<p>Hi guys,
USC is my dream school right now, and lets say, that i screwed up my high school years
is there at least a slight chance of me getting in?
my total GPA right now without the junior year would be a 3.03 uw
i have a huge passion for business, and im planning on majoring in business/accounting
i screwed up my sophomore year because i was really stupid and did stupid things. I was also too concentrated on golf.
Please help me, i know i effed up during my sophomore year due to bad influences, but i have tried my best to compensate for my failures.</p>
<p>my freshman year gpa: 3.67 uw</p>
<p>my sophomore year gpa: 2.85 uw (i'm currently taking classes at BYU online, and will be making up 2 D's to A's, which will hopefully raise my GPA)
i only took one AP class that year (AP world)</p>
<p>my current junior gpa: 3.67 uw
im currently taking 2 AP classes (AP bio, APush)</p>
<p>Senior Year: I signed up for 4 AP classes next year. I was wondering if USC would care if you challenged yourself vigourosly during your senior to show that you are not slacking off.</p>
<p>My SATs are:
SAT1: 2050
SAT2 SUBJECTS: MATH2-740 USH-750 BI0-700 CHinese-730(i'm chinese but born here) </p>
<p>My EC's include:
-----3 year varsity golfer, 4th year in my senior year, and the captain next year (CIF southern section Div. 1 Champions, also league champions. if that helps)
-----4-year internship with a local business firm
-----2-year summer internship with a business firm in Guangzhou, China
-----just started a 1 year internship at H&R block
-----i have decent amount of volunteer hours in my community (golf courses, community services)
-----i've also had a job for around half a year
-----I'm planning on taking summer classes in a local CC in Business and Psychology</p>
<p>that’s a pretty low gpa… sounds like there’s a story behind your sophomore year grades, so maybe consider writing a kickass essay about what happened and what you gained from it (but make sure it doesnt sound like only excuses/explanations). just an idea tho</p>
<p>thanks for the insight saitsuzen
i actually do have legitimate excuses for my screwed up sophomore year
anyone else have any ideas?
any replies would be much appreciated. thanks!</p>
<p>Your test scores are pretty good. That will definitely boost your odds a lot. They understand that grades aren’t everything, if you write a good essay your chances are pretty good.</p>
<p>thanks alot guys
im thinking of raising my SAT scores to 2100, possibly 2200
are my EC’s solid enough? or should i do more?
of course i’m trying to raise my gpa to a possible 3.4-3.5 UW
again, thanks alot for the advice, i’ve been getting negative feeback from my parents saying that i should not even dream about USC</p>
<p>First of all, your test scores are below average for the most recently admitted class, ('09-'10), not by a lot, but technically below the mid-point.</p>
<p>The good news is that your SATs and your 3.67 GPA for Junior and Freshman year is consistent with the average USC Enrollee for the past year. With roughly 35,000 applicants, it stands to reason that a school will look for easy excuses to quickly eliminate candidates, if only to make the pile more manageable. Obviously you’re going to need a stellar explanation as to what happened sophomore year. I agree with josebiwasabi, I think your odds of Fall admit are pretty long. With a great essay/explanation, you might have some hope for Spring admit which SC seems fond of offering. Alternatively, do exceedingly well as a senior and get a great, (3.7+ GPA), as a freshman at another school and then transfer. You need to prove that sophomore year was just a one time aberration.</p>
<p>I think you guys are being a bit harsh. I got admitted to Viterbi (this year) with 2040 SATs and 750 Math2 and 740 Physics. And I know a spring admit to Viterbi with 1800 SATs <700 math2 and <700 physics.</p>
<p>Also, it is called an average because half the people are below it and half are above. Being in the middle is pretty safe, as long as you have a good P.S. Try to be sure (or at least sound like it) about exactly what you are going to study and try to prepare yourself beforehand. For example, I want to study computer engineering and I’ve been reading programming books on my own.</p>
<p>There are people who got rejected with 2200 SATs this year and people who got admitted with <1800, so the numbers truly aren’t all that matters to USC.</p>
<p>P.S. I was told by someone on C.C a few months back that my application was “mediocre” and I got into every school I applied to, so don’t get discouraged. You can get that GPA up.</p>
<p>thanks for the replies guys, i’ll try my best to raise my GPA to a 3.4, 3.5. I think thats my major problem right now, but i’ve maken up 2 D’s thru BYU to A’s, and i’m taking 2 C.C courses in business and psychology and might be taking another c.c course in fall.
does anyone know if a C.C course in fall can be admitted into college transcripts?
thanks alot for your help</p>
<p>Just to be clear, I don’t think Ricardo has no chance. Assuming a balanced schedule, a difficult sophomore year has left him running with a 3.4/2050 through junior year; statistically that’s below the averages that USC has published. That’s not an insult, it’s recognition of the hurdle he’s is facing. Sophomore year has dug him a hole that a) needs a lot of deft explaining and b) provides an all too easy excuse for USC to dismiss him out of hand. Past results can’t be changed, but they have to be addressed. He can overcome this and he’s started doing it by taking the online classes to make up for the “Ds”; the next step will be improving the SATs. But at the end of the day and after a quick review of the USC acceptance thread here on CC, it would be hard to say that he’s in a comfortable position regarding acceptance. </p>
<p>Finally, Ricardo you say you are Chinese living here in the US so there may or may not be some language concerns. I strongly urge you to have a teacher or advisor edit/review your essays for all your colleges. There is no such word as “maken”, you made up for your “D’s” by getting “A’s” at BYU online. A small stumble like that in your essay could once again raise the red flags for the Admissions Committee. Good Luck.</p>
<p>I believe that 4% of the school was accepted with a GPA around yours? your SATs are high. Try to raise them even higher. Make up for your grades during your Senior year, do something amazing with volunteer work, show them that you are worth their while. If they see something in you that they need at their school, then they will want you there. They give a few spots every year to applicants with your GPA. Nothing is impossible.</p>
<p>idk from what i have seen usc is very interested in GPA. my friend applied with a 3.2 UW (3.6 W) and a 2050 and was flat out denied. get the GPA up to atleast a 3.5 if possible because it looks bad when someone has a good SAT score and low GPA because it looks to admissions like they are smart but dont apply themselves, which doesnt look very attractive to colleges. but still, USC has a really holistic admissions process and they do truly take the time to get to know the candidate through the application. make sure your passion for the school shines through in all your essay, pour everything you have into the application, and thats really all you can do. plus you can always transfer to sc later on!</p>
<p>As people have said, I wouldn’t loose all hope, but you’ll need to do the most you can. I’d recommend aiming for a 2200+ on your SAT. Or if you haven’t taken them yet, try the ACTs. if you get a high enough score on your standardized test scores, it can at least partially make up for a lower GPA, especially if you explain how you’re changing your life around after your experiences sophomore year etc etc.</p>
<p>The difference between admission and rejection isn’t going to be 100-200 points on the SAT.</p>
<p>I think everyone on CC takes numbers way too much into account, at least when it comes to USC. I’ve seen people with 1600s get in, and people with 2200s get denied. They want a diverse, well-rounded student body. If they wanted everyone to be 2200+ SAT scores, then they would, and USC would be a completely different school.</p>
<p>Also, everyone thinks that because the average is say, 2050, (which is about right for this year) that you NEED a 2050 to have a shot at getting in. Logically speaking, 50% of the admitted are going to be in the 1800-2050 range and 50% in the 2050-2300 range. If everyone got 2050 their average would be at least around 2150.</p>
<p>Not saying that scores aren’t important, but I’ve had this attitude for a long time, I didn’t take 100 AP classes or take classes for the SAT and I got into USC for engineering. Just don’t stress about needing a 2200 to have a chance. I honestly think that SAT scores are degrading in importance as time goes on. The fact that you are on here as a junior asking about it says that you care, and you want to go to USC, let that show in your application and it will help you.</p>
<p></p>
<p>P.S. Definitely think about what you want to major in, and make it clear in your app that you really want to do it. You can prove it by getting a head start and studying materials that pertain to your major.</p>
<p>Good grades from here on out, a good essay, confidence, determination, and planning will go far, and if you play your cards right, I know you will get in.</p>
<p>Plus, OP, colleges do like to see an upward trend in grades/GPA. Work VERY hard on finals for this semester to get your grades as good as possible, and try the hardest you ever have before next semester. If you show them your potential (say, perhaps you make all A’s first semester of senior year), I’d bet they’re willing to give you more of a chance than you think. And if you can show them you’ve realized the importance of getting good grades, academia, etc. that’s all the better. Your SAT’s are already pretty good, but if you can get them higher, needless to say, do it. Have you tried the ACT? Some do better on that.</p>
<p>Remember that it’s not all about the numbers. Sure they’re taken into account, but with selective schools, admissions are more holistic. Passion, great essays, meaningful EC’s, amazing teacher/counselor recommendations…those all count just as much as the statistics do, probably more actually.</p>
<p>thanks alot for the support guys, i will try my best. I have taken a few practice ACT’s, and the best score i got was a 27… I think im going to stick with the SAT.
again, thanks alot to everyone who posted, its nice to hear different opinions. I will try my hardest guys. Thanks!</p>