Chances of USC/Merit

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

Alright, so I’ve recently been denied from Stanford, something I figured was coming, and USC is my next decision, and I’m seeing whether to be optimistic or not. My first choice major was CS and my second was International Relations.

My GPA is a 4.0 unweighted, a 101 weighted (I ran my grades through a 4.0 scale weighted calculator and it said 4.6, if that matters). My ACT is a 33 (34 E 34 R 33 M 32 S). I live in a semi-rural part of Georgia, and go to a High school with 3,300 kids. I’m ranked 18 out of my class of 550.

I play soccer, I’m the captain for my team, I’ve been playing there for 5 years now, and I referee for U.S. Soccer. I do pretty high-level youth games that most kids my age aren’t selected, I’m in the highest tier that an under-18 referee can do. I make pretty good money with that, but I also had a paid internship with a web design company over the summer, and now have another job. My parents are divorced, my dad walked out on us when I was 16, and my sister has a disability so I have to help make ends meet and pay for things. I’m also into app development, I’m developing a language learning app (I learned Portuguese on my own and Spanish at school + self-study) that’s community-based, which is taking a while because of all the complications of it. I was in band, but I had to quit because I couldn’t fit it into my schedule. I was pretty good, I made the district/all-state band every year from middle school until sophomore year.

I think my essays were good, I put a lot of thought into them. I think my recommendations were good as well, I got 2 teachers who really know me and my work ethic. Having a relationship with my counselor is tough considering she’s also the counselor for like 500 other kids, but I’ve spoken with her enough that I think her recommendation was good.

So, that’s basically my application. Should I be more worried about qualifying for merit scholarships, or is getting in period what I should be worrying about?

2

"or is getting in period what I should be worrying about? "
getting in and then finding out your mom cant afford to send you to USC is going to be just as tough [ if not worse] being rejected.
Did you run the USC NPC?CAN you go to USC without merit scholarship $$?

Did you submit your USC application before Dec 1?
if not, you have reduced your chances of receiving large merit scholarships from USC, UNLESS you took the PSAT, AND exceeded Georgia’s cut off number for National Merit consideration.
If you can answer yes to both queries, then you have a chance of getting a 1/2 Tuition Scholarship via USC’s participation in the National Merit Scholarship program [but only if you are accepted at USC]

3

I did run the NPC and it said my net cost would be around $7k, which would be manageable with how much is saved up for me. I submitted my application to be considered for merit scholarships. I didn’t take the PSAT besides the time I was a sophomore and my school made us, so I don’t qualify for that.

I just don’t want to worry about merit scholarships if I have a slim chance of admission in the first place.

4

Good job overcoming the challenges in your life and being successful in High School.

5

I appreciate it

6

There’s really no predicting about getting in or getting aid. My D16 had very similar stats/grades, great ECs and was NMSF. We were hoping for merit aid. She was denied … and ended up somewhere else with great merit aid that she loves.

It sounds like you’re doing great and will definitely end up somewhere that’s a good fit, and likely with great merit/financial aid. Your scores, grades and activities really show perseverance and success already!

Good luck!