
Since USC makes use of an approach that is holistic the admission procedure, we are committed to reading and re-reading every piece of the application. You understand those answer that is short you responded to? We read those. That activity summary you completed? Yup, every activity is read by us, company, and experience you listed on there. I want to get to know you- your interests, your perspective, and most of all, hear your voice come through when I read an application. This method takes some time thought you are as a student and a person as we try to understand how your academic performance, test scores, writing, involvements, and recommendations come together to paint a fuller picture of who.
The admission office might seem is—but it only runs as smoothly as it does through the use of multiple checks and balances throughout the process like it runs like a well-oiled machine on the outside—and it. We contact students when our company is missing an item of the application form and as soon as we need extra information such as for instance mid-year grades. We consult with the departments that are academic USC and consider their views on candidates and pay attention to their recommendations. Most of all, we rely on a single another to simply help us see applicants in a way that is different recognise something we didn’t initially see. It is a process that is incredibly collaborative it will take time.
At the end of the day, this is certainly an arduous process for our office, as well. You can find many qualified applicants that we do not have room for each year. It’s never easy making these tough choices, but I find convenience comprehending that our applicants need many college that is amazing next year irrespective.
I think I talk on behalf of our office that is entire when say we are pretty excited to finally manage to shout out to your world, here’s the incredible USC Class of 2017! As well as in just a couple weeks that are short we—and many of you—will be able to do exactly that.
Grades, Guidance, and Goliath: Confessions of a Director Dad
The blog post below is from our very own Director of Admission, Kirk Brennan. He shares with us the struggles of being a moms and dad of a prospective college student as well as having a leadership role in degree. Understandably, juggling these two functions is incredibly delicate. Thank you, Kirk, for sharing your understanding of what our moms and dads go through with this time that is stressful!
This coming Monday will mark the eighteenth anniversary of the day my wife (who you may remember) delivered our very first son or daughter. This particular year — the one in which that child is applying to college — feels like my first day on the job though i have worked in admission for 22 years. Exactly what a strange way to look at my work: through the eyes, and from the home of a student that is prospective.
I had many disillusioning observations this year. I saw that tours of very different schools seem the same, that college marketing materials look alike and even say the very exact same things, and how a number that is small of businesses vendors seem to drive this procedure for many schools. I saw that a large amount of a student’s impression of my university is perhaps not controllable, and I was particularly disheartened whenever my own student, after feeling proud to receive a mass-mailer from a college, quit reading some of them only days later on, and even felt anger as she sifted through them. At USC as well as in the admission career in general, we strive to be helpful, many times I’m not sure how much we’re helping ( and I welcome your suggestions at admdir@usc.edu).
Just What strikes me more than any such thing may be the psychological roller coaster of the year that is senior. I was saddened to look at mundane events of life magnified to become critical pieces of a puzzle that cause college; a grade regarding the tiniest test prompts a crisis, or a choice to relax one afternoon sometimes appears as a potential deal breaker for college admission, therefore career, then life time pleasure. Then there is the list; therefore colleges that are many consider, will she love these schools, did she miss an improved fit, and may she even get in at all? Then filling in the applications, especially the anxiety behind answering the smallest amount of important questions on the application (we discussed ‘What’s my counselor’s work title?’). The relief that is temporary of them was soon replaced by confusion within the lack of communication as colleges read. Now the decisions are coming out the grand finale with this trip — one day she gets in and feels excitement that is great her future, another she’s rejected and seems useless, as if judged harshly by strangers. Learning and growing is difficult, and many turns in life will be unpredictable, but surely I can not be the only real one ready because of this ride to end.
Through the ground I have watched this roller coaster many times, and such rides tend to end up in the in an identical way — with our children enrolling in a college they love. Yet we riders still scream, even feel real terror going down the hill as if the safety bars won’t help; normal reactions, if utterly irrational. I still love rollercoasters (Goliath is the best), and I also think I will enjoy particularly this ride. I have grown nearer to my daughter, and we have all grown closer as a family. I have seen my younger daughter console her older sister. We all cherish the time that remains in this phase of our family life, we will share together while we avoid the question of how many more meals. You will find many hugs, tears, pats on the back, and scoops of ice cream to soothe the pain, yet great hope for the long run. I look forward to this ride finishing, but I imagine when it ends, just like Goliath, I will be excited to get back in line to ride again today. I sure hope so, anyhow: my youngest is counting about it.