<p>Although students don't get admission decisions until March/April, I've heard that if you apply under the December 1st deadline and receive a notification that you are a recipient of USC merit scholarships, you were accepted, you just don't get the official letter until the spring.
Is this the case?</p>
<p>For at least the last 3 admission cycles, applicants who were invited to interview for the largest scholarships (Monk/Stork/Trustee/Presidential) were sent USC admit packages with this interview invite inside. The acceptance and interview invite were sent in late January/early February. The official letter was inside (and those who have received this know how nicely done this is). </p>
<p>Maybe you are confusing USC with the UC’s. UC schools like Berkeley and UCLA invite Regent scholars for interview invites without the big acceptance package. You know if you are invited to interview for Regents that you are accepted, but do not receive the package until March with everyone else.</p>
<p>You’ll get the official letter with the letter asking you to interview for a scholarship. All of the larger scholarships require an interview, unless you are a NMS finalist or legacy i believe</p>