<p>it seems like you assumed admission because of your various contributions to the school. is that worse than getting in because of legacies or “old money” (neither of which I have)?</p>
<p>makeitstop, all students are reviewed for admission based on their academic record, rigor of coursework, test scores, ECs, essays, Letters of Rec, etc etc. Are you really angry at USC for not making a special exception for your daughter? I am sorry you and your family are so disappointed, but these results say less about the Trojan Family and more about how admissions decisions are made without favoritism. </p>
<p>By the way, many parents have to spend too much time at work, traveling away from home and family, to earn a living. Of course it’s not ideal. I would hope you did the work you do because you love it, felt committed to the students, and were fairly compensated and appreciated by your department. That, I’m afraid, is all any of us can realistically hope for from our employers. But I know hearing bad news from USC and having a disappointed child really stings. So sorry.</p>
<p>I think there is a big random component in this process. My daughter is a National Merit Finalist with a 4.39 weighted GPA and a SAT score of 2230. She was involved in choral music and Latin and had many volunteer activities. She also received the “select group” language in her rejection – perhaps because my wife is a USC Law grad - we don’t really know. But my daughter was bummed since she was expecting a Presidential Scholarship and not a rejection, as per USC’s guarantee regarding National Merit. She had friends who were admitted to USC with much lower grades…etc… But that is life. The truth is, nobody will ever be able to get inside the minds of those who make these decisions. She was accepted to UCLA, Cal, USSD, and Scripps so she will do fine…And we shall not be donating to USC anymore. :)</p>
<p>^^^
Soooo mad.</p>
<p>D in same boat. Was also rejected with NMF, 2380, 4.21. I was on clinical faculty for USC Keck Med School. Rejection really stung so I didn’t read to end of letter. Will need to take another look at the letter.</p>
<p>I did not want to believe it, but I am starting to think NMF students are at a disadvantage for getting into USC.</p>
<p>NMF students are surely not at a disadvantage, perhaps they don’t have as big of an advantage as led to believe, if any at all. Definitely not at a disadvantage though.</p>
<p>I think the phrase “led to believe” is germane here. The USC hype about NMS Finalists getting Presidential Scholarships does not focus on the “if admitted” part. It’s there, but it’s not a center of attention. I think my D may have put less into her supplemental app and references for USC than she did for other schools because she thought USC was somewhat of a shoe-in given her high GPA, test scores and NMS status, whereas other schools seemed less so. Perhaps they should make it clearer that admission is not guaranteed in any way even for NMS finalists…Because perhaps they have, with this blinding incentive, inadvertently weeded out some excellent kids. This is not a new topic – if you scour the message boards for past years you will find it comes up. But of course it never occurred to us to check this until after the rejection.</p>
<p>My nephew was stung that he was admitted with LOTS of merit $$ to Creighton and UMichigan but rejected from USC. He had great GPA 3.8+ unweighted and scores but still rejected. Due to te merit award, he will probably go to Creighton anyway, but still shocked to be rejected.</p>
<p>Our S was admitted by USC in 2006 while his lab partner was rejected from USC while being accepted from UPenn!?!?! He ended up going to Boston U with a great merit + FAid package while S was not offered ANY merit from Boston U. Very weird.</p>
<p>Had not heard that USC was rejecting NMFs–must be ubercompetitive.</p>
<p>Our D transferred in – applied after her 1st semester at community college and was a spring admit–allowed to enter after completing her 3rd semester of CC. Will be graduating after 3.5 years at USC & had a WONDERFUL time! It IS good to consider transferring in, if USC is still your top choice U. The counselors helped her with course selection so nearly all her courses transferred.</p>
<p>My son was also rejected from USC, and had that paragraph in his letter. His great grandfather was USC class of 1919 then USC law, grandmother and grandfather class of 1951, one uncle got his BA then USC dental school, godfather, other uncle died of cancer and left a chunk of cash to the school that was used in the redo of the baseball facility…so yes, I suspect the transfer paragraph goes to legacy students. </p>
<p>But…think how many bright legacy kids are out there now, this many generations hence? USC could fill every class with talented, smart legacy kids, and still have to cut some, I’m sure. </p>
<p>We’re lucky, because we see the silver lining. If our son had gotten in, it would have been full price, I’m sure. $220K for a bachelor’s degree. Meanwhile, S did really fall in love with Chapman University during our two visits, and was admitted to their Dodge School of Film & Media, which is exactly what he wanted to do. He’s excited to go there. And, the generous merit aid at Chapman means we parents can easily afford the tab. I suspect S will be very happy at Chapman, and likely won’t want to transfer to USC when the time comes. </p>
<p>We, too, know some kids with incredible scores (AND NMF) who were turned away by USC. I’m sure the admissions office is getting a lot of outraged phone calls from alumni. My S took it in stride; USC was a reach for him. It’s grandma who is having fits (and swearing she’ll never send them another dime, lol). </p>
<p>Those of you who got USC rejections, I’m sure you also have some really wonderful offers. Congratulations wherever you go.</p>
<p>makeitstop:</p>
<p>I feel for you and your family. The Trojan Family is definitely NOT what it used to be - at all. My son got this same letter. He would have been 4th generation Trojan. Great-grandfather played USC football and won 2 National Championships and a Rose Bowl along with being an outstanding Engineering graduate. Grandmother and Grandfather both USC alums, with grandfather on the USC baseball team and grandmother being an USC undergrad and graduate student. Then my husband, USC business school graduate, Marshall School of Business speaker/lecturer, and we have been devout USC sports fans since 1989. Our son has been going to USC’s campus since he was a month old. We will no longer give USC a dime!!! My son has better college choices as he wants to pursue business. USC has been dropping in the rankings (why?) for top business schools - probably because it’s becoming too liberal. The Trojan Family has changed dramatically - the school will see that, not now but when these students graduate and not give back to the school - like it’s been in the past. And let’s not forget the surrounding area around USC…it’s the pits…I want my kids to REALLY experience college life, with great professors, a great business school, trees, grass, SAFETY, and a school that completely cares about their students. And we’ve found that elsewhere. USC’s letter was a relief to us actually. It’s time to move in to BIGGER and BETTER things.
I wish you (and everyone) the best with your decisions. Move forward and don’t look back. 
P.S. The “USC Alumni” sticker on my car has been scraped off!! Haha</p>
<p>Flowerlover and others,
it seems that one should give to USC because they believe in the school and are giving back for their great education. not in fact to ensure their son or daughter is admitted. You cannot buy an admission anywhere these days. I am so sorry that your child did not make it to USC. There are in dead many great schools out there.</p>
<p>
Nothing I’ve seen suggests that it is in any way guaranteed. Have you read differently?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>You mean a club that you can buy your way into? You’re right.</p>
<p>Getting NMF is not a guarantee of admission… remember that the cutoff for NMF varies by state, sometimes by as much as 15 points. That’s like the difference between getting a 2050 and a 2200 on the SAT.</p>
<p>I’ve been showing these posts to my mom, whose first response was “Really? I didn’t know USC rejected anyone who could afford to go!” She was kind of joking, because I’ve been trying to educate her about how USC’s reputation has changed since she was looking at colleges in the early 1980s, but she still remembers USC as a place for “rich dumb kids,” where you were basically guaranteed admission if you could afford it and/or if you could claim membership in the “Trojan Family.” </p>
<p>My parents are Stanford alums, and they got a letter from the Stanford admissions office when I applied, basically telling them not to count on legacy status getting me in (it didn’t!) Maybe it’s time for USC to start doing the same thing, to ease the shock for alums who still remember the olden days of easier admissions.</p>