USC chances with bad sophomore grades

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So basically my reach school is USC (southern california) but its a pretty far reach as my sophomore year grades were pretty low (around a 3.0). Apart from that, I had a 3.8 GPA in my freshman year, and i have a 3.4 unweighted currently in Junior year. I plan on getting around a 3.5 during my senior year, unweighted. I took the SAT once, achieving the score of 1960, but I'm taking it again, and throughout my practice tests, I usually manage to get around a 2100. I'm in a relatively competetive high school, and I take the full IB. I attend many clubs in school such as Amnesty Youth, SADD, and a few more. I do a lot of working out in my free time, but do not participate in any school-organized sports.</p>

<p>If this makes any difference: I grew up tri-lingually. English is my strongest language, followed by my father-tongue German, and my mother-tongue Chinese. (My dad is from Austria, and my mom is from China). I grew up moving around the world a lot, living in 8 different countries. I currently live in Austria, and plan on graduating here. I am a very social person, maybe a little bit too much sometimes. I like going out on weekends and I do not rely on my parents. I do intend on writing about my international childhood in my college essay.</p>

<p>So my question is, is USC realistic at all? What can I do to improve my chances? In general, how much do colleges value sophomore year grades? (considering I improve throughout junior and senior year)</p>

<p>P.S. I intend on taking a gap year if that should make any difference.</p>

<p>P.P.S. I'm finishing school at the age of 17, as I skipped a grade in elementary school.</p>

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<p>I think you have a shot, especially with your languages and the fact that you have lived in so many different parts of the world. I would focus on one EC you are very interested in. Your SAT should be right in line if you can raise it to 2100 or so. Try to raise your gpa as much as you can, but you could be okay there. See how they deal with gap years, ie when do they want you to apply. Would they let you apply early, and if accepted, would they allow you to defer to the following year? Or would they advise to wait a year and then apply. I ask because I know someone who was accepted to UCB Law and after he was accepted was able to have acceptance deferred to the following fall, so he could take a gap year. He had to explain why when he requested it. I know it was a different school and graduate school, but something to inquire about.</p>