How accurate are these chances?
Replies:
USC does seem to value test scores a little more than other schools. I'm going to USC this Fall and that was the only one of my top choices that I was admitted to. That being said, I believe my GPA hindered me. I also have almost no extracurriculars. Parchment probably overestimates because people are more likely to admit to being accepted than to admit to being denied. I applied as a Chemistry major. It was the only school I didn't apply undeclared. Maybe that helped my chances. Hopefully you get accepted.
Parchment predictions appear to over etimate the value of test scores and underestimates the importance of GPA. Take a look at the scatter plot data to get a better feel for how you compare relative to the results of other applicants. Also look at the applicant accepted and denied summary tables.
Schools LOVE high standardized test scores. They can brag about the kids who attend and have those scores. The scores are nationwide.
GPA is not nationwide and can depend a lot on where you are -- a 3.8 at a prestigious school in suburban Boston or D.C. is of more 'weight' than a 3.8 GPA from a disadvantaged school. Fact of life...
Parchment's data sets (scatter plots and summary tables) do not support their numerical predictions in many cases where GPA is below average for the applicant pool. Unfortunately, there are a high proportion of denied applicants at USC with 2300 SAT scores when unweighted GPA does not meet certain thresholds.
Try adding some screening filters (set unweighted GPA to 3.4 or less, SAT combined to 750 or higher) and then click update. Take a focused look at this specific region of data with respect to admitted and denied. What does the plot show with respect to the remaining dots?
In God we trust. All others bring data - not fact of life opinions.
Going to try similar to that -- my son has ACT 35 and 4.2 GPA.
Your SAT is amazing, but your GPA isn't top-notch. You should look at what the school values more.
I've got a 2320 SAT, good AP Scores (4 5's, 2 4's, 3 more to be taken in senior year), and 750+ SAT II's (6 of them), but only a 3.2 GPA (I do go, however, to a school ranked #67 nationwide by US News/#1 open enrollment in my state). I have had a very challenging curriculum (the most I could get), since freshman year and straight through senior year. My main/pretty much only extra-curricular is Volunteering (hundreds upon hundreds of hours in the summers, a few hours a week during school). I have had a 10 hrs/wk job since Sophomore year.
The system is chancing me at 85% for USC, and that seems rather optimistic to me, how accurate are these chances?