University of Southern California

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Stats</p>

<p>California Resident
GPA: 3.65 UW 3.8 W
ACT: 30
SAT 2: Math and Biology 700 Range</p>

<p>Speech and Debate- 2nd at State Championships 2008, League Champion, Vice President of team, Event Chair 2 years, Won many Invitational tournaments</p>

<p>ASB- Commissioner Sophomore and Junior year</p>

<p>Hospital work- Volunteer since 8th grade, over 300 hours of service, Worked in stroke center, shadowed Physician over summer, Treasurer of Volunteer program, Shift leader in program</p>

<p>Intern at Brain Injury Rehabilitation center- 2 years</p>

<p>co-published Stroke articles for Hospitals</p>

<p>Member of Leadership Academy over Junior year in school district (Selective Program)</p>

<p>Clubs- Secretary of ISA, CSF Project coordinator, CSF lifetime member since 8th grade, member of National Honors Society</p>

<p>Track and Field- 3 years</p>

<p>Soccer- been playing club for 7 years and school team freshman year</p>

<p>Mock Trial- 2 years</p>

<p>Piano- 6 years</p>

<p>I'm applying to USC, NYU, BC, all the UC's, Brown, Boston University, a few ba/md programs, George Washington, Johns Hopkins</p>

<p>USC is my top choice and the school I really want to go to over any of the others...A few people from my family went there as well...let me know your experiences if you go there and how to get in!</p>

<p>anything is appreciated thanks!</p>

2

<p>you are a little bit stronger than i was academically when i applied, i don't know about your AP scores though. I'd say that mixed with your extra curriculars will give you a really good shot. Having family that went there will help too in terms of legacy-oriented status. Whereabouts are you from? I'd say cut down the number of other colleges you will apply too. Brown might be a reach and so might John Hopkins but the others are good choices. Feel free to PM me because I was where you are right now, last year. Nothing like being a Trojan.</p>

3

<p>How are the family members who went to USC related to you? Being a true legacy is a big boost at USC.</p>

<p>Do you know your class rank?</p>

4

<p>hah USC is practically a safety for you.</p>

5

<p>An ACT score of 30 correlates to about a 2000... below USC's average SAT score of 2100. If a 3.8 W GPA doesn't put the OP in the top 10% of his class, I would call it a weak match. Otherwise I'd say he's about a match. Next year is going to be the most competitive admissions season ever for most colleges, USC included. Not a safety.</p>

6

<p>I was just kidding, but he has really good ECs so he has quite a good chance.</p>

7

<p>I am from northern california...no i do not know my class rank for my school doesn't do that. My uncle is on the board of something there for their medical school and my cousin, his son, went there through the ba/md program. Does knowing someone mean THAT much?</p>

<p>Is it really going to be harder this year...from what i heard its a downward trend from last year...</p>

<p>Since I want study medicine later on I was planing on majoring in something other than Biology or Chemistry because I want to be able to study some other things before med school...so will picking something easier like Psychology or Journalism improve my chances? </p>

<p>thanks guys you're advice is really helping me, appreciate it</p>

8

<p>According to someone on CC, legacy does not help at USC.


</p>

<p>And also from my daughter's friend whose parents are both USC grads. She was a Spring admit to USC. Her uncle is on some board at USC. So my advice is don't count on the legacy part.</p>

9

<p>yeah i think it only gives you a boost if you meet their standards...otherwise its just money that will get you in</p>

10

<p>How does money get you in? Are you planning to pay off an admissions rep?</p>

11

<p>Uncle/cousin does not make you a legacy applicant.</p>

12

<p>lol no i was just saying in general thats how some people get in....donating a building...throwing in a few 10ks hahah</p>

13

<p>I see. Good luck with that.</p>

14

<p>So I am a senior now...and I calculated my overall GPA and its around a 3.5ish actually unweighted...I took really hard AP's my junior year, had a lot going on with EC's and family issues and didn't get the best grades in them...leaving with a few embarrassing C's in fact..but I am pretty resolute that I will do exponentially well this year compared to last. I'm taking 3 really tough AP's and an 1 honors and I really think I can get a 4.0 this semester if I try really hard. So do you think that having a low gpa junior year and getting around a 4.0 this year will sort of "prove" my self because I really did struggle last year and am really motivated to show my real capabilities. Especially for USC, NYU, UC's, and some other privates do you think this last stretch will help me a lot or not so much based on my stats already?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>BUMP</p>

15

<p>For my daughter, USC and the UCs did not see her senior year grade at all.</p>

16

<p>John 123,
This is just what I was told, but a child of a huge donor was not admitted for the incoming class.
I think you have misconceptions of admittance policies at SC.</p>

17

<p>yeah I would say you would get in.</p>

18

<p>Are you trying to apply to USC's BA/MD program? They only accept 30 students each year.</p>

19

<p>[For my daughter, USC and the UCs did not see her senior year grade at all.]</p>

<p>how exactly did that work out?</p>