Hello.
I have heard that the big merit scholarships (Presidential, ect.) are allotted based on major. If so, does it follow that it is easier to get the scholarship if you put down a less competitive major for your first choice on your application?
those big scholarships are awarded to applicants who-
1] apply by Dec 1,
2] are then invited to interview for one of the big scholarships [ only 5 % of those who apply by Dec 1 are invited] and
3] impress the 3 people the applicants are interviewed by- a professor or the Dean from the applicants first choice major, a student from USC and a Sr admissions officer.
so you see, there is no easier way to be awarded a large scholarship.by choosing a “less competitive” major.
My daughter was a Trustee Scholar (full tuition) at USC. As a senior, she interviewed potential merit scholars. She said scholarships were NOT allocated or limited by major. In addition, it is obvious to the seasoned admission counselors as to who is trying to game the system by applying to less popular majors. Don’t do it.
“She said scholarships were NOT allocated or limited by major.”
Sorry but that’s just not true. DS was also a Trustee Scholar, and I know for a fact after talking many times with USC’s
Dean of Admissions that scholarships ARE “divvied” up by School in order to not have all of the scholarships distributed to the schools with numerically the most “top” applicants, such as Engineering or Liberal Arts.
USC wants to attract a wide range of the most exceptionally talented students, regardless of their major or the school they are applying to.