Can I get into USC???

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

<p>in-state student</p>

<p>Weighted GPA - 4.28
Unweighted GPA - 3.67
class rank - 59/428 ='(</p>

<p>very competitive high school (because of the IB program)</p>

<p>ACT composite: 35
english - 35
math - 35
reading - 32
science 36
(english/writing - 31) I got an 8 on the essay ='(</p>

<p>SATIIs:
math IIc - 800
physics - 780
chemistry - 750</p>

<p>national merit commended</p>

<p>Middle Years Program Diploma (9th-10th) w/ completion of Personal Project</p>

<p>Expecting to graduate with Full IB Diploma</p>

<p>IB tests: (out of 7)
IB math 2 SL - 6
IB economics SL - 6
IB Spanish SL - pending
IB History HL - pending
IB Biology HL - pending
IB English HL - pending</p>

<p>12th grade schedule: (hardest possible schedule, except math which has one level above it)
AP Calculus
IB English 2
IB Theory of Knowledge
IB Global Studies (history) HL
IB Spanish 2 SL
IB Biology 2</p>

<p>ECs:</p>

<p>Certificate of Merit - Piano - lvl. 5
6 years experience in mallet instruments
National History Day (1 year) - regional finalist, state finals competitor
Quiz Bowl B Team - two years
Science Bowl C team captain - 1 year (going at it again this year, hope to make B team)
Science Olympiad B team member - 1 year (going at it again this year)
Member of National Forensics League (debate) - 2 years
won 1st place novice public forum debate at Yuba City HS Tournament
Quiz Bowl Officer: Tournament Chair 1 year (going at it again this year)
Model United Nations Officer: Treasurer (1 year)
Co-founder of UTSAV Youth Group
President of UTSAV Youth Group
Internship with UC Davis medical center Pathology dept. 100+ hours</p>

<p>Community Service:</p>

<p>approximately 230 hours comm. service
FLASH program - (2 years) mentoring/tutoring elementary/middle school kids
Library community service - (4 years) book shelving; upgrading children’s books record-keeping system on FPL library catalog; Summer Reading Program volunteer</p>

<p>UTSAV Youth Group (2 years) - organized coat drive for a local women's/children's shelter; organized Spring Clean-Up event for local park; organized fundraiser for same shelter listed above; organized cooking event for said shelter, currently organizing Christmas toy drive</p>

<p>Planning to list major as Electrical Engineering</p>

<p>Please let me know what are my chances!! thanks</p>

2

<p>You sound like a very hard working, wonderful student with excellent chances for USC.
Only suggestion I have is to think about how to demonstrate your interest in Electrical Engineering in your application (perhaps in your essay?). What have you done which supports your interest in EE?</p>

3

<p>I’d say your chances are very good. The GPA is slightly low, but your courses are extremely difficult and your ACT is great, espcially in math and science. I’d be really surprised if you didn’t get in.</p>

4

<p>mdcissp: to be honest, I can’t really think of anything that I can say supported my interest in EE…oh wait, I taught myself programming over the summer? ehh that’s more computer science/engineering related, but I guess it could work? If i lack a strong interest supporter, how much do you think it will hurt my chances?</p>

<p>taxi: thanks for input. I wish I had your optimism though haha</p>

5

<p>Can you think why you want to be an EE major? Perhaps there was something special you did for the Science Bowl, a role model you admire who is an electrical engineer, project where you built or designed something involving electricity, etc.? I suggest you look at the USC Viterbi Engineering web site which describes its Electrical Engineering and try to figure out why this particular program interests you. I sense from your extra curriculars (Pathology lab experience, Science Bowl) that you like science–do you think Chemical Engineering is perhaps more suited for you based upon your experience or is it Electrical Engineering?</p>