class of 2014: chance?

Colleges & Universities University of Southern California
1

<p>User Name: dreamupsided0wn
Gender: F
Location: Lake Zurich, IL
College Class Year: 2014
High School: Public
High School Type: sends some grads to top schools
Will apply for financial aid: Yes</p>

<p>Academics:
Junior 1st Semester GPA - Unweighted: 2.88 (yes, I know it’s terrible; my UW semester GPA is usually at least 3.4. Unfortunately, I failed a math class this year because of a huge problem with my teacher. I WILL be retaking the course over the summer so my GPA WILL increase again.)
Junior GPA - Weighted: 3.38
Cumulative GPA - Weighted: 3.54
Class Rank: top 50% - #186
Class Size: 560
Honors: almost all.
AP: European History (4), United States History (took this year), English Language & Composition (took this year - expecting 5), Art History (took this year), United States Government & Politics (taking next year), English Literature & Composition (taking next year), Spanish Language (taking next year), Music Theory (taking next year), Psychology (taking next year - self study), Environmental Science (taking next year - self study).</p>

<p>Scores:</p>

<p>ACT: 31 (English: 32, Math: 27, Reading: 32, Science: 33, Combined English/Writing: 31, Writing: 10) - retaking in fall 2009. Goal: 33.
SAT: will take in fall 2009.
SAT II: will take US History, possible others in fall 2009.</p>

<p>Significant Extracurriculars: Concert Orchestra, Jazz Band (next year), Drama Club, Technical Theatre Club, International Thespian Society, Habitat For Humanity, Math Team, Scholastic Bowl, Environmental Awareness Club (next year), Spanish Club (next year).</p>

<p>Leadership positions: Concert Orchestra: Violin I Section Leader, Officer; Drama Club: Historian/Photographer; Technical Theatre Club: Secretary, Stage Manager for several plays/musicals/performances; International Thespian Society: Honors Thespian; Scholastic Bowl: one of many captains - not official.</p>

<p>Volunteer/Service Work: Habitat For Humanity. Looking for more.</p>

<p>Honors and Awards: Honors Thespian (International Thespian Society), several Math Team awards, several Spelling Bee awards, photography contest awards, 2009 Illinois Theatrefest participant, Honor Roll/High Honor Roll.</p>

<p>Applying to USC’s School of Cinematic Arts for either Critical Studies, Film & Television Production, or Writing for Screen & Television. I know I’m not that great of a student, but with a decent portfolio is there at least SOMEWHAT of a chance that I can get into any of these programs?</p>

2

<p>In all honesty, I would say that it’s very unlikely based on your GPA, courseload, and class rank. However, I wouldn’t count you out since you’re applying to SCA. You’re definitely going to need to wow the admission committee with an amazing portfolio. The problem is that there are many applicants who are extremely talented in the fine arts who have 33+ ACTs and 3.8+ GPAs as well. Just work hard to prove that you’re going to be a great film student and you still have a shot.</p>

3

<p>That’s what I was thinking. Thank you for the feedback! :)</p>

4

<p>Good luck. I support all applicants from Illinois who understand how great of a school USC is.</p>

5

<p>I disagree. It’s MUCH harder to get into SCA with bad grades than it is to get into the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. SCA is much more competitive than most schools in USC (it might be the most competitive??), and they take people with good GRADES, not good portfolios. This is because not every student has had the time/opportunity to make or write films and they don’t want to base their decision solely on that. A person with a killer portfolio and a 3.4 WILL lose out to a person with a 4.0 and an average portfolio.</p>

<p>Remember, you CANNOT get into SCA if you cannot first get into USC. No matter how amazing your portfolio is, if you are not up to par with USC’s freshman class, you don’t have shot. </p>

<p>Keep in mind - USC cares more about GPA than AP test scores (they don’t really care about those at all) and you can only get credit for a SMALL number of APs at USC (hardly any of yours). Drop some APs and GET A GREAT GPA. That’s your only chance.</p>

6

<p>uscgirl16-

I know nothing about getting into SCA so I am curious about your post. Do you have back up or stats to support what you said? How do you know this about SCA admissions?</p>

<p>

It may be different in SCA but I know for general admissions, I’ve been told time and time again by USC adcoms (visiting our local high school and on the phone) that they are looking for students who pursue the most difficult programs their school has to offer.
From the USC admission website FAQs-

“rigor of high school course work” is listed first.
Also from the USC admission website FAQs-

</p>

<p>I think it is very important here on CC to offer opinions but when they are stated as facts, it is also important to help us out and give us back-up. Do you have any links, inside info (more than just one anecdotal story), or any other facts you can point to for us?</p>

<p>Please don’t take this as an attack- I just really want to know. :)</p>

7

<p>Never mind. Good luck, pal</p>

8

<p>Whoa… sorry to see I made you upset. This forum is for exchanging opinions and facts. After many years here, I find that a response (e.g. yours) to a question (e.g. mine) really helps to validate or invalidate an original post. </p>

<p>I really just wanted to know because everything I read on the USC website said otherwise. I said I know nothing about getting into SCA (maybe you didn’t read it thoroughly??)</p>

<p>I’ll try this one more time- Please don’t take this as an attack- I just really wanted to know. Your opinion is valid and I do appreciate it.</p>

<p>Just trying to keep it real while I deal with it! :)</p>

9

<p>ha ha- ^that doesn’t make sense now that you edited/deleted your post!</p>

10

<p>Students should pursue Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate classes whenever possible.</p>

<p>I interpreted the last two words differently. By that, I mean that I think USC wants you to challenge yourself with the most AP’s as possible, but still manage to excel. And so, I would tend to agree with uscgirl. While you at least want to have a minimal amount of AP’s to be considered competitive, I would instead go for the most amount of A’s (AP/non AP courses included), rather than showcasing an impressive amount of AP’s that damage your GPA.</p>

<p>Or maybe it’s just me. I took AP comp sci in 10th grade, a class that my brother took and I was persuaded into taking, a class I was not interested in, did not enjoy, and ultimately paid the price.</p>

11

<p>I think uscgirl16 is right about a couple of things. First, you have to get into USC before you can get into SCA. Getting into USC with a 3.4 GPA is going to be quite a difficult task. However, if the OP does very well during senior year first semester, has taken 9 AP classes, submits a great portfolio, and have some solid demonstrated interest in the school and major, she’s starting to look very good. However, there is the fact that the kids who get in with a 3.5 GPA tend to have very very high ACT scores and great class rank. I just never like to count anybody out. You never know who is going to impress the Adcom.</p>

12

<p>I feel like I should contribute the following info:</p>

<ul>
<li>I don’t know how Honors/AP programs work at other schools but at MY high school, taking Honors/AP courses pretty much automatically increases your gpa. For example, a B- in an AP course at my school is equivalent to about an A in an Honors course at my school, which is equivalent to a little more than an A+ in a regular course. </li>
<li>Honors/AP courses do not bring my GPA down (I maintain As and high Bs in all of mine). The ones that bring my GPA down are required regular level courses (well, and the math class that I failed… but am retaking over the summer - that shows dedication or something, right? heh)</li>
<li>two of the AP courses I’m taking exams for next year aren’t courses I’m taking, just self-studying.</li>
<li>I’m retaking the ACT in September… and actually preparing beforehand. I don’t think my current 31 is that bad though (95th percentile, isn’t it?).</li>
<li>the two non-cumulative GPAs I provided were both my first semester junior year GPAs (I haven’t finished school yet and therefore do not know my second semster GPA – however, I’ve maintained Bs and above this semester). Yes, my unweighted GPA was 2.8 because of the math class I failed first semester. However, I’m currently maintaining an A+ (under a different teacher) which HAS to show something… and, once again, I’m retaking first semester over the summer.</li>
<li>my cumulative weighted GPA as of first semester was 3.5… it’ll be at LEAST a 3.6 this semester since I’ve improved dramatically.</li>
<li>I’m involved in a BUNCH of extracurriculars - brownie points? Anything?</li>
</ul>

13

<p>An admissions rep from SCA said (in 2008) that USC adcoms look at your file at about the same time that the SCA is reviewing your supplement. Each will reach a decision separately–but the USC adcom will look most closely at all the regular stats (GPA, rigor of courses taken, essay, ECs, SAT or ACT, etc). At the same time, the SCA will look most carefully at the material submitted with your creative supplement. If the SCA sees merit, potential, talent, a special POV, diversity, unique vision, unique background, passion, or whatever they look for–they will tentatively select their incoming class in their 5 UG majors. Then, through some less-well-understood process, they communicate their selections to the admissions department who will check the status of those applicants. In other words, if there is a student that the SCA wants who is not high on the applicant pool of the regular USC CLAS, they will discuss. </p>

<p>For all the creative majors (fine arts, theatre, music, cinema, etc), the department is giving a lot of weight to the talents of the applicant, and that may mean they will recommend the acceptance of a student with test scores and GPA toward the lower range of the accepted pool. Just like athletes, I’d guess. But there is going to be only a few kids who will make it into these programs with slightly (SLIGHTLY) lower stats. In general, the university must make sure that each admit will thrive academically.</p>

14

<p>It’s important to keep in mind that SCA is not going to look at a portfolio, per se, for freshman admissions. You get to list your creative endeavors (of which OP has plenty, though they don’t seem to be film-related), but after that the application is very writing-intensive. It was by far the toughest application my son had to do. For the OP, that could be a good thing - here’s a chance to demonstrate your intellect, creativity and interest in a realm outside of stats. If you put in the work, it could pay off.</p>

<p>But yeah, I’d say based on stats alone it will be tough going. I know a great girl USC rejected this year: 3.95 unweighted at an excellent school, 30 on ACT, great ECs, leadership and recommendations. And she was applying to CLAS, not SCA, which is harder to get into than Harvard!</p>

15

<p>I’m relying HEAVILY on the application essay because writing is my strong point, as far as academics go.</p>

<p>Would it be better to submit an SAT or ACT score? What SAT score is “equivalent” to a 33 on the ACT?</p>

16

<p>That’s great that you’re a strong writer - it will really help.</p>

<p>Here’s a conversion chart for the tests, and lots of additional info: <a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/act-sat-concordance-tables.pdf[/url]”>Higher Education Professionals | College Board; You’ve got a strong ACT score already, and if you (a) like the test format and (b) think you can improve, I would be tempted to just work hard on the ACT and forego the SAT reasoning test. Add 2-3 strong SAT II scores, especially Math II if you want to compensate for some of your weaker grades. In theory, USC should be just as impressed with a great ACT score as with a great SAT score. (I hope that’s true, because that’s what my D is planning to use next year!)</p>

17

<p>Thank you for all of the feedback!</p>

18

<p>oh ALSO, I skipped a grade. Does that increase my chances in any way? Is that documented in my school record or anything or do I have to somehow tie it into one of my essays or something?</p>

19

<p>Does being an immigrant/refugee from the former Soviet Union that is fluent in Ukrainian, Russian, and English (third language!) give me any unique human/student points whatsoever? :stuck_out_tongue: Sorry if I’m starting to fish… I really hope my subpar grades don’t ruin everything.</p>