<p>Hey guys...
I'm a junior girl from around Boston and I was wondering... I know schools look to see if you've visited them/expressed interest in them before you have applied. USC is by far my number one choice, but I don't think my parents will be able to take me out to Cali to visit. I was wondering if this will decrease my chances, and if you guys have any suggestions as to how I can show my interest in other ways. I know they conduct off-campus interviews in the fall which I definetly want to do, but I'm not really sure about what else I can do or if not visiting will actually have an impact on my app.
Thanks so much!</p>
<p>No...not visiting is really ok..i didn't visit a single school....including USC and i live in Arizona...(100$ flight to LA)...so don't be worried...schools understand that not everyone can/will visit!</p>
<p>My S also didn't visit USC (tho did visit several other schools). He was admitted to USC with nice merit aid anyway. As far as we can tell, they did not hold it against my S that he never visited the school. Their Associate Dean of Engineering came to my S' HS & he interviewed with her but many at his school were unable to but still admitted.</p>
<p>My daughter was also admitted to most of her colleges, including some presigious schools (USC, Wake Forest, Wheaton in IL), before visiting. I think the schools understand that it's expensive to visit out of state and some people won't do it until they know if they're admitted. (USC is relatively local for us but we held off on that too.) Attending a local interview would be great, and anything else you can do to show you're seriously interest can't hurt (i.e., submit your application by the scholarship deadline rather than at the last minute).</p>
<p>Make that "prestigious," not "presigious," in my last post. :)</p>
<p>thank you so much for the feedback!!</p>
<p>also- another really random off-topic question- I'll be applying next year to Annenberg and I was wondering- I know they have a ton of applicants, so would they have time to read a portfolio I want to send in of articles etc. that I've written?</p>
<p>I think the general advice with portfolios and other supplemental materials is that they are good to include, but don't overwhelm admission officers with writing samples.</p>
<p>For last year's Annenberg freshmen class, there were 1716 applicants with 409 offers of admission. I don't think thats an unmanageable number of applications, but it also means they won't have time to read a 30-page manuscript or whatever. </p>
<p>Also remember that USC admission officers read the applications, not Annenberg faculty. However, the officers do have an idea of what the communications/journalism programs are looking for in a student.</p>
<p>I was editor of the high school newspaper, and I just included one copy of our newspaper.</p>
<p>USC likes students from the east coast. It's understandable that you might not be able to visit, BUT do make sure that you go to fall recruiting meeting when USC is in Boston. This is last year's schedule, <a href="http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/visit/events/road/%5B/url%5D">http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/visit/events/road/</a>.</p>
<p>Don't forget to sign-in, and try and find out who the regional recruiter is and if he/she is at the meeting. If so, get their e-mail (should be on their business card) and let them know of your interest.</p>
<p>^Thanks! That was a helpful link. I'll have to catch them in Philadelphia next year.</p>
<p>yeah thanks such a helpful link- thanks to everyone for responding</p>