<p>I would like to know what my son's chances are of getting in. He applied before the scholarship deadline of Dec. 1. He received the letter that he is still being reviewed for admittance but not for scholarship. He has received scholarship from other schools that put the cost around $30k. I am having a hard time with $56k for USC but it is his #1 choice even knowing he would have to take out loans.</p>
<p>Here are his stats.
National Merit Commended Scholar
GPA 3.55 - private school
AP: USHistory 4, Government 4, Calc and Physics this year.
lots of honors classes
SAT: 2050
ACT: 31</p>
<p>Varsity Football -3 yrs, Varsity Basketball - 3 yrs, AAU Basketball - 2 yrs, Track - 1 yr.
community service to meet school requirement.</p>
<p>I actually don't think he has much of a chance to get in, but would like to hear what others think.</p>
<p>I don’t typically do “chances,” but about the cost - have you used the net price calculator to see if he would qualify for need-based aid that might bring the cost down?</p>
<p>yes we don’t qualify for any help. We have told him we can cover $30k after that it will be student loans. This means he graduates with $100k debt. We did fill out the FAFSA and CSS just in case.</p>
<p>"This means he graduates with $100k debt. " </p>
<p>NO COLLEGE is worth $100,000 in debt!!! not USC, not Harvard, NONE.
Would you blithely let him go and buy a house he could not afford??
Do NOT let your DS jeopardize his future, which is what he will be doing by taking on such a financial burden!! College LOANS can NOT be written off! not ever!! And there is no guarantee that he will get a better, higher paying job, or any job for that matter, because he went to a particular college .
A Mercedes Benz may be someones “1st choice” in cars, but that doesn’t mean you go into serious hock to buy one when there are other cars that will get you where you need to go, for far less $$$ ! The same goes for college.</p>
<p>My son applied early, too. We never go the letter you did (rejected?). Anyway, I would NOT take out 30K in loans a year unless you really think you and/or your son will be able to get a decent job with a USC degree. It would be like buying a house! If my son gets in with the same financial aid (30K) he is not going.</p>
<p>If you haven’t seen the above link I’d check it out; it’s as good place as any to start when it comes to the guessing part of chancing.</p>
<p>UW GPA: 3.55. Well below the 3.8 admitted average for last year
SAT/ACT: 2050/31. Approx 33rd%-tile.
Rigor: Honors & some APs
ECs: all sports listed here. No Arts or academic activities.
2011 Admit Rate: 23%</p>
<p>Your son is, statistically speaking, below the recent averages for SC; that makes USC a bit of a reach in a ‘normal’ year. Confusing matters is that this year is not normal; with the shift to the CommonApp there are reports of applications jumping to the 45,000 level. All things being equal that drives the admit rate down into the high teens and effectively turns SC into a reach for all but the most exceptional candidates. To my way of thinking USC is a long shot, not impossible but not something to get your hopes up for.</p>
<p>vinceh
Thank you for your comment. I believe it is a reach school too. He came to the realization how important grades are a little too late. He knows he will be going to grad school so if he continues working hard then maybe USC or Vandy (his other reach school) will be a consideration.
He will most likely end up at Purdue or Baylor.</p>