<p>Hey guys! USC is my top choice as of right now, coupled with Brown. I am worried, however, that with the sure spike in 'common app' applications starting next year, that it will be extremely difficult for me to get in. I'm a rising junior right now (graduating from high school in 2013). </p>
<p>I go to a prestigious private school in Connecticut that frequently sends kids to ivies and top 20 schools. I'm a Caucasian male and, if it matters, gay (I'm not completely out, but I wouldn't mind inching out to write an essay about it or something like that if it would help my chances...)... hey, I might as well use it to my advantage if I can, haha.</p>
<p>GPA: 3.5-ish (I don't have an exact calculation, but my GPA right now is an 89.75%). I'm aware it's my weakness... freshman year, i had a hard time transferring from another school, and found a lot of challenges... but I improved over the course of sophomore year (frosh: 87, soph: 93). I got accepted into the high honors society at my school both semesters sophomore year and second semester freshman year; i was also included in the head of school list (contribute most to classroom in terms of participation and diligence) both semesters sophomore year.</p>
<p>Rank: Top 10-15 out of class of 75, being pessimistic... hopefully/probably top 10. (My school does not rank).</p>
<p>Scores: I haven't taken the SAT I or II's yet, but I'm hoping for around a 720/720/720 on the SAT I.</p>
<p>APs: Junior year, I am taking AP Environmental Science and AP US History, but nothing in previous year. I was only offered 1 AP course (Modern European), which I may or may not take senior year instead.</p>
<p>Intended Major: Business. (or Pre-Law or Economics, but my top choice is Business right now).</p>
<p>ECs:
- Volunteer camp counseling over the summer between froshman-sophomore year (worked extensively w/ an autistic boy for six weeks)
- 2011 Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards- I received five Gold Keys for Poetry
- Runner-up for 2011 Elizabeth Bishop Prize in Verse sponsored by The Blue Pencil Online- attended their inaugural ceremony to read work; they published my poem
- Editor of high school literary magazine next year (earliest you can do it is junior year)
- Founded and am currently running a literary magazine on my own for charity (helps charity that alleviates child labor in third world countries)- The</a> Adroit Journal
- Bass/Baritone and Arranger in award-winning all-male high school a cappella group
- Model UN- travelled to Georgetown University's NAIMUN Conference in sophomore year
- Peform songs and whatnot at large variety of school events and school productions (very involved with school's music program)
- Two improv groups (one a selection of the best from the other)
- Photography in Dickinson College's Foreign Language magazine
- Writing/Photography in over 100 independently-owned writing publications (online and in print)- some are very selective
- Stanford EPGY this summer (Creative Writing), Summer@Brown next summer (Business/Economics/Law??)
- Attended Middlebury's 2011 New England Young Writer's Conference as a sophomore (meant for juniors)
- Starting a club next year designed to help Free the Children (basically supplying alternative, sustainable incomes to women in third world countries so that they do not have to take their kids out of school)</p>
<ul>
<li>Participating in my school's unique Global Thesis Program in Senior Year- analyze in depth an international problem and present a solution (full year course)</li>
</ul>
<p>My essays and recs (from teachers) will be very, very good... and I interview well-- I don't know if that will really help me though. Also, I do not need financial aid.</p>
<p>Would it be helpful to attempt to contact and initiate/maintain a relationship with a faculty member / someone otherwise involved in the school? I am literally willing to do whatever I can to improve my chances of getting into USC, haha.</p>