<p>OP, time to move on. Trying to second guess admissions and merit aid is a fruitless effort. Our son had a combined 1380 CR and Math in 2003. He was deferred and subsequently rejected from University of Maryland. Oddly he was accepted to Boston University (and with great merit aid). We knew MANY kids from around here who not only got accepted at UMD but also got merit awards with stats like DS’s. Oh well…whatever.</p>
<p>Your daughter will land in a great place. USC isn’t the ONLY college in CA to which she could have applied, right? </p>
<p>Your daughter sounds amazing. So does her friend. I am certain that thousands and thousands of the December 1st applicants could be called nothing less than amazing. Unfortunately, only 3% of the over 30,000 December 1st applicants received invitations to interview for USC’s top scholarships. As painful as it is to stand on the sidelines and watch others receive good news, it is also important to think about how we hope others react to our own children when they receive wonderful news (as I am certain your daughter will during this admission cycle). We would want them - and their parents - to refrain from criticizing our child’s accomplishments as less-worthy or suggesting our child in someway cheated by claiming “URM” status. The kids that have received good news are 17 and 18 year-olds every bit as vulnerable as your child - please try to find a way to be happy for them and proud on their behalf.</p>
<p>@alamemom - w-h-o-a … I think YOU INFERRED quite a lot from what I wrote - and I take offense - NO WHERE DID I SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE about my D’s Friend or others who received offers NOR DID I imply any sort of cheating, on the contrary, I stated that I didn’t think URM was a factor in this case… which you twisted on IT’S end. Moreover, I STATED (not implied) several times that I am HAPPY FOR MY DAUGHTER’S DESERVING friend - because I am …<br>
Because I’m at a loss, looking for some logical explanation, and feel saddened/disappointed on behalf of my daughter… does not mean I have no joy for those that were selected. You seem to portend that the two are mutually exclusive… and actually, sound a lot like the “party line” of USC admin." </p>
<p>THANKFULLY, I’m sure my daughter will find a good school fit moving forward - and thankfully her motivation is intrinsic; regardless of the potential college app benefits - her pursuits would be the same no matter what! She is and will be the type of individual who is involved, driven, spirited and passionate in college and beyond as it is just how she is wired !!</p>
<p>@thumper1 … it’s been all of 8 hours since I was given this news, no worries, I will move on … but thank you for your thoughtfulness @bernie12 … yes she did apply to Duke, Georgetown & BC for exactly the reasons you outlined (not V-bilt or Notre Dame) as well as a couple other California schools (UC’s and Stanford) and other NE mid-sized schools </p>
<p>Ccon, she has a great and well balanced list of applications. And she has wonderful things she will bring to one to the college she chooses from her acceptances. Please, do report back and let us know her choice in the spring. It’s going to be a great place!</p>
<p>I would be shocked if the friend was invited the the interview for 1/2 or full scholarship. They do issue Deans or something else smaller (I no longer track their names) which says you are admitted, here is some money for lower stats people while those in NMSF and much higher range get invited to the interview. Some get admitted without the interview but if they have NMSF status, they are guaranteed half tuition that comes with the admission.</p>
<p>@emeralkity4 … non-sequitor: your doggie is soooo cute- made me chuckle. We also love adorning our golden with silly garb (hats, sunglasses, scarves … you name it) … poor poochies!</p>
<p>Sorry to ask this again. @Ccon66 - Did your D get into USC but was not offered scholarship or she not get in at all at this time, that is decision is not until march. Thought I read in the other thread, scholarship letters may still be coming. Also if you are in CA, UCs are a wonderful option - hopefully she get regents. With her stats, UCLA and Cal are strong contenders and I have heard that they are more academic and take into rigor of courses. Kind of disappointing that USC is more arbitrary than it seems.</p>
<p>I understand how you are feeling and I would feel the exact same way. You are genuinely happy for your D’s friend while questioning how this could have happened to your D. I know very little about California schools, but it seems to me as though they thought she was using them as a safety. I can’t come up with any other reason. Good luck- your D will have many amazing opportunities. </p>
<p>I think USC has become very arbitrary with its Calif applicants. If you were OOS, the merit would probably have been more likely. In Calif, there are SO MANY very high stats kids applying to USC, that USC is likely using other things for down-selection…</p>
<p>Another thing that USC considers is “interest”. Maybe the other student showed a lot of interest in USC. She may have visited the dept, spoke with profs, etc. </p>
<p>@ljmom Yes, USC gives NMF money, but the OP’s D isn’t a NMF. She was very sick on PSAT day and no one seemed to have told them that when that happens, the student can skip the test, and the GC can arrange for a SAT test to be used instead. </p>
<p>"-minority surname/ ? if on official school records"</p>
<p>You mentioned that the mom may not have changed the D’s records. That’s not a req’t at all. All she has to do is check the box on the app. Besides, do you really think that her HS records list her as White if she’s not? It sounds like her mom doesn’t like to “use” her URM status, so her records may have been “declined to state”, but with the last name, USC can assume.</p>
<p>Another BIG issue is that it seems that the depts have a hand in this. Do the depts have their own money? If so, then certainly the Bschool has a LOT more money to give away than the philosophy/poly sci folks do. The Bschool may be able to award a LOT more of these awards. Your D’s major dept may not offer many at all.</p>
<p>Wow, 23 posts on this. Yes, it 's a tough go when you see something like this–you know point by point, your student is “better” than one who made a cut for something whether it’s admissions or an award. Sorry this happened, but, as well as you may know the girl and family, you did not see the actual application,recs, etc. Timing can also be an issue as well as the person at the college who makes the picks. A lot of luck involved as well.</p>
<p>OP’s DD is without doubt a top drawer candidate for any school. However, if the family does not qualify for financial aid, getting sizeable merit awards from any of the top schools is difficult and rare. About half of them do not even offer merit money, and some, like Duke, that do, give out so few that the term “hen’s teeth” comes to mind. I don’t know anyone of the top of my head that got those primo awards. Vanderbilt, Emory, maybe, but again sizeable amounts are a tough go. My one son got a lot of merit awards, from nearly every school on his list, but top amount was $5K. </p>
<p>Hopefully some schools on the list do pan out money wise, if that is going to be the issue. The OP’s DD is already in at USC, so it’s not acceptance to a school that is the hang up—it’s the money.</p>
<p>Well, we are OOS and let me give u 1data point- ACT 36, SAT 2350, SAT2 in math2 and chem - 800 on both. NAtl Merit. 2/374 in class, 10 APs w 5s So far. </p>
<p>She’s the lead in the musical, acted professionally, has performed in a zillion of productions mostly w principal roles, started a fundraising endeavor to further the arts. (The model was repeated in other cities bc it was so lucrative.) She is in 2 show choirs, pres of one. The regional show choir sang back up to Foreigner. Sings in 2 other choirs w countless solos. She played varsity vball for 3 years and travel for 3. Has a Bronze Congressional medal and many awards- music, leadership, etc. Vol at hospital both summers. Studied Shakespeare (250 hrs) at a conservatory over the summer. Blah blah blah. </p>
<p>No packet. I’m not sure she will get in. The way I look at it, if that’s not enough, then ok. As I write this, she’s driving into the city to do a tv interview for the show she is currently in. I think she is a gem, packet or not. </p>
<p>I don’t take any of the schools she’s applied to for granted. So many kids are rock stars,; she’s done everything she can and is super happy w her accomplishments. That’s all we can do. I’m guessing we will end up taking a great scholarship at a less reputable but fantastic school. And she will rock that place bc that’s what she does </p>
<p>Ps… I realize all the kids applying are wonderful! I am just so excited to see what this generation does! </p>
<p>I certainly understand the dissapointment, there is much about the admissions process and awards process that doesn’t seem equitable.
When schools are “building a community” you wonder if your child will fit into their construct.
The OP’s child has put in the effort, hopefully it will be recognized at a school that they will flourish at!</p>
<p>So sorry OP. Vent and move on. Similar situation here, not USC. Kid we know won huge scholarship. We could think of about half a dozen better candidates at our school alone, so were surprised by the choice. Not even a particularly nice kid! There must have been something she had no one knew about or some better way she sold herself. </p>
<p>3TallBlonds…
I think your D will get admitted with her stats, and since she’s a NMF, she’ll get the half tuition. She may not have gotten a packet since USC knows that she’s a likely NMF.</p>
<p>I do know a kid who got one of the Pres scholarships- and his scores were closer to the friend’s than the daughter’s. Now that I’m hearing all our PMs are saved, I could probably go back and find the data. NOT a minority, but a whopper of an app package that went well beyond hs activities- and I do know his essays, which he wrote himself and were super. Know how he presented his goals. Turned USC down for Stanford. </p>
<p>Adcoms view from their own institutional perspective. No comparison of stats and activities can express the “whole” adcoms look for, for their colleges. And so on. Sorry for the disappointment. </p>
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