<p>To answer the question in your thread title: no. The top (1/2 and full tuition) merit scholarships are given in a competitive process that involves a holistic review of each applicant’s entire application, often by your major/school if other than Dornsife, and includes a by-invitation visit to campus where finalists will interview for these awards. There are, however, 1/2 tuition Presidential scholarships which are automatically awarded to any/all NMF who are admitted to USC–not all NMFs are admitted, however. </p>
<p>Your tests scores are good, but so many applicants will have good test scores. They put you in the running. Everything else that you bring to the table (GPA/EC’s/LOR/application answers) will help determine whether you are asked to come and interview for a scholarship at USC. </p>
<p>Keep in mind there are thousands of applicants for the top scholarships. Yes, thousands. Your entire application is considered including the personal recommendations, honors, awards, talents, achievements and unique circumstances. Grades and scores are important, but it is a holistic process. </p>
<p>Some students with 2400 scores and top grades are not selected. It is difficult to guess who will be chosen for the highly competitive merit scholarships such as Mork, Stamps and Trustee. </p>
<p>Since there are 5 Mork and 5 Stamps scholarships, odds are against everybody. (I forget # on Trustees so don’t want to post wrong on that but you can find it somewhere.) There are plenty of perfect or near perfect test scoring students passed up - you’d be surprised how many of those applicants aren’t that appealing…if you stay on this forum much it will sound like everybody is getting a scholarship, don’t fall for that stuff. And others will be deceptive and convey that their financial aid (low income grants, etc) are merit scholarships, no one wants to say they got money because they are low income, sounds better to say they got it for being so smart. Just know they are competitive and don’t count on them, you can only go up from there.</p>
<p>My son got a National merit award and with that information, USC offered half tuition of: $20K. That still meant we needed to pay another $40K for tuition and room and board. So, don’t assume you will get your schooling funded. The competition is fierce for scholarships. You may get into USC but you will, more than likely, be paying full fees.</p>
<p>I’ll give you an example of someone that got a good scholarship, I recall it from a couple years ago. Kid with meticulous scores, great everything, majoring in aeronautical engineering and was already an accomplished pilot when he was applying. That is an exceptional/interesting applicant. That one just stuck with me. Test scores and good grades are everywhere, they don’t even guarantee entry anymore. Prepare for nothing not because you won’t get in, but so you keep other options open, don’t get too invested in one school and you won’t be as disappointed if it doesn’t work, but still thrilled if it does.</p>
<p>@Determined2300 Don’t worry about not having the experience - you are in high school and not expected to. Most kids don’t have major related experience, so don’t get psyched out by things you read on forums like this. But those exceptional types are the ones that get the prize. You have amazing stats and will do great. But I do believe kids are misinformed and believe that full rides are handed out like candy. They are extremely hard to come by at any school, and particular one as popular as USC. On CC it sometimes seems that everyone attends USC for free. Not true! I wish you well and great success!</p>
<p>Everyone kept telling us that admissions/scholarships were a crapshoot. I know three people who interviewed for scholarships at the same time as my son in the same major. One who had good scores, NMF got a Trustee Scholarship. One who was not NMF got the Mork. One who interviewed for Trustee ended up with Presidential. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason that I could discern. As everyone has said, they are competitive, but certainly achievable for the bright, well-rounded student. Good luck!</p>
<p>@MsMommy, I don’t doubt your story - but what I can tell you is that you don’t know WHY those students were chosen and often it is more than test scores and grades. A large percentage of students who qualify for the awards don’t get them. It’s not “automatic” as it is in other schools. So the criteria includes other factors.</p>
<p>One of the saddest things I’ve seen locally is when a student from a private school got into my university for the first time in a long time and the school - thinking they had “cracked” the code started sending us “clones” each year. Same grades, same classes, same extracurriculars. And then couldn’t figure out why none of the other kids were getting in. It was other factors the school was not aware of that made the difference. </p>
<p>So we discourage people from saying “scores” and classes and grades are what gets you a scholarship at USC. While that may be what gets them in line for consideration - with the exception of NMF - it’s only part of the equation and many well qualified students walk away empty handed.</p>
<p>So perhaps “achievable” is too strong a word based on the experiences of long-timers on this board. A better word is for a bright well rounded student they are still a long shot given the small number available.</p>
<p>of 3098 students who enrolled they awarded only 566 merit aid scholarships (I didn’t count the “other” category)> That is 18% but only 6% of the 9,358 students admitted. </p>
<p>For 2012-2013 they were given to 525 (17%) of the 3021 students that enrolled. But that only works out to 6% of the 9,187 students admitted.</p>
<p>The numbers don’t lie. A lot of bright students may be considered, but few walk away with the prizes.</p>
<p>I just think students should go in with realistic expectations. Grades and scores are becoming so ubiquitous as to not be quite as important as the rest of the resume. And it also subjective criteria that depends on who is evaluating the applicants that year.</p>
<p>Sorry, I was not disagreeing with what was being said. Just providing a personal anecdote. You are right that achievable may not be the best word. What I do know is that the person who received the Mork scholarship had lower grades and test scores than the two people I know who received the Trustee and Presidential. I was trying to “prove” your point that it is not all grades and test scores.</p>
<p>I don’t think the competitiveness should prevent anyone from applying early in the hopes of being offered a scholarship. I don’t think you can predict who will end up with which scholarship (if any).</p>
<p>Oh! Got it - the lower scores wasn’t clear from the post. I always tell students to go in assuming they get nothing and if they get something, it will be a pleasant surprise. Not trying at all is the same as a no.</p>
<p>Still, there is that annual ash of complaint threads from students and parents who say “I got such and such score and someone who didn’t got the award …” and we’ve always said - especially in MadBean’s “Chance me” thread that there is no way to predict who USC will take and who they won’t.</p>
<p>So thank you for posting that clarification. I think it will help a lot of students. :-)</p>