<p>Is it difficult to gain acceptance into this program, or will you most likely gain a spot if you apply and have competitive stats? I received a letter inviting me to apply, and I just finished my application. Does anyone have any numbers? Thanks.</p>
<p>bump…anyone?</p>
<p>I’m in the same position as you and just applied. I also posted a thread, but no replies there.</p>
<p>I heard that if you’re invited, you’re basically in. Can I ask what your stats are? Their website says most people on the program have 4/5 on AP Chemistry and/or Biology, as well as a 700+ on SAT Reasoning Test Math.</p>
<p>i just applied as well! </p>
<p>when did you guys get the invite? i only got it last week, but i was searching the threads and someone applied back in feb? </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/1092696-freshman-science-honors-program-anyone.html?highlight=freshman+science+honors+program[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/1092696-freshman-science-honors-program-anyone.html?highlight=freshman+science+honors+program</a></p>
<p>more info here:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/866882-thematic-option-freshman-science-honors-program.html?highlight=fshp[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/866882-thematic-option-freshman-science-honors-program.html?highlight=fshp</a>
and
older info from 2008/
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/492324-fshp.html?highlight=fshp[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/492324-fshp.html?highlight=fshp</a></p>
<p>I got the invite about a week ago as well! The people who applied back in February were probably in the running for the scholarship and so they got their letters of acceptance earlier than most of us.</p>
<p>Hey guys, I was in Freshman Science Honors 09-10. It’s a great program (very tough, but it curves well and you get labs of 8 students) and I’m glad you all are applying.</p>
<p>I’m not sure how competitive it was my year, but I was also a scholarship applicant who applied back in February my time. That said, I know a good number of non-scholarship students who were in FSH with me, so you guys shouldn’t worry about being disadvantaged because of that.</p>
<p>I was speaking to Judy Haw (the FSH leader) just last week and was asking her about the competitiveness of another program she is advising. She said she couldn’t answer that because it was the first year that program existed, but as an example she said “If you asked me how competitive this incoming FSH applicant pool is, I’d say pretty competitive.” Sorry I don’t have numbers for you guys, but that’s just what I heard from Judy 
</p>
<p>I do think a lot of the admissions is based off of your AP scores; I don’t think I know anyone who didn’t score a 4 or 5 (leaning strongly towards the 5s) on their AP Bio/Chem courses; also, if you didn’t take either or scored below, you’re definitely going to be at a disadvantage if you do get in compared to the rest of the class. </p>
<p>Anyway, good luck and I hope you guys make it and do well!</p>
<p>Thanks for all the input, NonSenescent! I was accepted in the regular round (I got a Presidential Scholarship but that was because of National Merit), so hopefully I’m one of those kids!</p>
<p>zdmw93: I had mostly A’s and a few A-'s in my science/math courses. I scored a 4 on AP Biology and 4 on AP Calculus BC; didn’t take AP Chemistry. I have a 2270 combined on SAT, with a 740 on the Math section. I’m worried that these scores are on the lower side, but hopefully, I’m able to get in! Good luck to everyone!</p>
<p>Those are awesome scores! I’m an international applicant so I didn’t do APs. Instead I took IB HL chemistry (6/7), biology(6/7) and mathematics (5/6). 2160 on the SAT overall but 780 on math section.</p>
<p>Btw NonSenescent, that was a very useful post</p>
<p>nonsenescent- thanks for your help! i was wondering, is the program accelerated in any way? for example, when you take classes the next year, are you ahead in terms of material? or are the classes just more challenging? just trying to understand the program a little bit better.</p>
<p>@gangstahgrl78: I’m actually not sure what the regular course load for the intro bio and chem classes were, but I know that in terms of Organic Chem, Molecular Bio, and all the following biology and chemistry classes that the Honors kids weren’t really at much of an advantage or disadvantage. For biology, the regular and Honors program kids used the same book; for chem, they used different ones but I think that was more of a personal preference for the professors than either intro-level chem book being “more advanced” than the other. Personally, I would say the courses went a bit more in-depth than the other courses did; for example, our professors would inject more of what their own research was on into the lectures, and our tests seem to have been slightly more challenging. What made the course challenging was not so much the material I think than the amount of competition I had–coming into SC as a “honors” “scholarship” student, I was definitely not mentally prepared to be in a class with all these students who were at or above my level. The curve does compensate for this though; the regular courses curve to I want to say a C+ or B- (so if you score average you will receive these scores on a curve), whereas the honors courses curved to a B+ because the professors and program administrators know that it is the “honors” kids you’re competing with. </p>
<p>I would say the gist of the program is: smaller classes, smaller labs (as I said, one of my labs literally had 8 students in it. The individual attention was great, and we got newer equipment :D), more personal interaction with professors, material about the same level and speed as the ‘regular’ courses, and a better curve. Oh, also, Judy --the program director–does some great programs specifically for FSH students; my year we had a Catalina trip, a Long Beach aquarium trip, among others (all free and optional!).</p>
<p>@thankyou4flying, @zmdw93: I actually just talked to Judy again today (she’s a really great woman and I was turning in some forms to her) and she actually showed me the spreadsheet of all the applicants she got this year for FSH. I mean obviously I don’t know your names, but what she told me was that this year the pool was way more competitive than it has been. I’ll be a junior this upcoming fall, so according to her my year and last year everyone who had over a 2100 was accepted into the program. They usually take about 150 students, not all of whom are guaranteed to enter the university (our classes were about I want to say 80). The spreadsheet was ordered from lowest to highest SAT score, with scores for AP Bio, Chem, and Calc on the side of that. She told me that she was thinking about automatically taking everyone with over a 2200 and all 3 of those APs, and then everyone with over a 2200 and AP Chem and Calc because they seem to be better indicators of how well students do in the class? Everyone with under a 2100 (looked like less than 10 students) was put into the red zone. </p>
<p>I think both of you guys look to be in good shape; I mean, granted, Judy didn’t even know what she was going to do with all these applicants and all the competition. @zdmw93, your SAT score is below the 2200 cutoff at which she would be taking everyone, but you had all the 3 IBs that she’s looking for and did well on all of them. @thankyou4flying, your SAT score puts you in pretty good shape, even if you didn’t take AP Chem (she looks at Honors too, if that helps). </p>
<p>If anyone has more questions about the program, feel free to PM me or post more on this board (hopefully I’ll remember to check it–I only did today because I had extra info for you guys from Judy!). It really is fun and you get really close to all the other FSH students for having braved it through the “Honors” course with you. If you guys end up not getting in though, don’t be discouraged–the “honors” kids aren’t necessarily doing any better than the kids who were not in it at upper-level classes, and we are all kind of sad that Organic Chem curves to a C+ 
because we’re all used to the nice curve of Honors. Also, I just wanted to say that if you guys are doing the program because it’s “Honors,” it really isn’t that big of a deal–sure, people on campus may give you a bit of respect for having gone through it, but on your transcript it will come up as “Advanced General Biology/Chemistry” and your GPA doesn’t get a bump or anything; it will hardly seem like anything to any grad schools looking at your transcript. Do it for the right reasons :)</p>
<p>@NonSenescent, great and informative post! I was hoping FSH had some benefits for grad school applications because I’m trying to justify spending $58,000 on a USC education, but I guess it doesn’t make much of a difference. Don’t take it wrongly; I love USC and I am into FSH for more than just grad school, but at that price, it has to be worth it!</p>
<p>Thanks again for the help</p>
<p>Bleh! I wanted to apply, I really did! Unfortunately, I needed to have a declared Science major and I’m happily undecided (:</p>
<p>I get the gist that the FSH is more for bio and chem students, though, and I’m far more interested in Physics. Certainly not thrilled that I won’t be able to take an honors class as I really do think it would be perfect for me. Is there any chance I can enter this class later on if I declare myself a Physics major once I enter in fall? Do you think I’ll be missing out on a lot in a normal class? Cause well, it <em>is</em> only for freshmen, right? So after freshman year we’ll all be back on the same track? Perhaps I could just borrow their notes or something…</p>
<p>@zdmw93 I think one of the main benefits FSH would have would be the interactions with the professors. It’s much easier to get to know a professor in these “honors” classes because class sizes are 1/3 of the size you would be in otherwise. I know what you mean; I had the same thought. Coming out of high school anything “honors” sounds great but honestly you won’t be at that much of an advantage with an “Advanced” designation. There’s also a mentor/mentee program that I forgot to mention, in which you get paired up with an upperclassman mentor who went through FSH. In terms of grad school, on campus you are given a bit of recognition for it–I know some honors societies that seem to be preferential towards FSH students. $58,000 is a really steep price though for a year of science honors! I highly recommend Thematic Option; it’s the GE ‘honors’ program and consists of far more classes with smaller students if the deadline for that hasn’t passed yet.</p>
<p>@twaih7 FSH is more of a Bio and Chem sort of thing, but I know a good number of Biomedical Engineers who took the Chem honors portion of FSH. Once you enter in fall, the spots for the class may be taken already, although I know there is a sort of waitlist for it. If you are more interested in Physics, there is an Honors Physics section that is pretty much the same thing as FSH but for physics–you would take Physics 161 and 162, as opposed to Physics 151 and 152 for normal physics and engineering majors. I’ve only heard good things about honors Physics–it’s difficult but if your professor is Bickers as it has been, he’s the best there is in the Physics department. After freshman year, everyone will be back on the same track in biology and chemistry, yes; if you are going to be a physics major, I’m not sure that requires you to take bio and chem as a freshman…you might want to check up on the major requirements for that. And no, I know a good number of people who are doing better than FSH students in the upper-div classes I’m in now, and vice-versa; it doesn’t seem to be that big of a difference in terms of course information. You’ll be fine :)</p>
<p>So I’m not required to make a special application like for TO and FSH to get into Honors Physics, right? Just register for the classes? I can’t seem to find any application forms for it. Also, say for Physics 153, is the material covered same in any university, so that I can just google the course and get a good idea of what it entails? And would you happen to know if knowledge of the Physics 15X classes is required for me to register for the honors class? My concern is that what I’ve learned may not completely cover these “fundamental” courses and I may enter the Honors class feeling lost.</p>
<p>I’m sorry for inundating you with questions like this, but I really do appreciate your taking the time to answer them. Thank you so much! (:</p>
<p>i believe you need to receive D-clearance from an academic advisor to register for the 160 series in physics. i may be wrong, though.</p>
<p>@NonSenescent so, if we are not up to par with the SAT scores, our chances are slim ? I did put my SAT score, but my ACT is way way better than my mere 2000 SAT score. Does she look at other factors like all the stuff we’ve been doing relating to science? like State Science Olympiad Competitions and medaling and like coordinating a full-blown Science Competition in biology, ecology, chemistry,astronomy and physics for middle school kids in three districts…etc </p>
<p>The app asked for a breakdown of SAT scores, but i did put my better ACT scores in parenthesis in the same box.</p>
<p>You do need D-clearance to take 161 with Bickers, but it’s not hard to get. Just talk to your advisor. You’ll be using Kleppner and Kolenkow’s Introduction to Mechanics. With the evil homework problems like the two beads sliding down along a hoop, or the two carts connected by a spring pushing off a wall…</p>
<p>162 is even worse by the way :P</p>
<p>Feel free to ask me if you have more specific questions about the class. I will say that it’s heavy on the calculus, so if you don’t have a good handle on that then you’ll have some catching up to do. Plus the homework problems are unreasonably difficult. Almost nobody figures it out by themselves. Late-night homework parties in Bickers’ office are common, with 20+ people attending.</p>
<p>I made it in, in case anyone is interested! Too bad I probably won’t be able to attend USC in the end :(</p>
<p>@zdmw93 congrats!</p>