What Score do i need?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

<p>hey guys i just have one quick question considering the information below </p>

<p>what ACT score do you guys think i need in order to have a great chance to get accepted to USC? </p>

<p>I think i need a 33 based on the admission stats i have looked at but i wanna see what other people may think </p>

<p>I have the summer to study and i want to know what to aim for. thanks for your responses</p>

<p>intended major- Undeclared</p>

<ol>
<li><p>GPA:
3.5 uw, 3.9 gpa weighted. i have taken 12 honors/ap classes freshman to junior year. This year i am taking AP Biology and AP Calculus BC which are the last two ap/honors classes my school offers. i have recieved 3 C's in high school 1 in Algebra 2 honors, and 2 in spanish 3</p></li>
<li><p>Test Scores: 30 ACT first time</p></li>
<li><p>Personal statements: (i kind of integrated the 4 topics below into my essay)</p></li>
<li><p>when i was a freshman my parents got in an accident and i had to start taking care of my whole family. what i mean is that my chores got tripled, i needed to help my parents move through the house, and i had to walk my bro to school before i went. My school and his school are in 2 opposte directions. </p></li>
<li><p>i also wrote about how the envioronment i grew up in has shaped me to be a strong perservering leader and how people see me as a leader not because of my large frame ( i am 6'4) but because of the attidude i have when i am in the room. </p></li>
<li><p>how my parents accident coupled with my volunteering at the hospital has changed my outlook on life and how i found my true calling which is medicine because God has blessed me with intelligence and lots of empathy towards the needy and weak. </p></li>
<li><p>i also included in my essay a great quote from one of a famous surgeon (i am drawing a blank on his name right now) but it said " i was never the smartest in med school, but what i lacked in ability i made up with through discipline." i think this quote really applies to me and i explained why. </p></li>
<li><p>Extracurricular:
Volunteer: </p></li>
<li><p>200 hr. at local hospital</p></li>
</ol>

<p>clubs/sports
1. 4 year nhs (President 2009)
2. 4 year csf
3. 4 year mesa
4. 4 year track and field (Captain, 4 year varsity, and 2 time defending league champ.)</p>

<p>awards:
1. Ap scholar
2. 2009 most improved thrower (made a 45 foot improvement in the discus from freshman year to sopomore year)
3. 2008 league champion
4. 2009 league champion </p>

<p>Letters of Recommendation:
1. head of the math departement at my school (he taught me for 3 classes and his son went to USC)
2. AP English 3 teacher
3. Conselor whom i know very well</p>

<p>other information:
- im from california
- im top 10% in my class of 750</p>

2

<p>My daughter had a 30 on her ACT and got in this year. Her GPA was 4.27 weighted and 3.98 unweighted. Five APs (three of them in progress when she applied). She also had a couple Honors classes. Extra-curriculars consisted of vocal jazz and choir all 4 years. Service clubs: Key club, National Honor Society (President). Volunteered one summer in Guatemala. Of course, she also wrote an essay and answered the little questions they asked. They must have liked her, because she got the fat envelope in the mail. :)</p>

<p>Unfortunately, because she didn’t want to graduate with loans she chose to attend Cal Poly SLO instead.</p>

<p>Good luck to you!</p>

3

<p>^^^^^
your daughter is very smart unforunately i do not have that high of a GPA thats why i need to know what reasonable ACT score i need to get to offset my under average GPA</p>

<p>by reasonable i mean dont tell me i need a 36</p>

4

<p>I would think 33 or above to be safe. I had a 3.4/4.2 & a 33 and I got in :slight_smile: my personal statement was very strong however so if yours is as well then that will definitely be a plus. I would also recommend interviewing if you are offered the chance :)</p>

5

<p>seasalt: its funny that you mention interviewing right before i logged into CC today i checked out the USC interview. How are they? and How does it go?</p>

6

<p>Does a 31-32 put you in range for a pretty good shot at getting in?</p>

7

<p>No score will guarantee you a spot. The admissions staff looks at your entire package: grades, test scores, activities, etc.</p>

<p>I had a 35 on the ACT, a 2240 on the SAT, and a 3.9 unweighted GPA, and I was admitted.</p>

8

<p>They’re pretty casual. Mine was in a hotel conference room with the Associate Director of admissions at LAS. We basically sat down and chatted for 30 min. She asked the basics (ie. what do you want to do, why, etc.) Then about my family and friends, what I thought other people would say about me… Also about my goals with my major and why I wanted to pursue that. We also talked about the subject of my personal statement and things I liked to do for fun. It was pretty random, but definitely not like an inquisition.
edit: I honestly think that the interview was the clincher on my admission. :slight_smile: I think I made a bigger impression with the interview + my application rather than just my application alone. I <em>strongly</em> recommend doing one.</p>

<p>Also, I second Hawkwings on the not being guaranteed a spot with any test score. Certainly getting a 33 or higher will put you in a good position if you can tie everything else up in a neat little package :)</p>

9

<p>seasalt i hope your right because the only thing bad is my gpa</p>

<p>here’s the breakdown
GPA- Will definately be under average because there is no mathemcatical way it will break 3.6 by end of this year
Test Scores- almost there aiming for a 33-34 as many have suggested
Personal Statement- Very Strong
Letters of Recommendation- Very Strong
Interview- I hope it will be good i am a very good public speaker and when i was in elementary i won the african american speech contest three years in a row (2002-2004) so interview will hopeful be a plus</p>