DUMBFOUNDED!!!!!!!! OVER USC MERIT SCHOLARSHIP CANDIDATES

Paying for College
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<p>Some information about what USC consider important may be found in the common data set.
<a href=“Institutional Research, Assessment, and Analytics - Institutional Research, Assessment, and Analytics | University of South Carolina”>Institutional Research, Assessment, and Analytics - Institutional Research, Assessment, and Analytics | University of South Carolina;
see c7.</p>

<p>There is a thread on this board with common data set links to most schools.
I was surprised to find out that UCD, UCLA and UCSD consider standardized test to be very important while for Berkeley it is just important . There are four categories,** very important, important, considered and not important.**</p>

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<p>I don’t think there’s anything out there approaching common definitions for those ratings categories. Nor that the holistic schools have a precise way of weighing them, before answering. The U I know best had one category marked “not considered” and I knew that was most certainly was. </p>

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<p>USC tends to be score-crazy in contrast to the UCs that are GPA driven. But, they also want diversity. </p>

<p>I do think it’s strange that the BFF got this award because, frankly, her stats are VERY often rejected by USC. It’s strange for someone who would likely get rejected to then get a merit scholarship. That’s why I think that there was another consideration outside of stats.</p>

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<p>I’m in the same situation, high caliber applicant, no packet from USC. Just got to chalk it up to the system and move on and hope for a quarter tuition scholarship. I was bitter at first because USC was my dream school but it is whatever, I have plenty of better options.</p>

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<p><a href=“https://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg02_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=1138”>https://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg02_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=1138&lt;/a&gt; indicates that USC does not consider “level of applicant’s interest” (or state residency or geographic residence).</p>

<p><a href=“University of South Carolina Acceptance Rate | CollegeData”>http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg02_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=1666&lt;/a&gt; indicates that the other USC also does not consider “level of applicant’s interest”.</p>

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<p>This might not be the same USC.</p>

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<p>^ Definitely not the same USC</p>

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<p>it s the other USC. sorry I tried.</p>

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<p>UCB…I could be wrong, but I’ve heard that for scholarships, level of interest can be considered. I didn’t mean for admissions. since depts have a say in these scholarships, perhaps the BFF had met with the dept.</p>

<p>That said, First Gen and ethnic status are considerations by USC (Calif)</p>

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<p>hi all . . . In less than 24 hours with the input and help of you all, I feel as though I’ve gained perspective and am able to piece together the puzzle a bit better, thus have gotten peace, ready to move on!!! </p>

<p>Ultimately, I know the selection process is not a science, naively I suppose I thought it was a bit more empirically merit based than it was/ is. </p>

<p>(@mom2collegekids … you are very astute, wish we had known about NMF-bye with illness about 1.5 years ago-)</p>

<p>For others of you that come across this post in future looking for answers, perhaps finding yourself in a similar “dumbfounded” predicament - I will address a couple of more recent post querries:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>My D has not been “accepted” - I assume unoffficially deferred to March pool, and yes, still potentially in play for smaller scholarships … but I will not hold my breath</p></li>
<li><p>Having spoken with D last evening, she shared that of the top-5% students who applied to SC most also did not qualify for the preliminary scholarships; of her HS’s large 700-student senior class, initial impressions indicate that only 3 kids received scholarship offers (likely there are a few more)- Two of whom have similar GPA/SAT/Course Rigor/EC’s … very very good students (D’s friend, and another) - and one truly stellar student, an amazing girl, with top-notch GPA/test scores/ EC’s who is the conductor of the school’s 360-person marching band, etc </p></li>
<li><p>My D’s friend (and my D) both wrote essays without tutors; when asked, my D’s friend said she thinks she wrote one essay about her interest in business; and the other about she and her brother being first in family to attend college… but she’s not sure </p></li>
<li><p>In terms of displayed interest in USC<br>
… my daughter not only attended an all day campus tour (which she referenced on app somewhere), but also another 1/2 day one with her friend- Daughter also corresponded with Dornslife admin. to follow-up on the majors (inquired about the new major that combines Philosophy/ Poly Sci and Law as it was not yet in printed information) … my D looked into clubs specific to SC and referenced in her app- Finally, D arranged an interview - the alumni in our area was fully booked early so we drove So.Cal (5+ hours one way) there and back in one day- to attend the alternative campus-interview. D tends to interview well, no major gaffs reported … they spoke mostly about her ECs and hobbies. The interviewer told her she normally processes only international candidates and spoke english as a second language… not sure if she was even an interviewer normally, or just admin, so … i don’t know if that was best case scenario . </p></li>
</ul>

<p>My daughter’s friend took a tour, but hadn’t contacted USC subsequently nor, interviewed. </p>

<p>This past Sunday/Monday evening when D’s friend came home to find a special delivery packet from USC she didn’t open it explaining that she was tired and would do it the next day … then hadn’t opened it even the next morning … wasn’t until ariving at school when her friends told her what a big deal it was, and what was likely in it, that she texted her mom to open and read it. … she then told my daughter " I have to LA for some kind of interview" … to which my dtr said “OMG, you mean you get to …” </p>

<p>At this point, it appears that my D’s friend is leaning toward attending one of our state’s best State Universities to which she was admitted ED, over USC w/ scholarship.</p>

<p>ce la vie</p>

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<p>@ccon66 - I am actually really happy you posted here. There are quite a few in our area with the same "what happened? factor…even kids with perfect scores, who were wooed by USC by repeated mailings. It certainly is heartbreaking on the their part when someone with a 2050 score and 1 AP and no hooks either, are accepted with a presidential scholarship packet. If I was the mom, I would be asking why? So I will give my theory the way I think. </p>

<p>USC is thinking of wooing the ones that are potentially going to accept them as this will be the best choice for them. Your D and many others will have UCLA,UCB, and chances at other top schools. Having said that, USC has given some of these real top kids trustee invitees…probably because hey, they got to try to get some of those superstars …who are hyp caliber.</p>

<p>So yes, I am not going to sugar coat it…and I am glad you posted. Since I know many folks scratching their heads …now.And ok, I am not bashing USC but from the folks that go there, I hear there is a big divide among the scholarship ones and the rest of the crowd. In some ways, maybe another college might be a better fit. Good luck to you and your D…</p>

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<p>ED is a commitment to attend, unless the financial aid and scholarships are not enough to make it affordable. (Though if you are in California, the only state university with ED has a lower list price than USC with a half-tuition scholarship.)</p>

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<p><a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/apply/documents/FreshmanProfile2013FINAL.pdf”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/apply/documents/FreshmanProfile2013FINAL.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Al in all I am happy that I didn’t pressure my son to apply to USC. We also kept getting e-mails. </p>

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<p>all - thanks CC crew</p>

<p>@ucbalumnus … okay, so I messed up the acronym (I can’t keep them all straight… EA, then?)
whatever — point is D’s friend has been accepted to a " CA State" school (not a UC, by the way) - and is leaning toward staying put</p>

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<p>ED = early decision; applying ED commits the student to attend if the finances work
EA = early action; student is not committed to attend and has normal deadline to decide</p>

<p>As far as I know, there is only one California public university (a CSU) with ED, and none with EA, but some of the other CSUs have been reported to issue acceptance notices quite early (during ED / EA season), presumably because the admissions process at most CSUs is a simple ranking by GPA and test score formula (application deadline is end of November).</p>

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<p>UCB…Is it SLO?</p>

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<p>Yes, CPSLO is the one I know about. In-state undergraduate cost is $24,804 if paying list price (may be less if there are financial aid grants or scholarships).</p>

<p>For comparison, USC at list price is $62,245. With a half tuition scholarship, it is $39,444. With a full tuition scholarship, it is $16,643.</p>

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<p>Let me say that just because a school doesn’t have ED or EA or rolling acceptances officially does not mean that they do not give out acceptances early in the season to some students. Makes it nerve wracking for those who do not get any such notices.</p>

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<p>USC parent here (no academic scholarship). This entire thread is rife with misinformation and eye-popping speculation. Off the top of my head:</p>

<ul>
<li>NO applicant has received a “deferred” admission decision. </li>
<li>USC does not defer to an RD pool, because it does not have ED and EA.</li>
<li>Interviews conducted during the admission cycle have no bearing on admission decisions.</li>
<li>The merit scholarship process has no bearing on whether students who were not invited to interview for scholarships will be admitted.</li>
<li>The merit scholarship process has no bearing on whether admitted students will receive university (need-based) grants.</li>
<li>State of residence has no bearing on USC admission decisions. The highest represented state is CA.</li>
<li>If your child is one of the ~35,000 applicants who was not invited to interview for a scholarship (as was mine in 2012), it means NOTHING about whether to “move on” because he or she is not being admitted to USC.</li>
</ul>

<p>I have had my share of aggravation with USC, I’m not one of the die hards around here (there are several) who won’t hear a word against it. However, OP, I suggest you go over to the USC forum for some accurate information and perspective, if you haven’t already. </p>