<p>@ DJpsu2015
For USC or the current school does not require algebra or calculus. I think that you still need to take the math to fulfill the general education. But if its not specific then I would think that statistics would be fine. But aren’t you also applying for the critical studies major? How’s your portfolio going? I haven’t started mine yet for the animation program.</p>
<p>@BlackRose,</p>
<p>I actually decided that I’m more prepared for their Communication program at the Annenberg school. I did start my portfolio, but I felt like my material wasn’t strong enough. I’m thinking about sticking with the Communication/Journalism route (where I began) and minor in Cinematic Arts. Thanks for the response! How’s your portfolio going?</p>
<p>Hello All:</p>
<p>I’m new to College Confidential and I am also beginning the transfer process to USC for the 2012 fall admission as a first-choice Business Admin major and second-choice Communications major. I’m so nervous and just got one of my final grades in my Astro class and got a C+. My 5 other grades which include from my Econ, Business Calc, English 200, etc. consist of A’s and A-'s. What do you guys think about that 1 C+? Do you think it will really do me harm? I mean, I’m my second year at a university and since, I have had an upward trend, although last fall (my first semester) I got a C+ also.</p>
<p>Just a little worried.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for the feedback :)</p>
<p>Who didn’t do as well as they thought they would over the fall semester…? Because I sure didn’t! Still gonna apply though. I’ll never know unless I try.</p>
<p>PS. If you wanted to tell them why you didn’t do so well in your app, how would you go about explaining that?</p>
<p>@hajypajy: I sure didn’t. I was hoping for a 3.8 to continue my upward trend but I got a stupid A- in my German class >_<! So my overall is a 3.76…so lame. I did get a B in my College Algebra, but that was a blessing. I hate math and it hates me. :p</p>
<p>I think there’s a spot in the Common app towards the end that says: “if you want to mention anything else, blah blah”. You could write an explanation there.</p>
<p>I know I’ll be using that to explain my crappy high school gpa.</p>
<p>@gousc92 </p>
<p>haha you did a lot better than me. it was definitely a really rough first semester. i don’t even wanna tell you my gpa. but rest assured i did not enjoy my time here whatsoever. it’s kinda depressing actually. with all that aside, how would you go about explaining your situation without making it sound all whiney as if youre begging them for admittance?</p>
<p>@hajypajy: I would just adopt a matter of fact tone. Just be like, “I didn’t perform up to par because of reasons A, B and C.” I’m a bit iffy on whether or not it’s acceptable to put a resolve at the end, like “I know I’ll do better” or something, idk, lol. But yeah, if the environment depresses you, say it, state why and what about it affected your grades this fall term. But don’t start whining or bashing your school, be sure to use this as a way to illustrate why SC would be a far better place to be at!</p>
<p>@hajypajy: i dunno about that. I would think if you said that you got sick a lot during the semester or something like that then it would be acceptable but I honestly would put because i think that this school is depressing or I hate this school is because I didn’t perform to the best of your abilities. If you do your going to have to really put it delicately and not too blunt kind of what gousc92 was saying, for example its all a matter of tone. :P</p>
<p>So, when exactly do we send in grades then? Do we wait for Winter Quarter to end or just send in the Fall Quarter grades we got?</p>
<p>And do you guys think there’s going to be an issue of major impacting in transfer admissions?</p>
<p>@kawaiirice: I’m not sure, I think it depends. Hopefully someone else here can give a better opinion. But if you did well in winter, then obviously I’d wait and send those in, but if you didn’t do so hot, then definitely just send in your fall grades.</p>
<p>Well, I usually hear about major impaction in regards to the UC/CSU system. I know that specific majors/schools within USC are more competitive than average (Marshall, Annenburg, Thorton, School of Cinematic Arts, etc), but I don’t think it’s said to be “impacted”. :</p>
<p>@Gousc92,
But there’s an initial requirement to send in my grades for the fall as soon as my application is sent in, no? That seems rather counter-intuitive to me, as the website asks for all transcripts, high school and college. I’m not very sure. </p>
<p>I wonder if Viterbi has that same issue- I know that many schools have a major impact problem in engineering, and I’m wondering if I should just switch to Applied physics. Do you think they compare your application with other people in the same major or do they compare it as a whole?</p>
<p>@kawaiirice: As I’ve never applied to USC before, I see what you’re saying. If they want your fall grades, then send it in, and then send it your updated winter grades when they become available.</p>
<p>I don’t know how they go about evaluating applications, but I would assume that it goes by schools. Viterbi looks over your application, and if they don’t want you, then they would forward it to CLAS. So it would be them looking over your application and stacking it against those in your prospective major, if that makes sense.</p>
<p>@Gousc92
That seems about right. Thanks for clearing that up. </p>
<p>One more question in reference to the whole thing about the reasons you might not have done well- Does depression count towards this? Does it help to explain why you were depressed and how that has affected your school work and your decision to transfer?</p>
<p>@kawaiirice: No problem! :)</p>
<p>And I think that as long as you do it in a mature, honest way without whining, then yes, it would be appropriate to mention that on your application. But as I told hajypajy, and again, this is just MY opinion, make sure you shy away from bashing your last school. No one wants to read a bunch of negativity.</p>
<p>@Gousc92
Thanks again. I didn’t mean in reference to the school really. More like, personal issues and problems coping with depression symptoms. Thanks for the heads up about whining, though.</p>
<p>@kawaiirice:
I know this was mentioned somewhere else in this thread but what do u mean about major impaction?
Also you have to send in some kind of transcript before the deadline which is Feb.1 They might in the middle of the Spring semester ask you for you mid-term grades but i don’t think u have to send in those final grades for the spring unless asked or if u think it would help u further because u did well. But depending on when your final grades come out it might be too late to even send them in to consider it for evaluation since most schools end in May and I believe decisions are made in May too.</p>
<p>@BlackRose21
Major impacting is basically when there are too many applicants and students in a particular major. Usually, this means that there are specific requirements for admission to the major, and it’s incredibly difficult to get classes for major requirements. It also means the standards are usually higher, and that it’s hard to jump from one major into that particular impacted major. As far as the Viterbi School goes, it seems none of the majors are impacted, so you’re welcome to switch between them as long as you fulfill the requirements, I believe. I’m unsure of the other schools. </p>
<p>Thanks for that bit about the transcripts.</p>
<p>@Blackrose21: Thanks for clarifying that about the transcripts! I really wasn’t sure on that. I’ll definitely be making arrangements to send them as soon as possible.</p>
<p>Well, after I submit this application, lol.</p>
<p>Hey guys new to CC. I’ve been lurking for a while and just recently decided to join in the fun. I’m applying for fall 2012 and didn’t see anyone applying to the occupational therapy program on here. So yeah I’ll be applying to the occupational therapy program, and I’m just now getting to my essays :0. This last fall semester was brutal Haha. Have most of you already turned in applications?</p>
<p>Welcome to the club, bandit!</p>
<p>I don’t think many of us have turned in our applications yet, but we’ll probably get to that around mid-Jan to late-Jan. Occupational therapy definitely sounds interesting! I agree the past semester was brutal, but managable. The question is: can I do just as well for this upcoming semester? I will be lacking some serious social life trying to keep my gpa above the average. Whew! Hope all of our efforts pay off in the end…</p>