<p>Hi, everyone. :) So, I was rejected from not only the Screenwriting major but also from USC in general (I put English as my second choice major)...This came as a shock to me, seeing as people with lower stats than mine not only got in but also got full-ride or half-ride scholarships...</p>
<p>So, can anyone give me any insight into their decision? I don't know if anyone can, and I'm going to try not to dwell on it...I got into UC Berkeley and UCLA, so I will probably go to one of those schools...But after being such a die-hard USC supporter all year (as I'm sure all of you can attest to), I guess I'm just looking for some type of peace of mind on the issue.</p>
<p>For those who don't know, I had a 3.85 UW GPA/4.6 W. 2140 SAT (800 W, 740 CR, 600 M). Seven years of extensive screenwriting, creative writing, and film work (my Yale interviewer said I've written more just in high school than most people do in their entire lives). Stellar letters of recommendation. An essay that showcased my passion for screenwriting and hope I hope to effect society through my writing. Took 5 AP classes and have gotten all 5's on my tests so far, even taking AP English Literature during sophomore year and getting an A+ and 5 on the test. Good community service that showed where my passions lie; I even started my own Writers' Workshop community service organization one summer...</p>
<p>I didn't even get "spring admit"...I don't understand. Do you guys think I should appeal? I don't have any "new and compelling info"...Any help or insight would be appreciated. Thanks. :)</p>
<p>sorry Eiffel…with the holistic approach you just never know why one person is picked over another. I don’t think anyone could pinpoint for you why you were not selected at USC. But, I have a feeling that the Berkeley and UCLA admission rep who fought to admit you to their school would be pretty happy to know you will be looking their way. Good luck with what will be a very tough decision for you!</p>
<p>Ah, heck, Eiffel. I’ve been your cheerleader all along. You’ve always sounded like such a USC-fit. But, hey—UCLA and Berkeley are nothing to sneeze at, as you know! It was just the opposite for my daughter–didn’t get accepted to those two schools, but somehow USC wanted her. Who knows *how *they make their choices! But, I agree that you should have gotten in, at least going by your stats. I know there are other things to consider, as well. But, I can’t *imagine *you writing anything but a perfect essay! Shaking my head here with a confused expression on my face.</p>
<p>Considering you want to be in the “industry”, it seems like UCLA would be a better fit, wouldn’t it? You would be right down in the thick of it all. </p>
<p>But, if you decide to appeal to USC, you might just have a great chance! I have no idea what the criteria is. I know Stanford made it clear they don’t take appeals at all. But, USC could be entirely different.</p>
<p>Best wishes to you, Eiffel! I know you’re going to be an asset to whichever school you ultimately decide upon!</p>
<p>Eiffel, perhaps you don’t have any completely new and compelling information, but perhaps there is some old information that, in retrospect, you feel you didn’t highlight adequately, completely or even at all in your original application? Something that adds a new dimension to your application or perhaps shows existing accomplishments in a different, more compelling light?</p>
<p>Eiffel-That’s just shocking, really. Your stats and ECs are better than many who were accepted for fall, so I’m wondering if there was something they didn’t get or see. I would say an appeal is in order, for sure. I just sent you a PM, btw.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your support, everyone! I think I might appeal just to see…But would I be appealing just to USC in general? That’s what I’m guessing because there’s no way to appeal to the SCA, right? Also, could the fact that I only submitted teacher recs and no counselor rec have mattered at all? Because I saw on another thread, that one person’s counselor didn’t send a rec so the person didn’t get in? Any info would be appreciated because that’s the only thing I can really think of to put in my appeal…:-/ Because I really don’t have any “new” info and I think everything in my application was highlighted already…Do you think offering to actually send them samples of my screenwriting and creative writing would make any difference, because I’m grasping at straws…</p>
<p>i applied to SCA for screenwriting. i am from the atl, but i havent heard anything from SCA or usc so i am kind of scared!! after seeing ur portfolio being rejected i just wonder if sca has sent out all of its decisions</p>
<p>I am sorry that you weren’t accepted. From everything that I read that you wrote you are an original, and that is meant is the best way.</p>
<p>Some suggestions: I would make a call to the Film School/Screen writing section to see if someone there can be your champion and call Admissions. As for an appeal: You are a writer. Look at what you wrote and how you might emphasize your strengths differently (with greater strength). Do you have surprising or a different take on your work with your Writer’s Workshop? Not just that you started the workshop, but perhaps how the workshop affected OTHERS and brought success to them that they might have not achieved.</p>
<p>Eiffel,
Students joke about being admitted to the School of Cinematic Arts at SC is more difficult than being admitted to Harvard Law School. The reality is it is really not that much of a joke, especially screenwriting and production.</p>
<p>For screenwriting there are incredible numbers of highly talented individuals who apply. Most of these are well qualified with many scripts, articles, creative awards to their credit. There are only a small number admitted for that major from among some of the most talented writers in the nation. How the selection process works is a mystery.</p>
<p>There was a student here in Atlanta last year who was not admitted to Harvard. An article was written about him in the AJC. He had perfect scores, pages of EC’s, URM, private school on a scholarship, community service awards, etc. He was not admitted. Why this happens is something we shall never know.</p>
<p>I have similar stats and applied to engineering. I was honestly shocked that I didn’t get in (what’s worse is that I foolishly made a $200 bet on it too). Most of my school is shocked that I didn’t get in, and now I see that it’s been happening to a lot of people. I’m not sure what USC is doing this year, but they seem to be ignoring a lot of their brightest applicants in order to fill their race quotas or something. I don’t understand it at all. I am from san diego too. We got screwed. I’m terribly sorry that you didn’t get in either, I’m there with you.</p>
<p>I have a feeling there is going to be appeals numbering into the 1000’s this year, so I’m debating whether or not it’s even worth it. Looks like I’ll be going to my safety, UCSB.</p>
<p>“I’m not sure what USC is doing this year, but they seem to be ignoring a lot of their brightest applicants in order to fill their race quotas or something.”</p>
<p>Look, I know you’re upset that you didn’t get in (so am I), but don’t go pulling the racism card. Every single applicant that got in this year is qualified and you know it. Regardless of their race, every person with an acceptance package in their possession right now has overcome enough difficulties and achieved enough success to stand out against the rest of the qualified applicant pool. Maybe they don’t have a 4.0 GPA or a 2400 SAT, but every Trojan is qualified in some way. That’s the beauty of holistic admissions.</p>
<p>And by the way, GPA and SAT scores are not an indicator of intelligence. GPA can sometimes be an indicator of work ethic and SAT scores are an indicator of how quickly someone can process multiple choice questions. Not much else.</p>
<p>yeah, I am. I do have a lot of “new and compelling” info and it’s worth a shot, right? How about you? Did you get in? If not, are you going to appeal?</p>
<p>are you kidding me? gpa is only “sometimes” an indicator of work ethic and never an indicator of intelligence? tell that to the kids who bust their butts taking the most rigorous curriculum in their school and working hard every day to make the grades they make. kids with really high gpa’s are almost always these kids, the kids that actually work hard. to have a high gpa, you either have to work hard or be innately brilliant, so a high gpa is always going to be an indicator of either good work ethic, intelligence, or -usually- both combined. and sat score is only how quickly someone processes multiple choice questions? that doesn’t even make sense. the sat tests your innate -and- learned knowledge of all the subjects at hand. </p>
<p>if you really think gpa and sat are so worthless, then what do you think all these colleges should base their decision on? “special circumstances” alone? the essays alone? ec’s alone? these three NON-academic factors alone? this is -college-. colleges need to know if someone can do the work, gpa and sat score are the two hugest ways they can determine if the person is capable. of course, special circumstances come into play as well, but let’s face it: not every person who was accepted is the -most- qualified to be accepted. race -does- play a role, and before you say that everyone who was accepted overcame great difficulties, you should know as well as everyone else that many times urm’s are accepted without any hardships overcome. i personally know two hispanics from my school who are -wealthier than me- and yet got accepted with much lower stats and no special circumstances at all. these are just facts…i’m surprised you aren’t aware of them yet.</p>
<p>eiffel, you should definitely appeal. you’re one of the most qualified applicants i’ve seen on this board. i’ll put in a good word for you if you would like, not that it’ll matter since i wasn’t accepted either with very similar stats.</p>
<p>Thanks so much, whitecadillac! I really appreciate your kind words, and I’m so sorry to hear you were rejected too. :-/ You should definitely appeal as well! And I agree with you wholeheartedly about the GPA and SAT; I’m assuming most people do agree that they are certainly indicators of intelligence and work ethic. However, I hope we all can agree not to turn this thread into an argument over affirmative action or really anything of the sort. There are far too many of those on CC already…So hopefully we won’t have any of that here and can continue to focus on ways to help us all appeal our decisions if we desire to. :)</p>
<p>Anyway, can anyone answer these two questions for me?</p>
<p>1.) Before, people told me that–if you’re not accepted to SCA–you’re still put in the pool of regular applicants if you put a second-choice major in CLAS, but now I’m not sure if this is true. Can anyone clarify the situation for rejected SCA applicants?</p>
<p>2.) Did I need a counselor rec? That would be the only thing missing from my original application, but everyone previously had said that you don’t need a counselor rec…</p>
<p>I think it would be good if you could connect with people on cc who appealed successfully in past years. If there is new and compelling info, as with dream, do submit every bit of it in a very easily readable and convincing way. If you’re local, see if you can make an appointment with someone involved in the appeals process – not sure how kindly they look upon this, but it couldn’t hurt to politely try. Also, although I’m under the impression that a counselor recommendation is advisable but not mandatory, what about providing additional recommendations that might shed light on some aspect of your educational background, talent, or character that might not have been fully developed in the letters that are already there? Good luck, you guys! You will be wonderful additions to whatever campus is lucky enough to get you, but I do hope that USC sees the light!</p>
<p>Racism still exists, and it’s this ignorance of white privilege that keeps it going.
Did you ever think that being Latino was an obstacle in itself, for your two friends and their parents? Stereotypes are ingrained in every thread of our society! Even you view them as the EXCEPTION! Seriously?? “-wealthier than me-” like it’s normal for a Latino to be poor?
Everyday is a hardship for minorities where being White is the norm and what is valued in our society. </p>
<p>The playing field is NOT level. Minorities are running with 10 pound bricks tied to their feet. So what if they get a chance to take them off?</p>
It was just the opposite for my daughter–didn’t get accepted to those two schools, but somehow USC wanted her. Who knows *how *they make their choices! But, I agree that you should have gotten in, at least going by your stats. I know there are other things to consider, as well. But, I can’t *imagine *you writing anything but a perfect essay! Shaking my head here with a confused expression on my face.</p>