Congratulations to those lucky and talented applicants who have received your admissions packets. In the past, those who get notified of their admissions this week, but don’t have an invitation to interview for a named merit scholarship included in this packet have received the Dean’s Scholarship (1/4 tuition for 4 years), and are notified of that fact later. Of course, if you already qualify as a NMF, you’ll get that larger scholarship (Presidential 1/2 tuition for 4 years) instead. These scholarships do not, unfortunately stack, so you cannot add the two together to make 3/4 tuition. Wish it weren’t so, but there it is.
For those wondering if you will still be receiving packets, no one here can say. The article published in the Daily Trojan quotes the Admissions office clearly declaring all the Trustee/Mork/Stamps and Presidential invitations were mailed on Friday. That would be exactly as was done last year. One mailing date, priority USPS. However, I have been hanging round this board for 7 years, and for many years (as recently as 3 years back, even) they sent general admissions out in batches. It’s hard to say what is really going on this time. It is not impossible to believe different Schools have been sent separately (have we heard anyone post they got a packet from Marshall, or Thornton, or Roski or SCA or STA?) We’ll just have to wait and see. In the past, some students received their admissions packets this week with no scholarships, and later learned they were awarded Dean’s. But we also saw students who received their admissions packets at the end of March–also with Dean’s. So there may be some of those still available. However, all the interview-awards must go out now–since the interviews are coming in about a month and travel plans must be made.
For those wondering why they didn’t get an invitation, since they presume their stats are as high or higher than other students in their HS, I just must remind you all again of what holistic admissions means. It means, USC can and does look at attributes outside gpa and test scores. They look at unusual backgrounds, challenges and hardships, and most of all leadership. Not every HS student is always aware of what is going on with their HS peers. It is not kind to look down on another student because you may think your gpa is a tenth of a point higher. That said, there are many students who are admitted to ivy league schools (for example) who do not get invited to interview for USC scholarships. Different institutions have different needs. It is also possible for a student to be a finalist for a USC scholarship, and not get into any (or many) ivies.
If you are NMF and get invited to interview for Presidential, I strongly recommend you come and interview. For one thing, they will treat you (and your family if they can join you) very well. You’ll meet students and professors in your major and can ask them meaningful questions about what your life would be like in their School at USC. And it is possible to be bumped up to the higher award.
