<p>Hi guys I am a high school Junior and was wondering how my application/resume for college compares to others as well as what I could improve(in what would matter the most).
Right now I've got a
3.76 unweighted GPA
4.0 ish weighted GPA
SAT:1750 (I am well aware this is an ugly blot and I will get it raised)
SAT II's: Not taken yet</p>
<p>Extracurricular Activities: Lettering in Wrestling(Captain), Swimteam, has taken Japanese since 6th grade (including college classes), CSF(community service hours), and I'm not quite sure if this would constitute a "hook" but I am planning to study and also work in Japan this summer.</p>
<p>I'm a pretty good writer, and think I could get some good/very good recommendations from counselors and teachers.</p>
<p>If I'm missing anything, please ask. Anyways, thanks for reading my post.</p>
<p>If youre gonna apply to any of the popular majors, I would say you should try to get you GPA up as high as possible in the little time left. Also USC specifically places more emphasis on EC's, compared to UC's, so make sure that you really get those good in your essays.</p>
<p>Here are my thoughts (In no particular order):</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Like you said, that SAT score needs to go up. Aim for at least 600 in each section (a 600 looks a lot better than a 590, despite the 10 point difference). Since you say you are a good writer, aim for 700+ in the writing section. Remember that the essay is only a small portion of your writing score! I got a 7 our of 12 on my essay, but I got almost every single Multiple Choice correct and I ended up getting 740. I only scored in the 50's for the writing section on my PSAT and a 600 the first time I took the SAT. I picked up a Princeton Review Prep book and read over the writing section (make sure to do each example more than once!) and raised my overall score 140 points despite getting a lower score (by one) on my essay. There is no need for expensive prep courses, just pick up a couple of SAT prep books (make sure one of these is a Princeton Review) from your local library and study them like a maniac. All the information you need is right there in the book.</p></li>
<li><p>Aim really high on your SAT II's. I believe that anyone who studies hard enough can score at least in the mid 700's because the SAT II's aren't a measure of intelligence, they are a measure of how well you know the content. Even pretty dumb people can learn the content if they study long enough (Not trying to say that you're dumb - just using an example to prove my point :) Again, get a few review books and study them carefully.</p></li>
<li><p>Interview!!!! Even though they say this doesn't make that much of a difference, it does! They get to see the human side of you and you aren't reduced to a number. Make sure to mention the Trojan Family during your interview (any Trojan's eyes light up when you say that)</p></li>
<li><p>Visit the campus if you can (Show's them your demonstrated interest)</p></li>
<li><p>What kind of school do you attend? Public? Private? Competitive? Class Rank? Lots of grade inflation at your school or no? Do lots of people apply to USC from your school? Which city? Urban? Rural? USC looks to achieve geographic diversity as well as ethnic and economic diversity, so if you are from L.A you might have some trouble whereas if you are from Montana you will have an easier time.</p></li>
<li><p>Ethnicity? Minority?</p></li>
<li><p>Take all AP's that you can during your senior year. Even if you have no interest in AP Bio, or AP Econ, or whatever, take them. Does your weighted GPA come from honors classes or does it come from AP classes? If so, which ones? AP Euro looks a lot better than AP Art.</p></li>
<li><p>Try to apply by the Dec. 10th scholarship deadline. This identifies you as a serious applicant and gives them more time to look at your file in depth. They get thousands and thousands of 4.0 students with SAT scores higher than yours, but the more "looks" you get, the better possibility that you will catch the eye of one of the adcoms.</p></li>
<li><p>Spend your summer wisely! Take some community college classes in something that you hadn't considered before (not just Japanese). The adcoms want to see that you challenged yourself, and this is a great way to do it. Either that, or go do something wacky. I can't really tell you exactly what to do, but do something that will stand out on your application. Tons of people have amazing credentials in language, music, the martial arts, etc.. Aim for something unique and unconventional.</p></li>
<li><p>What are you planning to major in? Try to choose a field that complements your extra curriculars. You can always switch majors later (as easy as filling out a form)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Remember that the adcoms are want to overlook your SAT score. They want to admit you. Give them more reason to by taking the steps I outlined above.</p>
<p>Also, keep it in perspective. Each year, it gets tougher and tougher to get in. However, if you follow the steps I outlined above, I think you have a good shot of getting in. Best of luck!</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I am reading the Collegeboard Prep Book. Would you consider this "sufficient" or should I pick up the Princeton Review One ASAP?</p></li>
<li><p>I heard the SAT II's are easier. I think I may take some type of history(history is my buff, haven't really looked into the II's yet), and my friend also told me one of the math ones was particularly easy since I'm in Precal.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>3."Trojan Family"? Huh? Yeah I should schedule one. Good call</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I'll do that too</p></li>
<li><p>It's a public school, and I dont really understand the "competitive" part. Do you mean competitive as in lots of good students with high GPA's etc? I'm still in the top 10 percent if that means anything.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>6.I'm Japanese/Chinese, but I dont think that is a minority.</p>
<ol>
<li>Ap classes- AP BIO
Honors- 11th grade History
English
Chemistry(this was in 10th grade)
This is all for the midyear report right?</li>
</ol>
<p>8.Will do</p>
<p>9.I've been thinking about this... if the class needs to be "wacky" and "unique", does it still need to be really "challenging"?</p>
<p>10 I was thinking majoring eventually in international relations/business (since I'm trilingual), or perhaps something else later, but right now thats my main target.</p>
<p>Again, thanks alot for the feedback and advice. It is by far the most positive and encouraging response I have got on this website so far.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The collegeboard prep book is good, but the Princeton Review book is better. When I was studying for the SAT's, I did all the examples in the PR book but did practice tests in the collegeboard book. Try to pickup the PR book if you can.</p></li>
<li><p>I wouldn't call them easier, just different. It depends on what you are good at. If you are brilliant, but you are a slacker in school, you'd probably do well on the SAT's but you may struggle with the SAT II's. If you aren't quite as brilliant, but you work really hard in class and learn the material, then you will likeley do better on the SAT II's. I know many people overlook the SAT II's (I did!) but if you are borderline, they can push you over the top. The Math Level 1 is really easy, but many colleges do not respect it. The UC's won't even accept it. So, you need to take Math Level II, which is well, extremely difficult. I got 710 on my SAT I Math, but I felt totally clueless on the Math Level II. I remember leaving about 15 or so questions blank. It was real bad. However, there is a big curve on the test, so I ended up getting 670. Remember that the Math Level II attracts all the brilliant math people, so you will have a lot of competition. If you didn't score above 650 or so on the SAT I in math, I don't think the Math IIC is advantageous for you to take.</p></li>
<li><p>Trojan Family- Basically anyone who is either a student at USC, faculty, alumni, or family members of any of the above groups is part of the Trojan Family. USC has a reputation for taking care of it's students after they graduate. Many recruiters only hire USC grads because they are alumni themselves. Each successive generation perpetuates this bond. More info here: <a href="http://www.usc.edu/about/trojan_family/%5B/url%5D">http://www.usc.edu/about/trojan_family/</a></p></li>
<li><p>Well I guess competitive in the sense that their are selective admissions to get in, or if it is a magnet school, or whatever. So I guess it's just a normal, public high school in California? </p></li>
<li><p>Well, yea I guess. On the midyear report, you just put anything from first semester senior year.</p></li>
<li><p>Well actually, I meant something "unique" outside of school.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Looks like you're on the right track! Let me know if you have any other questions.</p>