You are already FAR more aware than most people starting the process!</p>
<p>USC will distribute Federal aid using your FAFSA EFC - so even if USC determines that you can pay the entire $55,000, you will still get your Pell and Cal Grants (I love it when I can pass on little bits of good news).</p>
<p>Even the Trustee scholarship should not prevent you from getting a Pell and Cal Grant, because to qualify for any Pell the FAFSA EFC must be below $5,273, and with a cost of attendance over $55,000 you will still show need (per FAFSA) of $15,000 with a $40,000 Trustee scholarship.</p>
<p>Anecdotally, there was a poster last year (entering Fall 2010) who qualified for the Simplified Needs Test on the FAFSA and so qualified for Pell despite high assets. USC determined they had no need per the CSS/Profile, but they still were awarded a full Pell grant.</p>
<p>A bit more - I am not sure I fully addressed your question.</p>
<p>For USC Grants - The Pell and Cal grants will not go towards your CSS/Profile expected contribution, because USC ONLY awards USC Grants based on the CSS/Profile. So if you do not have scholarships and your CSS/Profile need is covered by your Pell and Cal Grants, there would be no USC grants.</p>
<p>For USC Scholarships - If your CSS/Profile need was fully covered by your scholarship, but you still show need per the FAFSA, then yes - your Pell and Cal Grant would be added to your scholarship.</p>
<p>dubberlykm, NMF who list USC as their first choice with National Merit are guaranteed the half tuition + $1000 even if they apply by the later (after Dec 1) deadline–assuming they are admitted. ;)</p>
<p>dubber,
Do not let deadlines go by for applying to clubs, churches, temples, businesses and other organizations for local scholarships in your area. The NMScholarship would not keep you from receiving local scholarship funds. It is awarded to admitted students on merit.</p>
<p>Thank you for all of your help! Yes, I think I’m beginning to understand that more clearly but as for right now, I can’t really do anything about my EFC value so we’ll just see how much aid we can get from USC and from federal grants if I do gain acceptance to the university :D</p>
<p>I would still be a great idea to pick up that book I recommended before the end of the year - there are some suggestions in there about things that should be done before year-end, and things that should wait until after year-end. Even if it only saves a thousand or two, that is an excellent return on the $15 investment!</p>
<p>So if I’m getting this straight, they will only interview you for Presidential and Trustee scholarships, correct? And these are on-campus interviews? How far ahead of time would they notify you, since I’m assuming that transportation would be at your own cost? I mean, for someone like me, I would have to get plane tickets, a hotel room, a rental car, etc. well in advance should I get an interview. Thanks.</p>
<p>room and board is free for the interviewee at usc - you stay with a current scholar</p>
<p>they notify you in late january/early february, and you fly over in march. airfare - you pay for it, but USC will tell you that if you book through STA travel, you get $200 off.</p>
<p>Well we’ve already filled out the CSS profile and submitted it and are just waiting for the FAFSA now… But we will be sure to check out that book!</p>
<p>And thanks for the link! It looks like we’ve qualified under those conditions. :)</p>
<p>Awesome man! I sure hope I get a scholarship interview for USC, it’s been my dream to come out to California since I was little and without financial aid, this seems like the best way to convince my parents to let me over there. Fight On!</p>
<p>I asked that question last year, so I might as well pay it forward. The answer is no, you don’t have to fill out the css/fafsa to be considered for merit aid at USC (which is nice, because many schools require it for merit aid). However, lots of people will tell you it doesn’t hurt.</p>