From the Director's Chair

If you have recently applied for admission, this line from Cool Hand Luke, a movie starring Paul Newman, might come to mind.  Ask your parents if you have no idea what I'm talking about.  

I know the wait feels long and painful.  Be assured that we are working furiously, including overtime and Saturdays, to review applications as quickly as we can.  Each application is carefully considered by one of our staff members.  This takes time, especially given the fact that we will receive between four and six thousand applications this week alone.  The month of December is like the freeway during rush hour, and the road is under construction. Let 'em work, let 'em live, I say!

If you applied anytime after November 15, please expect to hear from us in about eight weeks.  If all credentials are in there is a small chance it could be sooner.   But, please don't be concerned if someone else you know has heard something back from USC and you have not.  There are many reasons why that could happen, and ususally it is NOT because there is a problem with your application.  Each case is unique. 

We take the process of reviewing applications for admission very seriously, and every student deserves careful review and equal consideration. We are just as concerned about crafting the next great class of Carolinians as you are about selecting the college you will attend.  We will do our best to return admissions decisions to you as soon as possible, so please be patient with us.

I wish I could write more, but I need to get back to work!

Posted by Scott at 12:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"What can I do to strengthen my application?"  "Would a recommendation letter help?"  "Will you consider something other than my grades and test scores."   Parents and students ask me questions like this all the time.  With all the questions on admissions applications, all the information in college guide books and web sites, and advice from well-intentioned friends, it can be confusing to know exactly what colleges are really looking for.  Well, I am going to let you in on the big secret. 

When I review an application for admission, I always ask myself two important questions. First, in my "expert, professional opinion" (that's a thinly veiled reference to a movie) is this student academically prepared for the scholastic environment at USC?  In other words, does the student have the minimum preparation necessary for a reasonable chance at success?

The second question I ask is whether or not this student is as prepared as everyone else that will be accepted.  Or, is it fair to everyone else that has applied for admission if we admit this student?

So what do we look for to answer these questions?  First, we look to see if a student has completed a rigorous college prep curriculum in high school.  We look for good grades in core academic courses, and we look for strong SAT or ACT scores.  Above everything else, academic preparation is the key.  We also look for characteristics that suggest a student will be academically successful, such as dedication, leadership, and service.  We also consider special or extenuating cirumstances beyond the student's control that may have affected the student's high school performance. In essence, we put the student's record into context.

The faculty and staff of USC want the best possible educational environment that will prepare our graduates for a competitive global economy.  Therefore, we want our students to bring a variety of backgrounds, interests, talents and experiences to campus.  We like to see students that have excelled not only in the classroom, but outside as well.  We want students to contribute to the entire university community when they get here, so it is very telling to see how students have chosen to spend their "free time" (is there any such thing anymore?) in high school.  But, it does not make a good impression if students are over involved to the point that their academics suffer. There needs to be a balance, but if the scale is out of whack it should favor academics. 

So, what should you include with your application, then?  All that is necessary is just what we ask for in the application. But, if you want to send recommendation letters or anything else that you think we should consider, you are welcome to send it. We'll consider it, but remember that academic preparation is most important.

By the way, have you figured out which movie yet? 

Posted by Scott at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)