<p>So then what percentage of the graduating class is composed of transfers?</p>
<p>About a third.</p>
<p>About 43% </p>
<p>.75^-1 =1.33
1.33x+1x = 100
2.33x=100
x=42.92</p>
<p>Signed,</p>
<p>USC C Math Student but able to get 4.0 at CC.</p>
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<p>I would be thrilled to go to Princeton! And admissions standards are a big part of the reason why that the university is so prestigious. </p>
<p>Transferring from a CC is a great path to college. I think those that have chosen that route are smarter than me given how much cheaper it is and how much easier it is to get in. I was working 30 hours a week and took 5 community college classes (at 2 different CC’s) simultaneously - 4.0 GPA. The classes are cupcake.</p>
<p>Yes I think there is something positive to be said about the maturity level and real life experiences about community college students. No I do not think that should preclude them from taking tests like the SAT.</p>
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<p>Fair enough</p>
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<p>Not all are. Maybe half.</p>
<p>…just kidding. The majority of transfer students are hard workers, perhaps harder workers than entering freshman. However, there are many of them (in relative terms) that are “dumb.”</p>
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<p>Hmm, that’s an interesting idea and very insightful. I wonder if the dynamics of freshman and transfer admits will start to change as USC builds more housing in the Master Plan.</p>
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<p>That’s like saying admissions officers can’t evaluate transfer students because they’ve never been a prospective transfer student. I can compare the statistics to my own experience at CC (6 classes). I have worked in groups with transfer students. I have been in classes where almost the entire class is filled with transfer students. I have friends that have gone to CC. In my experience, transfer students are not as prepared.</p>
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<p>Yet the vast majority of top National universities keep the SAT because, even though it is flawed, it is still a decent indicator of intelligence.</p>
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<p>There is an easy solution to this question. Have the transfer take the SAT. If there is such high confidence that a transfer student will outscore a HS student, why so much resistance to the test?</p>
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<p>Admissions officers are qualified to assess applicants. Objectively. You, on the other hand, 1) are not qualified; and 2) feel threatened by entering transfers.</p>
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<p>Fair enough. Whatever you perceived during your experience is irrefutable by me.</p>
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<p>Decent. Yes, decent - very loose, right? I’m not going to argue about the entire SAT system. While I still don’t believe in the SAT in general, I do think that in order to become, as they put it, the Stanford of the South, SC should consider requiring SATs of transfer students just for the sake of following suit. I think that this might attract a much more competitive applicant pool.</p>
<p>Also, I do agree with you with reservation about CC classes. I have also been working 35+, sometimes 40 hours (coincidentally, at USC) while on a full-time CC schedule and have pulled off A’s. On the same token though, I don’t feel that the lenience of my classes have made me a less prepared, or dumbed-down product, especially in relation to other USC students. All classes are what you make of them, just as is true of your education (you can’t be truly educated without doing your own personal reading) and your career (you can’t be truly successful as a dud - even with a degree from USC).</p>
<p>I suspect that the housing situation at USC is contributory to the amount of transfers that they take and how many freshmen they turn away. On-campus housing is NOT guaranteed for entering transfers, while it is I believe guaranteed for two years to entering freshmen.</p>
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<p>Again, because there is a distinction between SATs and IQ tests. Are you saying that transfers should submit their HS SAT scores? or they they should take the SAT right before applying?</p>
<p>Remember that the SAT is formulated to assess a HS senior’s knowledge and that most of the SAT is comprised of material that will be again covered in the college GE curriculum. That would be an unfair advantage for the college student and would thus be an inaccurate indicator of the student’s aptitude. The ‘resistance’ that you’re talking about is, I suspect, a result of this reality.</p>
<p>I agree that education is what you make of it, having good scores is no guarantee of success. On the SAT, I think it would be reasonable for them to submit either their HS SAT or most recent SAT, whichever is higher. I also think other tests are fine like the ACT. Hell if someone wants to they can submit GMAT, LSAT, IQ, or some other alphabet soup test because they all measure more or less the same thing. I also have no issue with what you cited as the “unfair advantage for the college student” because even if it is inaccurate, it will be inaccurate in the positive direction. I think transfers have earned that advantage…</p>
<p>From this discussion thread, I have the impression that a 3.8-4.0 from a community college (to use to transfer) is worth less than a 3.8-4.0 unweighted of a high school student who took very challenging classes with lots of APs. i.e. You think that the classes at a community college are a lot easier than challenging high school classes. Do you think the CC classes are much easier and you learn less?</p>
<p>The actual compostition of the graduating class is about a third.</p>
<p>Freshman Class: 2750
Transfers (that enroll): 1500</p>
<p>1500/4250 = ~35%.</p>
<p>And IMO, one or two good years shouldn’t “erase” the high school record. Even though the applicant might do well in CC, it might be because of other things such as: no attendence required/just come on test days, “retaking” material covered in high school (effectively having “academic renewal”), not as academically rigorous, etc. An AP class in high school is usually composed of highly motivated students while an Intro class at CC could be made up of anyone.</p>
<p>Transfers should have similar (or SLIGHTLY less) objective stats when compared to the average entering class. Like if a student was rejected last year while being borderline or something.</p>
<p>“I wonder if the dynamics of freshman and transfer admits will start to change as USC builds more housing in the Master Plan.” I think you can count on that happening. USC is interested in raising the stature of how the University is viewed by it’s peers and by potential applicants and their parents. Having 4 years of guaranteed housing available for all freshman will be a big factor in how seriously USC is compared to other PRIVATE institutions, which for the most part already guarantee housing for all 4 UG years.</p>
<p>Do you guys have the same attitude towards transfers from 4-year universities vs. community college transfers? I’ve been taking classes at a community college close to my university in order to obtain more transfer credit. I definitely do see the argument because community college is pretty much a joke compared to a 4-year university. But it obviously also depends on the CC…</p>
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<p>And also to attract high-caliber professors from top notch universities.</p>
<p>All I’m saying is, as a prospective transfer student, at a 3.8 GPA average of transfers, I think its HARDER to get into USC than it is as a freshman. My HS stats are all from cupcake classes, including the AP classes. (Although, I know some kids that haven’t taken one AP class and just took regular classes and aced them and ended up with a 4.0) But aiming for the same GPA in college is totally different. My upper-level division science classes blow HS out of the water. I’d def. value a 3.8 GPA transfer more than a 4.0+ GPA of an incoming freshman who thinks he knows everything. </p>
<p>SAT’s are crap. I know students who are C students getting 2200’s and I know kids with 4.0’s getting 1500’s. Whoever can memorize the most or studies the SAT book the most benefits. But when real life experience comes down to it, the majority of these kids that get 2000+ scores on the SAT are abysmal next to any transfer student who gets accepted into USC. </p>
<p>I think us transfers work pretty damn hard to get to where we get. Hundreds/Thousands apply, but still a small percentage get in. I don’t see where USC accepts SO many transfers…</p>
<p>“I don’t see where USC accepts SO many transfers.”.
As a total % of the graduating class, compared to other top 50 PRIVATE universities, USC accepts a huge # of transfers.</p>
<p>8300 applicants, 1500 get in… 18% </p>
<p>as long as they have the resources to accommodate these transfers, idk why anyones complaining</p>
<p>I am sure admissions can see the difference between a student with a 4.0 who takes regular level classes, no honors/AP, and easy classes (both in high school and community college) vs. a student with a 3.8 who takes the hardest, most rigorous curriculum possible.
I also disagree with you about “SATs being crap”. If a student has a high SAT score and low grades, it suggests the student is not working to his potential. If a student has medium-low SAT scores and high GPA, it suggests the student is working hard to his potential and/or is taking very easy classes. From last year’s stats, USC admissions is looking for both high SAT scores and high GPA with other nice things (awards, essay, extra-curriculars,etc.) for its incoming freshmen class.
Also, studying for the SATs is a lot of work, taking practice tests and reviewing.</p>
<p>zircushio, 1500 is the number of people that matriculate. The number of admits is probably close to 2000.</p>
<p>But anyway, I agree that a 3.8 of rigorous classes is more commendable than a 4.0 in high school, assuming the 3.8 includes classes beyond the 100 level. IMHO, some community college 101’s seem to be less work than a HS AP class, simply because it’s a different learning environment.</p>
<p>trojantransfer, according to the new USC 2009-2010 catalogue, 1500 admits out of 8300 applicants. </p>
<p>and i’m assuming if you’re a bright student with a 4.0+ GPA in every AP class possible, but happened to have screwed up or wasn’t feeling good, or even isn’t a good SAT test taker, and got say…1600-1700 on the SAT’s …they HAVE to be not as bright as the kid who got the 2200 right? yeah ok. thousands of professors around the nation are trying to take off SAT’s because it does nothing but rank you amongst a nation of students as who can take the test the best, or whos prepared for the test. it doesn’t rank experience, or overall knowledge. I’d personally accept a 4.0+ GPA kid with AP classes and a “average” SAT than someone with a 3.0 GPA with 2200 SATs. </p>
<p>i especially think science students get the short end of the stick here. if you’re going to test the nation to see how they stack up against other students, include sciences, a mixed portion of chemistry, physics, and biology. </p>
<p>my vote is to remove SAT’s entirely. judge a student from his or her academic profile, experience in their field (work/internships), and extra curricular activities, and volunteering. 1 test shouldn’t define an individuals 4 years of hard work.</p>