<p>My D was initially admitted as a Freshman for Spring 2013. While initially disappointed, she had come up with alternative fall plans but then was bumped to the a Fall 2012 There are only 3 options, admit for fall, admit for spring or reject (USC doesn’t have a meaningless wait list). Ask the students who received a rejection and I know the majority of them would take the Spring admit over no admit (I’ve seen the threads). My D plans to study abroad Spring semester next year and also plans to graduate in 3 1/2 years after Fall semester 2015. This leaves an opening in TWO Spring Semesters so it really makes sense to offer this admission. No one is forced to take it. If you don’t like the offer, consider it a rejection and move on. </p>
<p>(USC might make it a little more clear to all applicants that they might be offered a Spring admission. I believe much of the anger comes from the lack of knowledge that this is a possibility).</p>
<p>What Seattle doesn’t appreciate that you parents are conveying is that college admissions is ridiculously difficult nowadays… outside of my work in Hollywood, I coach an extra-curricular with high school kids and every trend that differentiated my high school experience in the 90s from my older brothers’ experiences in the 80s has now gotten worse. I took 2 APs - some of my kids have taken 15. I never took an SAT prep class, which is downright laughable today. You get the point.</p>
<p>The biggest problem in broad terms is that the demographic bulge of Millennial kids has never been adequately addressed at all by colleges and universities. Not only are state schools not adding seats, they’re continuing to cut them. One perfectly good kid of mine was a good B student who did very well in extra-curriculars but hadn’t yet found her passion and lit it up in the classroom. She never even applied to UCs and got letters from Fresno State and Chico State saying that she was qualified but that they didn’t have any room for her. Consequently she’s at NAU. Very happy there and for that I’m glad, but she could’ve had roughly the same experience at Fresno or Chico and without the out of state tuition for her parents. Meanwhile, the fancy privates, as you all undoubtedly know, don’t want to mess with their “brand” and their “experience” and thus haven’t added seats. To me this is ridiculous, as during World War II they somehow knew to shut up and know their place and trained soldiers en masse. Nowadays they wouldn’t let public service get in the way of their precious U.S. News rankings.</p>
<p>Congratulations to your kids on getting in to USC. It’s very difficult to get into a top school, period, nowadays and in a few years this will be forgotten. Personally, I like the idea of doing a little travel or working rather than simply going to a community college and taking classes. It could easily be taken as an unanticipated window for some great personal growth and self-discovery. I was very much a nose to the grindstone kind of kid myself and never did the backpacking through Europe thing which would’ve been wonderful</p>
<p>OH, and the above didn’t even mention the ridiculous COST involved nowadays. College has always been expensive (at least on the private side) but the absolutely staggering cost nowadays means that the older notions of finding yourself and taking a class on a whim are gone. I’m pretty sure that 99% of the students entering now have planned out nearly all of their 4 year curriculum down to the class as best they can, simply because of the cost.</p>
<p>There’s a documentary coming out right now (already playing in New York and L.A.) called Ivory Tower about the runaway cost of college nowadays and the changing nature of the institution. About 10 years ago, PBS also did a very good documentary called Declining by Degrees along the same lines, which was also quite good.</p>
<p>I lay the blame squarely on President Nikias and his cronies in the administration. No USC admitted freshman should have to enter in the spring semester and miss out on all of the activities afforded fall admittees, especially the social interactions unique to the transition between high school and college. Not one freshman at HYSP is treated that way. USC will be better served when a USC college graduate OR more empathetic visionary leads our university. Nikias is clueless on this critical issue. </p>
<p>So the alternative is to flat out turn down the spring admits. Frankly, if I were a student in that position I would be disappointed. Then they might as well turn down transfers too?</p>
<p>Honestly - you’re an older alum so I don’t understand why come on to disparage the people who have a shot at the same education you had. “Delayed start” is still better than “never.”</p>
<p>If you don’t like USC’s vision - explain it to the university. From my perspective, the university is like any other - flawed but students like mine, are doing just fine.</p>
<p>You’re completely missing my point. I’m not disparaging the spring admits, who have higher stats than most transfers. I’m saying they all should be admitted for the fall semester or not at all. USC can and should accept them for the fall semester and rely less on transfers. And yes, it’s better to get in as a full freshman than being deferred to the spring. Social media is a great way to voice our opinions. Treating spring admits like second class freshmen needs to stop, and Nikias is to blame. His reliance on spring admits is only to boost our US News ranking by artificially lowering the admission rate.</p>
<p>I didn’t miss the point. There isn’t room enough - isn’t “that” the point? A better option would to be allow students to indicate if they preferred to be spring admits. For some families the option might be attractive if the student can take classes at community college in order to graduate on time. And for some students facing “competitive high school or prep school marathon burn-out” the time off might be refreshing. I do like that they now have a Paris option for spring admits. Still - your comment points to my concern - admit them in fall or not at all. I’d much prefer to be a spring admit than a “denied.” And I can’t tell that any of my daughter’s friends seem scarred for having to wait out the fall. And certainly one has a much better experience than the classmates who were told to wait an entire year (or two) and then transfer.</p>
<p>I feel sorry for all students who are denied the fall traditional and transitional college experience and others who are shipped away quietly to Paris, just as wealthy parents have done with problem children for years. There is no reason any spring admit should not be permitted to start in the fall because all are otherwise highly qualified, especially compared to transfers. USC can certainly accommodate all of them. </p>
<p>Hi!
As a spring admit who was deciding to attend USC or not, I found myself going on college confidential a lot to find out how the spring admit experience was. To be honest, I was nervous about housing and how my freshmen year would be impacted. To any future admits though, I would like to mention that college confidential does not represent the outcome of everyone. Me, along with many other spring admits all got the housing we wanted, and those that didn’t, after a little pestering from their parents did as well. USC is a great school. Don’t not go just because you are starting late. After the gap semester, I realized how much I needed this break. It might just be the best of both worlds. Fight on!</p>