University of Southern California and Writing SAT?

Applying to College
1

<p>I plan to apply to USC in the next few weeks. My problem is I read somewhere that they require you to have taken either the new SAT with writing or the SAT subject writing test for applying this fall:</p>

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<p>Quote:</p>

<p>"Welcome > For Counselors > Policy on the new SAT > </p>

<p>Beginning with the fall 2006 admission cycle, USC will require a standardized writing exam from all applicants. This requirement can be met through either the new SAT or the ACT with its optional writing section. </p>

<p>The results of these new exams will be considered along with all the other components of a student’s application. While we won’t read every applicant’s actual SAT writing sample, we may request it in individual cases where we feel it will help us better review those applicants. </p>

<p>In the rare case that a 2006 applicant is unable to complete the new exam formats, we will accept the old SAT I, if accompanied by a score from the SAT II: Writing Exam. Also please note that USC does not require students to submit results from SAT Subject tests.</p>

<p>USC will continue to consider each applicant's best SAT sub-scores, even if from different sittings. However, we will not combine sub-scores from the old SAT I and the new SAT."</p>

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<p>This is odd, since I know MIT doesn't require it yet, and I'm pretty sure, Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton don't either. Not this fall at least.</p>

<p>I for one avoided taking the new SAT by taking the last old one on Jan. 22 2005. What do I do now? I want to apply here, but if I'm interpreting this correctly (am I interpreting this correctly?) some writing (subject test or new SAT is requiered.</p>

<p>Anyone got some insights? Should I still apply? Did I get the message right? (does "Beginning with the fall 2006 admission cycle" mean this fall or next fall?)</p>

<p>If it has anything to do with it, I'm a US citizen but I spent Sophomore to Senior year in Serbia & Montenegro (Europe). Maybe this will give me less leeway.</p>

<p>Thanks a bunch, the deadline for me to apply is dec. 10 (I want merit scolarships).</p>

2

<p>if you scored well on the old SAT, and don't want to "ruin" your scores with possibly lower scores on the new SAT. try taking the ACT with writing. This seems like your only option if you want to stick with you "old scores" as the writing subject test is no longer offered.</p>

3

<p>So, you've read the quote and you agree that they're talking about this fall?</p>

<p>If so, then do I have time to take this ACT? When can I take it? (Erm, its getting late here in Europe, I dont have time tonight to look into it myself)</p>

<p>Anyone else? Maybe we're both reading into it wrong and they mean next year's cycle?</p>

<p>Thanks...</p>

4

<p>Fall 2006 admission cycle definitely refers to the high school graduates of 2006. That's us.</p>

<p>Anyway, I've been to 2-3 USC info sessions both in my school and in the area, and if I remember correctly, they've always mentioned that a writing score of some sort was required.</p>

<p>What I'm shocked to read is that they may request -- and read --the essay from the exam. Even though I got a 10, I re-read my essay and it was the worst cr.ap ever lol. Hopefully, they won't read mine, but I never knew colleges could request the essay from the writing section.</p>

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<p>If you go on the USC application over the internet, they don't even ask you for your writing score on the SAT, so I'm alittle confused too. Do we just put in on the SAT II section or what?</p>

6

<p>Hmm?</p>

<p>For me, it asks for the writing score on the SAT for both the online and paper applications.</p>

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<p>REALLY????? OH CRAP, that sux. does yours have like a grey site with a red bar on the side? mine looks kinda old, it used to be different, but it changed for me all of a sudden and now it doesn't ask for writing....</p>

8

<p>It's grey with some red outlined borders and a beige sidebar. On the sidebar, if I click on Test Score Information, I can add date, math, verbal, and writing sat scores.</p>

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<p>lol, sorry, I just found out I was applying on the graduate school application. It's okay though, somehow it transferred all my info to teh undergrad application automatically.</p>

10

<p>I'd be careful if I was you and double check everything.</p>

<p>Is there any point in me applying now? I definitely don't have time to do a writing secion right now. I'm not registered for the dec SAT and check this quote from <a href="http://www.actstudent.org/regist/outside.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.actstudent.org/regist/outside.html&lt;/a> :</p>

<p>"The ACT Writing Test is not available outside the United States."</p>

<p>Do you think they'll even consider my application if I apply without a writing part? I'd still like to apply, but 65$ is A LOT for me and my family over here. (actually, I got 10$ off so its like only 40$ now, right?)</p>

<p>It's silly that they require it. Can anyone else confirm that most other colleges don't require it yet? I'm specifically talking about MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Upenn, Cornell, Columbia, Caltech. Yeah, quite a list. If I remember correctly, MIT doesnt require it yet. Actually, I've checked for most of them some time ago and they didn't, but now I'm not so sure.</p>

<p>So any thoughts? I think I'll just e-mail them and ask what happens if I don't have the writing part. But thats stupid since obvously theyll just say send it anyway and nab my $40. I better send it from another e-mail address so mine doesnt get marked in some top secret auto-reject database.</p>

<p>Please, this is important for me, I need to decide almost right away how to divide up my time. If I dont apply to USC dec.10 it might improve my other apps slightly, and that 'slightly' might just be the thing I need to get into Stanford or sumthin.</p>

<p>Don't ask me for my stats, plz. They're not that impressive, espceially in the EC area, but I think I have a 2.5% chance at each of those listed above. And hey, ive seen 2.5%s happen every once in a while.</p>

<p>Thanks. I hope this is useful to the other USCers. Isnt there anyone else that has avoided the writing? Im not horrible at writing but I spent my last few years in Serbia and I thought itd be best to not test by how much ive gotten worse.</p>

11

<p>Well, just take the test. You need it.
If you do worse on the other sections, they still only consider your best verbal and math score.
I'd recommended doing a late sign up for the Dec 3rd one - I registered the day of the test, once... just had to pay a fee.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

12

<p>Note:</p>

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<p>quote from <a href="http://afaweb.esd.usc.edu/dcpage.cfm?PageBaseID=50086%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://afaweb.esd.usc.edu/dcpage.cfm?PageBaseID=50086&lt;/a> :</p>

<p>For students who take the SAT more than once, USC records the highest sub-score achieved, even if achieved in more than one sitting. However, we will not accept one sub-score from the "old" SAT I and the other sub-score from the "new" SAT. For students taking the ACT, USC will record the highest composite score.</p>

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<p>If I take the new one, the old one won't count, and i got a 1510 (760M 750V). It seems pointless really. I'll probably hurt my chances at other colleges if I take the test now and do worse, and I probably will do it far worse. God damn USC. I've just been checking around and MIT. Princeton, and Harvard don't require the new one.</p>

<p>I really don't know what to do. Should I just e-mail them and ask?</p>

13

<p>silenced:</p>

<p>if you have your heart set on applying to 'SC, then send your old SAT scores to the other colleges now. Take the Dec test standby, but list only USC for score reporting, and only 'SC will receive the score. The other schools will not see the new scores unless you want to forward them later.</p>

<p>btw: as a Calif resident (who lives in new SAT land), I applaud 'SC (and the UC's) for taking this approach. IMO, the new test is too long, and kids can start to easily tire in that last hour; thus, it is not fair to compare new and old scores for the same admission slot. There is a big psychological difference to an adcom between 1470 and 1500 (m+cr)</p>

14

<p>Meh, I've given up on USC... any ideas about good safety schools anywhere in the US? Like, around USC in... erm... quality?</p>