Chances for USC & UCLA

State Forums
1

<p>Hello!
I will be a senior next year, and would like to get accepted to the schools listed above. I was wondering what chance I have so far, and what more I could do to improve my chances. Also, I am not a California resident.</p>

<p>Academics:
4.0/4.0 GPA (my school doesn't weigh grades, but if they did, I would have a 4.17-4.2 I believe; somebody calculated my UC GPA and they said I would have a 4.35)
Freshman course load (no AP classes offered): honors physical science, honors english 1-2, geometry, journalism, leadership 1-2 (student government), spanish 1-2, personal development 1 (required class, basically PE), lifetime fitness
Sophomore course load (only one AP course offered for sophomores): AP US history (earned a 4 on the AP exam), honors biology, honors english 3-4, algebra 2, leadership 3-4, personal development 2, calligraphy, spanish 3-4
Junior course load: pre-calculus, leadership 5-6, honors government/AP macroeconomics, AP lang, spanish 5-6, AP biology, office assistant, personal development 3
Planned senior course load: calculus, spanish 7-8, leadership 7-8, global perspectives, AP literature, financial planning or business management, personal development 4, chemistry</p>

<p>SAT Scores: 1800 super-scored (1780 not super-scored) with 550 CR, 610 M, 640 W</p>

<p>Currently a Nordstrom's Scholarship Finalist (128 total students across the nation out of 10,000 who applied)</p>

<p>Leadership:
Representative on the my state's Association of Student Councils on their Student Executive Board- Jr/Sn
Children's Cancer Association Young Leaders Alliance- Jr
Freshman Class Council (student government)
Sophomore Class Council (student government)
ASB Secretary- Jr (student government)
Key Club Treasurer- Soph
Key Club President- Jr
Key Club Co-President- Sn
National Honors Society Junior Class Officer- Jr
National Honors Society Vice President- Sn</p>

<p>Sports:
HS Volleyball/Club Volleyball (grade 9)
HS Cross Country (10, 11, 12)
HS Swimming (10, 11)
HS Tennis (10, 11, 12)</p>

<p>Volunteering:
-I've been volunteering at my local library during one of their summer programs since 2007. In 2013, I served as a lead volunteer at one of the library locations in the county, and will do the same this year. Volunteered about 200 hours since 2007.
-I've volunteered regularly at my local hospital year round for about 2.5 years. 250+ served
-I've volunteered at other long term places for about 6 months each, but the 2 above I've served the most hours. I have 600-700 total hours combined.</p>

<p>Work Experience:
-I have been working at a ice cream shop in my city for about 1.5 years, doing about 10/week on average.
-I volunteer at a BBQ concession stand in Sonoma, CA at race car races. We drive down there and spend a couple of days selling. I have done that for the past 2 summers, total of maybe 50 hours. Will do the same for this summer.</p>

<p>Thank you for your help!</p>

2

<p>Your GPA and EC’s very good but SAT score is a low for the UCLA and USC. You might want to consider retaking or trying the ACT. Are you and your parents able to afford the OOS tuition for UCLA at $55K or USC’s cost of attendance at $64K? You do have a good chance with a higher SAT.</p>

3

<p>You probably have as good a chance as any but your problem is going to be money. OOS residents don’t get much in the way of money from the UC’s because the state is too busy trying to fund their own students. As for USC, they are a bit stingy with their money so, if you can afford a $60K education per year, you might be okay.</p>

4

<p>I agree that your SAT score is going to make both of those schools pause. If you think you could do some prep and get that score up, I’d do it – it could make the difference between whether you get in or not.</p>

5

<p>Sat isn’t horrible, although with your gpa, both schools will expect higher. </p>

<p>Although a major factor in applications is your major. More impacted majors have less chances of getting in (Although with your gpa, and a higher sat score you are a strong candidate regardless). </p>

<p>Which major are you applying for? </p>

6

<p>I would be applying into the business program at USC and wanting to double major in a degree in finance (with the business admin degree). Since UCLA doesn’t have a business degree, I would major in economics and would want to double major there as well (though I’m not quite sure on what would be my second major yet). @ninjex</p>

7

<p>SAT is very low for someone with a 4.0 GPA… All things considered though, your student-athleticism and your other extracurriculars are quite spectacular. I would say you have a good shot of getting into both. </p>

8

<p>I know USC’s median GPA to get admitted is 2050, but their median that end up enrolling is about 1950. Obviously the higher SAT score increase = better, but if I got it up to at least that 1950 would that be way better or do I need to push near 2050? I am studying the 500 Vocab Barron’s words for the summer (because my CR is much lower than M & W) so hopefully that’ll boost it up, along with other studying books and such for M & W. @ninjex @dustypig‌ </p>

<p>Thank you all for the advice! </p>

9

<p>You might very well be admitted with your current score, but if you really want one of these schools, and if you think you do have a shot at raising your scores, why not try? The question is whether you can bring your scores up. Did you do any prep to get the scores you already got? There’s always a limit to how much you can raise your scores, and if you already worked hard to get your present score, that may be close to your limit.</p>

<p>Also, I’m pretty sure none of the UCs superscore the SAT – they take your highest single sitting. So if you’re looking to bring up one section’s score, make sure you don’t neglect the other sections at the same time.</p>

10

<p>Honestly, go as high as you can. As of now, you could be admitted; however as the other members have mentioned, your Achilles heel is the lower than expected sat score. If you could raise all your scores (not simply your overall, because you don’t want to neglect other sections) you would be a better candidate. Essentially, you could be a yes, and you want them to have less reason to say no. </p>