@WWWard @ljberkow @joerbnsn : It is really hard to tell how either of these are choosing. USC’s volume is too high, but Emory has slightly “better” admits/matriculates in terms of incoming stats I think, but I don’t put too much stock in that as they are so compressed at all these elite schools. The difference is sort of irrelevant. I do feel as if this slight “quality” difference may smooth out differences in the admit rate though. If I had to guess, the chances of admission are probably very similar, but I suspect they admit and tend to draw different types of students (personality and career goal wise) as they have completely different vibes and locations, and even curricula. I would say that these schools have a similar trajectory, but are just not the same. They should be visited first and felt out to the best of the OPs ability. I liken USC more to a Virginia, Vanderbilt, maybe dare I say it, UCLA. Emory is a D-3 school that is much smaller and a more “academic” leaning if you know what I mean. The culture is very different in many ways.
And OP: You should stop taking APs and SAT2s in things you don’t enjoy. What is the point? Find something you enjoy, dig deep into it, let it fill a portion of your resume and then sell it in the essays and supplements. As for schools…please. Don’t get it twisted, most students are not coming from the “best” schools, and were just those who did well in the context of a basic school. Any non-STEM school with common sense, especially Emory, evaluates the applicant in the context of their specific school, locale, and as much as they can glean from the context as possible. So you can do with that what you will because no one here can tell your chances. There are plenty of denials, acceptances, and wait-list offers for all of those who seem like even ideal candidates. That is just the truth. I won’t pretend that I know your chances or have some “feeling”. I am not an adcom.