what are my chances of getting in with a 1490 sat, 32 act, excellent teacher recommendations, unique but mediocre essays, lots of extracurricular involvement, and a female Hispanic applying to engineering?
This is regarding the WBB program. The program is unique and sounds very impressive. Any current or former students on CC? Can someone explain their experience with the program so far? Is there more information or links for WBB? Daughter got the admission and she is beyond excited. But we are trying to get more details on the program. Also, any idea if anyoneâs Presidential scholarship got bumped up to Trustee one?
@californiagorl Keep your hopes up! I have similar stats except I did not send a recommendation in and received a white box. I think you definitely have a good shot. I donât want to get your hopes up too much but definitely donât dismiss USC! Hang in there! March is closer than you may think!
@unkownnick yes you can get bumped up but it is really not very common. Also she can still get the $2500 nmf scholarship. That scholarship will be for all 4 years in addition to her presidential and usc also throws in a small additional one to those two also for the 4 years.
Thank you!
@Marcie123 Thanks so much for sharing your memories of Explore! My daughter is very excited and we have already signed up and yes, after reading your response, decided best for both my husband and I to go too!!
@CADREAMIN @WWWard Thank you so much for all your great insights. So incredibly helpful! Our D did not get in during the January cycle. She has the grades and test scores but maybe didnât stand out enough. Some schools say for kids to write an email expressing sincere interest when this happens. Do you think this would be helpful? She doesnât have any major changes or new awards, just continued great great grades, etc. Do you advise anything we can do at this point to help? Thank you so much!
@californiagorl I think your chances are probably great. I have a 1560 SAT and a 35 ACT, and Iâve been declined by every school (4 top 50 schools but definitely not Ivies) to which Iâve applied except the one in-state school to which I had automatic admission, but I am a straight white male. Therefore, I assume that I am absolutely NOT what these schools want.
@collegemom111111 I have this question as well.
@collegemom111111 Thereâs no harm in connecting with a studentâs admission officer, but I wouldnât be confident that this would give anyoneâs application a huge positive boost.
USCâs admission officers are undoubtedly very busy right now trying to get through the thousands of applications that they each have to read. I imagine that they donât mind hearing from interested applicants, but I wouldnât be surprised if it took a while for them to respond.
Hello all! Was accepted as a Presidential Scholarship finalist on Saturday through the portal. I live in NY - has anyone in my area gotten their white box yet? Was just wondering the general timeline - I want to read the materials provided before I book my Explore USC dates.
@s0meUSCkid95 i was wondering if a USC professor I have been in contact with (she knows my family) writing me a letter to admissions could help my application. The professor is in my intended major and knows quite a bit about me. They wrote the letter to admissions back in December (I didnât get a scholarship but wasnât really expecting one!)
I believe they wrote about my character, high school involvement, and how USC is my first choice school, which I also told my regional counselor.
I know itâs a holistic application process but any insight as to if this ever helps a student would be appreciated!
@simona14 Yes, Iâm sure that can help, but like all letters of rec, I canât imagine that one extra letter would make all the difference. If a given applicant isnât otherwise competitive or a good fit, I donât think that the final decision would be tipped by a letter from a USC prof.
Should I send them an email or letter telling them that usc is my number one choice and Iâd go definitively if I got in or would they just discard the letter.
@magbertus01 in NY here my D got in as well but still no box. Congrats!
Oops the above post was meant for @excitedtobehere
@CADREAMIN thanks for all your advice! I so value your insights and respect your experience. I have one question- is it possible that the email requesting âadditional FAâ documents was somewhat a hint? Can we consider that seriously? I so willed it to be a sign and sure enough my D was accepted and is a scholarship finalist! Feeling so blessed!
@SlimJim005 We feel your pain. My S is similar except he does not have a great reason for his 3.7 UW GPA. 1590 SAT in one sitting, 800 Math SAT II, most APs he can take, 4 years in highest level band, 3 years Varisty tennis, good ECs and jobs. Rejected at UVA and Penn (despite being a legacy) deferred at Tulane and Michigan. I am beginning to think that he will not get in to any top school and might have to take a GAP year if he wants to attend a top college. Very frustrating. I think for white males from heavily populated states you need to check every box, which includes a near perfect GPA, to get into a top school unless you have some other hook. But having some perspective, it will all work out in the end. Try to stay positive and wherever you end up, do your best and you will succeed.
@CaptainRonnie My excuse on GPA is that my father had significant cancer during my freshman year. UVA booted me late Friday night too â right after UNC rejected me â both without deferral/waitlist. BTW, tennis is my sport too.
@SlimJim005 I understand and am sorry you had to go through that - hope your Dad is doing well. My point was that you have a very compelling reason to explain grades not commensurate with your abilities which makes you even a better candidate then my S, who really loves learning and basically got As in his quizzes and exams but did not turn in homework assignments that he felt were busy work on time which caused him to get some Bs instead of As. That is hard to explain and he did not even try. You are obviously very bright and things will work out even though things may seem bleak now. Good luck and hope to see you posting acceptances shortly.