Hi. I’m an average B student and my GPA weighted usually ranges from 3.4-3.8… I’m a junior currently and my semester grades are 3.5 weighted by 3.1 unweighted and doesn’t USC look at unweighted? I also have not taken the SAT but I’m not that great at test taking and I’m predicting maybe a 1250 on the new SAT grading score.
One thing to know about me is that I want to be in FILM and attend their Film and Television (Cinematic Arts School) at USC… One thing I did junior year - I made my own feature film and had it premiered at NBCU and senior year I’m planning on directing and putting on my own musical. Over the summer I am also creating a web series and releasing a pilot series…
These are the things I want to write in my essay.
Idon’t have the best grades but I know what I want to do in life and it has to do with film. Does USC look promising at all? Is there even a chance?
Low chances, but apply anyways. You are more unique than most applicants and they might accept you.
Get SAT up to a 1350 if possible, this would boost chances immensely.
Yes, your chances are certainly not the best, but give it your all in your essays. Make sure that your essays are near perfect, and really work on emphasizing your passion throughout your application.
As for the SAT, don’t say that you are bad at test taking. Instead, gather as many practice materials as possible – there are plenty online for free (I strongly suggest not paying a dime on anything other than the official new SAT book) – and keep practicing. The first thing you must do is take a full, timed practice test for the both the SAT and the ACT. Don’t cheat yourself by looking up an answer, taking a break, or working past the time limits. Then, go over your work and determine what your strengths and weaknesses are. It really helps if you can break this down into specific categories such as probability and trigonometry for math and commas and vocabulary for English. Watch videos online, do some practice sections, and teach yourself the concepts you don’t understand. Also, really look into the structure of the test, what you should expect, and how to approach each passage based on timing. Then, take another practice test after a week or so of doing this. These two practice tests are going to be very important, so use them to your full advantage and try your best. Keep addressing your weaknesses and building up your strengths, and, over time, you won’t be a “bad test taker”. Bad test takers who can score a 1250 very rarely exist – many people say this simply because they haven’t spent enough time preparing. Do the process I stated above for the first two weeks of summer and spend a lot of time studying during these two weeks. Afterward, continue studying but give yourself more time to enjoy yourself. Around mid-July, ramp up the studying again and ensure that you will be ready for the August test.
Sorry I wrote so much, but you can do much better than you think. Believing in yourself and having the motivation to do well will put you in a great position. I wish you the best of luck!