My sat is 1440 with a 3.96 UW GPA top 4% of class with unique ecs that are well suited towards my intended major of architecture, I also will be submitting an architecture portfolio which I think is different from their normal portfolios focussing more on ideas and conceptual things relating to my life rather than just art for the sake of art. Additionally, my letters of rec should be really good and assuming my essays are well written and suited to my application what are my chances of getting the Trustee scholarship? I’m curious because I love USC but this scholarship will be the only way I can go. Also wondering if anyone knows the percentage of winners that are architecture majors if any? Thanks!
USC admissions in general, and USC scholarships, in particular, are very competitive. Scholarships are used to lure the tippy top students from HYPS and the like.
A general rule of thumb for merit scholarships is that you have to be in the upper quartile (above the top 75% of applicants) your stats place you smack in the low to mid-50%ile.
Here are the stats for the class of 2022:
New first-year students 3,401
USC Mork Family Scholars (full tuition + stipend) 10
Stamps Scholars (full tuition + stipend) 6
USC Trustee Scholars (full tuition) 96
USC Presidential Scholars (half tuition) 440
USC Dean’s Scholars (quarter tuition) 143
Recipients of other USC merit scholarships 96
Out of 3.401 freshman, there were just under 100 Trustee Scholars…
Not good odds.
Apply but don’t even count on the Trustee scholarship, not because of your background, but because of the odds overall. Keep in mind over 3000 students aren’t even admitted that have scores in the 99th percentile. Kids with 4.5 and 34 ACTs with leadership and great ECs don’t get admitted. Truth. It is competitive. Then throw in the demographics that get factored in which you have zero control over on top of their discretion to build a class that they want, not what others might perceive as fair. Dream and hope, but have other options you would be happy to attend. Like the lottery, you can’t win if you don’t play.
The odds are indeed very low, but not quite as low as LoveTheBard implies. Those stats are the number of students who ultimately accepted USC’s scholarship offer. More students than that were actually offered scholarships. Some of those “tippy top students” (love the expression) turn down what they are offered to attend schools elsewhere. I know of at least two kids in that situation. One was offered a trustee scholarship, but turned it down to attend Stanford. The other interviewed for presidential scholarship, was bumped DOWN to dean’s scholarship, but turned it down to attend Columbia. Both of these cases show the caliber of students who are offered merit scholarships.
@museoffire - Love your username!!
Do you know how many of the full tuition Mork/Trustees scholarships are offered what the yield on them is? It would be interesting to see how many of them USC actually offers and how many are turned down – I wasn’t able to find that info. I know that some schools only offer a limited number of scholarships and whoever takes them, takes them. Others will assign alternates for their named scholarships.
I am very familiar with the caliber of students who are offered those scholarships, which is why I wanted the OP to be realistic. With a 1440 SAT it likely will be very hard for a student to be competitive for one of those scholarships.
Small world – my D also turned down a USC Trustee’s scholarship (along with few other full tuition schollies and HYP) and is now a sophomore at Stanford as well.
When I interviewed for the Trustee Scholarship, there were 196 students at my Explore USC session, and there are two sessions offered for Trustee candidates every year. The Trustee enrollment for my year (class of '19) was 105, so it’s safe to say that it’s usually around 100, give or take a few. So I’d say there were 300-400 Trustee candidates total, including those who didn’t get the scholarship and those who did but chose to attend another school
Hope this helps somewhat.
@LoveTheBard --of course you recognized my username!
I have read on these boards that the number of USC merit scholarships offered varies each year but ranges between 800 and 1200. Not all of those offered a scholarship come to USC for their interview and not all those who are interviewed accept their scholarship.
And not all are invited to interview if offered a scholarship. Some Presidential, Deans (1/4) and other small scholarships do not interview (which also means they have no chance of being bumped up).
So just to keep it real, with 800-1200 getting offered some kind of scholarship, it is clear to see the vast majority of students that apply (64,000) then those that are accepted (8,200) and those that actually attend (3,400) don’t get a scholarship. Very small percentages get offered a scholarship, then many of those that do attend elsewhere, shrinking that original 800-1200. More people get aid.
Do you have to come to campus to interview, or do they offer a Skype option?
You have to interview on campus, because they also want you to feel invested in the school and get to know it (sell you on it), which can only be done by going there. If interviewing, it is at least for an opportunity to get 100K (25k/four years 1/2) and maybe ever closer to 300K if full everything, so having to be there in person has always been the play. Of course, this may not work for everyone, but it is how it has always been done. They offer a flight stipend which may or may not cover entire flight expense, depending on choices made.
I actually have a friend who did the interview over Skype, because she couldn’t fly in from India on such a short notice. So if you give them a valid reason for not being able to come to campus, they might make an exception – that said, I do suggest trying to make it to Explore. It shows that you’re committed, plus you also get to see campus and interact with current USC students.
Also, when I interviewed, the maximum flight reimbursement they offered was $200 for out-of-state/international flights (in-state was $60), so I wouldn’t count on it covering everything. I had to book a ticket from Europe on a very short notice, and even the cheapest ones were over $1000. It’s certainly an investment, but I’d say it’s worth it when you put it into perspective and think of the scholarship $$$ you might be getting.
I believe trustee scholarships are allocated to school/department and you can contact the school you are applying to find out how many. For example my son applied to dance school, which have 2 trustee scholarships each year. He didn’t even get in dance, let alone scholarship. He is a freshman at Stanford right now studying human bio.
Hi @SCMHAALUM ! Great to see you here again! Good point about each school. They give 100 total Trustees (and not all accept and attend elsewhere) but each school can have varying amounts to give.
Assume your son is rocking Stanford and loving it. What’s not to love? Wishing you the best as always!
And re not coming to campus for an interview discusses above - keep in mind it must be an exceptional circumstance not to show up - like the example above which was short notice from India. Otherwise they want you at the interview. Exceptions are just that, exceptions and not the accepted norm. It will ding you if you do not attend, they want to meet the person they are considering giving what may be hundreds of thousand of dollars.
Hi @CADREAMIN ! Following your footsteps and giving back to the community 
Yes he loves Stanford except one important thing - not enough dance, so I think he is looking at possibly audition again this year for USC. I don’t think there are many scholarships for transfers, are there?
@SCMAALUM
^ there are some but the amounts are not listed on the USC scholarship pdf. They seem to be offered on a case by case basis.
https://camel2.usc.edu/admapp_pdf/Scholarship.Chart.pdf