<p>I would advise starting your essays now and finding a teacher or other adult knowledgeable in English to read them over. As far as grades, find something that works for you. Plan ahead and learn to predict the amount of time needed to spend on homework and studying, so you know what activities to say no to. Keep an academically challenging, but manageable course load. Take as many APs and honors as you are interested in and can maintain a high GPA in. Do not take 4 APs if you know it will be too much. </p>
<p>Improvement will definitely be noticed by colleges, as will your dedication to outside activities. Most colleges want well-rounded students. Avoid mentioning tough teachers in essays, etc. to avoid looking like you are making excuses (justified as they may be). However, writing passionately about one of your activities can help you stand out. And you could mention your improvement/refocus, if it strengthens an essay.</p>
<p>@toxiccriminal my other piece of advice is, you definitely don’t want to start a downward trend. That is definitely a red flag. If you cant handle stacked up AP courses, then don’t. It’ll screw up your chances for other schools and that’s not something you should be doing if you can’t handle it. </p>
<p>My advice is, write a phenomenal essay. Those essays are hard to write, because they can’t be cliche and you really have to put your thought into it. But even then I don’t really see a way for you to get into USC with more reassurance. </p>
<p>I would just pray USC likes your app enough, and find less selective schools to add to your list. Sorry and good luck. </p>
<p>@iamnotready Agh, this is so discouraging (not because of you, but because I definitely made a mistake in listening to my counselor who told me to go for a well-rounded schedule rather than a rigorous one)! I suppose I should just hope for the best at this point…I’m definitely looking at other UC’s and Cal States, as well as out-of-state colleges, but these 4 are my main choices for one reason or another.</p>
<p>@toxiccriminal hey, don’t let it get to you. We’re all allowed to dream, aren’t we? Just do what you can, even if chances aren’t good. Chances are meant to be defied anyways.
We all make mistakes, but just move on and learn from them. You can always transfer later on if you really want to. At least now you know what you’re up against. Good luck once again, and LOL fight on! </p>
<p>OP, you need fast triage. Dig into what these colleges look for- sometimes, it’s stated in their web pages; other times, you have to glean it from their online words and the sorts of kids they tout. The competition is fierce, with many 4.0 kids with super ECs. We don’t even know what your ECs are, whether they are what adcoms at different competitive schools look for. Make sure you show as having responsibilities and impact in those ECs- not just titles, no African schools, no founding the pie club, etc. No assuming ECs can trump academic potholes. Plus some legit local community service,. Your essays should “show, not tell” the personal attributes the colleges want to see. Get the grades up. Consider a serious summer class you knock yourself out to get an A in. I don’t think USC recalculates your gpa. They look at classes taken (yes, honors is a step up from regular) and the grades. You can check whether legacy helps, in their web site. Pull it together. For LoRs, be sure you know the writers and they know enough about your strengths, motivation and follow through to write a letter about your performance and potential- not just “nice guy, does his homework.” You can start that contact now. Don’t assume there are shortcuts. Or that B’s at your school will count as A’s-- that’s an odd thing being posted lately. B’s are B’s.</p>
<p>What I am saying, is get it in gear starting tomorrow morning and change any impressions from this year’s B’s. That takes drive. Drive and follow-through are good to show. See the approach?</p>
Yet you got in with a 3.7 GPA and a 2290 SAT. So clearly your friend’s fate proves nothing. Kids with those stats get turned down by schools less selective than USC all the time, for various reasons.</p>
<p>I disagree with you about how schools look at EC’s. There used to be a series of 6 or 7 videos on YouTube where a Stanford admissions officer goes into great deal about that many different candidates. They, at least, definitely paid a lot of attention to EC and leadership positions.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, you are right that all those schools are a reach for the OP. I think almost everyone said that. That is why she needs some definite matches and safeties added to her list.</p>
<p>I think you should be okay for USC. I went to a top HS in California and we regularly sent kids with 3.6 UW GPA’s and 1900 SAT’s there. I’m honestly a little surprised that its acceptance rate is that low, but I digress. OP you’ll be fine. Same with Cal. </p>
<p>Penn and Stanford are pretty big reaches for everyone, and those 4 B’s won’t help, but if your high school is on the level of Stuyvesant, I’m sure colleges will understand. Good luck! </p>
Congrats on USC by the way!</p>