<p>Maybe it’s a scholarship specific to the School of Theatre for half-tuition, and therefore financially equivalent to a Presidential Scholarship (but still not technically a Presidential scholarship)?</p>
<p>You’re right that each individual school does have its own merit awards. Not positive about the details, as they differ considerably. For kids with great records going to USC, there definitely is some merit money to be had. There are even some scholarships students can apply for as upperclassmen</p>
<p>Hi wisdom, I am hoping you can update this so future applicants searching for information do not get incorrect information.</p>
<p>ACT scores are certainly important in selecting candidates to be invited for Trustee/Presidential scholarships, but the “NMF-like ACT-based scholarship” your mother describes has not been part of USC’s offerings, and as she defined it would apply to half of USC’s admitted students. In the last several years USC has awarded merit aid to about 20% of incoming freshmen, so a jump to 50% would be surprising.</p>
<p>Did it turn out that your mother misunderstood the conversation, or were you awarded a 1/2 tuition scholarship?</p>
<p>I have no idea what happened, but I have not received any merit-based scholarships to the best of my knowledge. It seems that I would know by now if I had received any of those, so it doesn’t look like I’ll be getting one. 
I haven’t heard anything about my financial aide package at all yet. We still have to get our tax forms in–I know, tsk tsk. I’ve been nagging my mom, she just hasn’t been listening.</p>
<p>I am here to cut your hope. I have the awful stats but in the same situation as you. No "no scholarship letter. preliminary status.
So I think the situation is common. not only decent guys are in this boat</p>