Chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

<p>Hello!</p>

<p>I was wondering if anyone could take a little time and review my chances for USC? Any criticism is appreciated.</p>

<p>Demo:
Gender-Male
Ethnicity- Indian (First Gen)
Type of School- Public, average performing school in Chicago suburbs
Possible Major- Neuroscience with Pre-Med</p>

<p>Scores/Rank:
ACT: 30C 32 SuperScore (i dont think USC even uses it) (Might take the Dec Test if USC still allows it to be taken that late)
AP: 10th-Euro (5) 11th- US (5) 12- Chem,Bio,Calc,MacroEcon
Rank- 32/680 (32/691 at end of last year.. 11 people bailed)
GPA- W-5.22 (hoping for 5.4ish at graduation) UW-4.95</p>

<p>Classes:
(Our middle schools did a very poor job at class placement for High School, and despite doing superb 8th grade, i was placed in normal classes while some dunces or future druggies got into honors classes somehow)</p>

<p>9th:
Physical Science 5/5 (S1/S2)
Algebra 1 5/5
World History 5/5
French 1 5/5
English 1 5/5
Keyboarding 4 (was to used to my style of typing so typing how they wanted us to was very diffulcult)
Study Hall
Health 1/Gym 5/5</p>

<p>10th:
AP European History 5/5
Geometry Honors 4/5
Computer Concepts/Speech 5/5
Biology 5/5
English 2 5/5
French 2 5/5
Drivers Ed/Gym</p>

<p>11th:
ICA (Math) 5/5
English 3 5/5
Chemistry Honors 5/5
Physics Honors 5/5
AP US History 5/5
Gym
Computer Programming 1+2 5/5</p>

<p>12th: (Current Grades)
Teacher Aide
Anatomy/AP Macroeconomics 5/
AP Biology 5/
Humanities Honors 5/
AP Chemistry 5/
AP Calculus A/B 5/
Senior Composition 4(88%)/</p>

<p>Essay:</p>

<p>I am currently using the common app for most of my applications, and i have gotten the essay checked by my previous english teachers and a few friends, and they say it is good and needs little revisions with thing like grammar and voice</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>North Technology Club (Vice President)
Model United Nations
National Honor Society
National Society of High School Scholars
Volunteer at Local Park District (50hrs.. still particpating)
Volunteering at Temple (around 200 hours, had to stop this year due to schoolwork)
Basic 40 NHS Hours + 30 or so extra helping with Charity Events, Concerts
Relay for Life
Applied for a "Mini Medical School" (competitive) research spot
No Athletics (Parents were always busy when i was a little child and couldnt afford the time to sign me up for activites due to the rides situation, etc)</p>

<p>Thanks Again!</p>

2

<p>bumpity bump?</p>

3

<p>Kish,
SC does not count courses such as keyboarding or PE. The university takes your best total score…either the ACT or SAT for test scores. It does not superscore the ACT.</p>

4

<p>Academics wise, I do not see much wrong with your application. What stood out to me the most was that you didn’t label any of your classes as Honors or AP save European History and Geometry for your freshman and sophomore years. Does the coarse load you took represent the most rigorous offered at your school? If it doesn’t, your chances may be hurt a bit, but your GPA should make up for it. (One thing I did want to note is that unweighted GPA is based on a 4.0 scale, as you provided a number higher than that.) Your ACT could definitely be improved, though I don’t think your chances will be dramatically lowered because of it. If you can, definitely retake it and aim for at least a 32. And of course, being in the top 5% of your class is a plus.</p>

<p>As far as the subjective component of your app goes, I also do not see much wrong with it. You’ve demonstrated that you have taken the time to help your community with the number of hours you’ve volunteered. Furthermore, you’ve somewhat demonstrated your passion for medicine by applying for the “Mini Medical School”.</p>

<p>Overall, I think you have a solid application that requires only a few improvements. Consequently, I think you have a good chance of being accepted, especially into the Dornsife College. Good luck!</p>

5

<p>Our GPA’s are based on a 5pt scale and for my course load, in any normal environment, all Freshmen take Biology or Bio Honors as a science course. Our Middle Schools are terrible when making “course reccomendations” for our freshman year. The teachers would often choose their favorites for the honors classes, and people like me who were shy at the time get shafted and get placed into regular courses like Physical Science (I had a 98 percent in 8th grade science).This caused alot of the parents in our local area to get mad at our High School for not taking action and fixing kids course requests (my parents called the school 40x before my freshman year and i could not change to honors courses despite being academically able to survive in them). By only being in regular courses (not out of my own will) and a far inferior science course, a hole was practically dug for me for High School. As you can see, over the years i got to take more and more honors courses, and excel in them. As i got to my senior year, i realized that the same people that got into these Biology Courses or World History Honors courses their freshman years were in no science, and my class rank far exceeded theirs. If there was a little section in my application to USC that i can add this info, i think it will help reprieve my lack of rigor the earlier years. </p>

<p>As for the ACT, i think ive hit my plateau (taken it 4x 30 on each test)</p>