Please Read First: Posting "Chances" Threads

cc411 · 09-23-2008, 07:45 PM

BEFORE POSTING A "CHANCE ME" THREAD, please read this.
(Don't post your chance thread here. Start it as a new thread.)

To increase your chances of getting responses, please try to follow some guidelines.

1. Use College Confidential Terms of Service-
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/..._read_and_post

2. This forum is for USC chances only. For other chances, go to "What are My Chances" in the "College Admission and Search" forum.

3. Please browse other threads here and on other schools' threads because there is a lot of good advice- esp. other Stickies at the beginning of a school's forum. "Search" is your best friend.

4. Check out Nikara's "FAQ for USC Admissions" which is a featured discussion. I'm going to try to get it moved to a Stickie which will hopefully be more visible at the top of the USC threads.

5. Please remember that no one here knows if you will get in and we are all just giving our opinions from personal experience. We have no evidence that USC adcons (admissions counselors) monitor this web site and answer questions. Our opinions are really worth nothing. Even though some complain about chances threads here, many here do understand the anxiety of wanting to know and will try to help. Just look at it as a fun conversation with friends.

6. Please do not ask for chances until you are applying as a junior.

7. Check out links available on the USC Admissions Website- Sorry if these become obsolete but you can find them again.

USC Undergraduate Admission - Freshmen
USC Freshman Profile
http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergr...rofile2008.pdf

8. Be neat and use correct grammar. Use bullet points, sections headings, and bold headings. To BOLD, underline, or any other formatting, use VB code:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/misc.php?do=bbcode
For example, to bold a word: preface it with a beginning bracket, the small letter b, then an end bracket. End bold by typing a beginning bracket, a slash /, then an end bracket. It will look like this when you type it:
[ b]BOLD[ /b] Take out the spaces. (I had to put them there so it wouldn't run the code.)

9. Please include:
Unweighted GPA on a 4 point scale
Weighted GPA on a 5 point scale
If you don't know how to calculate GPA, don't post a chances thread.

# of Honors, AP, IB classes
Don't list every class.
Class Rank, Class Size, School Type
Test Scores
State your highest ACT or SAT (superscored=combined sittings for SAT is used.) Please TOTAL your scores for those of us who do not have calculators at our fingertips.
ECs
List your principal ECs- state the years involved, leadership positions, and write a short explanation if it isn't self-explanatory. Don't use abbreviations that most would not know. Arrange from most to least important to you.
Employment
Years involved, nature of the work, what you've done with the earnings
Honors & Awards
Arrange from most to least important to you.
Essays
Short explanation of your topics or how you will present your interests, passions, strengths, ?.
Class of...
What year will you be starting college?
Intended Major/School
USC has several schools within USC- e.g. CLAS=College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences; Marshall=Business; Viterbi=Engineering; School of Cinematic Arts=Film, etc.; Annenberg=Journalism; Rossier=Education; Thorton=Music, etc.
Other Factors
State any other information that can be useful, e.g. state of residency, 1st generation in family to attend college, URM- under-represented minority, talents, personal qualities, etc.

10. Recommendations and interviews are considered but no need to list on a chances thread. Legacy is not normally considered but you can list that in Other Factors. Financial situation is not considered in USC admissions.

11. "Preview Post" before clicking on "Submit New Thread." Read through it and see if it is CLEAN and CONCISE. Make sure it is EASY TO READ and UNDERSTAND.

12. Have a good attitude. Accept opinions graciously and ignore rude people (trolls).

13. Most of all, GOOD LUCK!
FIGHT ON! (That's how USC fans like to end correspondences.)

Anyone want to add anything?

Post YOUR "Chance Me" thread on a New Thread.

menloparkmom · 09-23-2008, 09:29 PM

14. In order to be considered for a merit scholarship [ TRUSTEES/ PRESIDENTS/ NATION MERIT] your application MUST BE SUBMITTED by DEC 1.

cc411 · 09-23-2008, 11:58 PM

^Correct for merit scholarships- (Trustees, Presidential, International, Jewish Leadership, Associates.)

However, National Merit Scholars who name USC as their first-choice college with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (and are accepted to USC) will receive 1/2 tuition. They do not have to submit their application by Dec. 1.

USC Financial Aid - Grants & Scholarships - Undergraduate - Freshmen Only Scholarships

FauxNom · 08-02-2009, 12:42 PM

I'm bumping this thread for the benefit of all you rising seniors who are wondering if you should post a chances thread. The links herein provide lots of great info. In terms of stats, the average USC admit has an SAT score of 2100 or so, and an unweighted GPA of 3.8. Those numbers alone should be a good starting point for evaluating your prospects.

Georgia Girl · 08-02-2009, 01:42 PM

Please note some of the individual schools at USC require an EARLIER date when the application must be submitted:

School of Cinematic Arts--All supplementary materials and application by Dec. 1.
Baccalaureate/M.D. Program--Application by Dec. 1. Supplementary materials are to be submitted to CLAS.
Thornton School of Music--Application and required materials to Thornton by Dec. 1. A supplementary application is required for all majors and an audition for most majors.
School of Theatre--Supplementary application and undergraduate application must be submitted by Dec. 1. After the supplementary application is received by the USC School of Theatre notification will be sent of the dates and locations of auditions and interviews.
Roski School of Find Arts--Applicants must submit a supplementary application by Jan. 10 and a portfolio.