USC is my dream school and I really want to send love letters and commitment to show my interest. I know USC uses holistic review so will those letters enhance my chance?
My SAT(superscore): 2200 cr650 m780 w770
GPA: 3.83/4 weighted, 3.9 this semester
Ranking: n/a
A-Level: Math A, Physics A, Business B, AS Chem A, AS Global Perspective A
Essay: 7~8/10 I talked about my school-transfering experience and how I realized the key purpose and meaning of my education.
Supplement: 9/10 both show my interest in USC
EC: I’m an international student in Asia so EC’s might be hard to judge. Student union work, self-run business in school, music band, student magazine translator, international volunteer work… I’d like to say 7.5/10.
Award: A gold award (top10%) of a British international math contest.
Love letters do not work. Just show reasonable interest! By the way why as an international you have such a strong bond to a school which is not a well recognized name internationally like Harvard/Stanford and so on?
(I have nothing against University of Southern California, as I am myself a graduate of that school, though I am parent of a UCLA student now!)
Haha yea as you said I’m an international so my reasons might be shallow. Universities like Harvard and Standford are just too competitive. H didn’t admit a single student from China during the REA period - it is just crazy! Actually top 50 universities are all recognized here.
And as for USC, I love the sense of community there. People are proud of the school and energetic, especially when things are about UCLA haha. Nice weather in LA, big city, good sports, amazing alumni network. And I have a freshman friend there.
Tbh it’s kinda hard for me to get enough first-handed info about USC, if I said something wrong please correct me! Thanks! =D>
They already know they are in a coveted city for int’l students. “Love letters” seem like a sure way to to annoy them.
Maybe apply? Do you need FA? Or is it simply a nice to have?
“Need-blind” refers to admission, not to FA. “Need blind” only means that in the 1st step of the application review process, your financial situation is not weighed by the admissions committee that reads your application.
You can still be rejected when your request for FA is reviewed by the FA Dept.
Most US schools are need-aware for int’l applicants.
Ok I see. It seems that not to request for FA will be wiser. So the proper thing to do is just follow the university’s future requests, then sit and wait until late March?
USC does not care whether you love them or not as it has all the kids in the whole city of LA (if not the whole Southern California) dreaming to study there! Their love-base is too extensive and they do not need more!
These days they easily reject even their very rich legacies and I have heard that unless your parents had donated 7 figures, you would not be secure!
Thank you all for your replies above. Your suggestions are all useful! I’ll reconsider the love letter thing. Hope I can find myself admitted to the USC in the late March.
