USC 2009-2010 Applicants

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Members do not see this ad.
trackstarPharm said:
Did she get a lack letter? I know that people who received the lack letter are most likely to be invited for the interview
Click to expand...


Doesn't everyone receive a lack letter? I received the lack letter and fin aid e-mail in Nov/Dec and haven't received anything from them since then. Waiting patiently for an invitation haha
 
kmoogs said:
Doesn't everyone receive a lack letter? I received the lack letter and fin aid e-mail in Nov/Dec and haven't received anything from them since then. Waiting patiently for an invitation haha
Click to expand...


I got 4 lack letters so far... starting with Jan 13... But no interview invite yet...
 
schleima said:
I just called for you.

They said the last round of invitations will go out early March.
Click to expand...


lol thanx for calling!! That late huh? I hope I get an invite. I think I might have screwed up on the secondary essays. My writing was great, but I don't think I wrote long enough. How long were your essays? I know how long they were supposed to be, they gave the max of 2000 characters for the first essay, and 3000 characters for the second two essays that we could choose from...
 
schleima said:
Out of curiosity, does anyone here have a foreign degree?

At the USC info day, they essentially told my wife that "people with foreign degrees need not apply". (Essentially they said the rarely accept people who hold foreign bachelors)

My wife's BS degree is from Taiwan... this is the 2nd year that she's applied to USC, and it looks like the 2nd year they're going to pass her over for an interview.

The first year was her fault, because she submitted too late (in October). However, this year she learned from her mistakes and submitted the USC app (and other rolling admissions schools) way back in July/August. She did some amazing preparation work, volunteered at 3 different facilities, awesome letters of rec from faculty and pharmacists, has a 3.8 GPA (only about 35 credits taken in the US, though) and she has retaken a whole bunch of science and English courses and gotten 90% As and a couple of Bs.

We really didn't take the "no foreign degrees" thing seriously because the rest of her application was great, and we couldn't see them not picking her out for an interview. But now I'm stuck wondering.... could it be true? Is there anyone else here who got an interview with a foreign degree? From where? What were your stats? I'm really curious.
Click to expand...



I have no idea. But I read from earlier posts somewhere, whether it's this year's forum or last year's, that USC doesn't like community college credits either. And if that's true, it might be true with the foreign degree. 🙁 Not all schools are like that though. But also, you said you called about the March interviews, and they are not sending out invites until early March, so maybe she'll get an invite. Rarely does not mean never.
 
arcticrevolver said:
That's the plan right now. I actually just declined my acceptance at MWU (after paying the $1000 deposit). Just waiting to hear back from UCSF!
Click to expand...


Is your first choice UCSF then? Sorry about the deposit. That is crazy expensive!!
 
i emailed usc and the way they responded somewhat hinted that I am rejected without interview!

cry.
 
arrowheadgirl said:
Is your first choice UCSF then? Sorry about the deposit. That is crazy expensive!!
Click to expand...

I'm actually in the middle right now. I'm really leaning towards USC just because everyone I know is in socal, and I just think it would be easier for me to find internships and what not. I'm not really worrying about it until i get accepted to UCSF (if that happens).

How about you? What's your first choice?
 
arcticrevolver said:
I'm actually in the middle right now. I'm really leaning towards USC just because everyone I know is in socal, and I just think it would be easier for me to find internships and what not. I'm not really worrying about it until i get accepted to UCSF (if that happens).

How about you? What's your first choice?
Click to expand...


Haha if I actually have a choice... I haven't heard back from USC. I submitted my application 10/30. I didn't even realize that USC does Rolling admission. I don't know. I might not even get an interview there. I would love to go to USC though. I know some people in la and would rather go there. USC has a great reputation.

But ucsf is a great school too. My interview there was 2/6. I also have interviews at UNM and U of colorado. Of the 3 interviews, ucsf would be my first choice. If I hear from USC, I would reconsider.
 
"This program has become increasingly more competitive in the last few years, with the average GPA at 3.5 and above. Therefore, many students opt to retake some courses to bring up their GPA's since we will take the higher grade for your Science/Math GPA and average the old and new for your Cumulative one. We will be sending out an email invitations in early March to our last interview session. If you do not receive one, then you will receive a letter of denial shortly afterwards."
 
drugsRUsRUs said:
"This program has become increasingly more competitive in the last few years, with the average GPA at 3.5 and above. Therefore, many students opt to retake some courses to bring up their GPA's since we will take the higher grade for your Science/Math GPA and average the old and new for your Cumulative one. We will be sending out an email invitations in early March to our last interview session. If you do not receive one, then you will receive a letter of denial shortly afterwards."
Click to expand...

That sounds generic. I think they say that to everyone who asks about it. Don't worry. If by early March, we don't receive invitations, then yeah... 🙁
 
drugsRUsRUs said:
"This program has become increasingly more competitive in the last few years, with the average GPA at 3.5 and above. Therefore, many students opt to retake some courses to bring up their GPA's since we will take the higher grade for your Science/Math GPA and average the old and new for your Cumulative one. We will be sending out an email invitations in early March to our last interview session. If you do not receive one, then you will receive a letter of denial shortly afterwards."
Click to expand...

Where are you pulling that quote come from?
 
Do you know if USC count A+ as 4.33 or 4.0? I know PharmCAS counts A+ as 4.0. I wonder if USC is the same way...
 
arrowheadgirl said:
Do you know if USC count A+ as 4.33 or 4.0? I know PharmCAS counts A+ as 4.0. I wonder if USC is the same way...
Click to expand...

Hmmm, I have never asked USC how they count it but I would imagine it's a 4.0 since PharmCAS does it that way. Does your institution count it as a 4.33? Because at my undergrad, it's treated as a 4.0. I don't of any institution that'll consider an A+ a 4.33.
 
arrowheadgirl said:
That sounds generic. I think they say that to everyone who asks about it. Don't worry. If by early March, we don't receive invitations, then yeah... 🙁
Click to expand...

Well, I sent them an email where in order to answer, they would have to pull up my file and because they answered the way they did, it seemed like I'm not pending an interview invite and what they wrote is the reason why.

in other news, I just NOW got a lack letter. I submitted my application back near the end of October. I wonder if they are just now going over my application?
 
LoudSpeakers said:
Hmmm, I have never asked USC how they count it but I would imagine it's a 4.0 since PharmCAS does it that way. Does your institution count it as a 4.33? Because at my undergrad, it's treated as a 4.0. I don't of any institution that'll consider an A+ a 4.33.
Click to expand...

At my institution, A+ is 4.33 and B+ is 3.33. But PharmCAS count B+ as 3.33 and A+ as 4.0. Does anyone know the average GPA that USC considers for interview? I know 3.0 is the requirement. And do they consider cumulative GPA or science/math GPA? (as the cut off for interview) My cumulative is higher than math/science. 🙁
 
drugsRUsRUs said:
Well, I sent them an email where in order to answer, they would have to pull up my file and because they answered the way they did, it seemed like I'm not pending an interview invite and what they wrote is the reason why.

in other news, I just NOW got a lack letter. I submitted my application back near the end of October. I wonder if they are just now going over my application?
Click to expand...

I guess? We did turn in our application late. But even though they are just now reviewing it, it might be viewed favorable. I turned in my application the end of October too, and I got my lack letter in Jan, but still no interview invites. So I guess they decided to pass my application?
 
hey arcticrevolver,
i have a question... how did usc notify you of your acceptance? did they mail u something home? if they mailed u something home then was it a big package or was it just a small envelop? also, how long from the time of ur interview did u receive the acceptance notice? thanks a lot!
 
socalman said:
hey arcticrevolver,
i have a question... how did usc notify you of your acceptance? did they mail u something home? if they mailed u something home then was it a big package or was it just a small envelop? also, how long from the time of ur interview did u receive the acceptance notice? thanks a lot!
Click to expand...

You'll be able to tell. They mail this big envelope and there's a folder in it. Mr. Granderson said it would be all small envelopes, but its not. Haha
 
arcticrevolver said:
You'll be able to tell. They mail this big envelope and there's a folder in it. Mr. Granderson said it would be all small envelopes, but its not. Haha
Click to expand...
thanks for ur quick reply man! ucsf is a great school with a great research reputation. got some friends who graduated from ucsf pharm school and they all loved their professors and their class size is smaller too so they got to interact more with them. tuition is cheaper at ucsf too. anyway, just to give u some feedback that i got from friends. congrats!
 
Hey articrevolver, you got accepted to USC, what was your science gpa if you don't mind me asking?
 
arcticrevolver said:
You'll be able to tell. They mail this big envelope and there's a folder in it. Mr. Granderson said it would be all small envelopes, but its not. Haha
Click to expand...

I read that on here as well, however during the interview Mr. Granderson said that they would be mailing both acceptances and AC letters in the same type of envelope. I guess he is just trying to give us a confidence boost.
 
Le sigh. I don't know why I haven't heard back from them then. My cumulative gpa is 3.48 for both on pharmcas. but pharmcas doesn't have just science gpa though, they calculated for prepharm (that's the sciences & math & a couple social sciences)...
 
arrowheadgirl said:
Le sigh. I don't know why I haven't heard back from them then. My cumulative gpa is 3.48 for both on pharmcas. but pharmcas doesn't have just science gpa though, they calculated for prepharm (that's the sciences & math & a couple social sciences)...
Click to expand...

I don't know if this is true but USC looks at the GPA from the courses in the lack letter. I forgot where I read that from... Not sure how correct I am though.
 
drugsRUsRUs said:
Well, I sent them an email where in order to answer, they would have to pull up my file and because they answered the way they did, it seemed like I'm not pending an interview invite and what they wrote is the reason why.

in other news, I just NOW got a lack letter. I submitted my application back near the end of October. I wonder if they are just now going over my application?
Click to expand...

same thing happened to me when I called them about my status in Nov. The lady I spoke with gave me that exact same response and emailed me my lack letter when I told her I didn't receive one. I submitted my supplemental application way back in Aug. I thought I'd be getting a rejection letter soon after but I still haven't received anything.. who knows.. maybe there's still a chance.
 
same thing happened to me when I called them about my status in Nov. The lady I spoke with gave me that exact same response and emailed me my lack letter when I told her I didn't receive one. I submitted my supplemental application way back in Aug. I thought I'd be getting a rejection letter soon after but I still haven't received anything.. who knows.. maybe there's still a chance.
Click to expand...

I hadn't recieved an invitation letter either. 1 more month and if no interview, bad news. I hope this day wont come...
 
schleima said:
Out of curiosity, does anyone here have a foreign degree?

At the USC info day, they essentially told my wife that "people with foreign degrees need not apply". (Essentially they said the rarely accept people who hold foreign bachelors)

My wife's BS degree is from Taiwan... this is the 2nd year that she's applied to USC, and it looks like the 2nd year they're going to pass her over for an interview.

The first year was her fault, because she submitted too late (in October). However, this year she learned from her mistakes and submitted the USC app (and other rolling admissions schools) way back in July/August. She did some amazing preparation work, volunteered at 3 different facilities, awesome letters of rec from faculty and pharmacists, has a 3.8 GPA (only about 35 credits taken in the US, though) and she has retaken a whole bunch of science and English courses and gotten 90% As and a couple of Bs.

We really didn't take the "no foreign degrees" thing seriously because the rest of her application was great, and we couldn't see them not picking her out for an interview. But now I'm stuck wondering.... could it be true? Is there anyone else here who got an interview with a foreign degree? From where? What were your stats? I'm really curious.
Click to expand...

USC doesn't look down on international students, they just don't get that many applications from them. Last year there were 7, my year there were 2 if I remember correctly. I sit next to one of them in class. We get more international students for the PhD program. There are quite a few international students in that program.
 
arrowheadgirl said:
I have no idea. But I read from earlier posts somewhere, whether it's this year's forum or last year's, that USC doesn't like community college credits either. And if that's true, it might be true with the foreign degree. 🙁 Not all schools are like that though. But also, you said you called about the March interviews, and they are not sending out invites until early March, so maybe she'll get an invite. Rarely does not mean never.
Click to expand...

You have to have a Bachelors, but unless policies have changed I don't see how they could not like CC credits. About 66% of my credits were CC and nearly 80% of my prereqs. And it's not like I went to a UC or USC, I got my BS from a CSU.
 
Farmercyst said:
You have to have a Bachelors, but unless policies have changed I don't see how they could not like CC credits. About 66% of my credits were CC and nearly 80% of my prereqs. And it's not like I went to a UC or USC, I got my BS from a CSU.
Click to expand...

Farmercyst, do you know if the 2 interviewers are the ones who determine whether you are accepted or you get onto the AC list or do they just give u a score based on the interview? And then USC sums up all the scores based on gpa, interview, essay and then the total number that an applicant gained determines if he's accepted or goes on the AC list? thanks!
 
Saks said:
Accepted.. so freaking happy, im jumping up and down.
mail just came in today- dated 2/10, good luck everyone.
Click to expand...

hey saks, u got the letter 2 days after they sent it out. do u happen to live in south cali or do u live further away?
 
Has anyone received an invite for March interviews yet? I'm getting really nervous, haha.
 
Pharma Spia said:
Has anyone received an invite for March interviews yet? I'm getting really nervous, haha.
Click to expand...


its the beginning of march for interview invites and the end of march for rejections.
i think we will hear something next week.
 
I'm getting nervous too! Does anyone know if it's early next week or late next week that they send out interview invites?
 
arrowheadgirl said:
I'm getting nervous too! Does anyone know if it's early next week or late next week that they send out interview invites?
Click to expand...

it probably has to be the first part of next week cause the last interview is coming up in exactly 3 weeks starting from march 1
 
socalman said:
Farmercyst, do you know if the 2 interviewers are the ones who determine whether you are accepted or you get onto the AC list or do they just give u a score based on the interview? And then USC sums up all the scores based on gpa, interview, essay and then the total number that an applicant gained determines if he's accepted or goes on the AC list? thanks!
Click to expand...

The interviewers grade your interview in several categories with a letter grade or a sliding scale marker. Sliding scale meaning mark on the line where you feel the applicant was:

minimal enthusiasm<-----------------------------------x-->very enthusiastic

That kind of a thing.

Now, how the adcom scores those interview evaluations to put them into some point tally I don't know. Since the interview is part of your overall evaluation it will have an affect on whether or not you get accepted, and since most people's GPAs are relatively close to each other, the interview can be a make or break factor.
 
Farmercyst said:
The interviewers grade your interview in several categories with a letter grade or a sliding scale marker. Sliding scale meaning mark on the line where you feel the applicant was:

minimal enthusiasm<-----------------------------------x-->very enthusiastic

That kind of a thing.

Now, how the adcom scores those interview evaluations to put them into some point tally I don't know. Since the interview is part of your overall evaluation it will have an affect on whether or not you get accepted, and since most people's GPAs are relatively close to each other, the interview can be a make or break factor.
Click to expand...

Hey Farmercyst,

From Jim's presentation, it seems like the overall evaluation is broken down into 3 categories: gpa, inteview, essay. Is this correct? If it is, do you know if they each carry the same weight? In other words, 1/3 gpa, 1/3 interview, 1/3 essay.

Or is there more weight on the interview?

Also, Jim says after all these factors are calculated, a computer ranks candidates for the AC/wailtlist. Is that right?

Thank you so much!
 
schleima said:
Out of curiosity, does anyone here have a foreign degree?

At the USC info day, they essentially told my wife that "people with foreign degrees need not apply". (Essentially they said the rarely accept people who hold foreign bachelors)
Click to expand...

Yep, that was what I was told when I called. The lady told me they don't accept international students. I told her I got my bachelors in the U.S but I'm still an international student. She really didn't care and tried to to insinuate that my application would not even be looked at. I was so pissed off that day because I went to an open house in April 09 and really liked the school and six months later that's the response I got when I called to check on my application. USC is not friendly, and I think she might be right because I've still not received an invitation for an interview. I told my friends not to even bother applying to USC.
 
BrokenFlowers said:
Yep, that was what I was told when I called. The lady told me they don't accept international students. I told her I got my bachelors in the U.S but I'm still an international student. She really didn't care and tried to to insinuate that my application would not even be looked at. I was so pissed off that day because I went to an open house in April 09 and really liked the school and six months later that's the response I got when I called to check on my application. USC is not friendly, and I think she might be right because I've still not received an invitation for an interview. I told my friends not to even bother applying to USC.
Click to expand...

I think it's because international students are not qualified for student loans, so schools don't usually like to deal with them. As for an international degree, it's hard for them to figure out class equivalencies. So they tend to opt out... I dunno
 
Did anyone sign up for the orientation session yet? It looks like its not mandatory. I'm waiting for UCSF before I sign up..
 
socalboy said:
Hey Farmercyst,

From Jim's presentation, it seems like the overall evaluation is broken down into 3 categories: gpa, inteview, essay. Is this correct? If it is, do you know if they each carry the same weight? In other words, 1/3 gpa, 1/3 interview, 1/3 essay.

Or is there more weight on the interview?

Also, Jim says after all these factors are calculated, a computer ranks candidates for the AC/wailtlist. Is that right?

Thank you so much!
Click to expand...

I spoke with someone who saw USC's accreditation packet (we just got reaccredited last year.) He said that GPA is very heavily weighted. I don't remember the exact percentage. Most people forget that the average GPA is very high and it's clustered. I be surprised if there is a very wide spread about the average. That means even if the interview is only 10% (it's probably more) that it would be enough for a person with a lower GPA to get accepted over someone with a higher GPA. I'm not sure if it'd be possible to get the full GPA range of last years acceptees, but I'm sure there's enough of a spread to allay most people's fears.
 
BrokenFlowers said:
Yep, that was what I was told when I called. The lady told me they don't accept international students. I told her I got my bachelors in the U.S but I'm still an international student. She really didn't care and tried to to insinuate that my application would not even be looked at. I was so pissed off that day because I went to an open house in April 09 and really liked the school and six months later that's the response I got when I called to check on my application. USC is not friendly, and I think she might be right because I've still not received an invitation for an interview. I told my friends not to even bother applying to USC.
Click to expand...

That's odd. Perhaps that's new, but we certainly have international students in my class and the one below me.
 
That's not like USC at all ... USC enrolls the highest # of international students in the country 🙄

LA Times:
USC leads in number of foreign students

November 17, 2009|Larry Gordon
For the eighth consecutive year, USC enrolled the highest number of foreign students of any U.S. university last year, a new report shows.
USC, which recruits strongly in Asia, had 7,482 international students in the 2008-09 school year, according to the study by the Institute of International Education with support from the State Department.

pixel.gif

pixel.gif

In all, USC enrolls about 34,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
New York University, with 6,761, had the second-largest international contingent and Columbia University, with 6,685, ranked third. UCLA was in eighth place, with 5,590. California had the most foreign students, followed by New York and Texas.
Click to expand...
I think someone mentioned the ineligibility for Federal loans earlier ... here's a statement in the UC application that Pharmacy applicants have to sign and agree to. Maybe USC has a similar agreement and would like you to verify your ability to pay for tuition (which is expeeeeensive over 4 years!).

If I am classified as an international student and offered
admission, I must verify the ability to cover the costs of the
entire 4 years of study before the offer of admission is final.
I also understand that failure to provide this verification when
requested will result in the cancellation of my application and
the withdrawal of the admission offer.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Mr.Smile12
2024-2025 applicants: Fall 2024 HPSA/SDN Survey IS OPEN!
Replies
0
Views
2K
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
Spring 2025 Applicant Experience Survey
Replies
0
Views
699
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
2024 UNE PharmD Application Drop-In Session – October 23!
Replies
0
Views
2K
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
E
WSU Fall 2022 Applicants
Replies
0
Views
1K
ecamllm
E
M
Pharmacy school application
Replies
3
Views
3K
PharmtoCS
P
Top