Could I get into USC?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

Hi I just visited USC and I absolutely LOVED it. Now I’m wondering just how much of a chance I have to get accepted

UW GPA: 3.78
W GPA: 4.1
W GPA Junior 4.2

SAT: 1490/1600

I am interested in being an engineer and by the time I graduate I will have completed 5 APs, and 3 Honors, in a very rigorous college prep school. I have As in calculus. The reason my W GPA is so low is because freshman year you aren’t allowed to take any APs unless you are already in college math.

ECs:
Musical Theater: Participated in 9 shows at a competitive outside of school theater. This is during 5 days a week. Some of my roles were leads.
Voice: Singing is one of my special skills
National Honors Society
Schools religious leadership program
Chamber and concert choir
Student council during freshman year

I have also worked three different jobs, 1 as a lifeguard, 1 at a camp and 1 working children’s parties

I also have about 250 service hours

Math is my best subject and I have been on high honors the whole time in high school. Do any of you think I have a shot? I love the school and will show that in my application.

2

Yes. I think you’ll likely get in. Consider it a high match.

3

You will not get into your school because of your lack of engineering ECs. You need to show the passion to colleges so they can accept you into their program.

4

Do you mean like robotics? That’s all I can think of

5

For those looking to get “Chanced”, I suggest reading an excellent thread on the topic from the beginning…

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/1558825-what-are-my-chances-read-this-first-p1.html

I also suggest reading through the following very helpful insider’s guide to USC admissions…

https://tfm.usc.edu/a-guide-to-uscs-college-admissions-process/

Best wishes… and Fight On!

6

You want to be an engineer and the only application you are aware of for that field is robotics?

Engineering covers a variety of fields from chemical engineering to computer science, as well as game design. Based on your activities you seem way more interested in performing arts. Film and theater at USC are highly competitive. Admittance to Viterbi is also highly competitive, although not quite in ivy range as with film/theater. You do not have a strong application for engineering. Anyone reading your application would get the sense that you are picking a reputable major you think you might be able to get into, in the hopes that you can transfer into theater later on. Perhaps you ARE really interested in engineering, but if you want to apply for that major you should research engineering so you have a better understanding of its many different branches. You do have the option of applying undeclared to Dornsife, which you have a good shot at.

7

Ok thank you for your honesty!

8

I am really interested in engineering, just looking for a little guidance as to how I could show that. I have top grades in my physics and calculus classes which is why I thought it might be a good match. Should I focus more on that? I just thought because it was a wholistic application that I should try and show myself as well rounded and able to participate in activities outside a requested major.

9

USC is very expensive. Did you check the Net Price Calculator to see if you can afford it?

10

You’re interested in engineering, because…? Being good at calculus and physics is not enough of a reason. Use this year to explore what you’re really interested in. Parents push for high-earning careers because they want to see their children self-sufficient. You can show you’re self-sufficient by exploring careers that fulfill your interests and your talents. Good luck.

11

I’m interested in engineering because ever since I was younger I’ve always had a knack for building things. I’ve enjoyed taking difficult math and science classes, but once I got to high school, it was something I realized I really enjoyed doing. But I also loved doing theater so I spent most outside time doing that plus volunteering. In school I was very focused on taking the classes I liked, but after researching engineering online, I know it’s what I loved to do

12

Since you will be a senior this fall you have very little time to accrue some engineering ECs without having it seem like you are doing so only for the sake of your application. It won’t seem genuine, and other applicants will have activities they have been competing in for years. If you were a junior I would suggest taking a summer engineering program, which would give you a real sense of what engineering is all about. (There are many mentioned under summer programs on CC.). It would also have given you some concrete experience in the field to include in your application.

You can certainly try building a case for yourself and apply to Viterbi. Your college counselor can give you some good advice on tailoring your application. However, since you say you are strong in math and science, you might consider applying to USC as a math major, or one of the sciences that interests you. If you conclude that engineering is for you, then you can apply to transfer from Dornsife to Viterbi. That is possible at USC, unlike some other highly impacted universities.