<p>Hi everyone; I am aspiring to join the Trojan family and was wondering what do you think my chances are?</p>
<p>Intended Major: Engineering/Business</p>
<p>GPA: 3.96 Weighted
APs: World History (3), Calc AB (5), Calc BC (pending), Physics B (pending)
SAT: 1970 (770 M, 620 R, 580 W)
Rank: 28/726 (top 4%)</p>
<p>ECs:
ASB President (senior year)
ASB rep (2 years)
Class President (2 years)
Key Club (3 years, 65+ hours per semester)
Volleyball (3 years, 1 year captain)
Basketball (1 year, MVP and captain)
Red Cross Club (3 years)
Orchestra (1 year)</p>
<p>Essays: Okay
Recs: Good
Hook: Single parent, low-income, moved over 14 times as a child, Questbridge Finalist.</p>
<p>Also, as a Questbridge finalist I have forwarded my application to USC. Although my essays are not the greatest, my application does include much more information compared to if I used Common App. Should I revoke my QB application and submit a Common App app with edited essays? </p>
<h2>Recs: U.S. History teacher and Trig/Pre Calc teacher and Counselor</h2>
<p>Essays (3 in total, last one part of Questbridge application for USC):
-Living in a single-parent, low-income household and how my experiences have led me to become self-motivated.
-How losing my position on ASB as a sophomore led to my realization of an arrogant attitude and how I addressed the issue.</p>
<h2>-How having an African American adopted-sister has developed my awareness of diversity in the world.</h2>
<p>Senior Course Load:</p>
<p>Weights
World Literature (regular)
Calculus BC
Leadership (ASB)
Physics B
Econ/American Govt. (regular)</p>
<h2>Orchestra</h2>
<p>Asian Male
First Generation
Household income <$15000</p>
<p>You have an excellent shot and by all means should apply. The big thing is that given how competitive things are these days (across the board with a large demographic bulge, so it’s not just you) you should make sure that your essays convey how much you want to go to USC specifically rather than just having generic essays that can apply to any school.</p>
<p>Beyond that, USC would be an excellent place to double major in engineering and business. I can think of several other schools that have strong programs in both those fields, but the thing to remember about USC is that they <em>encourage</em> you to study widely disparate fields so that in your professional life you’ll be able to look at things from multiple perspectives. I’ve found that to be <em>very</em> useful thus far in my career.</p>
<p>Good luck! ;)</p>
<p>P.S. You’re obviously angular towards math and science so by all means own that in your application. You’re not a words guy (I am, but I’m very average with math) so just let that come through in your application. You have a lot of solid intangibles and just have to be aware of your strengths and weaknesses.</p>
<p>Thank you for the thoughtful response USCAlum! Would you recommend that I revoke my QB application (lots of information about me but is generic) and send a Common App (which would focus more on engineering and inclination towards USC, but less info about me) instead?</p>
<p>To be honest, I don’t know enough to be stupid on that one. I suppose you could talk to the admissions officer assigned to your area ([Counselor</a> Profiles - USC Undergraduate Admission](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/prepare/counselor_profiles.html]Counselor”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/prepare/counselor_profiles.html)) and see what he/she has to say. Also your guidance counselor of course and do some due diligence. I assume it’s going to be a tradeoff either way. But yes, keep in mind the larger point that these days there are far more <em>qualified</em> students than there are slots, so the question then becomes who wants to go there and who will be a good fit for the university. Unfortunately for you guys these days, it’s not like it was in the 1970s and 1980s when schools had to go begging for students. Not your fault but obviously you want to know that going in.</p>
<p>I’m forwarding my Questbridge finalist application to USC too! Your EC’s and test scores are great! Even though I have a 4.35 (weighted) GPA, I got a 1590 on my SAT and a 24 on my ACT, so you’re basically in a better standing than me. lol I just hope my community involvement and essays increase my chances of getting in. :-)</p>