USC 2011 Transfer Thread

Transfer Students
801

<p>Hey, I need your guy’s opinion. Do you think I have a shot at transferring to USC with a 3.67 GPA? My GPA has actually been dropping since my first semester. It’s been 3.83, then, 3.63, 3.57, and now 3.55. It was supposed to be A 3.70 for this semester but I missed an A in one of my classes by 9 points, which is like 3 questions on one of my 8 quizzes; and my professor doesn’t do B+ or A- Just flat out A’s or B’s. Also during the summer, when I got the 3.57 GPA I was working 3 jobs. And two jobs this semester. I was planning on applying for a Film Major, and then English as a backup. I know that for the spring I’ll do a lot better as I’m cutting down on work, and I should be graduating as a triple major. Do you guys think I have a chance at getting in for English/Creative Writings with a 3.67 and all?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

802

<p>wow that’s weird… I really don’t know what to believe. Some regional officers are saying this, others are saying that.</p>

803

<p>@ Sydneyral, holkey,naina</p>

<p>I emailed the question to USC undergraduate admission department, not a regional adviser but straight to source! I wrote this exact same question word by word…“Hello, If we don’t have 30 units by Feb 2, but we will have 30 or more by the end of spring semester- must we also include our SAT/ACT score in the part 2 application? I ask becuase I haven’t taken the SAT/ACT score yet”</p>

<p>and the response was this…
“You need to have 30 units completed by the end of your spring semester in order to disregard the SAT/ACT requirement.”</p>

<p>So can we call it a case close? Or will we debate this to death?</p>

804

<p>Yeah. I just skimmed through the first couple of pages and that was all the debate. I guess USC gives conflicting answers. I agree with @Pinstripe though. In addition, AP units do not count towards the 30 units.</p>

<p>EDIT: Or I don’t know. I guess, alamemom a respected member and very knowledgeable about USC admissions said you need 30 units by the time of the application. Who knows.</p>

805

<p>@Mitch: you are right the AP units do not count towards the 30 units requirement to disregard your high school/SAT. I also do in fact hold alamemom’s opinion in high regards, but I feel my inquiry would suffice to answer this specific debate…if its any consolation I might be calling the USC office later in the beginning of January to pose the same question. Or if anyone else would like to volunteer to email/call usc by all means tell us whats the verdict!</p>

806

<p>Having gone through all of this before, my answer is 30 units by the time of your application; NOT, by the end of spring. This answer is also the safest bet.</p>

<p>There will be THOUSANDS of applications coming in from THOUSANDS of qualified candidates who have already achieved above the required pre-requisits, general ed, and unit count. It was made very clear to me during the time of my application that 30 units must already be completed PRIOR to the admission committee reviewing your application.</p>

<p>Final admission decisions will be made and/or you will hear if you’ll be required a Spring Grade Request, by July 1.</p>

<p>Personally, if I were in this situation, I would NOT omit my SAT/ACT scores -unless I didn’t take them- if I had less than 30 units already completed. If what they’re saying (some of them) is true, then they’ll omit the scores themselves if the ‘by the end of spring’ case holds true, so putting them in won’t matter anyway.</p>

807

<p>I agree with @Budlightyear. Another thing is, if you only applied with 15-18 units by the time of your application, chances are you will definitely be receiving a SGR. I do not think USC is going to make their decision based of a semester’s worth of intro courses while not taking HS grades/scores into consideration.</p>

808

<p>I just called the USC admission office, and yet again we have a new answer, the person said that from his perspective you should send in your SAT/ACT score if you won’t have 30 units by feb 2. So I asked him further about a email response that I received from that very office that said something different, and he basically told me that we can’t guarantee giving a SGR to everyone in such situation…I essentially got the “holkey” impression that the SAT/ACT req is a back-up cushion just in case type.</p>

809

<p>Hey everyone! I have been trying to contact the admission office but I cant get through to anyone. Are they closed for the holidays? What number are you guys calling for transfer questions?
Thanks!</p>

810

<p>I called 1-213-740-1111
office hours 9am-5pm</p>

811

<p>@Corvin: weren’t you in last years thread? Could you help us with the whole 30 units fiasco? I know that by application time you had 21 units and by the end of spring you had above 30 units. Did you send in your SAT/ACT Score? did you receive a SGR? sorry to bombard you with tons of questions!</p>

812

<p>@callofduty: sorry, my words were confusing…i meant i got all As on my papers, mid-term,etc. but they were not enough to back up for my D, C- at the beginning of the quarter. Ppl said SB was pretty nice but i didnt find it there. Maybe it’s just me but i honestly regret going there. I wish I had gone to a CC instead.</p>

<p>@ Rambo : have you found your USC ID yet?</p>

<p>For anyone who wont have 30 credits by feb 1, you should send your SAT/ACT score. I talked to a USC counselor and that’s basically what he told me. I know it conflicts w/ the email response < i actually receiving the email saying i dont have to send my SAT score> but if you’re doing well, it wont hurt sending the score, right?</p>

813

<p>Never took the SAT/ACT. Was told not to bother by my regional guy. Just in case, I will ask my professor in my winter class to submit my grade early. 30 units complete. Then I will go up to the admissions office personally and hand them an updated transcript by February 1st.</p>

<p>Gentlemen, this is my Hail Mary pass. I’m getting in God damn it!</p>

814

<p>Godspeed^
@tantungnam: Yes I see your point, but in all honesty thats my Achilles’ Heel, I have a 4.0 with 18 credits and will pass the 30 credit mark by my end of spring semester, I’m okay with my high school record, but the SAT/ACT requirement really drives me nuts…I can only blame myself. But…
as a great poster once said… “Gentlemen, this is my Hail Mary pass. I’m getting in God Damn it!”</p>

<p>Still maybe I will have to include that score just to make sure I don’t get denied on the basis of a incomplete application. So what sounds better? Denied on the basis of a incomplete application or denied on the basis of a horrid SAT/ACT? hahaha</p>

815

<p>@Pinstripe</p>

<p>Yeah I was in last years thread. I didn’t send in SAT scores last year and I didn’t get a SGR either. I was told I didn’t need them at the time by email from USC, but it probably would’ve helped me. I thought I’d get a SGR because I applied w/ a 3.82 GPA and had a 3.76 GPA at the end of my second semester but then again my past record has not been the best. I had an “okay” High school record and a bad University record from 2008 as I had some family issues that caused me to really mess up. I gave an explanation in detail about why I performed badly but it didn’t help. I think If I gave them some more proof that I’m dedicated to school now things might have been more in my favor.</p>

<p>My opinion is the more info that you give USC showing that you’re a good applicant the better. If SAT scores go to proving this then send them, if you think they hurt you then don’t send them. But the more info you give USC the better because they can make decisions more confidently. If they’re unsure about you and your performance you’ll get denied. That’s why I think I got denied. I didn’t give them enough proof I was a good student to offset my decent record from HS and bad record from then University.</p>

816

<p>Ha! I see my name has been mentioned - and thanks very much for the carefully respectful tone you have all used, even when disagreeing - I really appreciate it.</p>

<p>I think the confusion comes from the flexibility of USC’s admissions office - you are all looking for a black or white answer and are missing the shades of grey.</p>

<p>I’ll offer my opinion once more (and try to explain it more clearly this time), and emphasize that it is JUST an opinion - you are all free to disagree, disregard and offer your own opinions - all of which are just as valid and valuable as mine.</p>

<hr>

<p>If you are applying as a Junior transfer (completed two years elsewhere), the admissions decision will be made based on your college record. (I don’t think there is any confusion here - right?) If you had great test scores, it won’t hurt to send them along, but no test scores are needed.</p>

<hr>

<p>If you are applying as a sophomore transfer, there are varying scenarios (the shades of grey):</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Sophomore transfer applicants who had high school records (GPA + Test scores) that likely would have resulted in admission to USC plus a good first semester of college (3.5+, 3.7 better) have a good chance of admission without an SGR. They should submit their ACT/SAT scores regardless of the number of units they will complete by Feb OR June.</p></li>
<li><p>Sophomore transfer applicants with excellent high school records (uw GPA 3.8, rigorous schedule), but test scores below the middle 50% of matriculated freshmen (so below about 1900) and an excellent first semester of college (3.7+), will likely get an SRG. It would be fine if those applicants don’t submit SAT/ACT scores even if they won’t reach the 30 unit total until the end of Spring - USC has flexibility there, which is why you get different answers from different USC sources. </p></li>
<li><p>Sophomore applicants who high school records (GPA and/or rigor) were not the type that would be accepted as freshmen, but who had high test scores (2100+) and an excellent first semester (3.7+) will likely get an SRG. Those applicants should submit test scores.</p></li>
<li><p>Sophomore applicants who high school records and test scores were both below what would typically be admitted as freshmen but with an excellent first semester (3.7+) of college work may receive an SGR (if there were circumstances explaining the hs record), or they may be rejected - USC will want to see two solid years of college work from those applicants.</p></li>
<li><p>Sophomore applicants with a crummy first semester of college (probably 3.2 or less? Not really sure of a specific number here… but you probably can identify “crummy” yourselves) will probably need to work on the GPA and try again next year regardless of hs record and/or test scores.</p>

<hr></li>
</ul>

<p>So don’t worry that your application will be “incomplete” if you choose not to submit your test scores. Present your application in the way that you feel puts you in your best light and USC will consider it - they are pretty flexible. If you have great or good test scores, submit them. If you don’t have test scores or don’t like your test scores, don’t submit them.</p>

<p>Best of luck to ALL of you!</p>

<p>*Please note that I am not including any “chances” for the varying scenarios (except the applicants who would have been admitted as a freshman), because the results after an SRG are variable - sometimes applicants with a 4.0 for their SGR are rejected - my only guess there is that they are doing some enrollment management - waiting to see how many admitted transfers choose to enroll before making final decisions on some of the applicants with SGRs, but that is just a WILD guess.</p>

817

<p>alamemom: Ever since last year, I keep glancing at your username, and no matter how many times I try to remember not to say it… I keep saying, Agamemnon :/</p>

<p>Clean and clear post, thank you!!</p>

818

<p>haha! I LIKE it - makes me sound very regal… much better than being a-lame-mom!</p>

819

<p>So i had like a 3.0 GPA for my 1st quarter<all ges=“” and=“” it=“” should=“” have=“” been=“” 3.4=“” but=“” whatever=“”> and not a decent SAT score, <about 1800=“”> but i somehow got perfect score on math < i guess that wont help much></about></all></p>

<p>Based on alamemom’s evaluation, Im pretty much gonna be rejected…my essay wasnt that good, it’s just about how i struggled w/ my early days in the states as an international student.</p>

<p>Hm…I think i should start prepare for my next year’s application instead of hoping for this one.</p>

<p>@alamemom: when i first looked at your user name , i was like why would anyone pick a lame mom as an username LOL</p>

820

<p>Great post, alamemom! Do you happen to know of what else admissions will look at besides for grades for junior transfers? Its been discussed that they do not take EC into consideration, but I would like to know your opinion. (I feel that my essay wont come out great so I’m depending on my EC’s)</p>