<p>Doryx, how are you grades looking so far this semester? </p>
<p>El Rey - I loaded up on sparks during finals in the fall, but they didn’t help me that much since I just ended up getting drunk after a few of them, lol. It’s cool that the reps actually gave you numbers as to what a competitive GPA would be for each major since every time I’ve aksed, all I get is “keep your gpa at around a 3.5 and you should be fine”, which I don’t buy at all. Do you have any idea if they admit students based on their majors or by the school they’re applying to (Annenberg, Marshall Etc.)? becuase while I don’t expect to be admitted to the film program, if they do it by major I do have a realistic shot to get into the Creative Writing program.</p>
<p>i stated that poli sci would be my 2nd major choice in my application…and creative writing will most likely be my first. the uc’s i will be applying to sadly dont have a creative writing major so i’ll be going with ENGLISH with the uc system. </p>
<p>something very interesting yet troubling to add…is that a usc rep told me that a competitive gpa is anywhere between a 3.5 - 3.7 for the regular letters of arts, sciences etc… but she mentioned to me that every year the gpa standard is slowly rising and that ppl applying next year for the FALL 2008…those ppl will need to tweak their GPA’s a little higher to be competitive. Expect the minimum to be 3.6</p>
<p>also GOLDENJEt: usc does take into account your major and the school within usc you are applying to. marshall is very competitive, im sure many ppl here know that it is somewhere along the lines of 3.8 or so. i’m not 100% with marshall cause that school never interested me much. </p>
<p>But as for anneberg…to even be considered as competitive, you should have a 3.7. ----- 3.75 if you wanna feel sure. Now, im not saying that a 3.5 wont get into anneberg. they obviously also take into account your EC’s, specific classes taken…and most importantly, the one thing many people forget is…the trends in your Grades and GPA. The cool thing about that, like in my particular case, is that if you didnt do too hot say your 1st semester but all of a sudden kick asss after that, they will see a positive growing trend. </p>
<p>And finally as im sure you’re aware is how impacted the major is. creative writing isnt…which is one of the reasons i think i’ll choose that as my 1st choice. also because i love writing.</p>
<p>going back to the growing trend of good grades, does that also apply if you had alright highschool grades and then got really good college grades?</p>
<p>they will only look at your high schoo grades if by the end of this current spring semester you have completed under 30 units.</p>
<p>some ppl here keep stating that if you have under 30 units by the time you fill out the application they will look at your HS grades but that is not true. they will onyl look at your HS grades if you have under 30 units at the end of the spring semester… so if you do have under 30 units now they will see those HS grades and compare and see the trends with your college grades, which will only really benefit you if you’re a full time student showing growth.</p>
<p>Im pretty sure, if you apply lets say with 15 units completed during the winter, and then by the spring you complete another 15 units making it out to 30 units total. Then they wouldn’t base it off your hs grades and stuff but more on your college performance.</p>
<p>makes sense, and thats why they probably ask almost all sophomore transfers for their spring grades. </p>
<p>El Rey- Did you happen to find out what the avg transfer GPA was for Creative Writing majors?</p>
<p>also, i just called admissions, no decision, no spring grades or nothing yet. I didn’t get my request until the end of May last year so I aint that worried, yet.</p>
<p>well that aint so bad. if 3.54 is the number, then I’m above that and I have a friend who goes to SC who said the english department is looking for students (he said they were trying to recruit him, lol) so maybe it won’t be so hard to get in. </p>
<p>(first, i did my poli sci final today and feel good about it. Not extrodinary but i feel i did an alright job.)</p>
<p>Anyways. So tomorrow i have my last 2 spring finals, therefore ending the “freshman” year of college for me. </p>
<p>I have been presented with the opportunity to travel abroad. During the month july and early august for 5 weeks i can live in China (for $950) and teach chinese students the english language for about 5 hours a day and have the rest of the day to explore the country. the program pays for everything, food, room, etc. i think they even provide a bicycle so you can get around the campuses there. Well, it’s for 5 weeks so i would be missing the 2nd summer classes session at my college forcing me to miss Astrology with the Lab which fulfills part 3 with USC and also fulfills a portion of the UC system transfer. I can always take that class come fall…</p>
<p>my question here is…what do you think USC will say when i apply for the fall 2008 next year that i lived in china for 5 weeks and helped students learn a new language and at the same time learn the chinese language and see another part of the world? This would be my 1st time travelling outside the states.</p>
<p>I guess what i’m asking is…if I do this China thing…will my odds of getting into usc rise higher?</p>
<p>I really dont know the answer to this but how much impact do you think something like this will have when i apply to SC?</p>
<p>Dude, honestly, Go not because it’ll help you get into SC (yes, it will look very good on an application), but go because you have the opportunity to expierence something awesome. I’m not gonna lie, what you wrote about teaching these kids a language and having them teach you theres has the makings of a pretty good essay, but since you haven’t left the country, I’d say go just so you can see more of the world. </p>
<p>What part of china would you be going to? I’ve visited a few cities there so I can give you the run down on them.</p>
<p>they mentioned beijing as a place we’d travel to. Also past students that have attended this program have gone to the great wall. (I’m not sure the distance between any of these places)
Most likely for the 5 weeks will reside in Shanghai or somewhere else. </p>
<p>I was given a schedule and for the 5 weeks (if i get accepted to the program, ill know within 2 days) and for the most part i’ll either be teacher students or touring china.</p>
<p>Past students have reported touring
West Lake in Hangzhou, Summer place in Bejing, shanghai, laughing buddah at peak flying from Afar Hangzhou, classroom teaching students in Haining.</p>
<p>My uncle visited China 2 months ago and told me that everything there is very cheap. He suggested looking for some nessecities there rather than bringing them from home. He said he bought a backpack for $2, shirts for $1, etc.</p>
<p>****I still have to study for 2 finals tomorrow and I don’t even have a passport. So that is giving me a headache. We’ll see.</p>
<p>that sounds incredible, el rey. good luck! i’m sure you’ll be accepted. and seriously, you should go! usc and the ucs are great and all, but that’s the kind of stuff that makes college worthwhile. and don’t forget to show us plenty of pictures when you get back!</p>
<p>eracer325, there is no surprise to receive a letter of requesting spring grade with 3.96 GPA like you. I have 4.0 GPA and finished all prereqs besides the philosophy class. I also need to send the spring transcript. I have no idea why they do that, but I just want to let u know that you are not the only one. I think we can get in, dont worry, it just take more time. See you there</p>
<p>just got my accepted packet thing today, letter was dated may 15. Anyone else get it? I won’t be going to sc but I’m a psych major who will be a junior next year if anyone wants to know.</p>