I really want to go to USC and I"ve read on their website they require 2 years of foreign language. I was planning on taking my second year of spanish next year, junior year, since i took one year in freshman year (why is there a gap? its a long stupid story and i hope it doesnt ruin my chances). however, my school is introducing a creative writing class elective next year and i feel like i should take that instead to improve my writing “talent” as a way to get into usc. if not i was planning on taking the writing class senior year instead of continuing spanish.
i really really want to take the writing class and get into usc, but their website says two years is required. do i still have a chance of getting in if i prove my talent as writer?
extra info:
online spanish didnt work (hence the gap year)
my grades are As and Bs
i also do speech & debate (i’m event captain & historian) and volunteer weekly at the public library
USC requires 2 years of Foreign Language. That’s it. Why would you think they would abandon their requirements for you? I guess you really don’t want to go to USC. http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/faq/admission_standards.html
This is a university making the decisions; you can’t make your own rules or assumptions. They pick their students, not the other way around.
Most students who apply from California have four years of a foreign language. So compared to them, you’re sunk if you apply. You will be automatically rejected if you don’t meet their basic requirements. They won’t care if some 18 year old thinks she can write. Future trojans have a further foreign language requirement:
I agree with @“aunt bea”. Be glad they only require 2 years of a foreign language. I think most top privates expect at least 3 and some even want 4. I’m not in CA, but our state universities require 2 years. My younger D is struggling with the foreign language requirement as well. She dropped French freshman year after 1 semester and we’re trying on-line Latin this summer and my fingers are crossed that she can get two years of Latin done on-line by graduation.
Well, that’s only half true, obviously, or maybe even only one-third. First the students pick them as a possible choice, then USC picks who they would like to have, then those students pick again between USC and other schools that liked them.
I any case, I also agree that it is highly unlikely USC wouldn’t just auto-reject your application as not fulfilling the requirements for consideration, the same as if you had not submitted SAT/ACT scores. When the latter happens, the application never gets acted on. Same here I feel sure.
I think you are also being a bit short-sighted, letting your immediate desire for this creative writing class overwhelm your judgement regarding your resume and therefore your choices of colleges. There will be ample opportunities to write in college, and most schools have various creative writing classes. There is plenty of time and opportunities to hone your writing skills, but only one time-line to (hopefully) get into the college of your choice. First things first, young lady @thequeenoftea
Not only should you take that foreign language but you should try and take Spanish senior year too. An alternative would be for you to take college Spanish 1* at a community college over the summer and take either cc Spanish 2 Fall semester or his Spanish 3 next year, which would free a period to take creative writing senior year. Or take Spanish 1+2at a local community college during the year and take creative writing too, provided you can achieve A’s in both.
