<p>Here is how i look at it..... say u are a CEO of a top company in New York. you get two prospects applying for the same job. one of them went to harvard and got a 3.4 GPA and the other went to Idaho state (first thing that came to my mind...know nothing about the school...dont take offense) and got a 3.7 GPA. who would you choose? i think the vast majority of people would chose the harvard graduate. or say for example, u walk into a doctor's office and u see a harvard, UPenn, and Yale diploma hung on the wall. you would quickly and unconsciously assume that he is the best doctor possible compared to a doctor who has an Idaho St diploma hung up. i know that everyone says it doesnt matter what school u go to, it's HOW u use ur degree...but we can't deny it, ivy league and top school degrees open a much wider door that "normal" universities don't. i think our society is more concerned with name and reputation..and i myself admit am too. it's not like there is this secret book of knowledge and facts that only ivy leagues possess. chemistry at harvard is the same chemistry at Idaho state. </p>
<p>it wud be interesting to hear your opinions on this subject....does it really matter where u go to college? will u make more money with an ivy league (or top TOP university) degree? will u have more oppurtunities with those degrees? etc. ...i personally think the answer is yes to all those questions....</p>
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<p>taking those opinons into account......what are my chances for a full-ride at USC.....my top choices are bekreley and UCLA, but i realize that because i am out-of-state and they don't offer much financial aid to out of state studnets, i think USC is my next top choice. i really want to go to college in Los Angeles, or actually anywhere in California (a beach and good social life is a must...)</p>
<p>i'll copy and paste my stats from a previous post:</p>
<p>first off...let me explain my background, as it could contribute to my chances...i am an African-American male (specifically, Sudanese-American). I lived in Saudi Arabia and Egypt before i moved here about seven years ago, but i have the US citizenship. my father is from Sudan and my mother is form Egypt. </p>
<p>School stats:
GPA: unweighted 3.9 (only got one B+ in AP Euro)
SAT: 1960 (M: 660, CR: 600, W: 700)...will be retaking in october
ACT: taking in october
SAT II: US History: 750, Physics: 630, Math 2: november
AP classes: by the end of my senior year, i will have taken 10 AP classes and 3 Honors classes </p>
<p>clubs:
Model UN, JSA, Spanish CLub, Key Club (community service club), Diversity and Awareness Team, FCCLA, and helped found this club called SOTENI, which raises AIDS awareness in Africa and raises money. </p>
<p>honors/Awards:
National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award, Scholastic Achievement Award in Spanish, Red award of excellence for 4.0 GPA, and was invited into many of the NYLC and other leadership seminars but couldn't attend because of money, (should i include National Scociety of High School Schoalrs?)</p>
<p>extracurriculars:
I played tennis for 3 years on the tennis team (won the Junior Varsity city doubles championship). i love to play squash (maybe i cud join the berkeley or ucla team if they have one). every summer, i go to Saudi Arabia and i volunteer at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital, so i have a lot of documented hours there. i also volunteer at other organizatios such as Operation Smile and do walks/marathons and other community service things. i tutor people in my school, especially science, in all subjects. finally, i work at Kumon Math and Reading Center, where i am the Head Tutor there. i tutor kids of all ages and all levels in english and math. I also do the computer work and "administrative work" since i am the chief tutor. i have been working there for six years, even though i wasnt officially paid until mid-sophomore year. </p>
<p>Intended major: chemistry or biomedical engineering</p>
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<p>I'm only looking for a FULL ride at USC undergrad and am very interested in the combined ba/md program, even though i wud still attend if i didn't get in. what r ur opinions of USC Medical School (keeping in mind the public's views on name and reputation). I am 99% sure that i want to go to medical school and become a surgeon in Los Angeles. wud going to USC help my chances at finding residency in LA or wud it make no difference. finally this is probably a stupid question but if i wnated to do residency in UCLA medical center, wud a USC degree hurt me, as they are kinda "rival" schools?</p>
<p>looking forward to ur thoughts.....</p>