Chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

<p>GPA: 3.5ish uw
SAT: 600m, 650cr, 700w
Rank: Top 25%
Schedule: All honors except math, Freshman-Junior year. I also took Statistics at the local CC (received an A) and am taking Calculus there. I have already taken two APs, Euro and USH. I've taken an entire academic schedule throughout my four years (besides required electives), and have gotten through French IV (with all As...my school does not offer AP).
Senior Year Schedule (by FAR the hardest schedule in the entire grade):
AP Art History, AP American Government, AP Human Geography, AP Physics B, AP English Lit, AP Biology (and Calculus 1 at a CC).</p>

<p>Also note that my GPA would be significantly higher if Freshman year wasn't counted. I have gotten all As in everything besides science (Bs) for Sophomore and Junior year.</p>

<p>I'm looking into CNTV. I think my portfolio will be good, but we'll leave that up to USC to decide. Mainly I want to know how I am doing academically.</p>

<p>As far as ECs go, most of them relate to filmmaking. I'm working on a documentary which will serve, more or less, as an advertisement for my high school. I directed our class video last year and am slated to direct it again this year. I worked on a National History Day documentary which made it to the State finals. Additionally, I attended a film camp for three years and was paid to work at another. I have also spent a significant amount of time starting my own production company with my friends. Other then that, I have some work experience. I did a part time job last summer and a full time one this summer. I also plan to work about 20 hrs. per week during the school year.</p>

<p>Can someone let me know how I am academically and what is essential in improving my chances to the level where admission is possible. Thank you very much.</p>

2

<p>Your EC's look great. Your GPA is a bit low considering the average is 4.0 but you have a shot for sure. USC film doesn't take a creative portfolio- they only want to see writing samples but be sure to list all your film stuff in your creative resume you turn in. You should apply to NYU too because they do take samples of work and you sound like you have quite a bit. good luck!</p>

3

<p>Is that average weighted or unweighted? Because my weighted GPA is 3.9 total. If we're including academic classes only (non-academic, required electives like Computer Keyboarding and Religion from Freshman year bring down my GPA) I have exactly a 3.6 uw and 4.02 weighted (normal, college-prep As being worth 4, and AP/Honors being worth 4.5, and so on and so forth).</p>

4

<p>I believe I've heard that's the unweighted.... but the fact is that the creative schools are looking for things other than GPA, and you seem to have those things. Your extracurriculars not only show your passion for your intended field- the fact that your work has done well when it's shown, and that a film camp actually hired you to instruct others shows that you're good at it.</p>

5

<p>Adcoms tend to gloss over freshman year a bit more and really like upward trends in grades, so if you keep doing as well as you've been doing with a challenging courseload I think you've got a good chance. You might want to retake the SAT as your scores are on the lower side; I found it really helpful to take old practice tests for the revamped SAT I that are issued from the College Board. My Psych 100 professor has taught me that test prep courses don't make any significant changes in scores compared to changes in scores resulting from self-study.</p>