You Know You Want To...

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

<p>Yes, it's another chance thread. I'm succumbing to the urge, sorry! Keep in mind that I would be applying as a first choice Music Industry major and second choice English major. I'm worried that my EC's don't stack up for the music industry track seeing as I've never be talented in the area myself, and I'm simply interested in advancing those who <i>are</i> so inclined. Needless to say, I'm going for the B.S. not B.A. </p>

<p>Female</p>

<p>Junior </p>

<p>Caucasian</p>

<p>Attend a very competitve, top 100 public school in Pennsylvania
GPA- 3.8 (UW) 4.2 (W); Top 10% of class</p>

<p>SAT- 2160; 760 CR 700 M 700 W (will retake with hopes of improvement in everything but math...it's just not my strong point)
SAT II- I'm a week away from taking them for the first time and I'm hoping for 750+ in US History and Literature.</p>

<p>Senior Classes: Most demanding senior schedule, five APs. It'll follow my trend of taking the most difficult classes offered..well with the exception of math (although I will be in AP Statistics and possibly an honors calc class)</p>

<p>Teacher Reccomendations- Excellent (although everyone thinks that of their rec's, I really feel mine are above and beyond)</p>

<p>Counselor Reccomendations- Again, to die for. She went into detail about a very intense familial situation which caused me to be removed from one household, placed in a different school district, only to be removed from <i>that</i> household and returned to the original district within one year's time...all the while maintaing top grades. </p>

<p>Extracurriculars-</p>

<p>Newspaper Editor in Chief (12)
Newspaper Columnist (10, 11, 12)
Promotions/Management for locally renowned band (11, 12)
Promotions/Management for radio show (11, 12)
Intern at record label (11, 12)
20 Hour a week job as Customer Service Clerk (10, 11, 12)
Cheerleading (9, 10)
German Club (9, 10, 12)
150 + Volunteer hours (like every other kid in the country)
Brownie (Girl Scouts) Troop Leader Assistant (10, 11, 12)</p>

<p>I'm probably forgetting some, but if I am, the odds are their bullsh**, non commitment sort of things anyway so they won't be listed.</p>

<p>Hook- The personal, melodramatic family "stuff" and fact I've managed to rise above it. My essays will probably focus on this and focus on the ways in which music, although I'm not talented in it myself, was my greatest escape. </p>

<p>Hope this wasn't too annoying and I thank you all for your opinions!</p>

2

<p>I haven't been through the process myself so I can't speak to your stats, although they sound quite good to me. I've served on an admissions committee though, and have read much about college essays, and have one suggestion in that regard. Don't let the essay be too much about melodrama. Obviously, you know that the focus should be the positive things you learned from tough times, but it's easy to come across as one who sees herself as a victim, and that wouldn't help your case. Your counselor's letter covers this well, it appears, so I imagine you could do best with a focus on the music angle, and oh, by the way, it's helped in some tough times.</p>

<p>Good luck! You're obviously on task (letters of rec already, and you're only a junior? Wow!) and should do fine.</p>

3

<p>Thanks so much for your reply. You basically summed up what I was planning to do with my essays in a nut shell, although I think it is important to mention some of the things that happened only because it did involve a change in school districts (and a subsequent drop in my math abilities because I wasn't able to really ever catch up to the five months of Algebra II that I missed.)</p>

<p>As far as being on task, I know that my counselor especially gets tons of requests at the end of Junior year so I thought to stand out from the pack, it would have been best to get the letter done early. Then, while I was already getting them from the counselor, I figured I may as well add my teachers to the list. I have to say, it's a real relief to already have that bit taken care of, now I just have to worry about the standardized testing again (I say this as if it's a small worry..ha!)</p>

4

<p>I'd say you're in. This was alot better than mine</p>

5

<p>Your stats are right in there. To clinch the deal, you will need two things-</p>

<p>-Like rainmama said, your essays will be important and should be positive. Virtually everyone overcame a major obstacle in his or her life. Admissions really like to see your passions come out in your essays.</p>

<p>-Do well your 1st semester senior year. USC will request mid-year senior grades and that can be very important for some applicants.</p>

6

<p>i think that midyears are optional for 'sc
at least they didnt complain when i didnt send mine...</p>

7

<p>^That's because you had a 2300 SAT and 3.9uw GPA! (From your earlier posts!)</p>

8

<p>wow good research</p>

9

<p>Don't you wish everyone would do a search before they ask questions?! As sfgiants says, "The search function is your friend." (How's that for research!)</p>

10

<p>ok you're definitely in.</p>

<p>my stats weren't half as good as that but i got into usc.</p>

11

<p>most likely in. Stats are better than mine and I was accepted. However, USC has a weird way of accepting students some friends of mine with stellar stats were rejected while others with 1800-1900 SAT's and 3.4-3.5 GPA's were admitted. So, I wouldn't count on it 100%</p>