Chance possibly?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

<p>Hi, I'm actually a high school senior in Australia graduating September 2008 so would be applying for Fall 2009. I'm like desperate to go to SC, been making a pilgrimage everytime I go to LA :)</p>

<p>Citizenship: US Citizen residing abroad
Ethnicity: Caucasian/White</p>

<p>SAT: 2210 - CR: 720 W: 680 M:800
ACT: Haven't taken
SAT IIs: Haven't taken yet but planning on taking Maths II, Chem and French in November or December</p>

<p>GPA: ??? We dont have a GPA here but my estimated UAI which is University Admissions Index which is a scaled number out of 100 out of everyone in my state is 97.15-98. Just took another set of assesments so not sure what it is exactly.</p>

<p>Classes for 11th and 12th Grades: French Continuers, English Advanced and Extension, Chemistry and Maths Extensions 1 and 2 (which apparently is a University Level Course) and in 11th grade I also took Ancient History.</p>

<p>My grades are pretty solid - coming in High 80's to 90's for everything. But I go to a pretty competetive school as well. </p>

<p>I did a semester in the US in 10th grade and was in almost all honors classes, except for French which I was taking French 4, and I got all A's, like high A's. </p>

<p>School: Public - Academically Selective - All Girls - Sent Students to ivies from australia - normally ranked within top 5 of the state. (our system is state by state not nationwide)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars-
Basketball at a local rec center (10th), counseller at a summer camp (10th)
Volunteer at my synagouge (9th-12th)
Member Music Ensembles (9th-10th)
Chair Yearbook Committee (12th)
Member Jersey Committee (12th)
Part-Time Job (11th)
Babysitting
Work Experience in a Children's Hospital, Film Productions Company and a Teenage Magazine. </p>

<p>Awards- High Distinction - National Qualifying Exam Chemistry Olympiad 2007
random other distinctions in australasian competitions. </p>

<p>Essays: Have nooo particuar idea at this moment, but if they are anything like last years would talk about my exchange and how it changed me. Became less shy, learnt that I could manage by myself etc. </p>

<p>Please Chance Me - I've been dying to go to SC since about 7th grade - it's like my dream school - my bedroom walls are covered in the cardinal and gold :)</p>

2

<p>I think you have a great shot. Solid test scores. Just make sure you continue your ec's and dont' slack senior year =) I hope you join the trojan family; I love when people are really enthusiastic about the school, you'd fit right in =)</p>

3

<p>Hello,
Fine scores....
Be sure to show your passion for SC in the essay. If at all possible arrange an interview. Do indicate you have visited the campus.
If you want the School of Cinematic Arts admission is extremely difficult.
What is your field of interest, or are you undecided?</p>

4

<p>exactly how would you how passion for SC in an essay, believe me I am chock full of it, talk my friends ears off.
I was actually just filling in the Part I applications the other day so I was thinking about my area of interest.. I did want to apply to the School of Cinematic Arts for their production major but I wouldn't be too cut if I didn't get in, I know I want a pre-med pre-professional emphasis and I want to apply for the Baccalaureate/MD program run by the school of Arts, Letters and Sciences, but I hate the word undecided so I was tossing up between Chem or French for my major, put I think I might want to major in Chemistry with a Minor in French and maybe one of the School of Cinematic Arts minors if I can get in. Mostly just desperate to go to the school.</p>

5

<p>I wanted to suggest that you find out if you really need to take the ACT. Your SAT scores are excellent. Therefore, I would suggest not taking the ACT (another stress) unless admissions requirements changed to need the ACT. Only apply to the cinema school if you think your extra curriculars strongly support that particular interest. A good discussion thread, if you want to post it, is to ask about "undecided" vs. listing a major for acceptance chances.</p>

6

<p>beeish; by passion for USC, one of the smaller essays asks you to explain what your educational goals are at USC, or something to that effect. Here is the oportunity to include exactly why USC interests you, and why USC offers what you want that other universities don't. For example, since you have an interest in diverse areas...Chem, French, visual arts (cinema), you could describe that USC encourages interdisciplinary study, and the flexibility to do so. Look into the website on Renaissance Scholars. Other schools are not as proactive in encouraging diverse interests. This was the case for my D who was particularly attracted to this and wrote about it. (she's both a science and arts kid). USC has excellent advising as well which is another attraction.</p>

<p>Coming from Australia, I imagine you'd like a diverse student body, which is another attraction. Lots of internationals and students from all over the US as compared to the UCs for example whose student bodies are mostly CA students.</p>

<p>Look on the website and investigate various offerings. Something else may catch your eye that's particular to USC. USC loves that students who do their homework and come across as students whose 1st choice is USC.</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

<p>PS what school in Sydney do you go to, I went to PLC and Abbotsleigh (many yeasrs ago haha)</p>

7

<p>Thank you so much. Thats actually really helpful! I've looked at the website of course :) but now I'm going to really look into it, after all it is way more interesting then the HSC! I do remember hearing about the Renaissance Scholars when I went on their tour and I considering I do want to double major or at least major and minor in very different areas I did find that program particuarlly interesting. But yeah you've been incredibly helpful so thank you.</p>

<p>Um I go to Sydney Girls, its a pretty good school and I'm happy that I go there.</p>

8

<p>Your tangible qualifications are very good, so I think it's a great idea to think strategically about what major to apply for. The production major in the SCA is the most difficult one to be admitted to. According to all the accounts I've read, it is pretty tough to double major in production and anything else. Production tends to be all-consuming. My son applied to Critical Studies in film partly because he wanted time to study other things of interest outside the film school (and partly to increase his chances of admission, of course!) If you don't want a career in film, you might be better off with a Production minor. When you look at the website, be sure to read the application procedures for the School of Cinematic Arts. It's a second application process, on top of the regular application to USC undergrad.</p>

9

<p>beeish, I noticed that you have yet to do the SAT IIs. I don't exactly remember whether they are required or not, but you mentioned that you will do them in Nov or Dec.
Keep in mind that it would be preferable to submit your application by the Dec 1 (the 2009 class) deadline though, since you would be considered for scholarship (you never know), rather than the Jan 10 one.
Might be wise to look into the timing of SAT IIs with your app.and whether they are required which I believe they are from international students.</p>

<p>This is from the website:</p>

<p>SAT Subject Tests
SAT Subject Tests are required of students who attend a high school that is not regionally accredited, including home-schooled students.
Others are encouraged to submit these results if they are available.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/private/docs/admission/forms/0809/Form5.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/private/docs/admission/forms/0809/Form5.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

10

<p>Yeah I know I have to do them, just because of our system I have a pretty stressfull year up until about november 6th which is my last exam for high school. But if I have a chance I'll take them before, but if I take them in november the results should be at USC begining of December which I think I remember reading should be fine. I already know which exams I'm going to take and more or less have some prep books for them, plus they are aligned with the courses I am currently taking at school (Maths II, Chem and French) but definetly admitting by december 1st, my applications all need to be into my careers advisor by September 12th anyways, so thats wayy before, I do actually need a scholarship so I'm crossing my fingers that I can get one.</p>