significantly as would get you into USC. The best "if" time you can get into the school is by transferring. You'll find that the final decision from the school can be just as much helpful to you as it is unfortunate. If you wanted to go there despite your inadequacies and actually did get in, you might find the competition and stress to be overbearing. Take a couple of years in a JC/lower tier state university, and then consider transferring. By then, you'll not only have saved literally 60K+, but will probably be in the academic mindset to compete successfully in a top ranking school.</p>

7

<p>i know what you're saying and i agree that the possibility of that happening is likely, but i can see myself succeeding at USC. anything i can do to get in is what im up for. i messed up freshman year and didn't perform like a 4.0 genius the other two. basically its all about making up space. maybe its to late, but i will do anything to get in, i just need to know what that is</p>

8

<p>what other things could help me? could the interview save my ass on helping them understand a bad freshman year due to outside reasons? perhaps explain myself enough to make things more understandable. the reason i think that i can get in spring is because i've known people who have gotten into the business school with similar grades too, and im applying to a less selective area on purpose so for admission advantage. i just want to get in here so bad, what do i do</p>

9

<p>The important factors for admission are GPA, strength of curriculum, standardized test scores, ECs, references, URM status, and essays. That's about it, unless your uncle is chairman of the board. Stop looking for a magic bullet.</p>

10

<p>Dude apply, one of my closest friends got into duke with a full ride with an 1890 SAT. Think about that.</p>

11

<p>yeah i know people that have done worse than me and gotten in i just want to keep trying because my chances are slim, i just want to give myself better opportunities</p>