Chance for USC (Southern California)?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi College Confidential!</p>

<p>I, Fizzelin, am hoping for some constructive feedback from you all on whether or not USC is a good possibility for me. Before you jump right to the grades and scores, I would like you to know that I'm looking for advice on HOW to improve my weak points, not what I need to improve. It's a little late in the year for me, granted, but any advice you have on what to do about a bad SAT score or maybe some weak EC's would be much (very much) appreciated. </p>

<p>School: USC Thornton School of Music, possibly School of Engineering. I'm looking to major in Music Composition, and if possible, double major in Electrical Engineering. </p>

<p>GPA: 3.77 Unweighted, 4.51 Weighted.
SAT I: 1970 (630 Reading, 690 Math, 650 Writing) (Definitely Retaking in June)
SAT II: 760 Chem (Taking Physics in May, possibly Math II in fall.)
AP Tests: 5 Chem (Sophomore Year) 3 NSL (Soph Year, let's just ignore that score...)</p>

<p>AP's Taken By the End of Graduation: Chemistry, NSL, Physics B, Calc AB, Language and Comp, Calc BC, Physics C, Literature, Music Theory. (9 AP's, expecting a 5 in Music Theory :D)</p>

<p>Extra Curriculars:</p>

<p>Music
-Trombone Lessons for 3 1/2 years. (Started in late 9th grade, got in to our top notch Jazz Ensemble for 11th grade :D)
-Cello Lessons for 9 years.
-Audition Only Youth Orchestra for 4 years, both instruments.
-A I at County Solo & Ensemble Festival on a Grade 6 (Hardest Grade) Trombone Concerto.
-Pit Orchestra for 4 years.
-Built an instrument, dulcimer like. (2 Octaves chromatic, C to C, using cello strings.)
-Pep Band ;)
-<strong>Projected</strong> All County Band (very confident I will get in), All County Jazz (not as confident...)</p>

<p>Science
-Science Olympiad for 5 years, 3 of which holding an Officer position, President (very likely) senior year.
-<strong>Within Science Olympiad</strong> 10 medals at states & county competitions (so far), including one for Sounds of Music (get to build your own instrument :D).
(Wow, I am really lacking in Science EC's ...)</p>

<p>Other
-National Honor Society (2 years)
-English Honor Society (I founded it with a friend, 1 year)
-Work experience as a counselor, 3 years.
-100+ hours of community service, if it matters...</p>

<p>Other General Information:</p>

<p>I am....
-White
-Female
-Public School
-In top 20% of school
-Out of State (For USC)</p>

<p>Thanks for reading so far! I have a couple last things to say before I end the thread: First of all, if you think there is anything I should add for a better evaluation, please let me know; I would be more than happy to add it. Secondly, if you think I don't cut it for USC, please let me know why! Thirdly, I am also interested in the following colleges: (If you think I am more suited for, or capable of getting into, one of the following, I would much appreciate your thoughts.)</p>

<p>-Northwestern
-Tufts
-University of Rochester
-Oberlin
-UCLA
-UIUC
-University of Maryland (Saftey)</p>

<p>Thank you so much for reading and for your opinion! </p>

<p>-Fizzelin</p>

2

<p>USC High Match</p>

<p>Your GPA is average and your SAT is far below average. Aim for 2100+ and you are a match.</p>

<p>NW: Reach
Tufts: high match
UCLA: high match
UIUC: match</p>

3

<p>Aim for 2100+/31+…</p>

<p>Tufts: Reach
NWU: Reach
UCLA: High match
UIUC: Match (EE isn’t as selective as CompE)
UMD: Low match
Oberlin: Reach
U Rochester Eastman: Match
USC: Reach (Viterbi is academically more selective but even Thornton is a reach)</p>

4

<p>Looks good just raise your SAT score and you’re good as in</p>

5

<p><a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/private/1213/USCFreshmanProfile2012.pdf[/url]”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/private/1213/USCFreshmanProfile2012.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>3.8/2140/31-32 are the average admitted numbers for last year’s class. Viterbi is believed to have higher stats, especially on for Math standardized test scores. The key number that no one has addressed is the 20% admit rate. When a school rejects 8 out of 10 applicants it needs to be considered a reach. With rumors out there that applications have gone up again, you’re talking about admit rates dropping into the mid to high teens. That’s definitely reach territory.</p>

<p>I think you need to get your SAT/ACT math numbers up - 700+ for SAT and definitely take Math II.</p>