<p>I know I've asked for chances before, but now that I'm starting to seriously look at colleges, I need an opinion. I want to go to Mizzou, it's my first choice. But since I'm from California, I'm also looking at USC for my reach school. Any other top j-schools I could be looking at for matches/reaches?</p>
<p>Hispanic female/first generation
California</p>
<p>GPA: UW 3.5 W 3.6
SAT: 2000+
US HISTORY 760 LITERATURE 780
Class rank: I don't know, but we only have about 170 kids in the class at a private college prep school so I can't imagine its very good</p>
<p>EC's:</p>
<p>Yearbook: Editor-in-Chief, staff writer, photographer, design</p>
<p>CLUBS
Newspaper Club: Co-E.I.C, formerly a copy editor, entertainment writer/editor and a reporter (I also maintain the web site for the newspaper's online edition)
Literary magazine: Section editor, design
Photo Club: Vice President, worked on school calendar
Interact Club
Drama Club
Service Club - 300+ hours of community service
California Scholarship Federation: Tutor, recycling volunteer</p>
<p>DRAMA
West Side Story stage crew
Rumors cast</p>
<p>JOURNALISM
Contributing writer for the Fresno Bee's teen-written section
3 published editorials in local paper
Freelance for the Sanger Herald</p>
<p>Channel One News' Student Produced Week (selected on a national level to participate as one of 16 to produce the web site/show of the Peabody award winning news provider)</p>
<p>Central California HS Journalism Workshop (part of the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund. Selected to participate as one of 15 students from applicants throughout Central California. I was a writer/photographer)</p>
<p>VOLUNTEER SERVICE
Volunteer journalist/grant writer for a non-profit organization that helps underpriveleged students recieve tutoring, 2 hours a week</p>
<p>Tutor at a local parish, 3 hours a week</p>
<p>Library volunteer (I read and do puppet shows, yay!), 1 hour every 2 weeks</p>
<p>Hospital volunteer at two hospitals </p>
<p>Teacher at two Vacation Bible Schools (2nd grade and 4th grade)</p>
<p>Altar server since 5th grade (leader in 12th grade), Lector, Extraordinary Minister of the Holy Eucharist at my church (involved once a week or more in any one of these positions)</p>
<p>Awards:
editorial writing award from San Joaquin Valley Scholastic Press Association
English Department Standout award</p>
<p>PS: My GPA is low because I messed up in freshman/sophomore year. My parents split up that year, and I was also diagnosed with depression and an anxiety disorder. I had a lot of panic attacks, which lead to a lot of absences at school. Its no excuse, but it was a major setback.</p>
<p>Can I look at USC for a reach, or is it just a longshot?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>EDIT: My letters of rec are coming from my AP Literature teacher who constantly says I'm the best writer she's ever taught, so I expect it'll be a pretty good rec. I'm thinking of using a supplementary rec from my mentor at Channel One (a USC alum). We have a great relationship, talk everyday and are great friends. Its not like he's just a faceless recommender who happens to be an alum.</p>