<p>So I know there are a couple threads that address this but I wanted more information.</p>
<p>I got my financial aid package today, with the letter explaining USC financial aid and the "Guide to Paying for College" packet. I know that this does not guarantee an acceptance letter... am I correct?</p>
<p>I live in southern california and a couple of my friends have already received acceptance. We all applied by Dec. 1, and I am wondering that if I don't receive an acceptance letter late jan/early feb, then does that mean I have been denied or that I have been, for lack of a better word, in a sense, "deferred" until the next round of admissions? </p>
<p>I know that my GPA was not as high as those that were accepted already; I don't think I will be getting an acceptance letter this round...I heard exceptional students get notified early for scholarship purposes. but do the applications that dont make the cut this time from the dec. 1 round get looked at again for the next round of acceptances?</p>
<p>I'm just worried because I love USC and I want to be there. But I don't have the greatest stats in the world (3.61UW, 4.0W, 2230SAT, four SAT2s all above 750) and I want to make it in. So the question is.... do the applications from the dec. 1 deadline that DONT receive an acceptance this time around get looked at again for the march/april acceptance round, or are they ruled out?</p>
<p>I would reeeallly appreciate some help on this...I am super nervous right now.</p>
<p>oh, and my application status is in prelim review, updated 1/08/09.</p>
<p>That you did not get acceptance yet, and that you applied by the Dec 1 deadline, does NOT mean you are denied or deferred. It just means that you most likely have not been considered for one of the two big scholarships. USC will send out acceptances in waves throughout February and March, some applicants will be offered spring 2010 admission at the end of March/early April, and rejections will be sent at the end...most probably first couple of weeks in April.
It is still very early, and they have so many apps to go through. Be assured that every single one will be assessed. There's still plenty of time.</p>
<p>The people who got accepted now are probably in the running for the presidential and trustees scholarship. You still have a great chance of being accepted. People will get acceptance letters through Feb. and March. If you need a scholarship, don't worry, your parents can file for financial aid and there is financial aid out there for those who need it. If you are a National Merit semi-finalist and put down USC as your first choice, you still have a chance for presidential scholarship. There are other scholarships as well (see the list-alumni, etc. which may be announced later than those interviewing now for the top scholarships). It is very hard to wait. I am a parent--and it was hard for me too last year. It is normal to feel nervous. Try to keep busy--exercise, do your best in school, enjoy senior year, go out with your friends who will go in different directions next year. Enjoy the time you have now at your high school.</p>
<p>So how often do waves come out? And when is each wave notified? I know the University of Michigan sent out acceptance waves every thursday in early action, and deferrals/rejections were sent out at the end. Is USC like this as well?</p>
<p>I'm an NMF freshman at USC.</p>
<p>I received acceptance in March.
NMFs are automatic presidential (they are NOT automatic admits, though). It is a different process from non-NMF presidential/trustee... there's no interview or anything. You also get an additional $1000 from the National Merit corp.</p>
<p>I'm not sure about NMSFs. Those haven't been announced yet have they?
You have pretty much a 100% chance of advancing to NMF. Statistically, 15000 of the 16000 semi-finalists advance.
The only way you can not advance is if you did below like 2000 on the SAT or had a bad GPA or disciplinary record. I'm sorry if you don't get NMF and I got your hopes up, but honestly you'd have to have slept with a teacher or broken into your school or something to not advance.</p>
<p>Make sure USC is your #1 choice in your National Merit thing. If it's not already, call them and change it. </p>
<p>(Haha, wow, I read mdcissp's post and assumed you were NMSF... sorry if you're not, lol.)</p>
<p>The application status on the website and the financial aid thing mean jack***. Don't take them into consideration at all.
Relax. :) The majority of acceptances (BY FAR* the majority, probably 80-90%) are sent out mid-March through April, and rejections come last.</p>
<p>well, i'm a national merit commended scholar.
so I take it that I still have a chance. I sure hope so.</p>
<p>Is there anything I can do to show USC that I reaeeally care about the school and that it is a top choice of mine? How can I show interest? Unfortunately it's too late to do the top choice thing for the national merit stuff because that was way back..</p>
<p>National Merit commended scholar is not the same thing as a National Merit semi-finalist potential finalist. It is still a great thing to be able to put down National Merit Commended Scholar on the awards list of your application, but does not qualify for the FIRST CHOICE option of National Merit Corp. form (for the presidential scholarship). However, it is still possible that you could qualify for the trustee or presidential scholarship should USC offer you an interview for those scholarships. There are other merit scholarships at USC (see the web site for the list). The only thing I can think of to show USC how much you want the school is to write a hand written thank you note for the tour if you did the tour. I don't know if that makes a difference or not, but is a nice gesture on your part if you want.</p>