<p>Hello! I am currently a high school senior awaiting my decisions to various schools and I'm starting to get really worried because I have seen applicants much more qualified than myself get rejected from colleges I genuinely thought I had a chance at. With this in mind, I am almost positive that a rejection from USC is in the cards and it sucks and I'm going through this period of self-loathing, wishing that I wasn't such a lazy ass and had worked harder in high school because I am definitely capable! (3.2 GPA, but 2300+ SAT, awesome test scores, and EC's I am proud of). I am an in-state applicant and I think USC is literally the perfect school for me and I do not see myself anywhere else. </p>
<p>So recently, my parents and I have been looking into the option of attending community college for a year, increasing my GPA, and applying to USC Marshall in 2014 as a transfer. What is the likelihood of me being accepted if I get my GPA up to around a 3.8-3.9? Is this too much of a reachy dream for me? I really need your inputs, and some pros and cons to taking this route because my other alternative is attending my local state school and living at home for the next 4 years when I just really want to be a Trojan and optimize all of the opportunities for learning and growth that I will get at USC. Hellllppppp. Please.</p>
<p>This period has been so stressful. I’m on the same boat as you, except I have a 3.8 GPA and a lower test score (1870). What I am trying to do to remain positive, however, is that I am constantly reminding myself that USC really looks at applications holistically. In that case I feel I might have an opportunity. </p>
<p>I feel my EC’s are good, but don’t focus enough on volunteer work. My recommendations were excellent, but I feel my essays were very generic. There are so many things that we can feel so insecure about, but you have to remember USC truly does look at each application as a whole.</p>
<p>I hope this enlightens you a bit. Good luck to you and I hope we both hear positive news by the end of the month!</p>
<p>Remember there is also the chance of getting a spring admit, which may work out fine for you if you don’t mind a semester of CC. I think last year many of the spring admits also ended up being bumped to fall as all of the yield info worked itself out.</p>
<p>As a Cali resident the whole UC & CSU system is built for you. Assuming you don’t get in and if not too late why not try for the likes of UCR or UCSC. My opinion is that a 3.3 is way too good to start at a CC.</p>
<p>If you aren’t admitted, you may also attend your local state school for a year or two and apply, you don’t have to attend a CC. There are plenty of transfer student at USC, probably more than there should be.</p>