<p>Hi everyone, I have been an avid reader of this discussion board and have finally registered! How are my chances for getting into USC ? I will have my application in before the scholarship deadline. I'm applying to the Marshall Business School. I live in MA. GPA: 3.8, ranked 6 out of 450
SATs: reading 710, math 700, writing 670; biology 780, US history 700
APs: 5 on Euro, US, Chinese, and Bio. 4 on microeconomics.</p>
<p>EC: national honors society president, varsity tennis single player, academic decathlon, photography. My emphasis's on photography: I have worked since freshmen year as an assistant to a local photographer; I studied it this summer at Harvard; I'm a volunteer at my city's museum, working with glass negatives. I wanted to send in a portfolio, but the admission dept. said it wouldn't be taken into consideration at all.
Recommendations: I have two teachers and a guidance counselor who know me very well.
Work: I work two other part-time jobs: cashier in food and sales rep in retail.
Awards: I don't have any national/state level recognitions, only school ones.</p>
<p>I interviewed with the Marshall School last month. I think it went pretty well; when I was asked, I said that USC's second on my choice list. I'm not sure how that will be interpreted, but it is the truth.</p>
<p>USC is the "safetest" school (based on its statistics) that I'm applying to. I know that USC's admission is really low, so I'm very nervous about my current college list. I guess I want to know how big of a risk am I putting myself in and if i should definitely apply to more school.</p>
<p>Assuming your 3.8 is unweighted on a 4.0 scale, your chances look good. Not a safety but still good.</p>
<p>I don't think your comment in your interview will hurt you, but for others who still have to interview, I wouldn't volunteer that information. I'm sure there is a way around coming right out and saying that without lying.</p>
<p>A safety is generally thought to be a school where you will definitely be admitted and can definitely afford to attend. I agree that you are a strong candidate but if I were you, I'd have a true safety on my list too. </p>
<p>I also agree completely with CC411 that it isn't a good idea to tell any college it is your second choice. A better and yet still truthful answer would have been that USC is absolutely one of your top choices. </p>
<p>One of my favorite things about USC is the way it loves itself. Students, faculty, administrators, staff: I've never in my life seen such school spirit. I find it both hilarious and endearing but it does make me wonder whether they, even more than most schools, want to be told they are number one.</p>
<p>I actually replied the way i did because I wanted to emphasize that USC is very very high on my list (only behind one school!) and not just "one of my top choices". Of course, now I'm regretting my response. Especially since my first choice is an extreme-reach school for me!</p>
<p>Don't worry, it's not a big deal I'm sure. I actually think the admissions people are out of line asking that question and I'm sure you did get some points for being honest even if they wished they were your first choice. Your qualifications look really good too, it's just that USC doesn't seem to be a safety for anyone these days. Lots of California kids use one or another of the UCs as a safety because admission there is more of a numbers game than anything else, so it's very predictable. That's the kind of thing you might want to have as a safety. Best of luck!</p>