<p>I am a junior from Virginia who is very interested in USC. I am hoping to do well enough on my SATs to be competitive for any of the merit scholarships that would bring the OOS tuition costs down to close to our schools here in Va. I have taken a very rigorous courseload and will graduate with 7 APs. I have a 4.5 gpa and currently am ranked 6/340 in my high school which is respected for its academics. </p>
<p>I am interested in majoring in history and/or double majoring in history and geography with an emphasis on cultural geography. I want to someday go into historic preservation or possibly urban planning with a historic preservation focus. Do any of you know about the strengths of those two programs at USC? </p>
<p>I hope to be able to visit this summer at some point. I remember a bit about the school when I traveled there with my brother 5 years ago, but not a lot. The school seems to have two of the things that I want in the colleges I apply to: great school spirit and down to earth people. The history and geography departments looked good "on paper" or online:) If anyone knows of anything about them, I would like to hear about it! Thanks so much!</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about those two programs, but you seem like a really good candidate for the HC and should have good luck with merit scholarships.</p>
<p>At the very least you should get some scholarship money which will reduce your tuition to close to in-state levels if not getting in-state tuition.</p>
<p>Good luck to you! :)</p>
<p>Wish I could help more with the departments you’re interested in. :-/</p>
<p>Hope you come out to USC! Here’s what I know about the History department (that isn’t online…and it isn’t much unfortunately!). It’s a very rigorous department, in that all of the professors have joined together in the past few years to enhance the curriculum; I doubt you will see any multiple choice tests or exams in any of the classes, as they’ve really made a push for everything to be essays. As a result, you really learn more in the classes.The professors are really well-versed in their individual subjects.</p>
<p>Also, if you’re interested in studying abroad, there’s a special exchange that the history department does at the University of Warwick in England. I had a friend from there come to study for a year at USC, and he said he really learned a lot here, which is saying something because apparently the UofW history courses are very challenging and renowned. </p>
<p>If you come down this summer, try and set up meeting with someone in the department and maybe someone in honors if SATs are high enough (midrange 1380-1470 but more competitive every year).</p>
<p>The McKissick scholarship gets you in-state tuition + $2000/year. IS tuition was just over $10K for 2011-2012, it hasn’t been set yet for 2012-2013.</p>
<p>The average SAT+GPA last year was 1344/4.13, you’ve got the GPA part. It is not an automatic scholarship but if you do well on the SAY your chances would be good.</p>
<p>There are lower ones which get you reduced tuition, the amount depends on the scholarship, I think the amounts are $14K-ish to $19K-ish. There are higher ones, too.</p>
<p>Great news on the strength of the history department there! That is my love really, but I thought I might pair it with another major or minor in geography, so hopefully I will learn more about that area later. </p>
<p>I can only hope my SATs are going to be enough to get me into the running for some of the scholarships that offer reduced OOS tuition. The more prestigious ones are out of my league I
think. I was very disappointed with my first score (1170) and have been studying as much as possible for the upcoming test this weekend. I am also going to take it one last time in Oct. Can those scores (Oct) be used as part of the scholarship consideration as well? </p>
<p>Thanks for the support and positive vibes notrichenough! I am going to go into Saturday’s test with a confident attitude and be happy! It is just a test and doesn’t define who I am!</p>
It is just a test and doesn’t define who I am!</p>