<p>hey guys, it's my junior-to-senior summer and I'm stressing about college. USC has been my top choice since I was practically BORN because my dad is an alumni and I loveeee the fball games and the campus and the school and basically everything about it. EVERYTHING. I'm a pretty good student, but I AM SO BAD AT TAKING STANDARDIZED TESTS it's not even funny. Is that going to ruin my chance of getting in? Here's my stats:</p>
<p>GPA: 3. 85 unweighted (4.45 weighted)
SAT I: 1880 (translated to 1250 on the 1600 scale...ouch, I know...can you say RETAKE???!! HAHA)
--590 Critical Reading/ 610 Math/ 680 Writing
SAT II's: 570 LIT
580 MATH iic
650 US HIST. (also horrible. yes i know.)
ACT: 29
2 AP'S my Junior year: 3 APUSH
3 LANG AP
planning on taking 3 AP's my senior year: Calc AB AP, Envi. Sci. AP, Lit. AP</p>
<p>EC's include:
Varsity softball 2 years
Varsity tennis 4 years (hopefully captain this year)
Model United Nations 4 years
KIWIN'S (Volunteer organization): 3 years
-1 year Recording SEc.
-1 year President
ASB
-Soph. Class Rep.
-Junior Class VP
-Commissioner of SPecial Events
Member of Volunteer Youth Organization
Assembly 4 years
Internship at Leasing Company-Forest City Enterprises</p>
<p>I'm sure I will get amazing rec's, and the president of the USC Dept. of Real Estate is going to write my an extra letter of rec.</p>
<p>I'm so scared because THIS IS MY DREAM SCHOOL (I want to go to Annenberg), but my SAT scores SUCK (my ACT score is okay), my GPA could be higher, I'm only graduating with 5 AP's and I didn't even score well on them (and I probably won't my senior year) and it seems like everyone also has the same or even more ec's...advice? please?!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>im also going to be editor of the newspaper and was part of Spanish Honor Society for 2 years. I have loads of volunteer hours as well...if that counts for anything...</p>
<p>Kris, I was admitted and am far worse at standardized testing. The first time I took the SAT I received a 980! I just laughed. The second time I got it to an 1130 and never took it again. I knew it was something I would have little control over because I am bad at these forms of tests. I am not stupid though, so do not think that...all through my life I was in gifted programs for smart children. Anyway, in school I was in the top 5% of my class, took two languages for every semester, taught myself guitar, taught myself german, 8 classes each semester, debate tournaments, elected as a youth exchange leader, lots of community hours, many many many awards, varsity soccer and tennis, straight As, interning at a law firm for work experience, and I took courses at UCSB and a JC in summers--doing very well at both.</p>
<p>When I first visited USC I knew there was no way I would get in because I cannot do well on the SATs. It seems that everything else I did overshadowed my failings on the SAT. So there is always a chance. Emphasize the many other strong points to your character. Fight on!!</p>
<p>With your scores, it's hard to say. Like SirWatson, you're strong in a lot of other areas. If studying (I suggest Gruber's SAT guide in addition to 10 Real SATs) doesn't help on your next retake, have you considered just submitting your ACT?</p>
<p>i think you got a pretty decent shot. i would say 50/50 at best though. Your SAT score is almost in SC's average SAT range (1260-1440). That recommendation from the VP of Real Estate should carry some weight. Not to scare you or anything, but i got rejected when i applied as a freshman with a 4.64 GPA and 1220 SAT. I had actually more ECs than you. Needless to say i was bummed, but i am here now though! Got in by transferring as a soph.</p>
<p>thanks guys for the help! today I went on a the "meet the campus tour" at USC (i just LOVE IT THERE) and actually ended up having a private tour with the Dean of Admissions at Annenberg! How awesome is that! </p>
<p>USCwannabe, I think if I don't get in a freshman, I will for sure apply as a soph or a junior...I just HAVE to go there...</p>
<p>themegastud-I asked the admissions person if I should just submit my ACT score, she said it would be better to just submit all of my scores and tell them that I will be retaking the SAT. I guess I'll do that...??</p>
<p>I applied with a 3.88(UW) and a 1250 sat(best Combined), I also got a 28 on the ACT. And a 540 on SAT 2 Writing. My other Sat 2's were around the same. I am a legacy like you. You have a good plate of activities, much like my self. I applied Arch, which was slightly diffferent, since I had a second App. However, I think you should stop freaking out and just go for it. It just might suprise you. You may want to consider taking the SAT once more to see if you can get ur score up, but dont fret. What other schools are you applying to?</p>
<p>bozenuts-
usc is most def. my top school, so I"m pretty sure that if I get rejected, I'll go to cc and apply again my soph year. I'm also applying though to UC schools-UCLA (eh...BOO! haha jk..), UCSD, UCI, UC BERKELY, Loyola, Pepperdine, Stanford, Cal Poly san Luis Obisbo, and perhaps some east coast schools-Ithica, Emerson...what does it mean when you say that you applied "Arch?" Did you get accepted? </p>
<p>Thanks for the help, I just found this site and it is absoultely amazing haha</p>
<p>I applied arch, as in I needed a seperate app for arch only, It was between two schools and my portfolio had a large play. Stats weren't the only thing</p>
<p>yeah he was in architecture, but now he's in developing for real estate. he develops huge malls and stuff. what year are you in? did you do an interview and do you think it helps?? </p>
<p>thanks so much for your help, you have no idea.</p>
<p>I don't think an interview really helps. I cannot remember the percentage but a large percentage of those admitted never did an interview. It can help, though I think it is scant. Interviews only matter if they are mandatory for every applicant.</p>
<p>yah no worries, i wan't ppl to be honest. I mean, I just want to be prepared no matter what happens. I'll apply and see what happens, for sure. My cousin goes to NYU and also applied to USC-she said the system is really twisted and unpredictable. She also said a friend of hers did an interview and didn't get in, but I think I'll do it just in case. ah, whatever. we beat hawaii today, that's all that matters right now...right? haha</p>
<p>ummm kriistina, if you're sure that you won't go anywhere else but USC, why are you bothering to apply to stanford, cal state, UCs, loyola etc? you are giving yourself a whole lot of extra work, and hurting the chances of someone who might actually want to go there.</p>
<p>i've actually re-thought it out and I think I went thru this crazy, die-hard USC period where I was like obsessed with the school. Calmed down, and I realized I have so many more options out there. My cousin helped me realize this b/c she applied to USC and it was her dream school, but she got rejected and actually goes to NYU now and has no regrets whatsoever and loves it there. So that convo totally opened my mind up to other options. You never know what might happen. So, sorry if I upset you in any way namaste.</p>