What are my chances of getting into USC?

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

<p>Junior from Arizona (Phoenix area)</p>

<p>Current unweighted GPA: 3.3
Current weighted GPA: 3.8
By the time I graduate, I will have taken 7 AP courses and 6 honors courses.
My school doesn't rank. Or maybe they just don't tell us until senior year.
First Generation College Student
Multiracial (Hispanic/White)
Jewish</p>

<p>Test Scores:
Just took my SAT today, but on the practice I got about 1880. I took a prep course so I'm hoping for 2000.
I'm also taking my ACT in February. I got a 29 on the practice, I'm hoping for a 30.</p>

<p>Religious Extracurriculars:
Junior year-President of Temple Chai Temple Youth (TCTY, a Jewish youth group)
Sophomore Year-Programming Vice President of TCTY
Senior year-I will most likely be Regional President of the Southwest Region of the National Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY-SW, a large affiliation made up of Jewish youth groups like TCTY from Arizona, Las Vegas, New Mexico, and Texas)
All years-Hebrew High School Student (attend two hours of class every week on topics such as Israel, the Holocaust, etc. Students who complete Hebrew High School receive a special diploma upon graduation)
Six years of Jewish summer camp, including two summers of LTP (Leadership Training Program)
Sophomore year-Youth Endowment Board (the board is given a sum of money and is in charge of determing which charities to distribute the money to)</p>

<p>Athletic Extracurriculars:
Four years of school softball (1 year Freshman, 2 years JV, 1 year Varsity)
Three years of club softball
One year of school basketball</p>

<p>Musical Extracurriculars:
Piano lessons for 10 years
Taught myself guitar (I am also a songleader in NFTY-SW)</p>

<p>Work Experience:
Temple Chai (Tutor, Administrative Assistant) September 2006-May 2007, July 2009-October 2009 (seasonal position)
Safeway (Grocery Store, Courtesy Clerk) June 2007-August 2008
Starbucks (Barista) June 2009-October 2009 (going back to work after this semester and planning to work all senior year)
Camp Charles Pearlstein (Camp Counselor) June 2010-August 2010</p>

<p>School Clubs/Societies:
National Honors Society-Junior/Senior
Society of Women's Scholars-Junior/Senior
Spanish Honorary Club-Sophomore/Junior/Senior
(may run for an officer of one or two of these clubs for senior year)
65 Roses Club (Cystic Fibrosis)-All years
Founder of Camp Swift Club (explained below)</p>

<p>Community Service:
Camp Swift (about 1500 hours)-Camp Swift is a summer camp for underprivileged inner-city children from the Phoenix area. The camp is planned and run by Jewish teenagers who volunteer their time not only during the summer, but throughout the year to plan camp and raise money. (These hours include 12 sessions of camp plus planning and fundraising throughout all four years)
I have participated in other community service projects including playing the piano for retirement home residents, assembling toiletry baskets for Hurricane Katrina victims, volunteering at food banks and homeless shelters, and American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. These other activities add up to roughly 200 hours total.</p>

<p>Other Important (or maybe not important?) Factors:
-I will be paying for my own college/graduate school
-My cousin is my legal guardian. My mother died when I was seven and I don't know who my father is. I'm hoping I can use my experiences to write some compelling essays. Also, if you know of any scholarships for adopted, single-parent children, etc., that would be great!</p>

<p>I'd like to go to medical school eventually, but I don't know if I necessarily want to major in science. I was looking at English (Creative Writing), Kinesiology, or Biomedical Engineering.</p>

<p>I know this was really long. Thanks so much for your input!</p>

2

<p>stats are low, but hooks are excellent, with multiracial status (URM) and first-gen, as well as everything else, I think you have a very good shot. I’m thinking 60-80%, just wouldn’t count on a lot of scholarships.</p>

<p>Financial aid is good at USC, so if you or your cousin can’t pay for it, they’ll assist you in that.</p>

<p>Just as an FYI, i had a 1810 SAT and ended up scoring a 33 on the ACT, so if you’re able to improve those scores as well as get up your GPA, then you have a really good shot, just dont slip up.</p>

3

<p>thank you so much for your quick reply! i know my stats are on the low side…i wasn’t the best student freshman year haha. hopefully they’ll get a little better after this semester though. :)</p>

4

<p>upward trends are also a good thing, they like to see improvement, and that can sometimes make up for a slightly lower GPA than average.</p>

5

<p>i agree with what Lightja said. Hope you get in!</p>

6

<p>Sorry, but your hooks won’t do you much good at USC, since they already have more international students than any other school, lots of out-of-state students (relatively)–and they already have a very large Latino population that has very high GPAs and SAT scores.</p>

<p>You would need to be much closer to the current average GPA (3.7 to 3.8 UW GPA) and SAT numbers (1950/2400) to have any chance. </p>

<p>I suggest you go to another college (either a 4-year school or a California or Arizona community college) after you graduate from high school, do well at that college and then transfer to USC after either your freshman or sophomore year of college. Out of all the college transfers, about half come from California community colleges. You’ll need about a 3.60 to 3.65 college GPA minimum and will need to take the required transfer courses to qualify–but this is your only chance in my view.</p>

<p>Good luck, though–and I hope I’m wrong about your chances.</p>

7

<p>Great ec’s. GPA and test scores are the only thing that can hurt you. I hope you’re in. I’d say 40-60% shot.</p>

8

<p>You have some nice hooks, and URM status, but never rely on those next year during the admission process. With your current stats, I’d say you have a weak chance of admission. Write some killer essays and raise those scores, and you’re a shoe-in.</p>

9

<p>Thanks so much for all the help!</p>

10

<p>update: 28 ACT, 1870 SAT (610 CR, 610 Math, 650 Writing)
:)</p>

11

<p>Study hard to raise those test scores and then you have a really good shot.</p>

12

<p>update: 1890 SAT (superscored)
GPA up to 4.0 weighted, 3.5 unweighted
awarded the Best Buy @ 15 scholarship
elected president of NFTY-SW</p>

13

<p>GPA should be within striking distance now, but the SAT score is what might hurt you. Keep trying to boost it up.</p>

14

<p>I agree with you that some really compelling essays will likely make a difference. I wonder if you also have a college counselor at your high school who can go to bat for you with the USC admissions officer for your region. Your accomplishments are very impressive and I really hope you are admitted.</p>

15

<p>thank you so much :slight_smile: i know USC is a high reach for me and i’m still not entirely sure i’m gonna apply since it’s very uncertain that i’d be admitted. but it helps to know there’s a chance that i might have a shot haha.</p>