<p>What are my chances of getting a scholarship next year? I think I just missed out on NMF with PSAT 215.
Currently - 3.7 UW junior, all honors or AP classes sophomore, junior and senior years, SAT 2240, extracurriculars - 4 yrs debate, 4yrs basketball, 2 yrs tutoring, 3 yrs outside lab volunteer, 2 yrs high school leadership roles? 3 excellent teacher recs?
Have taken 2 APs so far and will take 6 in senior year. 4 on Euro and Spanish. Will take 2 SAT subject tests in June.</p>
<p>My son’s academic record was just a bit stronger than yours, and he also had a good EC resume. I thought that he would be interviewed for a scholarship, but he was not. Admitted to Viterbi, but received no merit aid. 215 would be NMF in about twenty five states, but not California!</p>
<p>Also, my high school has been ranked as one of the top 20 best high schools in the U.S. for a long time consistently and it’s in California… would this help bc colleges know that our school is one of the best?</p>
<p>Not to be hurtful, but to be direct and so you don’t get your hopes up, I wouldn’t plan on any or even assume acceptance. Competition is so strong these days. For scholarships you have to demonstrate something exceptional either in grades or activities, not run of the mill stuff that virtually everyone else does. So apply and give it your best to get a scholarship - but the worse thing you can do is assume you are getting money from someone like USC as many do every year and are disappointed. Many kids coming in with 4.0uw/4.6w, 2250+SAT, many APs and fabulous ECs aren’t getting a penny.</p>
<p>USC is giving money to a certain type of student these days - their demographic/social targets are clear and their priority, and these are at the expense of everyone else. It will change in a couple years as reaction to their current trends take effect and people adjust. </p>
<p>The only guarantee for a major merit scholarship at USC is to be named NMF <em>and</em> to be admitted to USC. Beyond that, USC is a private institution who may give their institutional aid to whomever they choose. And it’s a very tough competition. Therefore, it seems to me like bad sportsmanship when people insult the school for not giving them scholarships. Of course it is disappointing–especially when middle class families cannot qualify for much FA and feel squeezed out, and when their excellent student has worked so hard throughout high school. Be that as it may, we are talking about gift aid and a highly qualified competitive pool. If USC chooses to give it to high SAT scorers or top talent winners or top service leaders or top athletes, how can one predict if one your application will shine brighter than the hundreds/thousands of other equally impressive candidates. To prevent disappointment, and worse–sour grapes–it’s best to try hard and then fully understand the odds. Being selected for a USC Deans, Presidential or Trustee scholarship is equivalent to being admitted to Yale or Stanford or MIT. Many highly qualified individuals are passed over, not because of their qualifications, but because there are a limited number of open spots.</p>