My son is still waiting to hear from the HC (I know some notifications went out in Dec) but I understand that they roll them out and let all applicants know their status by the end of Feb. We are OOS and he will receive merit scholarship to “at least” equal in state tuition. (Thankful for that). He profiles out below the average of HC (2100 old SAT, 4.3 weighted GPA, 5’s in AP tests, a couple of 800’s SAT subject tests) but it seems he profiles higher than average for Capstone. Can anyone shed any light on whether kids who don’t make the HC are considered or are likely for Capstone?
Thanks!
I think the decision on Honors vs Capstone is not strictly stats-driven. My D (now a 2nd year) was admitted to Honors with slightly lower SAT than your son’s, slightly higher GPA, and zero subject tests. Also McKissick scholar. Could have been the essays (she had 5 or 6 which I understand has since been reduced), maybe geographic diversity (we are in PA), who knows? Impossible to say why some kids get into Honors, some into Capstone, and some, equally well qualified, do not get into either.
Short answer: If your son is not accepted into Honors, I think Capstone is very likely.
My son did not apply to the Honors College because his ACT is a 29 (30 superscored). Do you think he would still be considered for Capstone Scholars?? His GPA is 4.2. He really liked the program when we visited this past weekend for admitted students day. I wondered if it will have hurt him that he didn’t apply to honors college?
I don’t think it will hurt him. My D has 2 friends in Capstone that she knew from HS and she is sure that they did not apply to the HC. It’s her impression that the Capstone scholars have good grades and test scores (like your son) and also have good ECs (both of her friends were varsity athletes with good community service). I hope it works out for him!
I think a lot of the decisions on Honors College acceptance hinge on essays. My daughter had a 32 ACT. I am not sure how her GPA recalculated but it was good not great. Same with her EC’s. She got into Honors and got a Cooper Scholarship but her scores and credentials were on the low end for both from what I see so anything is possible. Good luck!
Here is link from website. You are in program with smart, motivated kids many of who applied to Honors College and care about academics. You get a organized way to get to know other students and have some classes together. When D graduate a few years back, one of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan winners (top leadership award) was a Capstone, as is the new Rhodes scholars that you can read about on line.
The Magellan grant (which is also available to Honors college students) is a great way to get a professor to let you assist in research since you can get grant to fund you .
My d is a senior nursing major at USC who was in Capstone freshman and sophomore yr . She stayed in the Capstone dorm and since she was in nursing it seemed as though they purposely had put a bunch of other nursing students on her floor as well. There were many OOS students in the dorm as well as Instate so she really met a ton of people from all over . Capstone reminded me of when she was in National Honor Society . There were a lot of events , community service opportunities , GPA challenges , opportunities to go abroad etc. They had it set up where you got certain points for doing certain service events or attending different lectures etc. Many of D s friends became Capstone fellows ( I’m pretty sure that’s what they call it ) where they stayed a part of the program junior and Sr yr as well. My d was too busy with nursing to meet all the requirements needed to continue beyond her sophomore year. She really enjoyed being a part of the program for freshman and sophomore yr and her very best friends now are the girls she met freshman yr in the Capstone dorm . She lives with these same girls now off campus and a few are even thinking of getting an apt together once they graduate since they are looking in the same area for jobs! I think it helped to provide a smaller community within a larger school . Many of her friends did Maymester trips abroad with Capstone. I think it’s nice for students who may not have applied to honors or didn’t get in . All of the students d met in Capstone were high achieving students who liked to be involved in a lot of different activities .
Thanks for the info… great to hear. My son did not get honors (although he did at some other tough schools like Ohio State) but we are happy to hear that he did get into Capstone. We met with the Capstone folks when we visited last week and it seems like a great program to help smart kids connect and get engaged with each other in a community.
^^ You’ll be surprised at the high stats of the students in Capstone. D did not choose to apply to honors but was in the top 1-2% of her hs class of 500+ students. Many of her friends were top students who did apply to honors but for whatever reason did not get in …Just to give you an idea, several of her friends and roommates from Capstone are graduating from USC in May with 4.0s and several are already admitted to grad programs. All of the students d met in Capstone have been very successful all 4 years.Many have been involved in sororities ,frats, and other activities. Most have studied abroad and had various internships and several have job offers already .
Thanks NJMOM3
I’m happy to hear all of that and congrats on your daughter’s success! It sounds like she was/is very hapy with her decision to attend U-SC… my son is strongly leaning there and its reassuring that kids from the north (we’re in Mass) have positive experiences there.
Thanks Mac001, Good luck to your son with whatever he decides ! And yes , D has no regrets and is VERY sad to be graduating soon ! There are plenty of students from the north and midatlantic states so your son will feel right at home if he chooses USC.