Chances for USC?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

<p>White Catholic female from suburbs of MA
Small, fairly competitive public high school, has not sent a single student to USC in the past 10 years at least to the best of my knowledge</p>

<p>By graduation, will have taken 6 AP courses (3 junior, 3 senior). My school only allows AP classes to be taken by juniors & seniors.
All honors courses when available, junior year took the single most rigorous course load in my class.
W GPA 4.09, unsure of UW
Ranked 6 out of approx. 200 - class rank would be higher, however our school gives VERY little weight to AP/Honors classes; therefore, our current valedictorian takes all CP music performance classes, grr. Anyways...</p>

<p>2040 SAT (640 M, 700 CR, 700 W) - hoping to improve to 1380 at least on October 4 test</p>

<p>ECs:
Competitive dancer since age 4
Varsity volleyball, captain senior year
Varsity lacrosse
Model UN
Student Council class rep.
Habitat for Humanity LPC Member (town committee, home is being built in our community) & Club Leader at school, lots of volunteer work that goes along with this
Choreographer for school dance show
Volunteering at local natural science center
Volunteered at local hospital summer before junior year
Rebuilt dorms at local but nationally-respected school for mentally retarded</p>

<p>Have held steady weekend job since summer before my freshman year - bus & hostess at a small breakfast and lunch restaurant, have put all earnings into a savings account that I never touch</p>

<p>No really great awards, unfortunately...named Most Promising Female Student Athlete of my class, various student of the month awards, advanced to MA State Science Fair sophomore year (had to get honorable mention at Regional Fair to do so)</p>

<p>Essay is about a dance class I took this summer that really changed my entire outlook on dancing and myself</p>

<p>Will (hopefully!) enter Fall 2009</p>

<p>Planning on applying to CLAS, I am interested in print journalism however and may decide to apply to Annenberg (is admission significantly tougher here, and are rejects from Annenberg sent to be re-evaluated for CLAS?)</p>

<p>No major hooks, aside from MA residency (I know USC is private, but a little geographical diversity never hurt anybody) very wealthy uncle went to USC but thats not really a legacy.</p>

<p>How are my chances looking? I would love to be a Trojan but feeling unsure of my chances. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>You sound very good for USC, but I am just another parent and don't work for USC. The difficulty in making predictions is a result of not knowing the numbers of applicants this year. I suggest you ask your guidance counselor why no one attends USC from your high school. Did other students get in but decline admissions? A couple of things to think about: Annenberg is very competitive to get in. Tuition is very expensive unless you get a scholarship or financial aid. I suggest you apply to USC and also apply to at least 2 safety schools. Also, think about how you are going to express your interest in print journalism/Annenberg Communications with your extra curriculars. You have fine extra curriculars but I am not sure how they connect with your interest in dance vs. journalism. Do you want to minor in dance?</p>

3

<p>Wow, it's great to see another applicant from Massachusetts!! I'm from Western MA and currently a freshman at the film school...USC really likes national diversity so being from the East Coast can only be a plus in my opinion. Also my own high school had NEVER sent a student to USC before me so I wouldn't think it affects acceptance too much. If anything they'll like that diversity even more.</p>

<p>As for your course load, it seems pretty solid and your extracurriculars are very impressive. All in all I'd say you'd get in based on last year's stats but USC is on the up-and-up -- I wouldn't worry very much though, so long as you put in a good essay. Everything else seems in place.</p>

<p>P.S. I feel obliged to tell you that California is a BIG change, particularly during the beginning weeks and, now that fall's coming on, I'm feeling some homesickness. Just a reminder that this does happen and a little tip: the weather might seem appealing now but I'm actually missing the cold and a real fall.</p>

4

<p>Oh, nobody has even applied to USC from my high school. I can't say for sure why, but probably just because its so far away...kids from my high school tend to stay close to here. And I'm definitely applying to other schools, USC is one of 9 on my list. I was also concerned about my lack of extra curriculars relating to journalism, but the more that I think about it, the more that I think I will apply to CLAS because of that reason - my school just started a newspaper this year, isn't that pathetic? Anyways, yes I am planning on minoring in dance. Thank you for your input, mdcissp, I really appreciate it!</p>

5

<p>Tor-dazzle, thank you for the help! And I would looove to attend school in California, it feels like a second home to me - my mother is from LA originally and all her family still resides there. And I bet I'd miss the fall, all the leaves are starting to change and I know I'd miss it =/ And congrats on being in the film school as well, very impressive I must say!</p>

6

<p>My response did not post. Anyways, to Eliza B: I suggest you read up on Annenberg. If you are more interested in Annenberg Communications, then apply there because of the wonderful education and opportunities. I suggest you ask a USC admissions rep if you can easily transfer to Annenberg if you are accepted to CLAS. I am not sure you can easily transfer which is why it might be better to go for your first choice program. Your profile sounds promising for Annenberg journalism major with a minor in dance. I also suggest you try to narrow down your list of schools unless you honestly feel you will be happy at all 9 schools. It will be so much work to get all of the essays and applications done. You really just need two good safety schools and then the other schools which you would love to go to if you get in. As far as the homesickness response--it is normal and will pass. Most of my son's classmates at our East coast high school stayed closer to home either out of personal choice or because their parents did not want their kids going to California.</p>

7

<p>
[quote]
I'm feeling some homesickness

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Homesickness is very common. This is even for students that came from California and live only a few hours away.</p>

8

<p>mdcissp, thank you very much for the advice again! I actually have pared down my list at your suggestion, realizing that I wouldn't want to go to a few of the schools at all. And after some thought & talking with USC admissions reps, I think I will apply to CLAS. I don't have my heart set on journalism, and there are a few other academic options I would really like to explore first. Thank you again!</p>