USC Waitlist

[wja91]

Hi everyone,

I just found out that I was waitlisted at USC for the 2013 cycle. I was wondering if anyone knew anymore information on how their waitlist works. Do they rank applicants? Also, does anyone know how many people they keep on their waitlist?

Basically, I'm just trying to figure out if I should be optimistic about getting a spot, or pretty much accept that it's not going to happen for me this year. Is anyone else in the same position as me?

Does anyone know of someone that was waitlisted and later got a spot?

THANKS!

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[Studentrdb]

Hey,
I don't have an answer to your question but would you mind sharing your stats? I'm still waiting but not to proud of my GRE score.

 

[PolyOT]

Did you find out by a letter in the mail or by email?

 

[wja91]

Did you find out by a letter in the mail or by email?

I called Sarah Kelly and just asked if a decision had been made. I would just give her a call.

 

[wja91]

Hey,
I don't have an answer to your question but would you mind sharing your stats? I'm still waiting but not to proud of my GRE score.

My GRE was not good either. I think it was a 306 combined and like a 3.5 on the writing? I didn't study at all - just took it blind. Then I have a 3.5 cumulative and something like a 3.8 pre-reg GPA for USC. I have 200 hours of pediatric outpatient experience. Not much in other settings. It must have been my personal statement and letters of rec? I don't know, but I hope a spot opens up!

 

[OThopefulLA]

I just received a letter on the wait list through snail mail. I wonder when they will give their final decision.

 

[Yellowbee]

I just received a letter on the wait list through snail mail. I wonder when they will give their final decision.

I was wait listed last year and found out I didn't officially get in some time in May.

 

[HEYY3405]

I am on the waitlist too ><

 

[hotpebbles]

one more on the waitlist.....

i think it's due to my OTCAS verification date being so late....🙁
until when do the accepted ppl have to respond??

 

[wja91]

I was wait listed last year and found out I didn't officially get in some time in May.

That's awesome that you got bumped from the waitlist to an actual seat though! Did you end up attending USC? Do you know how many people get bumped from the waitlist? Do they have a ranking system?

Thanks!

 

[Yellowbee]

That's awesome that you got bumped from the waitlist to an actual seat though! Did you end up attending USC? Do you know how many people get bumped from the waitlist? Do they have a ranking system?

Thanks!

I'm sorry for the confusion wja91... my wording wasn't clear. I was wait listed last year, but did not get in. I found out in May. I reapplied to USC this year and today I got a letter saying I'm wait listed (again!). Another couple months of this waiting game 🙁
USC won't tell you what number you are on the list, but if you ask they can tell you which group you are in and your changes of getting in. I hope this helps. Best of luck to you and everyone on the wait list! 🙂

 

[kayladg]

I was also waitlisted... 3.38 cumulative GPA, similar prereq GPA with 3 pending, 1260 GRE. Does anyone know how many applicants there were this year?

 

[AspiringOT7]

I was also waitlisted... 3.38 cumulative GPA, similar prereq GPA with 3 pending, 1260 GRE. Does anyone know how many applicants there were this year?

I actually visited USC last week and talked directly with Sarah Kelly. She said there were 550 applicants this year. They base admissions off of a formula: GPA, GRE, LORs, and personal statement. Any relevant experience/observation hours aren't an actual factor of the admission process, but should be shined through in the essay, she said. If you have a pretty high GRE score, like 1200+ you're most likely at the top of the acceptance list. Hope this helps!

 

[Sara4]

I'm wait listed too...

Btw, thanks for the info AspiringOT7!

 

[OThopefulLA]

Thank you for sharing what you learned AspringOT7. I know if i don't make it this round I'll work on improving my gre 🙂

 

[prodigiousflame]

relevant hours and observation aren't factored in...??? Wow....this application process really is about numbers.

 

[prodigiousflame]

I actually visited USC last week and talked directly with Sarah Kelly. She said there were 550 applicants this year. They base admissions off of a formula: GPA, GRE, LORs, and personal statement. Any relevant experience/observation hours aren't an actual factor of the admission process, but should be shined through in the essay, she said. If you have a pretty high GRE score, like 1200+ you're most likely at the top of the acceptance list. Hope this helps!

what would be the ideal GRE score for the revised GRE test?

 

[AspiringOT7]

what would be the ideal GRE score for the revised GRE test?

It's definitely been really tough everywhere. Big name schools like USC, UIC, etc. tend to look at numbers unfortunately. UIC automatically cuts off applicants if their GPA is below a 3.5, 3.6 even.(Although they encourage that 3.0 is the minimum and even though applicants may shine in other areas!) I have heard that USC tends to be more holistic when looking at applicants. But Sarah did say that it depends on the applicant pool of each cycle. From the vibe I got visiting USC and talking with my tour guide, they seem to choose non-traditional applicants. A lot of students switched to OT from business, dance, theater even! It's all about standing out, too.

This is my second time applying to schools, but I'm going to take another year or two off to work on pre-reqs. I'm still keeping up with hours and working in OT-related settings. Prodigiousflame, Sarah Kelly said the revised GRE score should at least be 150+. They just want above the minimum (1000 on old, 300 new combined) She wasn't exactly sure about the conversion, but you could check that on ETS. I have talked to accepted USC students who got around 160 on both sections with a 4 AW and a 3.4 GPA.

We are definitely not alone in this. Best of luck to everyone! Don't give up the dream. Message me if you have any more questions! 🙂

 

[margesid]

I called Sarah Kelly about a week ago to ask about the process because I had not heard or received anything from USC yet. She actually called me back that day to say I was waitlisted, but someone just withdrew that day and I was accepted. She called to clarify the confusion of me receiving a waitlist letter and an acceptance letter.

I don't know much about the waitlist, but I would definitely call Sarah Kelly for more details.

I had just over 300 on the GRE with a 3.67 GPA and 4.0 in all my prereq courses. Also had great references for my letters of recommendation. I am making a career change from finance office position to OT.

Hope that helps... I understand the frustration of waiting and not being able to plan for the future.

 

[Yellowbee]

Does anyone know if all the seats have been filled? Is anyone off the waitlist and admitted?