Have those who applied before the merit based deadline for Marshall heard anything yet?
Decision: Accepted
**Date applied: ** Nov 30, 2014
Date decision postmarked/received: Jan 23, 2015
Which school/major at USC: Viterbi School of Engineering - Presidential
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2370 SAT I (800 M - 770 CR - 800 W)
SAT II (place score in parentheses): 800-800-780 Math 2-Physics-Chem
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 2/107
Senior Year Course Load: AP Economics, AP Biology, AP Lit, AP CS, Multivar Calc
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): cross country, track, robotics club, etc.
Volunteer/Community Service: camp horizon, soup kitchen, tutoring, etc
Summer Activities: research on algorithms
Essays (rating 1-10, details):: 8
Teacher Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):: 8
Counselor Rec (rating 1-10, details):: 8
Other
Applied for Financial Aid? No
Country (if international applicant): Southeast Asia
School Type: US boarding school
Gender: M
Income Bracket: under 100k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): not that i know
Reflection
Strengths: essays, score (maybe?)
Weaknesses: big prizes (medals)
Why you think you were accepted: essays + strong academics
General Comments/Advice/Hindsight: I’m fortunate! 
For all of those low standardized test scorers: There is definitely hope 
[size=4] [color=green]**Decision: Accepted ** [/color=green] [/size=4]
**Date applied **: October 31, 2014
**Date decision postmarked/received **: January 27, 2014
**Which school/major at USC **: Dornsife, Health and Humanity with an emphasis in Pre-Medicine - Trustee Scholarship
**Objective **:
SAT I (breakdown): N/A
ACT (breakdown): 27 Composite (E: 31) (M: 22) (R: 32) (S: 22)
SAT II (place score in parentheses): Literature 660, US History 730
GPA (out of 4.0): 3.5 UW, 4.4 W
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/A
AP (place score in parentheses): AP Human Geography (4), AP World History (3), AP Psychology (5), AP US History (5), AP English Language (5), AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP English Literature, AP Government, AP Statistics
IB (place score in parentheses): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: Art 1 (never taken an art before 
), Physics, AP Statistics, AP Government, AP Honors Christian Literature, AP English Literature, AP Biology
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): California Scholarship Federation, General Excellence, AP Scholar w/ Distinction, National Honor Society, Dean’s Honor Roll for several years, became an American Red Cross Certified Nurse Assistant my junior year, qualified for National Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science (TEAMS) at Stanford University, QuestBridge Finalist 
**Subjective **:
Extracurriculars: Hippocratic Society Member, Science Alliance (Board Member), Multicultural Club (Publicity Officer), Book Club (President), SF Youth Council (Representative), worked as a volunteer at several hospitals, became a CNA, tutored underprivileged minority children, columnist for school newspaper, Guardians, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, Leadership Team, participated in myriad church organizations and campus ministry events at school; just very participative everywhere I went, over 300+ service hours
Job/Work Experience: None
Essays (rating 1-10, details):: 9 (Extremely personal essay about background; essays from QB app were also very good)
Teacher Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):: 10 (Have always maintained good relationships with my teachers)
Counselor Rec (rating 1-10, details):: 10 ( Amazing counselor)
Additional Rec (rating 1-10, details):: N/A
Interview: I thought my interview went amazingly well. I had my interviewer chuckling just by being myself and really telling her what I loved about USC and how I thought I would fit in. Out of 7 interviews I’ve had, that was my best by far.
**Other **:
Applied for Financial Aid? Yes
State (if domestic applicant): CA
Country (if international applicant): USA
School Type: Private, Catholic
Ethnicity: Black Caribbean
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: Less than 40K
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Immigrant from underdeveloped country, transferred cross country after sophomore year, low income, interesting personal story, minority, second child to go to college in family
**Reflection **:
Strengths: Essays, Recs, Personality, Interview
Weaknesses: Test Scores
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I was able to get my true personality across; they saw through my essays that I’m an extremely hardworking student. I took advantage of all my opportunities and everything I did reflected my passions (my faith, science, medicine, people & culture, etc.) My passions were displayed in the classes I took, EC’s, essays, and interview --I think that really helped!
** Where else you are applying or have already applied**: Loyola Chicago (accepted), Stanford, Columbia, Holy Cross, Boston U, Boston College, Gonzaga, UC Davis, UCLA, Santa Clara, U of Miami, Brown, Princeton, Yale, Catholic University of America, and Notre Dame
General Comments/Advice/Hindsight: USC was my first choice and is my dream school. In shock and in awe. For all those who are anxious about your results because of low scores or one little flaw in grades. essay, the USC admission process is truly holistic! Good luck to all who applied
Decision: Scholarship Rejection
SAT Score: 2330 (800 M, 800 W, 730 CR)
SAT II Score: 2400 (800 Math, 800 Chem, 800 Phy)
Grades: All A+ from grade 9-11. Mid-Sem grades in 12th also all A+.
Predicted Grades for grade 12: Very very high (Almost 100)
Class Rank: NA. But my teacher told she has mentioned that I am in the top 1% in my school.
Recomm: 8.5 (I guess)
Essays: 7/10
ECs: All 10 sections of CommonApp are stuffed. National and International Level wins (since my country is quite small, national wins won’t matter much).
Leadership: President Student Council in my school.
Does anyone know if there is a Facebook page started up with accepted students this year?
Decision: Accepted
Date applied: December 1 (only hours before the deadline:))
Date decision postmarked/received: Postmarked 1/23, received 1/27
Which school/major at USC: Environmental Engineering (Viterbi School of Engineering), Trustee Scholarship Finalist
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2110 (640 CR, 770 M, 700 W, 10 Essay)
ACT (breakdown):
SAT II (place score in parentheses): Chem 740, Math 2 790, Math 1 780
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): I am an international student so our grading system is a weighted GPA out of 5.0 . And my GPA is 5.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): top 1%
AP (place score in parentheses):
IB (place score in parentheses): Predicted 44/45 but got 41/45
Senior Year Course Load: Full IB Diploma & Turkish Diploma
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
Subjective:
Extracurriculars & Service: Founded an environmental sustainability club in school and became its president, Initiated shore cleaning projects and participated in a project assisted by UN, Was interviewed by national newspapers for my work. Writing book reviews for the school magazine. Translating educational videos for the Khan Academy.
Job/Work Experience: Worked as an intern in an international division department at a bank. Worked in a laboratory to find more environmental friendly chemicals
Essays (rating 1-10, details): I think it was 8.5 . It was sincere, showed my passion and leadership qualities
Teacher Recommendations (rating 1-10, details): Didn’t read them but one of them was possibly a 9.5
Counselor Rec (rating 1-10, details):: Probably close to a 8
Additional Rec (rating 1-10, details): A rec letter from my laboratory manager -when I worked as an intern- possibly a 7
Other
Applied for Financial Aid? No
State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant): Turkey
School Type: Turkish School offering IB
Ethnicity: Turkish
Gender: Female
Income Bracket:
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):
Reflection
Strengths: I am sensitive and involved in various green projects. Also I answered one of the supplement essay -are you a geek or nerd?- quite uniquely.
Weaknesses: Standardized test scores.
General Comments/Advice/Hindsight: Since I am one of the best students in my school, to be honest I was expecting to got acceptance from USC. My IB grade is the second highest grade in my school for example. However, there are many students who have better SAT or IB scores. I truly believe that I differentiated myself by elaborating on my passion in my essays. Also, although I want to become an engineer, I love literature. I think my combination of science and literature also played an important role in my acceptance.
Does anyone know if there is a Facebook page set up for those who have already gotten accepted, so that we can get to know each other?
@fernilion I set one up. USC (Admitted) Class of 2019.
Just got accepted and invited to interview for the Presidential scholarship!
Here are my stats:
Male from New York
GPA: 99.5/100
SAT: 2270 (800 W, 730 CR, 740 M)
SAT II: US History (780), Italian (750), Math 2 (720)
APs: 10 (World History (5), US History (5), Physics B (4), English Lang (5), Calculus AB, Microeconomics, Italian, Comparative Government, English Lit, Chemistry)
ECs: captain of a varsity team, dancer for my whole life, president of american sign language honor society, volunteer dance teacher, work at preschool over the summer
Awards: AP Scholar with Honor, NMS commended student
for some reason i havent recieved any thing yet ?
I’m in maryland
Once again, please remember that this thread is supposed to be STATS ONLY! Thank you.
Decision: Accepted
Trustee/Mork/Stamps Finalist
Date applied: 11/29
Date decision recieved: 1/28
Which school/major at USC: Marshall, Business Admin
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2330 (800M, 780W, 750CR)
ACT (breakdown):
SAT II (place score in parentheses): Math II (800), Spanish (790), French (760)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.8 (A- grades reduce GPA at my school, but grades are all A or A- and weighted: 4.7)
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Doesn’t rank, top 10%
AP (place score in parentheses): Euro (4), French (5), Spanish (5), Bio (4), Stats (5), Calc BC (4), Govt (5), USH (5)
IB (place score in parentheses):
Senior Year Course Load: Honors Neuroscience, AP Psych, Honors Linear Algebra, AP Chem, AP Art History, AP English Lit
Major Awards: National French Exam 1st, National Spanish Exam 1st, AMC Finalist, Cum Laude
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses):
-Varsity Swim 4 years (Rookie of the Year, MVP, Captain)
-San Diego Beach Volleyball (2nd Place AAU National Club Championships, 1st Place BVCA National Club Champtionships, CBVA Women’s ‘A’ Rating, other tournaments)
Job/Work Experience:
-Intern at Carl DeMaio’s Congressional Campaign Headquarters: 8 week internship over the summer with Carl DeMaio running for House of Rep, data analysis, event planning, campaign financing, etc
-Tutor
Volunteer/Community Service:
-Volunteer for Carl DeMaio prior to gaining internship
-Tutor for community service before being paid
-Random community service things
Summer Activities: Beach volleyball, travel, internship
Essays (rating 1-10, details): Common app (9/10, I ended up really liking the essay, it was abstract and unique),
Teacher Recommendations (rating 1-10, details): 9 and an 8/10 both teachers really liked me, my college counselor said one was better than the other because it applied my personal qualities to life situations not just school
Counselor Rec (rating 1-10, details): 7/10 he doesn’t really know me
Additional Rec (rating 1-10, details): didn’t submit one
Interview: didn’t interview
Other
Applied for Financial Aid? Yes
State (if domestic applicant): CA
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Private
Ethnicity: White
Gender: F
Income Bracket: 150k range
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): not really
Reflection
Strengths: test scores, transcript (challenge myself and all A/A-), recs b/c personality
Weaknesses: ec’s, community service
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I’m not totally sure. Overall, I’m a well rounded person but don’t have any specific amazing activities or awards. Happy I got lucky.
Where else you are applying or have already applied: Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Penn, UCLA, Berkeley, Georgetown, Yale, Cornell, Miami,
General Comments/Advice/Hindsight: SO HAPPY AND EXCITED!
What dates are you guys going to Explore USC?
Decision: Accepted
**Date applied: ** 11/31/14
Date decision postmarked/received: 1/27/15
Which school/major at USC: Dornsife Economics
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2240 (800 R, 750 M, 690 W)
SAT II (place score in parentheses): (740 Math I, 690 US History)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.7 (92/100)
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): top 20%
AP (place score in parentheses): (5 Statistics, 3 Chemistry)
Senior Year Course Load: Light. One honors course.
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Honor Roll.
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): (President of Gay-Straight Alliance, Co-Founder of Robotics Club), Worked in a plastics lab, model UN, literary magazine contributor, local band, one varsity sport
Job/Work Experience: Intern at a Plastics Laboratory, Waiter
Volunteer/Community Service: Medical Mission in Colombia
Summer Activities: Internship and waiting tables
Essays (rating 1-10, details): (8/10) Not my best work for the USC supplement if I’m going to be honest. I was this close to delaying my application so I could start from scratch.
Teacher Recommendations (rating 1-10, details): Probably good. No idea.
Counselor Rec (rating 1-10, details): Same deal.
Interview: None.
Other
Applied for Financial Aid? No.
State (if domestic applicant): Maryland
School Type: Private, top 50 in nation.
Ethnicity: Asian/German
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: 200,000+
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): I’m boring, really no good hook.
Reflection
Strengths: Strong SAT score must have carried me.
Weaknesses: SAT 2’s, courseload, essay
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I think I was a good candidate for admission with my scores and grades, but I haven’t the foggiest idea why they gave me the Dean’s Scholarship.
Where else you are applying or have already applied: ED2 to Tufts, Admitted to UMD Honors, Babson
General Comments/Advice/Hindsight: Kind of perplexed if i’m perfectly honest.
Decision: Accepted
**Date applied: Dec 1st **
Date decision postmarked/received: Jan 23rd/Jan 24th
Which school/major at USC: Geological
Sciences (Dornslife)
Presidential Scholarship Finalist
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): CR 750, M 750, W 690
ACT (breakdown): 34 - 34 E, 34 M, 34 R, 36 S, 8 Essay
SAT II (place score in parentheses): Math 2 680, Bio E 700, Lit 590
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.74
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/A
AP (place score in parentheses): Psychology 5
IB (place score in parentheses): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: Gov/Econ, AP Lit, AP Calc AB, Physics, Biotechnology, AP Stats, Yearbook
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): California State History Day Finalist
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Link Crew, Key Club, Beach Preservation (founder), Orchestra (French Horn), Large Project Leader 4yrs, Breakfast Club (President), Multicultural day 3yrs, Mock Election 2yrs
Job/Work Experience: CCSS Intern (unpaid), Babysitting
Volunteer/Community Service: Aquarium volunteer, Keyclub
Summer Activities: Aquarium Volunteering, Molecular research @ CHLA
Essays (rating 1-10, details):: 8 - sincere, no major struggles
Teacher Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):: 10 - very close with teachers
Counselor Rec (rating 1-10, details):: I have no idea - he nominates me for scholarships so 7-8
Additional Rec (rating 1-10, details):: 9-10 rec from lab admin
Interview: N/A
Other
Applied for Financial Aid? Yes
State (if domestic applicant): CA
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public Magnet
Ethnicity: Black/White
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: 70000-80000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Biracial
Reflection
Strengths: Essay was sincere about coming of age/finding myself while being biracial - quirky a little funny
Weaknesses: No essay revisions, GPA, extracurriculars
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I was honest they were able to get my personality - race
Where else you are applying or have already applied: Top Liberal Arts
General Comments/Advice/Hindsight:
I was one of ~5 students to get accepted early, ~2 got scholarships, out of the 50+ that applied from my school. I feel like race might have helped me and I am sorta undeserving of this. There were so many more qualified students than me and I feel like it may have been due to race.
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@syrups don’t put your self down. you look like an amazing deserving candidate and this process is so random. Congratulations.
@syrups I agree, don’t put yourself down, it is an obtuse and complicated process and you really have no idea why you were chosen over others. You have a great background and you may have out written the others. In any case, it’s a dog-eat-dog world out there and you should use every advantage you have and not feel bad about it. Congrats on your acceptance and potential scholarship. You should hold your head high and be proud.
Sorry, just now have time to do this
[ size=4][ color=green][ b]Decision: Accepted**[/color=green][/size=4]
[ b]Date applied: Dec. 1
[ b]Date decision postmarked/received: Jan. 27th
[ b]Which school/major at USC: Marshall School of Business, Dean’s Scholar
[ b]Objective:**
SAT I (breakdown):
ACT (breakdown): 33 (35E, 35M, 32R, 29S)
SAT II (place score in parentheses):
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.88
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 5%
AP (place score in parentheses): not that good, bunch of 3’s and one 4
IB (place score in parentheses):
Senior Year Course Load: AP Spanish, AP Gov, Theology, AP Stats, Calc honors, AP Lit
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
[ b]Subjective:**
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Varsity soccer (captain), school newspaper (editor), music teacher, tutor, Future Philanthropist Program
Job/Work Experience: music teacher, sports camp counselor
Volunteer/Community Service: “Big Brother” program (hang out with underprivileged kid), Appalachia Service Project, church choir
Summer Activities:
Essays (rating 1-10, details):: 8-9. Did a lot of research and spent a lot of time on them, although really only my parents read them
Teacher Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):: 5-6. Pretty impersonal.
Counselor Rec (rating 1-10, details):: 8. Guy really liked me
Additional Rec (rating 1-10, details)::
Interview: 9. Went really well
[ b]Other**
Applied for Financial Aid? No
State (if domestic applicant): IL
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Private catholic
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: about 300-400k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): not too many. I really focused on my music in my essays, and the Future Philanthropist thing helped for business I think
[ b]Reflection**
Strengths: grades, ACT, unique activities, some leadership
Weaknesses: recs, being white
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I think my academics were borderline for a scholarship but my music and activities put me over the edge
Where else you are applying or have already applied: Gtown, santa clara, notre dame, michigan, boston college, villanova, ut austin
General Comments/Advice/Hindsight: So psyched to be a trojan. Fight on!!!
Decision: Accepted
**Date applied: ** Dec 1
Date decision postmarked/received: 1/28
Which school/major at USC: Thornton, Music Composition
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2330 (790CR, 740M, 800W) at time of submission, now 2360
ACT (breakdown): N/A
SAT II (place score in parentheses): Math II (760), Bio M (800), USH (790), Chemistry (780)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 4%
AP (place score in parentheses): Euro, Bio, Calc BC, CS A, USH, Eng Lang (all 5)
IB (place score in parentheses): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: 2 college courses, AP Psych, AP CS, AP Lit, Orchestra
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): None (nat’l merit finalist tho)
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Music, a couple orchestras (principal/asst principal cello), summer camp in composition
Job/Work Experience: Doing web design work for JPL
Volunteer/Community Service: Eagle Scout, currently doing an organization for young composers
Summer Activities: Eastman summer camp
Essays (rating 1-10, details): Common App - 9/10, describes my history with music and my sources of inspiration; why USC - 10/10, just good; extracurricular - 7/10
Teacher Recommendations (rating 1-10, details): 10/10, history teacher who is known for writing really good recs; 6/10, comp sci teacher who didn’t really know me that well and submitted it by accident (whoops)
Counselor Rec (rating 1-10, details): 4/10, new counselor who didn’t know any students
Additional Rec (rating 1-10, details): 10/10, private composition teacher who described my “musical intuition”
Interview: N/A
Other
Applied for Financial Aid? No
State (if domestic applicant): CA
Country (if international applicant): N/A
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: M
Income Bracket: ~300,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): N/A
Reflection
Strengths: Probably was accepted based on my music composition supplement and high grades (a lot of musicians don’t have great grades)
Weaknesses: Few extracurriculars
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Good essays, good supplement
Where else you are applying or have already applied: Too many places to list, but got into UC Berkeley as well
General Comments/Advice/Hindsight: Write interesting essays 
Decision: Accepted
**Date applied: **10/31
**Date decision postmarked/received:**1/26
Which school/major at USC: Dornsife
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown):N/A
ACT (breakdown):30
SAT II (place score in parentheses):
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0):3.7
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):top 25%
AP (place score in parentheses):US History (4) Currently taking AP Biology, AP Economics, AP Government, and AP Spanish
IB (place score in parentheses):
Senior Year Course Load: AP Biology, AP Economics, AP Government, and AP Spanish, Precalculus, british Literature
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): N/A
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses):
Job/Work Experience:Sales Associate at a clothing boutique
Volunteer/Community Service: 3 bible studies a week, active youth group member
Summer Activities: Theatre Camp, 3 week sleep away Christian all girls camp
Essays (rating 1-10, details):: 8
Teacher Recommendations (rating 1-10, details)::8
Counselor Rec (rating 1-10, details)::9
Additional Rec (rating 1-10, details)::
Interview:
Other
Applied for Financial Aid? yes
State (if domestic applicant):Alabama
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: Black
Gender: Female
Income Bracket:
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):
Reflection
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected:
Where else you are applying or have already applied: Northeastern, Columbia, Stanford, Pepperdine, NYU, the University of Rochester, and Swarthmore
General Comments/Advice/Hindsight:
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