Just submitted my appeal!!
Would any of you share the appeal FAQs? My son is a RHP applicant and I don’t think there are any mentions of appealing in his rejection letter. Thanks!
Q. Why wasn’t I admitted? My grades and test scores are strong, and I’m involved in my school and community.
A. The primary reason is the competition. The number of exceptional applicants was much larger than the number of students we can accommodate. This year’s group of applicants have never been larger or better qualified: The average admitted student earned an un-weighted GPA of approximately 3.8, and reported an SAT or ACT score higher than 98 percent of test takers worldwide. Thousands of students with grades or scores above these averages were turned down.
Q. In addition to grades and test scores, what else did you take into consideration? A. We know that grades and scores tell only a part of your story. As we read, we note each applicant’s individual talents and strengths, whether they were work-related, service- oriented, athletic, artistic or scholarly. Every application was reviewed by admission committees composed of staff or faculty members. Writing samples and résumés were carefully reviewed, as were the reports completed by your counselors or teachers, and other recommendations. In looking at your academic history, we also considered the rigor of your curriculum, where you attended high school and the trend in your grades.
Q. How many students applied for admission and how many were accepted? A. This year’s first-year applicant pool was the largest and most qualified in USC’s history. We received about 64,000 freshman applications for only 2,800 places in the fall first-year class. We offered admission to only 13 percent of the applicants.
Q. Can I transfer to USC?
A. Yes, we welcome outstanding transfer students. Nearly one-fifth of USC students have transferred from other colleges — typically community colleges. (If you wish to consider this route, apply right away to a community college to maximize your enrollment choices.) Successful transfer applicants earn a strong A-/B+ average in a rigorous program that mirrors a typical USC first-year schedule. This summer is a good time to start planning. Please visit admission.usc.edu/transferring for more information.
Q. Can I appeal this decision?
A. If you wish for us to consider new and compelling information not included in your original application, or if you believe we failed to consider your case appropriately, you may submit a formal appeal of our decision. The instructions are on the back of this page. We will review the case, but we rarely overturn decisions.
Q. What are the chances an appeal will successfully overturn the decision? A. Appeals are unlikely to change our decision. In a typical year we receive approximately 1,000 appeals and 30-50 decisions are overturned.
Q. How do I appeal the decision?
A. To appeal the decision you must submit the items below no later than Friday, April 6, 2018. 1. A cover sheet providing the following information:
Your full name.
Your USC ID number.
The name and location of the school you attend.
2. A one-page statement from you telling us why you wish to appeal. We are most interested in new and compelling information that was not a part of your original application.
3. If you have not already sent your mid- year grades, please report them through you.usc.edu or arrange to have your school send the Mid-Year Report form through the Common Application.
To submit these, upload your documents via you.usc.edu. In the Submit Application Documents section, choose Appeal of Admission Decision from the Document Library.
Q. May I submit additional letters of recommendation with my appeal?
A. No, we ask that you not do so. To burden school officers and letter writers on such short notice is not appropriate.
Q. May I submit the appeal via fax?
A. Yes, you can print fax cover and closing sheets on you.usc.edu to fax your appeal. The fax number will be on the cover sheet.
Q. May I deliver the appeal in person?
A. If you wish, you may deliver your appeal packet to the USC Admission Center.
Q. When will I know the results of my appeal?
A. We intend to notify you by email on Friday, May 11, 2018. Given the small number of successful appeals, and that our notification will come after the May 1 National Candidates Reply Date, we recommend you accept an offer of admission to another institution. If your USC appeal is granted, we will provide further instructions.
@rose1234 thank you so much!
@nrod17 I can look over it
@jj1999 I can help look over yours too if you’d like
Would appealing hurt your chances to transfer the next year?
I’ve seen some replies on previous year appeal threads that people also sent appeals to the deans of their department and not just admissions? Do you guys think this would be okay? I was thinking maybe I could send mine to the dean of the film school where I applied. Also would you guys recommend I mention the interview I had with one of the film professors? He said he was very impressed with my application and said some other positive things too. That leads me to guess that ultimately I think my application decision was reached because of my poor GPA but I’m not sure.
Is it ok that my appeal letter is slightly over one page?
I would keep it to one page!!
where do we appeal? is it online?
do you think admissions would be annoyed or notice if I make it 11 point font in order to make the 1 page max?
No, that is fine, it isn’t a high school essay.
What are some things you guys including in your appeals? And is it safe to mention that I would want minor or double major business along with film and television production? was a part of business/marketing club this year won first place at my area competition January the entrepreneurship category. It made me realize also really interest me, connect somehow but I’m not sure how. Any ideas?
I watched a video by “brainrose” on Instagram. The link to the video is in his bio. It was about his successful appeal to USC.
I think i screwed myself over by making it a business letter format. I was afraid writing it like brian rose’s would get it denied, but i wanted to shed light on my circumstances my app didnt reflect. So i had to write it objectively while weaving a little bit of personality in it.
Don’t worry too much just because he was accepted and did it differently. I was surprised at how informal his was, but I am not changing mine to make it more like his. And I think since you are talking about what wasn’t in your application it can be more formal. He didn’t really have any new information, so he just argued why he thought he should get in.
is it strictly due by midnight today?
@flyingmonkey123 I’m also appealing for film production! Was that your first choice major
@jelly39 it was film and television production! I’m really into production design as of right now but I also want to explore the different factors that go into making a movie. What about you?