chance me and i'll be your friend forever- yes no maybe so?

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

<p>please help me out. im really nervous, and i wan't to know if i have a shot here.
3rd choice,</p>

<p>I'll just post my stat's and see what you think/what my options are</p>

<p>GPA unweighted (we don't rank)
9: 3.55
10: 3.3
I think this is probably the worst thing on my resume. Our school is set up so
sophomore year is more like freshman year. This is part of the problem.
11: 3.87
12: assume 3.9ish senior year- my schedule looks challenging, but the actual courses are a joke</p>

<p>I won't bother doing weighted since everybody has different scales, but 9/10 i took all honors for core classes and 11 I took 2 AP and the rest honors.</p>

<p>SAT
2250- this is supposed to be my "hook", as my guidance counselor likes to call it, but he's an idiot. im wondering how much my grades will hurt me
to break it down,
math- 770
cr- 800
writing- 680- im gonna retake this year for colleges that superscore, on practice tests im consistently 700+, i've always had 11-12 on essays</p>

<p>SAT2
bio- 770
math 1- 800
history- 750</p>

<p>AP
ab calc- 4-(i self-studied this last year, and the guidance department messed up so now i can't take bc this year. shocker
bio-5</p>

<p>upcoming
AB calc
computer science
i still have a week to figure out if i wanna take history</p>

<p>EC's-
here's the dagger- very scattered and no depth whatsoever
winter track- 9, 11, 12- ***probably cocaptain next year- we're flipping a coin for it cause me and the other kid are basically equal
spring track- 10, 11, 12- no chance at leadership
chess club- 11, 12- prez this year
one weird club w/ really long name- will be some sort of leader guy next year, just because nobody else would
online poker- 15 thousand made</p>

<p>COMMUNITY SERVICE (all documented)
750 hours @ handicap program- my essay's on this, i would say pretty good
200 hours @ emt program- drove around town
50 hours random stuff</p>

<p>EMPLOYMENT
worked at a camp for three years, nothing unusual</p>

<p>REC's
pretty much average- one's good, one's too good and she says the word spectacular every other sentence. It sound like a satire almost.</p>

<p>HONORS/AWARDS
nothing that stands out, few bs track awards and athletic awards, i beat the school pull up record if that counts lol
i got this weird italian athlete award
national merit semi psat 230</p>

<p>thanks a lot for the chances. also, is there anything i should do to improve my chances?</p>

2

<p>haha i love the way you write :stuck_out_tongue: crack me up ^^</p>

<p>honestly, the gpa like you said, was weak(at least to begin with), but an upwards trend like yours is awesome!:)</p>

<p>also, your SATs are superb! both on normal and on SAT2 :slight_smile: i mean, 770, 800, 750, thats great :slight_smile: and im fairly sure that USC superscores, so definitely try to redo writing :slight_smile: im not sure though as i never have taken the sats… :)</p>

<p>your ECs are scattered like you said, but still some good things :slight_smile: spec your volunteering! which is awesome :smiley: </p>

<p>i think you should def shoot for a 4.0 this last year, and just redo the SAT writing thing… </p>

<p>id say you have a very good shot :slight_smile: USC from my exp(transfer student, accepted fall09) is a school that cares about more than your gpa :)</p>

3

<p>A couple of questions…</p>

<p>Is your high school known for its rigor? Do they send any/many to USC each year? Are you located in CA or somewhere that might give you geographic desirability (N Dakota, New Hampshire…?) Ethnic diversity will also be considered.</p>

<p>Most important, what is your intended major? As you may already know, some of USC’s colleges are more uber-selective than others. Some will weight creative portfolio, audition, business entrepreneurship, etc so grades and stats don’t tell the entire story.</p>

<p>For CLAS, your upward trend GPA and very solid SAT scores look on target, and your sardonic wit and poker winnings might add to a very memorable personal essay. The essay means a lot to USC.</p>

<p>Your PSAT score makes you a likely candidate for NM and, as you probably know, if you get NM and are accepted to USC, you’ll get the Presidential Merit Scholarship worth 1/2 tuition for four years. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

4

<p>You have an Excellent shot. Those community service experiences are great. You seem like a well-rounded student, the type USC loves.</p>

5

<p>my high school is located around Atlantic City, New Jersey, so naturally we don’t send many kids to USC each year. most kids my hs is known for its rigor, but i don’t think the radius of its reputation extends that far. </p>

<p>i’ve been thinking history for major, but i’ve also been thinking about statistics, accounting, or pre-law. i’m not sure if this makes me more or less competitive. </p>

<p>also, does my national merit hurt me, since USC will be getting less money from me?</p>

<p>one last thing, do you think writing about poker will look good or make me look like a gambling addict?</p>

<p>thanks for the chances and advice ns89, madbean, and mayfield7</p>

6

<p>It’s not illegal to gamble online if you’re underage? Both your GPA and SAT look a bit better than mine and I got in without really much a hook other than first generation, some sports here and there and a bit of leadership. I’d say you have a great shot if you can write a riveting essay that shows who you are.</p>

7

<p>re: writing about online poker</p>

<p>On one hand it is compelling and will grab their attention, on the other hand, it isn’t a safe topic. I don’t know how they would read it–and if it is illegal (underage) I would not mention it, obviously. Too bad, 'cause I thought it was unique and cool–but then, for a USC mom, I am a bit outlaw. :wink: My s’s in the film school majoring in Interactive Media (online poker?), so what can I say?</p>

<p>Don’t think NM will hurt–after all, USC really likes to take a lot of National Merit scholars. That’s the point of the scholarship, to draw them in. Also, the adcoms are very aware of the sending schools in their territory. They’ll know the reputation of your HS. You may want to write about your specific reasons to attend a school in CA so they can tell you are serious.</p>

<p>CLAS (History, Math) generally takes the most new admits. Business (Marshall) is where the accounting majors are (I think) and that requires a separate application. More competitive admissions than CLAS, but worth it as it’s a very highly regarded UG program. </p>

<p>Good luck</p>

8

<p>hey thanks a lot. since poker is sort of illegal since i’m underage, i don’t think i’m going to mention it. i was wondering if usc has an ED program, since my first 2 programs have ED programs, but don’t admit a higher percentage so it would be pointless to waste it on them. </p>

<p>the main reasons i want to go to usc are because of the campus atmosphere, the high level of education, the prestige, the extensive network of alumni, and of course, the Song Girls. Now i need to find a way to say that articulately</p>

9

<p>Thy Song Girls. Thumbs to the sky, I must say!</p>

<p>Problem solved.</p>

10

<p>kidding.</p>

<p>you have lots of good material for proper articulation. What are your top 2?</p>

11

<p>top is uw- madison, then ann arbor, then USC</p>

<p>i like usc the most, but the other two are closer to my house</p>