<p>Im sure you get this alot so Ill try to be very specific…
Im applying ED since this is my dream school to get into, and I know its a reach school for me. Im graduating this year.</p>
<p>Info…
-White male
-class of 2010 from a private school from California (went to the same school, private school, all my life)
3.50 GPA out of 4.0 unweighted…but it can be higher if you get an A in an AP
taking 2 APs total out of 4 years… AP Chemistry and AP Calculus AB (you have to be eligible to take AP’s)
24 ACT 1st time
1670 SAT I combined score (best math, best verb, best writing) …(retaking in a week)
3 SAT II’s…550 US History, 630 Chemistry, 550 Math II
160 hours of community service
hosts live FM radio show, weekly for 2 hours
1 year JV water polo
1 year varsity water polo
1 year frosh football
1 year JV swimming
Mom went to UCSB
Dad graduated highschool
Single mom with 2 kids including myself…with middle-upper class salary…leaning more to the middle-class side.</p>
<p>If anything else comes to mind, I will add it.
remember, Im applying ED.
Do you think this school is too much of a reach for me, or is it just another “average” reach based on the things I mentioned.</p>
<p>USC does not have ED. They do have an earlier deadline, but that’s only to be considered for merit scholarships, it doesn’t give you an advantage in admissions.</p>
<p>As for your chances, I’d say USC is going to be a very big reach. Your test scores are significantly below USC’s average and your GPA is also low. Also 2 APs will be far fewer than many applicants. The only way this could be “justified” is if your school did not offer many APs, but if they offered 10+, then it will show a weaker schedule.</p>
<p>I also agree that it’ll be a pretty big reach, but if you really study hard for the SAT you’re retaking (and get I’d say 2100+), possibly retake the SAT II’s, and whip out some truly fantastic essays, you might have a shot at being a spring admit. Good luck! :)</p>
<p>Also @ akalboy, when you say 2 AP classes is low for USC, do you mean overall? Because I have 3 AP classes from 9th - 11th, but this year I’m taking 2 more. So overall, I took 5 out of either 9 or 10 available at my school. Do you think that’s okay? The rest of my classes are honors.</p>
<p>I would say the average accepted student to USC has probably taken 5-6 AP courses by graduation. I had a friend apply with 2 AP courses, 26 ACT, and 3.6 UW GPA and he didn’t get in. I don’t think he was too surprised either. To the OP, you probably need to raise your test score and put something unique on the table, but I don’t like to count anyone out so good luck.</p>
<p>when i was a freshman 3 years ago most of the people that i met had already taken 6 or more AP classes by the time they were finished with high school. i would assume that number wouldn’t decrease with the rise in academic standards of the incoming freshmen classes.</p>