New England Prospective Student

Colleges & Universities University of Southern California
1

<p>i am a prospective student from connecticut. i applied to 5 schools: USC, BC, Villanova, Northeastern, and Bentley. so far i have been admitted in to BC, Villanova, and Northeastern, however, USC is theoretically my number one choice. i say theoretically because my parents won’t allow me to visit until i get accepted (they don’t want to spend a ton of money visiting for me to get denied… understandable). never even visiting California before in my life, i really don’t have a good justification as to why i want to attend USC, but on paper the schools looks awesome. </p>

<p>basically all i’m asking is for somebody to chance me. here is my resume i attached to the common app:</p>

<p>Course work includes: Honors Geometry, Accelerated English 9, Accelerated Earth Science, Honors Algebra 2, Accelerated Chemistry, Accelerated English 10, Honors English 11, Honors Pre-Calculus</p>

<p>University of Connecticut Early College Experience and AP Courses:
AP/UCONN Biology, UCONN Discrete, UCONN Statistics, UCONN Elementary Math Modeling, AP/UCONN Physics, AP/UCONN Calculus 1, AP/UCONN Calculus 2, AP/UCONN English, UCONN Spanish V, AP US History</p>

<p>GPA: 98.9 Rank: 4/240
SAT: Critical Reading: 580, Math: 750, Writing: 600</p>

<p>Honors/awards
Spanish II Award (9)
Business Award (10)
UCONN ECE Statistics Award (11)
Saint Michael’s College Book Award (11)
National Honor Society (11, 12)</p>

<p>Clubs/activities
Class President (9, 10, 11, 12)
Student Government (9, 10, 11, 12)
Upbeat Peer Leadership Program (9, 10, 11)
Principal’s Cabinet (9, 10)
St. Paul’s Religious Education (9,10)
Planner of annual Senior Breakfast (9)
Teaching Assistant at Pre-K Religious Education (10)
National Honor Society President (11, 12)
Grand Marshall at Graduation (11)
Close Up Political Leadership Washington Visit (11)
Prom Committee (11)
Trip Coordinator (11)
LiNK - Liberation in North Korean - Assistant (11)</p>

<p>Community Service
Town Picnic Volunteer (9, 10, 11)
Student-Tutor, Math (9, 10, 11, 12)
Senior Center, weekly (10)
School Recycler (11)
Veteran’s Day Memorial Speaker (11)
Red Cross Blood Drives (11)
First Lutheran Church, Soup Kitchen, weekly (11, 12)</p>

<p>Employment
Self-Ran Digital Slideshow Business (9, 10)
Walgreens Service Clerk (11, 12)</p>

<p>gpa is weighted. i also attended the usc meeting in boston back in october. what i’m truly concerned about is my low sat scores. i did apply before the dec 1 deadline to the viterbi school of engineering. i am a white male. thank you to anyone who replies.</p>

2

<p><a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/private/1112/USCFreshmanProfile2011.pdf[/url]”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/private/1112/USCFreshmanProfile2011.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>WGPA: 98.9 UWGPA: ?? 93?? = 3.7 est.
SATs: 1930
Awards: Yes
Comm Service: Yes
Sports: N/A
Arts: N/A</p>

<p>The above link shows that you’re probably slightly below the average UWGPA for USC and as you say, your SATs are well below the 25th%-tile. The additional problem is that Viterbi is generally believed to be at he higher end statistically (especially math-wise) for applicants. </p>

<p>The good news is that you’re in at BC which has always struck me as very similar to USC statistically speaking. Of course there’s no engineering school at BC so I’m not sure you can read too much into that acceptance.</p>

<p>I’m a bit concerned that you “really don’t have a good justification as to why i want to attend USC”. Your essay needs to be spot on to convince the adcoms that SC is the place for you. I think SC is going to be a reach.</p>

3

<p>At USC I applied for computer science/ business administration, which is in viterbi. At Boston college, computer science is in their carrol school of business, which I got in to. My unweighted gap is around a 95.3. </p>

<p>All of my essays were spot on. I talked about the trojan family, the alumni connections, the challenging curriculum, diverse student body, etc. if there is something to read online about USC, I have most likely read it. I say I don’t have a justification because I’ve never really been on campus to see how all of these great things come together. Like all I’m saying with that is, how can I truly love a school without being there. </p>

<p>But yes it is probably a big reach. I’m hoping since I’m from Connecticut my chances increase. Thank you though!</p>

4

<p>Chance me:
Hi, before I begin I would like to say I appreciate your input. </p>

<p>I am the descendant of haitian immigrants who never went to college.
I am currently a junior and will be the first to go to college and probably the last since my little brother is autistic. </p>

<p>I entered my junior year with a 2.6 GPA, and if my calculations are correct I will end this semester with a 2.7 GPA . The reason for my low GPA is due to domestic issues (depression & divorce) However, I am a student with a lot of potential however that does not reflect on my transcript, unfortunately. </p>

<p>I have been doing quite well this year with an AP course in addition (AP English with a solid B) </p>

<p>This year I am taking:

  • Accounting I
  • Web Development
  • AP English
  • French 3
  • CP US History
  • Algebra 2
  • Honors Chemistry
    And I am currently a student aid for an entrepreneurship class. I assist students with their business plans for an In School Business Plan Competition. </p>

<p>I have not taken my SATs yet; I plan on taking them in June up until November of next year, just so that I can complete my Algebra 2 course and develop my vocabulary.
I am aiming for 2000 </p>

<p>Next year I plan on taking 4 AP courses:

  • UCONN Microeconomics
  • UCONN Macroeconomics
  • AP Biology
  • AP Literature (English)</p>

<p>Here are some of my ECs: </p>

<p>Freshman Class President
Vice President- MAD4Haiti
1st Place In School NFTE Business Competition
2nd Place Fairchester Business Competition
Created a business called Nesserts; selling Fruboos - an alternative healthy fruit cup
Recipient of Student Leadership Award
Recipient of Award for Intro To Business
Recipient of High School Computer Studies Award
NFTE Alumni
Met/Shadowed Jeff Erdmann
Mentioned in school newspaper (America’s Next Inventors ? AITE Edge)
Mentioned in Stamford Advocate (<a href=“http://blog.ctnews.com/thegrade/2011…-competition/;%5B/url%5D”>http://blog.ctnews.com/thegrade/2011…-competition/;</a> correction Sophomore)
AVP Marketing Department of F.L.O.W - JA Company
Founder/President of The Excel Group
FBLA
InterAct
Debate Team
Intern Stamford Hospital’s Marketing/Strategies Department
Runner up Outstanding Young Business Woman (2011-2012)
Over 100 hours of community service (expectation)</p>

<p>Here are some colleges I’ve been looking at:

  • Bentley University (used to be Bentley College)
  • Northeastern University (#1)
  • Syracuse University
  • Bryant University
  • Rochester Institute of Technology </p>

<p>I want to be a Financial Analyst</p>

5

<p>

I think you may have posted in the wrong forum - this is the University of Southern California forum.</p>

<p>You might get more input if you post in the What Are My Chances? forum and the forums of the schools to which you plan to apply.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

6

<p>Whoops, thank you!</p>