<p>I've posted in the what are my chances? place but I wanted to know specifically for USC...Thanks for looking! :)</p>
<p>Stats:
-Junior, Female, Hispanic, SoCal
-GPA: 3.75 UW, 4.0 W
-My school doesn't tell us where we rank
-Competitive Catholic School
-APs: AP Spanish Language this year. Next year I will take AP Spanish Lit, AP Government, AP Literature, and AP 3D (ceramics/other mediums)</p>
<p>Testing:
-SAT: 1910 (bleh)
-ACT: 29 (Probably going to retake next year cuz I did better on this test)
-Subject Tests:
Spanish: 740
Literature: 640 (beautiful I know)
Going to take Math Level I and US History in June and go from there. I'll see if I'm going to retake Literature afterwards.</p>
<p>ECS (My main ones):
-Girl Scouts (11 years): Gold, Silver and Bronze Award. I earned the Gold Award by working with the Ronald McDonald House (they take in families who can't afford a hotel when their children are in the hospital)
-Guitar (3 years): It's fun. I'm not great but I enjoy it
-Volunteer (3 years): I dedicate days I have off to going to a school with a lot of latino children and helping out with the kindergarten classes and I go to project success about 2 times a week. By far my favorite EC, I love those kids so much </p>
<p>Awards and Honors:
-Gold, Silver, Bronze Award (I already said that), Presidential Service Award, National Honors Society, National Art Honors Society.</p>
<p>Extra (Hook I guess):
I am Latina (Bolivia/El Salvador) and proud . Parents are immigrants and I'm going to be the first in the family to go to college. I learned to speak English in kindergarten and 1st grade.</p>
<p>I hope to major in Sociology or Political Science. Thanks :)</p>
<p>You have a great shot.
I'm currently a transfer applicant but I've heard people say that if you have a 3.8 unweighted in high school you're a shoe-in.
I think based on your EC's and overall info, you have a good chance of being admitted.</p>
<p>All the best! :)</p>
<p>p.s. I learned English in kindergarten and 1st grade, too, but that resulted in me teaching my little sister to speak English too early for her to be fluent in both English & Spanish. :p</p>
<p>I think that you have a good shot at being admitted. But, judging from other posts of stats of kids who did not get in/appealed/whatever a 3.8 gpa is not a shoe in.</p>
<p>You are a good candidate. Your SAT's are good, but go ahead and see if they can go up. It is more important to be engaged in some activity or area of study that interests you ( I hate the word "passion" as it applies to college applicants) than to be studying too much for SAT's.</p>
<p>Unless you know that you are going to have a fantastic teacher, re-think the AP Literature.The 640 Literature score may suggest that AP Lit. might be hard (and it is a very difficult course-hard books and you must be a superb writer). Also, look on the USC web site to know which AP classes fulfill the General Ed. and diversity requirements. Take an AP class which meets those requirements. Also, you might want to take a college essay class this summer if you think you might want to work on your essay. Try to tailor your course selection for As (with some AP classes as well). From what I read on CC, it was an extremely competitive year this year which is why I suggest you study and re-take the SAT.</p>
<p>USC really takes the essays seriously and here I think you can shine. You have been involved for 3 years giving back to the community by volunteering at the kindergarden, working with kids who are latino and probably also learning English just like you did when you were small. They might be inspired by you, just as they inspire you (since you say you love working with them, this is probably the case.)</p>
<p>If I were you I'd talk about this in your essay.
Being 1st generation who volunteers and a Gold in Girl Scouts also says a lot.
USC is going to like you Gabs.
Also you know USC has outreach programs where students get involved in the neighborhood schools. You might look into this and if it interests you, I'd also talk about it in the "why USC" type shorter essay, or incorporate it in the main essay.
Your study plans are Socio or pol science...this would also relate to getting involved in the community and emphasize your interests and type of personality.
Any chance at taking Psych AP instead of Lit at your school? </p>
<p>Try to keep the grades up, stay involved in your ECs and DEFINITLY plan to get a recommendation letter from a superior who knows you well in the volunteering context.</p>
<p>I hear that AP Psychology is easier than AP Literature. Again, see if there is a summer essay class. Like Sequoia says, you need a great essay. Also, at my son's high school, it depended on who your high school English teacher was for help with the college essay. What is good about a college essay class is the practice writing essays and getting the feedback from both the teacher and peers.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice! My school does not offer AP Psychology but I was thinking of doing some community college courses over the summer so maybe thats an option.
And yeah I'm going to try and get that SAT up for sure. I'm taking the US history SAT II so I'm hoping to do better on it.
Thanks! :)</p>
<p>Looking at stats of admitted students is helpful. Here's a case study (:D): I got in with 3.73/4.46 (3.78/4.52 factoring in 7th semester grades). My senior class schedule consisted of AP lit, AP Psych, AP Physics, AP CALC BC, AP Government, and Sociology. My mid-year grades were 6 As and 1 B in Calc. I took a rigorous load all the time and had an upward trend. My SAT I was 670 Math, 680 Reading, and 770 Writing. I took the US History and Literature SAT IIs and got 660 and 710 respectively. My essay was about how I overcame the challenges of a psychotic father and brother with Aspergers. My activities were pretty typical- 10 hours a month at an animal shelter since junior year, being a Girl Scout camp counselor, Gay-Straight Alliance since tenth grade, NHS, NSHSS...</p>