<p>Since USC is rolling, i know its better for me to apply early.</p>
<p>But if i dont want to be considered for scholarships, can i still apply earlier than Dec 1 which is the deadline for scholarship consideration? How do i show them that i dont want to be considered for scholarships?</p>
<p>Also, how many sat 2s do they require/recommend?</p>
<p>Why wouldn’t you want to be considered for scholarships?</p>
<p>USC is not rolling, it has two firm deadlines: December 1st for applicants who wish to be considered for scholarships, and January 11th for all freshman applicants. [Dates</a> & Deadlines - USC Undergraduate Admission](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/apply/dates_deadlines.html]Dates”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/apply/dates_deadlines.html)</p>
<p>USC is need-blind in admissions, so if you are hoping that your ability to pay full price without any scholarships will assist in admissions, it will not. If your application is ready by December 1st, it makes sense to submit it before that date - it will not “hurt your chances.” </p>
<p>If you want to “show them you don’t want to be considered for scholarships,” simply apply December 2nd or later and you will not be considered for scholarships.</p>
<p>Three SAT Subject tests are only required of homeschooled (and some other) students. They are recommended for all other students. <a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/apply/fresh_standards.html[/url]”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/apply/fresh_standards.html</a></p>
<p>(Good job, alamemom- a perfect answer bolded and linked! You are definitely NOT lame anymore. Tell your kids someone on a forum said that.)</p>
<p>hahaha! I WILL tell them! (But they will probably still consider me lame…)</p>
<p>thank you guys! i thought till now that usc was rolling and so i was confused why usc had “deadlines” (although rolling admissions do have deadlines). is usc need-blind for sure? if thats true, of course i would apply earlier than dec1. thank you alamemom!</p>
<p>The December 1st deadline is for consideration for MERIT-based scholarships, not financial aid. The financial aid deadlines are the end of January for the FAFSA and CSS/Profile, and March for copies of tax returns.</p>
<p>Yes, USC is need-blind. I checked some of your past posts, however, and it seems you are an international applicant. As an international applicant, you must submit a Financial Statement of Personal or Family Support <a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/private/0910/Form8.pdf[/url]”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/private/0910/Form8.pdf</a> with your application (this is a US Government requirement). International applicants are not eligible for need-based financial aid at USC, but they are eligible for merit scholarships. Again, it is in your best interest to submit your application before December 1st in order to be considered for merit scholarships. It will not hurt your application to submit by December 1st.</p>
<p>I would apply by the Dec 1 deadline. If you’re chosen to be considered for the merit scholarships, you would be admitted late January (as compared to April). To turn down the scholarship, all you have to do is not go to the scholarship interview (let them know, of course).</p>
<p>I dont need FA nor do i need the scholarships. However, if they give me, then a big thank you!!! But even if its needblind, wont applying for the FA affect my acceptance?
Hm, this is kind of confusing.
If i apply by the dec1 deadline is it similar to the “early action/decisions” in that i get my acceptance letter earlier than if i apply regular? If yes, why will that not hurt my application?</p>
<p>USC is need-blind in admissions, so applying for financial aid does not affect acceptances. Really. For International students however, there is a requirement to show that you (or your family) can pay for your tuition and support while in college before USC can send an acceptance letter. (This is a United States government requirement and the first step in obtaining a student visa, not a USC requirement.)</p>
<p>All of the above has nothing to do with the December 1st deadline. Nothing. The December 1st deadline is for MERIT scholarship consideration ONLY. It has nothing to do with need-based financial aid. International students are eligible for merit aid at USC.</p>
<p>
No.
It is not an early action or early decision deadline. The vast majority of students who apply by the December 1st deadline do NOT hear about acceptances/rejections before those who apply by January 11th. There are a very few acceptances (but no rejections) sent out in late January and early February. They are the students being considered for the Trustee and Presidential scholarships who are notified early so they can be interviewed for the scholarships in late February and early March, and a few other very well qualified students (most of whom are later awarded the Dean’s scholarships).</p>
<p>If your application is ready by December 1st, there is NO negative impact on your application by applying at that time. None.</p>
<p>Sorry for continously asking 
so I understand that the Dec 1 deadline is for those who want to be consdered for the USC Merit-based scholarships. The financial aid are, however, need based. Is this right? Im so sorry, but I really wanted to make sure.</p>
<p>Correct, apply by 12/1 to be considered for merit scholarships. Need-based financial aid is calculated later using FAFSA/Profile/other information and is separate from the application process.</p>
<p>Again -_-…
So there wouldnt be any advantage for me to apply by the 12/1 due date if i dont want to be considered for the merit scholarships?</p>
<p>I suppose there could be an advantage of applying early as it lets the admissions people know you are enthusiastically sending in your application as soon as they open the application period. Additionally, forget the merit money if you don’t want it, throwing your hat into the ring for merit awards shows that you are interested in applying for honors from the university. Getting a Trustee Scholarship (or Pres. or Dean’s) is an award that goes beyond the financial and could open doors for you during your time at USC. If you are so privileged financially that you feel it would be morally wrong to take the merit money from someone else who may need it more, which is admirable, I would still apply and see what happens. You can always enjoy the process and the overnight visit that merit awards recipients are invited to where you have the opportunity to get a great look at USC and meet some of the people you would be working with there and then explain at the interview that you feel they should give the money to someone who needs it more than yourself. Or, just take the award if you get it and donate an equivalent amount back to USC. I thought the overnight was fabulous… our family learned a lot about how USC operates by attending that event. The only other advantage is that those who are nominated for merit awards find out as early as January that they are accepted to USC. Since housing requests are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, getting an early acceptance allows one to have their pick of housing. So, advantages other than money: Prestige & potential opportunities associated with such an award and first pick of housing.</p>
<p>For students who may read this thread who are not international applicants there are other competitive merit scholarships available. Some are alumni scholarships for certain schools, individual alumni club scholarships such as the USC Alumni Club of Atlanta (5 partial scholarships), Town & Gown, Panhellenic and others.</p>
<p>bessie: I am not “so privileged financially.” I just want to get into USC because it is one of the schools that I really really want to go into. Im just afraid that applying for merit scholarships may hinder me getting in. I do not feel morally wrong nor do you need to be admirable for that. I am an international so I cant even go to the overnight visit.</p>
<p>I have read a lot of posts on the internet saying it is easier to get into USC if you pay the full tuition/have rich parents. I am able to afford that, so I thought that would enhance my chances of getting in? </p>
<p>Why are people saying things like that if USC is need-blind?</p>
<p>And I have another question: I am an international student from the Netherlands. Will that enhance my chances of getting in since colleges want to increase diversity and there are not that many Dutch students?</p>
<p>
Incorrect. USC is need-blind in admissions for US students. (See post #3 of this thread.) For International students, however, there is a US government requirement that you submit a Financial Statement of Personal or Family Support <a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergr...0910/Form8.pdf[/url]”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergr...0910/Form8.pdf</a> (see post #7 of this thread) before USC can send a letter of acceptance. I don’t think it would “enhance” your chances because it is required of all International applicants.</p>
<p>International students are admitted at a slightly higher rate than US students (approx 27% International vs 24% overall), but International students tend to be a very well-qualified group, so the slightly higher rate doesn’t really add up to an advantage. <a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/private/0910/FreshmanProfile2009.pdf[/url]”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/private/0910/FreshmanProfile2009.pdf</a> USC is very interested in geographic diversity, so being from a country that does not typically have a lot of applicants might be an advantage for a very well-qualified applicant.</p>
<p>
nanaboom, what you are saying does not make sense. USC awards merit scholarships to the students they most WANT. They are under no obligation to award a scholarship to you simply because you apply by December 1st, so how do you imagine it would “hurt” your chances to apply by that date? </p>
<p>The process: They go through all applications received before Dec. 1st. They set aside those they are considering for scholarships - which is a tiny percent of the 35,000+ applicants. Those students are admitted and invited for interviews in late February and early March (USC assists in paying for your trip if you are invited, so don’t rule it out). January 11, all remaining applicants - those received by December 1st and January 11th - begin to be evaluated for admissions. There is NO penalty for applying by December 1st. None.</p>
<p>Thank you for the information!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>victoria2- </p>
<p>Would you please link as many of those posts that you can find?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>