Decision: Accepted
**Date applied: ** Whenever I had to for merit consideration, so mid December?
Date decision postmarked/received: 3/26 but apparently the results were released online on the 23rd
Which school/major at USC: Philosophy
Scholarships: None that I’m aware of.
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 800CR/770M/800W
ACT (breakdown): N/A
SAT II (place score in parentheses): 800 World History, 740 Chemistry
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.6ish
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 89/580,
AP (place score in parentheses): World History (5), Language (5), USHistory (4), Physics 1/2 (4/4),
IB (place score in parentheses):
Senior Year Course Load: AP Physics C, AP Macroeconomics, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, AP Literature&Comp
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Math Club (treasurer), Trivia Team (Co-Captain), Mock Trial (Captain)
Job/Work Experience: Internship with local state government official which began in the summer.
Volunteer/Community Service: Organize an annual food drive, collected about a ton of cans to date.
Summer Activities: Internship, as above
Essays (rating 1-10, details):: I hate when other people do this but CommonApp was at least a 9 if not a 10: the topic was unique, I’m a very strong writer, and I spent hours and hours revising it. USC essay was fairly well written and researched but maybe a bit too bland, so maybe a 7-8/10
Teacher Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):: Haven’t been able to read them but I excelled in both of their classes and they were able to provide first-hand corroborations of my passion for social justice.
Counselor Rec (rating 1-10, details):: 8? We got along well and had a number of discussions about a senior year grade drop (Physics C and Calc BC are not nice places for a humanities kid) which she said she would address.
Additional Rec (rating 1-10, details):: Pretty bland one from my boss (state Assemblymember) but it was printed on some pretty cool official letterhead so maybe that helped?
Interview: Didn’t even know it was an option
Other
Applied for Financial Aid? Yes
State (if domestic applicant): NY
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Fairly successful public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: On the lower end of $25,000-$50,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None that I can think of
Reflection
Strengths: SAT scores and essay without a doubt
Weaknesses: Grades grades grades, lackluster ECs
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: My SAT score; it’s been a little disheartening that my valuation by schools thus far has been almost exclusively due to the scant few hours I spent taking a standardized test.
Where else you are applying or have already applied:
Accepted: BC, Pitt, Northeastern, USC (obviously), SUNY Geneseo, Brandeis, UVM, American Rejected: Wesleyan, Haverford, Williams, Northwestern, Columbia, Swarthmore
Waitlisted: UChicago, Conn. College
Waiting: Cornell, Brown, Penn, UMich, Tufts
General Comments/Advice/Hindsight: This acceptance came after 7 rejections in a row and I have no shame in saying it got me a little choked up. USC is currently my best option and I’m pretty humbled by this decision. I don’t really have much advice for future applicants other than that they should make sure to be in the top decile of their class because my rank has really held me back. I didn’t study for the SAT, but as for the essay I can say that it’s important to write at least three or four different essays so that you can tell which topic is the most compelling.
probably will not go to USC though since I am not rich and cannot pay their ridiculous tuition. For those of you who are reading this, please stop and go do something with your life. Either make it better or just do what you can. College season is probably upon you and you are stressing out (like I did) but I assure you, nothing will happen if you worry. So go enjoy your life while you can :)[/li][/ul]
about time really