FAQ for USC Admissions - Page 15

raddad · 09-22-2009, 02:45 PM

jazz/shredder mom - My S is a freshman in Thornton. I can give you a summary of what the Dean of Thornton told a group at the auditions last January. A young man indicated he had been focusing on his music to the detriment of his grades and wondered if that could keep him from being accepted. Dean Cutietta said "It happens all the time". Thornton faculty choose to audition you based on your music application without looking at your grades. They then take the list of the people they want to accept to the admissions office and start at the top of their list based on the audition and any other basis they have to assess the applicants. The #1 musician will be lobbied for hard, like a quarterback with borderline grades I assume, although I don't know if Thornton gets as much lattitude on grades as they might give the football coaches

If you are the bottom of their list of musically accepted students and have great grades, you are in, but if your grades are borderline, probably not. So, it is tough to get a good read without knowing how well the audition goes or the perception the faculty has based on the prior exposure to your S. Sounds like your S is a pretty good student at a pretty good school, so I suspect if he is what they are looking for musically he would likely get in. I suspect it will come down to their desire to have him based on his musicianship.

Alex7592 · 09-22-2009, 09:05 PM

Quote:

ALEX! I don't wanna see "only" and "2200" in the same sentence from you again! Agree with Eiffel - submit both. And apply before Dec 1. I looked at your chance thread. Apply before Dec. 1.

Haha thanks.
But it was a hypothetical situation. I'm retaking the ACT and I was wondering what I was going to do if I got a higher score than my SAT.

Eiffel · 10-03-2009, 10:52 AM

This might sound really stupid, but I can't find the place to declare a major or minor on the USC application. Help?

Eiffel · 10-05-2009, 07:33 PM

^Anyone know?

cc411 · 10-05-2009, 07:40 PM

We can't see the online application unless applying so only those actually filling out app can help you. You might want to make a separate thread to ask this since those doing app now may not look here.

According to the paper app that can be downloaded, question #2 asks for major.
http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergr...Form1_2010.pdf

Eiffel · 10-05-2009, 07:48 PM

^Thanks! I went back to the online application and found the section I needed, and your link helped me!

FindAPlace · 10-05-2009, 08:21 PM

Just an FYI. My S submitted a Part 1 application a week or so after they came out, so he has a USD ID and is on their radar screen. I swear it was only last week that they sent an email for the "not required" interviews, which we want him to do, since we live in the area. Well, we tried the on line form and it showed no dates for the school of his intended major (physics.) H called this morning and found out they were booked already, but that S could get an interview with a general admissions officer in early December, on campus. He discovered that only about 25% or so of the applicants interview, so I guess there are only so many slots ... I wonder how many there are on more restricted dates in other cities.

Eiffel · 10-05-2009, 08:25 PM

Yeah, I'm not sure about the interview. They say it doesn't make any considerable difference in admission, and I'm pretty sure I can't interview with my major anyway (Screenwriting) though they haven't gotten back to me. I could interview with general admissions but I would rather not worry about it if it won't make any difference. :-/

zprophety · 10-23-2009, 06:12 AM

Does your prospective major also affect your admission chances?
I'm worried that applying to Computer Science may decrease my admission chances, so I'm contemplating applying as undeclared.

studentna · 10-27-2009, 11:06 PM

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I am confused. I just submitted Part 2 about 2 weeks ago. I haven't received anything in the mail yet; all I have received is an email confirming my submission. So what next? What do I need to do to completely finish my application process? The score report, the transcript sheet, and the recommendation? Is that it?

cc411 · 10-27-2009, 11:37 PM

Here are the instructions for completing the application:
Freshmen - USC Undergraduate Admission

There is a link for status check on the left but from past experience, this often contains limited info. You can call admissions to see if your file is complete.

studentna · 10-27-2009, 11:56 PM

When do I receive my USC ID so that I can finish these forms? Thanks for the help.

jazz/shreddermom · 10-28-2009, 01:56 PM

Sorry if this has been answered already, but I can't find it. If USC does not honor Score Choice, but also does NOT require SAT II's, how does one send them all SAT I scores without sending SAT II scores? (The SAT II's were not so great; no reason for anyone to see them who doesn't require them!)

alamemom · 10-28-2009, 02:18 PM

jazz, I don't have a student applying this year, so I can't see the application. Does it specify anywhere that you cannot use score choice? I can find no official statement on the admissions website that says not to use score choice. I know USC has been mentioned in news articles about universities that are not pleased with score choice, but I am not certain it is an official policy.

If there is any mention on the application NOT to use score choice, don't use it. Simple.

jazz/shreddermom · 10-28-2009, 02:39 PM

alamemom, no it does not say anything that I can find other than they "recommend" you send all scores. Hmmmmm.