<p>URM = Underrepresented minority</p>
<p>If you want Viterbi, USC would be a definite reach. Your GPA/SAT as of now is a bit too low for that school and your ECs don’t really show a commitment or interest to computer science and entrepreneurship. If you present your stats to Viterbi/Marshall the way you did here, it’s a hard sell.</p>
<p>I think if you improve or retool some things, you could have a decent chance to be admitted as undeclared or to Dornsife – but I honestly still think USC is a bit of a reach. (Just my opinion.) I’d say if anything, you could get spring admission with URM status.</p>
<p>Get no lower than a 700 on any SAT IIs you take. Get at least a 2100 on the SAT as well.</p>
<p>If you improve those, you need to work hard to present your ECs in a better way than you did here. You did “leadership stuff” for student government – but what position did you hold? Student body president/class president looks a lot better than, say, class representative or something less time-intensive. Be specific!</p>
<p>Did you play guitar in the school band? Or is is just a hobby? Or do you take outside lessons that take up 5+ hrs a week? Again be specific with your musical exploits.</p>
<p>The main thing the ECs are lacking is some sort of specialization. Now, there are always exceptions and students always can be admitted without having super specific ECs – but if you really want to guarantee your chances of being admitted to this program/USC in general, find a way to get involved in something related to what you want to major in. Is there a Computer Science/Robotics/Engineering club? Can you take a CS class at a CC over the summer? Is there a Young Entrepreneurs club/organization in your area you can develop a business idea with? (etc…)</p>
<p>Get good letters of recommendation and make sure your essays are flawless. That should go without saying.</p>
<p>The more of the above you can do, the better your chances are.</p>
<p>You are definitely in at Davis and Irvine. I’d apply to Santa Cruz as well. It might be smart for you to stay in California so you get the CalGrant (around $10,000 you don’t have to repay every year). Santa Clara U and Loyola Marymount are good safeties you should consider. I don’t think you’re competitive enough for the Claremont schools.</p>
<p>You should also look and consider applying to Cal Poly SLO and Cal Poly Pomona as well. I think you’d be accepted and they’re both really good science schools.</p>