Stats Only - USC Decisions 2010

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
181

<p>**Decision: Accepted **</p>

<p>Date applied: 11/29
Date decision postmarked/received: 3/12
Accepted at which school/major at USC: Viterbi, Chemical Engineering</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT Total: 2040 M: 720, CR: 650, WR: 670,
[</em>] ACT: 33
[<em>] SAT Subject Tests: Math II: 730, Chem: 630, Physics: 620
[</em>] GPA-UW/W: 3.63/4.23
[<em>] Rank: 22/260
[</em>]AP/IB classes: French Lang, Euro, Physics B, Calc AB, Eng. Lang, US History, Calc BC, Bio, Macroecon, American Gov’t</p>

<p>[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[<em>] Essays: very insightful and deep i thought
[</em>] Teacher Recs: one great, the other i don’t know
[<em>] Counselor Rec: i don’t know
[</em>] EC highlights: 4 years of NHS/CSF, president of 2 clubs[/ul]</p>

<p>Location/Person:[ul]
[<em>] State or Country: California
[</em>] School Type: Public, Small
[<em>] Ethnicity: Chinese
[</em>] Gender: Male
[/ul]Other Factors, hook?: 4 years of cross country/ track, interview with USC faculty, campus visit, NO legacy though</p>

<p>General Comments, scholarship chances, status info, going to USC…?: no scholarships, I am attending USC</p>

182

<p>**Decision: Rejected **</p>

<p>Date applied: Mid November
Date decision postmarked/received: 4/1
Accepted at which school/major at USC: Marshall</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT Total: X M: X, CR: X, WR: X,
[</em>] ACT: 32
[<em>] SAT Subject Tests: X
[</em>] GPA-UW/W: 3.86/4.14
[<em>] Rank: Not ranked probably top 10%
[</em>]AP/IB classes: Only 2
[/ul]Subjective:[ul][<em>] Essays: Not bad
[</em>] Teacher Recs: One really good one, other one okay
[<em>] Counselor Rec: Good
[</em>] EC highlights: Football, FBLA[/ul]Location/Person:[ul][<em>] State or Country: PA
[</em>] School Type: Public
[<em>] Ethnicity: Caucasian
[</em>] Gender: Male
[/ul]Other Factors, hook?: I thought I had a good shot at getting in</p>

<p>General Comments, scholarship chances, status info, going to USC…?: Probably going to University of Miami</p>

183

<p>oopps SAT total:1590 CR:530</p>

184

<p>**Decision: Accepted **</p>

<p>Date applied: 11/30
Date decision postmarked/received: Received acceptance around Jan 27th or 28th
Accepted at which school/major at USC: USC School of Theatre</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] ACT: 33
[</em>] GPA-UW/W: 3.9/4.71
[<em>] Rank: 14/500 approx
[</em>]AP/IB classes: All IB or AP or Honors clases</p>

<p>[/ul]Subjective:[ul][<em>] Essays: I have been told I am a good writer, however I could have put a little more time into them. I wrote about directing a show and about a theatre class I took that changed my life.
[</em>] Teacher Recs: Good, I think? I never read my teacher rec, but I trust that they wrote something positive.
[<em>] Counselor Rec: I honestly have no idea. Must not have been terrible seeing as I was accepted… but I have had a new counselor every year, so it was probably pretty general.
[</em>] EC highlights:I do a lot of theatre both at my school and outside of it. I am the vice president of my school’s drama club and of a youth council at a local theatre company. I am in the National Honors Society. I sing and dance as well.</p>

<p>[/ul]</p>

<p>Location/Person:[ul][<em>] State or Country: Minnesota!
[</em>] School Type: Very large, public, urban
[<em>] Ethnicity: White
[</em>] Gender: Female
[/ul]Other Factors, hook?: I had a pretty good interview with the school of theatre which probably didn’t hurt. I mentioned that I am in a band with my friend and that we write comedic songs about failed relationships… I am sure that was the hook.</p>

<p>General Comments, scholarship chances, status info, going to USC…?: I got the presidential scholarship, (Half tuition all four years) so USC is looking pretty good right now as far as affordability goes. My final decision is between here, Northwestern University, and Brandeis University!</p>

185

<p>Decision: Accepted (spring)</p>

<p>Date applied: 11/19
Date decision postmarked/received: 3/30
Accepted at which school/major at USC: Arts and Letters</p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<pre><code>* SAT Total: 2280 M: 730, CR: 750, WR: 800,

  • ACT: None
  • SAT Subject Tests: 710, 690
  • GPA-UW/W: 3.78/4.49
  • Rank: 3/40
  • AP/IB classes: AP US History (5)
    </code></pre>

<p>Subjective:</p>

<pre><code>* Essays: Really, really good.

  • Teacher Recs: Pretty good.
  • Counselor Rec: Good.
  • EC highlights: Congress internship, community service and fundraising in india, varsity soccer, model un
    </code></pre>

<p>Location/Person:</p>

<pre><code>* State or Country: Oregon

  • School Type: Public
  • Ethnicity: White/Asian
  • Gender: M
    </code></pre>

<p>Other Factors, hook?: Nope</p>

<p>General Comments, scholarship chances, status info, going to USC…?: Annoyed about spring admit, they probably thought I wasn’t looking at this place seriously, with that presidential scholarship, things just got serious…</p>

186

<p>Decision: Accepted</p>

<p>Date applied: Mid December
Date decision postmarked/received: Mar 29
Accepted at which school/major at USC: CLAS Undeclared (Spring Admit)</p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<pre><code>* SAT Total: 2030 M: 680, CR: 680, WR: 670,

  • ACT: X
  • SAT Subject Tests: Chem: 690; Math IIc: 680; Biology: 600
  • GPA-UW/W: IB(37)
  • Rank: 6/125
  • AP/IB classes: Yes
    </code></pre>

<p>Subjective:</p>

<pre><code>* Essays: Great - focused on international experience

  • Teacher Recs: Great (I think)
  • Counselor Rec: Great (I think)
  • EC highlights: Volunteering
    </code></pre>

<p>Location/Person:</p>

<pre><code>* State or Country: US Citizen in India

  • School Type: International (IB)
  • Ethnicity: Asian Indian
  • Gender: Male
    </code></pre>

<p>Other Factors, hook?: None</p>

<p>General Comments, scholarship chances, status info, going to USC…?: Excited about USC - definitely attending!</p>

187

<p>Decision: Accepted - Spring</p>

<p>Date applied: Before Dec 1
Date decision postmarked/received: 3/25;3/27
Accepted at which school/major at USC: CLAS - Undeclared
Stats:</p>

<pre><code>* SAT Total: 1940 M: 710, CR: 570, WR: 660,

  • ACT: 29
  • SAT Subject Tests: 710- math2c 680- bio(e)
  • GPA-UW/W: 3.63/3.71
  • Rank: Top 40%
  • AP/IB classes: AP Bio, Calc AB, Environmental Science, Government
    </code></pre>

<p>Subjective:</p>

<pre><code>* Essays: Reflected on a personal circumstance, and how I persisted even through those tough times.

  • Teacher Recs: Don’t know. Probably generic.
  • Counselor Rec: My counselor likes me. She knows of my personal circumstances. Probably a really great rec.
  • EC highlights: Taekwondo (11 years, black belt 2nd degree), Captain of an intramural basketball team, I have a great job with my friends dad (Ophthalmologist Nurse/Technician), and I wrote about how this job made me want to become an ophthalmologist in one of the short answers
    </code></pre>

<p>Location/Person:</p>

<pre><code>* State or Country: CA

  • School Type: Public, very competitive
  • Ethnicity: Chinese
  • Gender: M
    </code></pre>

<p>Other Factors, hook?: first generation</p>

<p>General Comments, scholarship chances, status info, going to USC…?: Deciding between UCSD or USC spring. I got the supplement for UC Berkeley, kinda sad I didn’t get accepted. I would have went there in a heartbeat. My parents want me to go to USC. I got into UCSD’s Revelle campus, so the GE’s are kind of turning me away from them. It all depends now on my financial aid package for USC. If I have to pay $20k or more, I’ll go to UCSD (Only $9k a year with my financial aid).</p>

<p>Rejected from UCI and waitlisted to Tulane and Davis… but its okay. USC and UCSD are both better.</p>

<p>It seems as though USC really likes my school. Half of the people in my school that applied to USC got in.</p>

188

<p>**Decision: Accepted **</p>

<p>Date applied: December 1st
Date decision postmarked/received: March 23/ March 26
Accepted at which school/major at USC: B.A. Theatre</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT Total: 2000 M: 640, CR: 670, WR: 690,
[</em>] ACT: 29
[<em>] SAT Subject Tests: Biology-680 Math II- 670 English- 640
[</em>] GPA-UW/W: NA/3.52 (went up to 3.58 at the Midterm)
[<em>] Rank: 191 (I went up to 171 at the Semester)
[</em>]AP/IB classes: All of these are AP’s. World- 4, Bio- 4, Calc AB- 4, US- 3 Currently in: Government, Statistics, Literature, Chemistry, and Physcology
[/ul]Subjective:[ul][<em>] Essays: Short answers and quick questions were great. Essay was good I would say, not amazing. About my first High School theatre show.
[</em>] Teacher Recs: I’m assuming they were good. Got it from an English Teacher/Forensics coach. It’s kinda the best of both worlds since they wanted an academic teacher (ie. not Drama) but I worked with her in an acting category for forensics.
[<em>] Counselor Rec: I’m assuming this was good to. She knows me and knows I’m passionate about things I enjoy.
[</em>] EC highlights: Theatre since freshman year and numerous roles, awards, and positions in it.
Morning Announcements (live TV school news broadcast)
Forensics- District Champion in category, Team Regional Champions
National Achievement Scholar Outstanding Participant.
NHS, SNHS, International Thespian Society
Co-founder and Choreographer of schools Show Choir[/ul]
Location/Person:[ul][<em>] State or Country: Virgina
[</em>] School Type: Public
[<em>] Ethnicity: African American
[</em>] Gender: Female
[/ul]Other Factors, hook?: Had a really good Interview/audition with the Theatre Department. Allot of my EC’s were geared towards it and I centered my essays around it as while while being sure to include enough diversity so they wouldn’t think I was a one trick pony.</p>

<p>General Comments, scholarship chances, status info, going to USC…?: Probably going. It will depend on financial aid.</p>

189

<p>**Decision: Accepted **</p>

<p>Date applied: November 30, 2009
Date decision postmarked/received: 3-27-10
Accepted at which school/major at USC: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention </p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT Total: 2180 M: 690, CR: 730, WR: 800,
[</em>] GPA-UW/W: 3.4/3.9
[<em>]AP/IB classes: 3
[/ul]Subjective:[list][</em>] Essays: I think my essay was fairly strong. It was about how I overcame a severe obstacle.
[<em>] Teacher Recs: Average
[</em>] School Type: Public Magnet. It apparently has a very strong relationship to USC.
[<em>] Ethnicity: Indian
[</em>] Gender: Female </p>

<p>General Comments, scholarship chances, status info, going to USC…?: I will be attending</p>

190

<p>For my son:
**Decision: Accepted **</p>

<p>Date applied: just before scholarship deadline
Date decision postmarked/received: March 23/March 25
Accepted at which school/major at USC: Viterbi/electrical engineering</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT Total: 2100 M: 720, CR: 660, WR: 720
[</em>] ACT: X
[<em>] SAT Subject Tests: Math 2: 730, Chemistry: 670
[</em>] GPA-UW: 3.74
[<em>] Rank: 3/44
[</em>]AP/IB classes: None; 2 community college
Subjective:
[<em>] Essays: Good
[</em>] Teacher Recs: very good
[<em>] Counselor Rec: good?
[</em>] EC highlights: school and district/community science fair winner 2 years, advanced rock guitar
Location/Person:
[<em>] State or Country: Arizona
[</em>] School Type: small charter performing arts school
[<em>] Ethnicity: white
[</em>] Gender: male
[/ul]Other Factors, hook?: ?</p>

<p>General Comments, scholarship chances, status info, going to USC…?: Good chance of attending; going to visit soon!</p>

191

<p>Decision: Accepted</p>

<p>Date applied: 11/31/09
Date decision postmarked/received: ummm…sometime in January
Accepted at which school/major at USC: Viterbi, Electrical Engineering</p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<pre><code>* SAT Total: 2140 M: 680, CR: 730, WR: 730,

  • SAT Subject Tests: N/A
  • GPA-UW/W: 3.9 / 4.5
  • Rank: no rank, ~ top 10
  • AP/IB classes: Calc AB, French, Chem, Bio, US Hist, World His, Eng Lit
    </code></pre>

<p>Subjective:</p>

<pre><code>* Essays: I thought they were well written. I spent a lot of time on the USC application.

  • Teacher Recs: Good, didn’t read
  • Counselor Rec: Good, didn’t read
  • EC highlights: run my own business (since 07), president of Asian Cultural Society and World Vision chapter, committee leader in Amnesty International chapter, orchestra/choir/theatre/musical stuff since middle school, summer research in engineering lab
    </code></pre>

<p>Location/Person:</p>

<pre><code>* State or Country: AUS/CA

  • School Type: Public (AUS), Private (CA)
  • Ethnicity: Asian
  • Gender: Male
    </code></pre>

<p>Other Factors, hook?: Semi-international student </p>

<p>General Comments, scholarship chances, status info, going to USC…?: Scholarship. Will be attending USC!!</p>

192

<p>**Decision: Accepted **</p>

<p>Date applied: 11/22/09
Date decision postmarked/received: 3/19/10
Accepted at which school/major at USC: CLAS/Psych.</p>

<p>Stats:
SAT Total: Only submitted ACT
ACT: 30
SAT Subject Tests:
GPA-UW/W: 3.7/3.9
Rank: School doesn’t rank
AP/IB classes: Calculus, English Lit., French, Govt., 2 comm. college courses </p>

<p>Subjective:
Essays: Good, one about dance and one about volunteer work
Teacher Recs: Both from AP teachers I had for 2 or more years/didn’t read though
Counselor Rec: Don’t know, but she likes me
EC highlights: Lots of comm. service; leadership positions; NHS; CSF</p>

<p>Location/Person:
State or Country: CA
School Type: Private, competitive
Ethnicity: caucasian
Gender: F
Other Factors, hook?: None</p>

<p>General Comments, scholarship chances, status info, going to USC…?: Definitely going! USC was my number one choice.</p>

193

<p>Decision: Accepted</p>

<p>Date applied: 11/30
Date decision postmarked/received: 3/12/10
Accepted at which school/major at USC: College of Letters, Arts and Sciences/Biological Sciences</p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<pre><code>* SAT Total: 2100 M: 650, CR: 650, WR: 800

  • ACT: n/a
  • SAT Subject Tests: 770 Biology, 680 Math II, 630 Literature
  • GPA-UW/W: 3.4 unweighted, 3.6 weighted
  • Rank: My school doesn’t rank
  • AP/IB classes: last year: English Language and Comp 5, Biology 5; this year: Chemistry, Statistics, Political Science; Summer College classes: Art History, Microeconomics
    </code></pre>

<p>Subjective:</p>

<pre><code>* Essays: I think my essay was pretty good. It had good development and answered the question thoroughly.

  • Teacher Recs: n/a
  • Counselor Rec: I assume it was good, we talked for over two hours
  • EC highlights: rock band with friends for 4 years, american cancer society youth club vp, class council member 4 years, varsity cross country and track athlete
    </code></pre>

<p>Location/Person:</p>

<pre><code>* State or Country: CA

  • School Type: Public
  • Ethnicity: Spanish/Japanese
  • Gender: Male
    </code></pre>

<p>Other Factors, hook?: </p>

<p>General Comments, scholarship chances, status info, going to USC…?: It was my top school but the financial aid statement came in. I can’t afford $50,000 a year. very likely not attending :'(</p>

194

<p>Useful information for 2011 applicants.</p>

195

<p>refuses to believe the stats of a lot of people.
Did almost EVERYBODY get a 2200+ on the SAT and 32+ on the ACT?</p>

196

<p>Haha! They ARE a well-qualified bunch, to be sure! College Confidential is probably not representative of the “average” USC applicant. </p>

<p>The first few pages (January and February acceptances) are the “scholarship wave,” and many of those students are awarded the Trustee, Presidential or Dean’s scholarships or are interviewed for the Bacc/MD program. Probably the most useful (and sobering) information comes from the late March postings of rejections - you will find that some wonderful applicants were not accepted. I don’t want to dash anyone’s hopes, but I do want everyone to look at things as clearly as possible and have a back-up plan just in case.</p>

<p>*As always, I am especially grateful to the students who were not accepted and posted their information here - it is a great help to current applicants, MUCH more than the accepted student profiles which, as you say, tend to be a bit above the overall average.</p>

197

<p>**Decision: Accepted **
**Decision: Rejected **</p>

<p>Rejected, then accepted of appeal 4 spring</p>

<p>Date applied: by Dec. 1
Date decision postmarked/received: Final Days of March and May 13
Accepted at which school/major at USC: Marshall</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT Total: M: 770, CR: 630, WR: 690,
[</em>] SAT Subject Tests: M2 740, USHist 720, Phys 720
[<em>] GPA-UW/W: UW 3.54
[</em>] Rank: N/A
[<em>]AP/IB classes: 2 Junior year (both 4’s), 4 Senior year, 5-4-4-3 *</em>senior results never submitted
[/ul]Subjective:[ul][<em>] Essays: very good
[</em>] Teacher Recs: looking back, horible
[li] Counselor Rec: neutral</p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Other Factors, hook?: GREAT APPEAL LETTER, showed involvement in school and that I do real (valid, not BS) EC’s + senior year GPA (first and second semesters) was 4.55…didn’t let my grades slip</p>

<p>+kept contact w/ admission rep b/w time I sent appeal and was admitted</p>

<p>**General Comments, scholarship chances, status info, going to USC…?:starting in January</p>

198

<p>**Decision: Accepted - Spring **</p>

<p>Date applied: Dec 1
Date decision postmarked/received: April 1
Accepted at which school/major at USC: Marshall School of Business</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT Total: 2060 M: 680, CR: 670, WR: 710,
[</em>] ACT: X
[<em>] SAT Subject Tests: Didn’t send
[</em>] GPA-UW/W: 3.3/X
[<em>] Rank: X
[</em>]AP/IB classes: AP US History, AP Economics, AP Government, AP Literature, AP Chemistry, AP Statistics
[/ul]Subjective:[ul][<em>] Essays: Pretty Good
[</em>] Teacher Recs: Didn’t Read
[<em>] Counselor Rec: Didn’t Read
[</em>] EC highlights: FBLA, Mock Trial, Wrestling, Football, Track and Field, Class President, ASB Officer, Student Government </p>

<p>[<em>] School Type: Very Competitive Public School
[</em>] Ethnicity: Asian
[li] Gender: Male[/li][/ul]Other Factors, hook?: Interview: I’m quite good at interviewing, I think I knocked it hands down. Also for FBLA I placed nationally every single year in business competitions. 2nd, 2nd, 1st, 9th <–heh senioritis</p>

<p>General Comments, scholarship chances, status info, going to USC…?: Super excited to go to USC in January. I was actually surprised I got in with my really low GPA but I guess my ECs just pulled through for me. USC was my #1 choice so I’m really excited.</p>

199

<p>For those wondering about scholarship chances, most of the applicants posting acceptances the last week of January and first week of February were interveiwed for the Trustee or Presidential scholarships. Please note that though most have super-high stats, several were singled out by USC for other reasons. Maybe YOU will be, too…</p>

200

<p>Some Dec. 1st applicants have been wondering when decisions will begin to come out. The vast majority will come out during March in waves. A few (only about ~800) will come out the last week of January and first week of February. You can check the post dates on this thread to get an idea of how it generally goes. Good luck!</p>