<p>Because it seems that there are at least 50 new chance threads a day, I am starting a thread where we can bundle them and take care of them easier. I personal have no problems chancing anybody as long as they provide the following items: GPA(unweighted+weighted if applicable), SAT 1 and/or 2, ECs/sports, Community Service, Senior Year class schedule, and anything else that seems necessary or notable. Fight On!</p>
<p>Hey there! </p>
<p>I am a rising senior and I just wanted to know if I have any chance at USC. </p>
<p>Here are my Stats…</p>
<p>Rigorus School Type: Competitive public
Location: Washington State
Race/Gender: African American/Female
Prospective Major: Political Science/Public Policy (tentative)
Unweighted GPA: 3.6 (school doesnt w gpas)
Class rank: top 19%
Also took spanish for 4 years</p>
<p>SAT I Scores 1630 (I WILL RETAKE) hoping for 1800 or higher</p>
<p>By the time I graduate I will have taken 7 AP classes and basically rest are Pre-AP.</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:
Key Club President (actually in the club for all of HS)
National Honor Society
Varsity Tennis (all of HS)
Peer Mentor
Amharic Class (can read and write and speak this language fluently now… Official Lang of Ethiopia)
Dance Lessons
Clark County Youth Commission (internship…represent the youth in city council… help come up with laws to benifit the youth)
A TON OF COMMUNITY SERVICE
and for what its worth…I babysit my bro and sister.=)</p>
<p>Essay… not sure but I have some really good ideas mostly about my heritiage… took a trip to Ethiopia last summer and I have an interesting background.</p>
<p>I will have some really good recs.</p>
<p>Senior Year Classes</p>
<p>AP Lit
AP Stats
APEnviromental Science
AP Economics
Law and Justice
Art (required to graduate)</p>
<p>I am passionate about everything that I do and I truly work hard… but are these stats enough to get me into my top choice USC??? How much does being a URM help?</p>
<p>Any opinion or suggestions of other schools help. Thank you so much!!!</p>
<p>First and foremost, I will not suggest another school for you as I personally love USC. Everytime I go to the campus, I feel like I belong. Anyway, I feel that you have a good chance at getting into USC. I would say to try to get a 3.8 or 4.0 the first semester of senior year. USC asks for mid-year reports so if you can get good grades taking your tough classes, it would really help. Also, the average USC SAT score is in about 2050-2100 ish, so I think you should aim for a score above 2000. And to be perfectly honest, you’re an underrepresented minority so that will help.</p>
<p>I want to apologize for how that last post ended. I needed to do something urgently at that moment. If you could tell me what kind of community service you did, that would help.</p>
<p>I am going to be a senior next year, I am worried about where I might end up. So please help me out to get an idea of where I stand. Well here it is…</p>
<p>Ethnicity/Sex: Indian Male</p>
<p>State: CA</p>
<p>Parent’s Income: My parents BOTH lost their jobs this year, most of my junior year was on my parents savings and unemployment. My mom recently got her job back, my dad just got his as well; he works in Boston now, and now I am living with my mom and my brother. But, as I said before, they both lost their jobs this year; which was my worst year GPA wise (If that helps at all). When they both have a job, I think they make around 100k-130k.</p>
<p>UW GPA: 3.417
UC GPA: 3.65ish
W GPA: Not sure how USC calculates this.</p>
<p>=(</p>
<p>Class Rank: 70-80/ 515 Top 20% for sure, UC wise, maybe top 10%?</p>
<p>SAT: 2050
Math: 680 =/
Writing: 680
Reading: 690</p>
<p>SAT 2:
Math: 670. (Retaking aiming for 800)
History: 630
Chem: In Oct. (Going for 800)</p>
<p>AP/HON:</p>
<p>My courses have been very rigorous. I have taken 3 or 4 Hon/AP out of 6 classes every year. We cant take AP classes till our Junior year… So, One AP Junior year, 4 next year. Total Hon/ AP classes: 14</p>
<p>USH: 3
Calc AB: Next Year
Stats: Next Year
Gov: Next Year
Ecom: Next Year</p>
<p>EC’S:</p>
<p>Summer Classes:</p>
<p>Took Psychology at a CC my Sophomore summer and got an A</p>
<p>This Summer, I am taking Chem 1A at UC Berkeley through the pre-collegiate program. It is a Undergrad class offered for High school students with a better then a B average. My parents had to bust out a lot of money for this, they insisted I go here, instead of a CC. Its basically a Berkeley class, you get 4 UC credits, a Letter of Recommendation and so on. Hoping to do well in this and get an 800 on Chem SAT.</p>
<p>Clubs:</p>
<p>Mediocre here… CSF 3 years.</p>
<p>Volunteering:</p>
<p>I have worked at a local community center for a program called Teen Leadership Academy. They say working there is as good as being on ASB, Boy Scouts,etc…</p>
<p>Freshman Summer: 88 hours
Sophomore Summer: 80 Hours
Junior Summer: I hope to do 40+ hours, will have to try to do this with my summer class.</p>
<p>I tutored math at my school for 30 hours my Junior year, 2 hours a week through the course of the year.</p>
<p>Total: Before summer: 198. After Summer: Prob will have 235-250.</p>
<p>Major: Engineering, any of these three will suffice: Electrical, Chemical, Bio.</p>
<p>I would like to go to a mid tier or high tier UC if possible. I have much respect for USC and I see it as a top college, so I know I probably have a very little chance. Anyway, I was just wondering if I had ANY chance to get in, and more then likely, my parents will not pay the full price, so if I get into a mid/high tier UC and I don’t get anything from USC, I would go to the one that is cheaper.</p>
<p>I made a thread earlier but got few responses, hopefully I got more input here.</p>
<p>First, your GPA makes you less competitive for USC, but your schedule is so difficult(as shown by your weighted GPA) that should help you out. I am going to give you the same advice I gave storm 18. Try to get a 3.8 or 4.0 the first semester of senior year because USC asks for mid-year reports so if you can get good grades taking all those APs, it would really help and show them that you are improving. </p>
<p>If there is an interesting story as to why your grades dipped that one year, try to incorporate into that into your admissions essay. They would love to hear how you perservered during tough times or something of that nature. </p>
<p>You should retake the SAT if finances and time permits. The middle 50% range of admitted student SATs for USC was 1960-2230. If you could improve upon that score, that would also help. Remember, USC superscores so you should really focus on greatly improving one area (Math and CR are the easiest areas to improve btw). </p>
<p>You should fill out Part 1 of the application right now or before the Oct. 15 deadline. You’d have to pay $10, but you’ll get a $15 discount on Part 2(the real application) so you’d save $5 overall. More importantly, it’ll show USC that you really want to be there. </p>
<p>USC is a good school for you because we have a top 7 engineering school. Also, the school encourages students to pursue another major or a minor in an unrelated area. If you go to USC, which I am sure you will because you will shoot for a 4.0 unweighted next semester, you could graduate with a degree in engineer with a minor in business, psychology, economics, east-asian studies or whatever you desire. </p>
<p>I hope I didn’t overload you with my advice and information. If you have any questions pm me or post on this thread. Good luck and Fight On!</p>
<p>^Thanks for all the info!</p>
<p>I will probably apply Part I next week (Friday), I have finals this week. I would love to get that 4.0 and get into Engineering. I have a concern here: We don’t have Calc BC at our school, most seniors interested in the BC exam went to study for another hour or so after school. This year, my school might offer Calc BC as a class next year, I originally signed up for AB; should I transfer to BC or stay in AB? Get BC credit or risk getting a B? I am hoping the class doesn’t pull through, so the old system stays. =) </p>
<p>As for SAT’s, I am concentrating on getting high SAT 2’s. I haven’t looked at SAT I books in months, so no time, patience, or motivation for that. </p>
<p>Do you have any information on financial aid?</p>
<p>Here’s what I suggest. You should go tothe engineering department’s website to see which prerequisites are waived with passing the AB and BC tests with a 4 or higher. If you can waive more prereqs taking BC, go for it. Otherwise, I’d just take AB. As far as financial aid, if you apply to USC before Dec 1, you will be considered for institutional scholarships(they range from $10,000 to half to full tuition.) Depending on your PSATs, you will be eligible to receive a half-tuition scholarship if you’re a NMS semi-finalist. For need-based aid, DON’T LET THE STICKER PRICE FOOL YOU. That $50,000 scares a lot of people, but USC guarantees to meet 100% of USC determined financial aid. The earlier you apply for financial aid, the more money you will likely receive if you qualify. Most of the need-based aid you will receive will be USC grants which don’t have to be repaid. That’s if you qualify for FA.</p>
<p>Here is pretty much everything that matters that’s going on my application. I really want to go to USC. I guess u could call that my “dream” school. otherwise here are the ones I’m applying to:</p>
<p>USC
pepperdine
UCLA
UCI
UC Berkely
UC SD
claremont mckenna
pitzer
chapman
occidental
northwestern
colgate
califoria lutheran univ. maybe
NYU
scripps
univ. of san diego
univ. of san francisco
stanford - just for fun i guess
loyola marymount</p>
<p>should i add some ones that are better that i have a chance of getting into? I feel like im aiming kind of low but those are the scores that match collegeboard…although it doesnt really depend JUST on SAT’s so plz look at the rest : ] also can u tell me which schools u think i shudnt apply to on this list (besides stanford and northwestern and usc and pepperdine)?</p>
<p>EXTRACURRICULAR</p>
<p>-President of Care4kids Club, grades 11-12, 2-3 hours/week.
-Member of Interact Club, grade 10, 1 hour/week
-Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor, grades 9-12, 1 hour/week
-French Hospital Volunteer, grades 9-12, 2 hours/week
-Bishop’s Peak School Carnival Volunteer, grades 10-12, 3 hours/year
-6th grade challenge, grades 10-12, 7 hours/year
-Cross Country, grades 11-12, 2 hours/week
-Garba (Indian form of dance-culture), grades 9-12, 30 hours/1 month
-National Honors Society, grades 11-12, 1 hour/month</p>
<p>WORK EXPERIENCE</p>
<p>certain hotel desk clerk, grade 9, when needed
hotel manager, grades 10-12, 4-8 hours/weekend</p>
<p>SUMMER PROGRAMS</p>
<p>National Student Leadership Conference (Medicine & Health Care), Northwestern University, Summer 2009 (after grade 11)</p>
<p>OTHER SPECIAL EXPERIENCES OR UNUSUAL HOBBIES</p>
<p>certain College, grades 9-12, hours vary</p>
<p>AWARDS (idk if i did this right, but i looked back in my school folder with all my awards and wrote the title)</p>
<p>here are the directions: Honors and awards received (list title), including National Merit Semi-Finalist, National Achievement, Westinghouse, Girls/Boys State, Alpha Gamma Sigma, etc.: </p>
<p>-CSF Scholorship
-Academic Excellence
-National Junior Classical League Latin Honor Society
-Community Service Acknowledgment Award
-Mayor’s Award
-Labor Omnia Vincit MMIX Certificate of Merit
-National Society of Professional Surveyors(Trig Star Competition)
-Award of Excellence for French Hospital Medical Center Volunteen Program</p>
<p>SAT: 1800
reading: 580
math" 610
writing 610</p>
<p>GPA: 3.74, 4.16 (lower after third trimester which sux cuz i got a B in regular French 3 and Calculus seminar which i didnt expect)
College GPA: 4.2 or 4.3</p>
<p>oh and i’ve taken all honors and AP except for one english class freshman year</p>
<p>Freshman Year
-5 B’s (4 in honors one in regular) the rest of all my grades are A’s unless otherwise stated.</p>
<p>Sophmore Year
-3 B’s</p>
<p>Junior Year
-4 B’s one in regular anatomy, one in AP english, and regular French 3, calc seminar</p>
<p>FUTURE CLASSES OF SENIOR YEAR</p>
<p>AP english
AP stats
AP chemistry
AP latin literature
reduced day- to take Calculus 2
environmental science
physics or marine biology…probly physics</p>
<p>I want to become a neurologist i think</p>
<p>college classes ive taken:</p>
<p>Medical Terminology
Math 127
History 107A
English 156
Art 100
Economics 1A
Psychology 101
Chemistry 210</p>
<p>oh and major = neuroscience</p>
<p>oh and major = neuroscience</p>
<p>ethnicity=asian indian
class rank = about 40 of 350</p>
<p>oh and major = neuroscience</p>
<p>ethnicity=asian indian
class rank = about 40 of 350</p>
<p>Indian Male from California</p>
<p>GPA-4.0 unweighted without freshman year, 3.96 unweighted with; 4.6 weighted w/o freshman year, 4.28 with (ONE stupid B freshman year keeps this from being a 4.33)</p>
<p>Rank- None, but I’m probably in the top 4%-5%</p>
<p>SAT-2150 (first time, stupid mistakes, will take again and hope for 200-250 point increase) </p>
<p>ACT-Will take in Sept</p>
<p>SAT IIs- Math II:770, Chem:790, US:800</p>
<p>Freshman-No honors/AP availible, had to take everything regular except for Accelerated Bio</p>
<p>Sophomore-Took the only two weighted classes availible to me (1 AP (Euro), 1 honors (Chem)) that would work with my schedule. This may work to hurt me, since other peoples’ schedules allowed them to take a few more.</p>
<p>Junior-All core subjects were weighted (3 AP (Chem, Lang, US), 2 honors (physics, precalc), 2 extra classes (band, robotics))</p>
<p>5s on all the APs taken up to this point and As on everything.</p>
<p>Senior- 5 APs (Physics B, Calc AB, Music Theory, Econ, Comp Gov) English 12 and band.</p>
<p>ECs:
Oboe and English Horn-First chair in school all 4 years
-In top regional youth orchestra and am co-principal for 3 years
- Made county honor band twice, once with second chair
-Lessons since 7th grade</p>
<p>Robotics-Part of FIRST Robotics team at school for 3 years. We have category leadership in that, and I am Physics leader (review and analyze brainstorming ideas to make sure they are in accordance with physical law). Team has placed in several regional contests </p>
<p>NASA-Part of the NASA Online Community, a selective program that allows hogh schoolers to interact with NASA professionals online and view exclusive online lectures. (2 years)</p>
<p>Other clubs-Founded club to discuss and debate politics and highlight how political dissent is beneficial. This was a conventional school club for 1 year and for the next 2, it has been more private, with in person meetings every once in a while, but MAJOR online involvement. I am co-president and co-web master.
-CSF (kind of a joke)</p>
<p>Varsity Track and Field-Pole Vaulting for 2 years (junior, senior)</p>
<p>Community service:-150 hours volunteering at Bay Area Hospice Foundation thrift store to provide affordable merchandise to the disadvantaged, with proceeds going toward better hospice facilities for the community. (This is over junior and senior year)
~400 hours peer tutoring at school
-Spent summers of 9 and 10 in India (family issues). I was able to do about 60 hours total of showcasing Western classical instruments for the community at a small school.
-Played in BAYOF Hope music festival to raise money for homeless children in the Bay Area (kind of the equivilant a nonathletic charity marathon)</p>
<p>Awards/Honors: -AP Scholar with Honor
-National Merit Commended Scholar
-Academic Letter (major school award)
-Second chair of County Honor Band was an awarded position, with a ceritificate and medal.
-National Band Director’s Association Award
-Certificate of Commendation by CMEA Board of Directors (music thing)
-Most dedicated Award for Symphonic Band at school for 2 years
-Third place at 2008 VEX games for Robotics
-Part of 2nd place team at Silicon Valley Regional FIRST Robotics competitoin
-Certificate of recognition from National Holocaust Association for a writing contest (kind of BS)</p>
<p>Job Experience- Paid internship with small (very new) chemical manufacturing company this summer. (This is a bit tenuous, as it’s my dad’s company. but, I get paid a stipend like any other intern and still had to apply, and got the position since the company is still fledgling and my dad is way short on employees, let alone interns…don’t know how impressive this will seem…)</p>
<p>Also took a community college course this summer; could do any real summer programs prior because of various family and health issues.</p>
<p>hmmmmmmm, you have an unbelievably good chance to get into USC. In fact those stats can get you anywhere. If USC is your first choice, which it should be :), you should focus on getting i with a freshman scholarship. If you could improve upon your already impressive SAT score, that would make you a shoo-in.</p>
<p>babygrl, you have a variety of things USC is looking for. You have the GPA, tough schedule, EC/Community involvement, and work experience. But, if I were you i’d retake the SAT and take some SAT 2s, if finances permit. Otherwise, try to aim for a 4.0 first semester senior year and try to gain some more leadership positions in ECs. I think you have a good chance.</p>
<p>Hey, quick question. Don’t mean to the hijack the thread or anything but I thought it unnecessary to start a whole new thread. After filling out all the info in Part 1 of the application, can you still update/change the test scores on it later? I’m just making sure because I will be taking the ACT again in September and SAT 2’s in October…Thank you!</p>
<p>Yes you can actually. Just make sure you have the college board send your scores to USC and that you take all entrance tests before Jan 2010.</p>
<p>so USC has been on my brain on and off since i was in 3rd grade but im not sure about my chances…i had a friend who got accepted with like 1480 on SATs and straight A’s but i also had aanother who got accepted with 2270 and was a national merit finalist so im not sure where i fall</p>
<p>minority - does asian count?
boths parents unemployed
lower class
family member on the transplant wait list
house has +7 ppl
first generation
public school in orange county</p>
<p>GPA:
FRESHMAN: 3.5 w
SOPH: 4.3 W
JR: 4.2 W </p>
<p>3.9 OVERALL
4.2 W
3.5 UW</p>
<p>ranked #9 overall, 7 UW and 20 W</p>
<p>SENIOR YEAR:
AP econ/AP gov
AP chem
AP calc AB
AP LIT
CHOIR
SPORTS</p>
<p>AP exams:
EURO HISTORY -3
AP ENGLISH LANG -3</p>
<p>LEADERSHIP:
VARISTY tennis co capt [hopefuly capt this coming year]
vietnamese student club PRESIDENT
CSF secretary</p>
<p>EC’s:
UPward bound - 4 years
MESA- 4 years
gay straight alliance - 3 years
CSF- 3 years
NHS - 2years
VSA - 2 years
TENNIS- 4 years
WRESTLING- 3 years
KEY CLUB - 2 years
Kiwanis Bowl - 2 years
YMCA - 2 years</p>
<p>AWARDS:
the typical principles honor roll and such
lots of school awards [academic and athletic]
and a handful of local awards and handful of awards for EC’s
published poet
3 time varisity in tennis
and 2 time varsity in wrestling</p>
<p>VOLUNTEERING
Hospital+ science center+tutoring+ one day events = +200 hrs</p>
<p>SUMMER PROGRAMs
UCI GEAR UP - 9thh grade
UPWARD BOUND SUMMER RESIDENTAL - soph/jr yrs
HOPKINS ENGINEERING COURSE - senior yr
SAT PREP CLASS- sr yeear</p>
<p>WORK:
work student expeirnce in the summer for two summers</p>
<p>TEST SCORES [last sine theyre so bad]
ACT 23
SATI 1520
SATII havent taken</p>
<p>im retaking both the sat and act this year and im hoping to hit 1800s and 30’s</p>
<p>soo? my chances?</p>
<p>Those test scores are a real road block. For the test scores, you should just do the best you can and try to get as close to 1900 or 2000 as you can. Try to take some of the easier SAT 2’s such as Math, Chem, or Bio M (each that have averages over 640). I have a feeling that you have an interesting story by reading the personal information. Use that in your personal statement. Try to write about any hardships you had with your parents being unemployed, being the first person in your family to go to college, or being one of seven kids. Make sure that whatever you write about, have it show qualities about yourself that can’t be expressed in transcripts and test scores. Fight On!</p>
<p>Hey mayfield17! i have a couple more questions…</p>
<p>You said I have a good chance of getting into USC, but do you think i have a 50/50 chance or lower, and should USC be consided a reach or a match for me? I know that we never really know, but realistcally speaking do you think I will get in even with my low sat score?? I will aim for that 4.0 Senior year…</p>
<p>(btw I was the first person that you chanced)</p>