<p>I have applied to USC for fall 2011. Is this a bad course load for the college? </p>
<p>My school is around number 25 in the state MA (public). This is a rundown of all the courses I have taken in high school:</p>
<p>Freshman Year:</p>
<p>Freshman English Honors
Orchestra Honors
Conceptual Physics Honors
Algebra 1
US History 1 Honors
Phys ED (semester)
Computers (sememster)
Spanish 2</p>
<p>Sophmore Year:</p>
<p>Literary Studies
US History 2
Geometry
Health (semester)
Phys ed (sememster)
Spanish 3
Biology Honors
Orchestra Honors</p>
<p>Junior Year</p>
<p>American Literature Honors (Semester)
British literature Honors (semester)
Chemisty Honors
AP World History
Algebra 2
Economics Honors (Semester)
Journalism Honors (Semester)
Orchestra Honors</p>
<p>Senior Year</p>
<p>Physics Honors
Orchestra Honors
Russian Literature Honors then Writing Workshop Honors this sememster
Senior Study
Sociology Honors then once that ended last semester, I started to Law and Society Honors last week, but now I changed to a study period
Spanish 5 Honors
Precalculus</p>
<p>Is this a bad course load to present to the college? I have a weighted GPA of 3.5 and an unweighted of around a 3.0, which is awful I know, but I have dealt with SIGNIFICANT challenges throughout my life, which are explained to the colleges by the guidance counselor). I have amazing recommendations, and I have excellent EC's. I am a minority student (african american), and my essays are very very amazing. I had talked about my affinity and love of music (violin player since third grade, and also my love of singing. I had mentioned how I come from a very musically talented family; my great uncle (now deceased) founded the American Jazz Phillaharmonic, and was the music director of the 1984 summer olympics in Los Angeles, amoung countless other things, I also talked about my grandfather who was a jazz musician in amstersdam, and my cousin who is a music produer in hollywood. I had also attending the high school visit when USC came to my school last year, and I have emailed my admissions counselor at USC with questions I have had. My SAT score is low 1720 total score, but I am taking the ACT this SAT, and plan on sending it to USC if they will receive it in time. (On the practice test for ACT I received a 32; 29 for Reading, 35 for science, 29 for writing, and 33 for math).</p>
<p>^Honestly, I think it will be tough because of your stats. But, I wish you lots of luck. Perhaps your essays will show them that you are the kind of diamond in the rough that they are looking for.</p>
<p>BTW. I would be surprised if they accept an ACT that you plan to take this Saturday. Hardly any college still accepts results that late. You should check it out before you waste your time and energy. USC has already sent out acceptances to a number of people, so although they are definitely not finished with the process, they are probably just waiting for the mid-year reports to make their final determination about who gets in.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about freshman admissions (I’m a transfer) but that course load is definitely rigorous. ESPECIALLY with a full senior year! Most everyone else does the easiest, most shortest schedule possible for senior year so I believe if your essay is good and you make hard work a theme in your application you can get in :)</p>
<p>Off topic though: Your grandfather was music director for the 1984 olympics?! Like conducting the orchestra? Or working audio for the broadcast?</p>
<p>Thanks for the posts! dignified1, I am also applying to Wellesley, Smith, Barnard, Bryn Mawr, Tulane, DePaul, Umass Amherst, Mount Holyoke and Uchicago. Sydneyral, actually it was my great uncle who was the music director for the 1984 summer olympics, and he composed the theme song to charlie’s angels, night court, and also used to do a show with George Burns and Judy Garland. He used to conduct orchestras, and he also used to compose the theme music to the grammy awards, and was partners with Henry Mancini. (This sounds like a lot, but really to me, and for me, its sometimes hard to conceptualize since he was family and all)</p>
<p>The above link shows that for last year’s freshman class the average UW GPA was 3.8 and the bottom 25th%-tile SAT was a 2020. A 3.0/1720 presents a lot of hurdles to overcome. Are you planning on majoring in music performance? I don’t know what the academic guidelines are for the School of Music, but a strong audition might overcome those numbers. Without that I think it’s very much a long shot.</p>
<p>I did not apply to the school of music. Originally I applied to the school of communication as a journalism major, then switched to the college of arts and sciences as a philosophy and astronomy major.</p>
<p>Just a note, and this may not be true since i haven’t read your essay, but from what you said it seems like you talked a lot about other people, which kind of leads me to believe your essay wasn’t enough about you. I could be completely wrong however, but i remember i was told to not make my essay all about how great other people are, its YOUR essay not your great uncle’s.</p>
<p>I actually think you have a very good shot. As a URM, you have a substantial advantage in the application process. USC is looking for someone just like you who has had to deal with challenges in life, but has continued to pursue a college prep courseload. I’d actually be surprised if you DIDN’T get in.</p>