[size=4][color=green]**Decision: ** Accepted
[color=black]
Date applied: January 14th (lol)
Date decision postmarked/received:
March 26th
**Which school/major at USC: ** USC’s Viterbi School of Engineering (Biomedical Engineering with Pre-med)
**Scholarships: ** N/A
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1480 Composite (690 E/790 M)
ACT (breakdown): N/A (didn’t take)
SAT II (place score in parentheses): Math II (780), Biology M (770)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 5%
AP (place score in parentheses): Human Geography (5), World History (5), Biology (4), Chemistry (4), Psychology (5), US History (5), Calc AB (5), English Lang (3)
IB (place score in parentheses): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: AP Government/Macroeconomics, AP Statistics, AP Calculus BC, Mandarin 3, AP English Lit, AP Physics 1, and Chamber Orchestra
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): None really
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses):
Varsity Tennis (Captain)
Science Bowl (Captain)
National Honor Society (Vice President)
Unidos (Community Service Rep)
Asian Club
Model UN
Chamber Orchestra (1st Violin)
Job/Work Experience:
IN-N-OUT Employee (2 Years)
Volunteer/Community Service:
Reading Partners Tutor
Glendale Health Center Volunteer
Summer Activities:
MIT’s Women’s Technology Program (2019)
Tennis camps/private lessons
Essays (rating 1-10, details)::
Common App Essay: (7/8) I rewrote this essay about 5 times, but I was never fully satisfied with it. I tried talking about my love and passion for art as a hobby, and I tried intertwining the arts with STEM. In hindsight, I should have written about something that’s more personal and narrative-like.
The tell me about yourself choice essay (9): I talked about growing up in an immigrant household, and how I grew up not understanding English. I tied it into how this was the driving force to helping others and how I wanted to help tutor others in English.
Why USC (7/8): Introduced how I found my interest in STEM and how USC will facilitate my needs.
How will you use Engineering (7/8): Talked about how I watched a documentary on ALS, and how that inspired me to partake an industry that uses an innovative approach. Talked about how I wanted to change the world of medicine and engineer novel medicines to help those in need.
The Last engineering prompt with the 14 Grand problems (6): I had no idea what to write but I chose to importance of engineering better medicine, and I tied it into my volunteer at Glendale Health Center.
Teacher Recommendations (rating 1-10, details)::
Calculus Teacher (9): I honestly think that my Calculus teacher wrote me in the best light possible. We have an amazing friendship, and he truly understands my aspiration, my weaknesses, and my interests.
Counselor Rec (rating 1-10, details)::
Chemistry Teacher (7/8): I heard my chem teacher was pretty bad at writing rec letters, but she has known me for 4 years. I also excelled in her class, and she’s my supervisor for NHS and Science Bowl. So, I believe she knows me very well and can see the potential I have. I hope she was able to portray me in the best possible light.
Additional Rec (rating 1-10, details):: I can’t remember if I submitted an additional rec to USC or not, but if I did, it was probably from my MIT’s WTP program supplemental.
Other
Applied for Financial Aid? Yes
State (if domestic applicant): CA
Country (if international applicant): N/A
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: Asian (Chinese)
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: 120,000+
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): LOL none
Reflection
Strengths: SAT scores, GPA
Weaknesses: Essays, and probably extracurriculars, and definitely awards
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I have no idea
Where else you are applying or have already applied:
Accepted: UCD, UCSB, UCI, UCSD, USC
Waitlisted: MIT, UCLA, UCB, Harvey Mudd, UPenn
Rejected: JHU, Cornell, Harvard, Columbia
Awaiting: Stanford
General Comments/Advice/Hindsight: Honestly, the college process is so rough and emotionally exhausting. There are many times when I began doubting myself and my intelligence. I got waitlisted at so many school that I began to question what I did wrong. At times, I thought that my major affected my application because many less driven people around me were getting into better schools. In the end, I am just extremely grateful that USC was able to see my potential and drive, and they chose to accept me.