<p>Hi all! I am an out of state applicant hoping to receive a Mckissick Scholarship which would grant me instate tuition. The average GPA is 4.31, SAT 1355, and ACT 30
My stats: 4.19 GPA 1340 SAT 30 ACT
Do I still have a shot?</p>
<p>Remember that those are averages, not minimums. In order to have an average, some have to be below, some have to be above.</p>
<p>So you have a great shot.</p>
<p>My D was about the same amount under the average as you, and she got a McKissick.</p>
<p>USC regularly recruits the top students from other states with in-state tuition offers. I am sure your stats will put you in the running. The process is competitive. I wish you luck.</p>
<p>napchirp: I have a 4.2 GPA and a 32 ACT and I received a letter that at least I will be receiving the Mckissick Scholarship. I think you have a chance</p>
<p>I just got off the phone with admissions and they told me that the SAT scores and GPA’s are minimums. So for a Woodrow for example you would have to have a 1278 regardless of GPA to be considered which is very disappointing since my out of state D has a 1260 and and a 5+ GPA. They told me the GPA doesn’t matter if the 1278 is not met. Has anyone else heard this? Doesn’t sound accurate since the website clearly states these are averages. Admissions also told me that the Net Price Calculator only reflects federal aid which again doesn’t make sense since the results clearly label the award as “USC Merit Scholarship”. Appreciate any feedback others may have.</p>
<p>^^I would try and talk to someone in financial aid, not admissions. Now there might be a minimum score as a threshold…maybe since GPAs can be figured any number of ways but you are correct that website states them as averages. Never used NPC.</p>
<p>As I said before, last year my D was under the reported average for SAT but still got a McKissick.</p>
<p>So unless this is a new policy, I think the admission person made a mistake.</p>
<p>If it was a new policy they wouldn’t use as threshold a score which is impossible for one person to achieve.</p>
<p>I was told that freshman scholarships are handled by admissions and not financial aid</p>
<p>I’d call again. Usually you end up with a student answering and a lot of the time, they don’t know 100% what they’re talking about so you could get a different answer every time.</p>
<p>I know, for sure, that this policy hasn’t been in place in the past if what they said is true, because I received a scholarship and my GPA was a good bit below the numbers given.</p>
<p>Plus, if I’m not mistaken, the numbers are from previous classes and fluctuate from year to year based on the number of applicants. I don’t see why that would affect this year’s scholarships, except to set a guestimation of how much a certain student should get.</p>
<p>I would call back and ask for your counselor directly, if you know who they are. I was also told that admissions handles the merit scholarships and financial aid is need
based assistance but it can not hurt to try both. The address below is to the admission counselor’s phone numbers.
[Admissions</a> Staff | University of South Carolina](<a href=“Apply Now - Office of Undergraduate Admissions | University of South Carolina”>Apply Now - Office of Undergraduate Admissions | University of South Carolina)
Good Luck!</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your helpful replies. Hoping that the information given was not entirely accurate as D really has her heart set on USC. Did sound like a student I was speaking with so maybe there was some confusion there. KearBear I’m not certain who the admission counselor is. Do you know how I could find out or should I just call and ask? Assuming it’s different that the regional admission representative. </p>
<p>Thanks again everyone.</p>
<p>[Meet</a> the Admissions Reps | Apply | Undergraduate Admissions | University of South Carolina (USC)](<a href=“Apply Now - Office of Undergraduate Admissions | University of South Carolina”>Apply Now - Office of Undergraduate Admissions | University of South Carolina)</p>
<p>Hopefully this will help. The link should post as a map of the US. Click on your state
and it should show you.</p>
<p>Thank you! Will contact her and ask. Again, thanks to everyone for your help.</p>
<p>For those interested; I did catch up with my D’s admission rep yesterday and the conversation was not very encouraging. Basic gist is that the trend lines on scores on moving higher so it is likely that the scholarship criteria will be stiffer this year than in past years. Likewise for the GPA averages. While she did state that my D should be competitive the sense I came away with was that it probably was not going to happen this year. I feel disappointed for my D since she really had her heart set on USC but we are unfortunately not in a position to pay the out of state rates without some type of assistance. Guess we will have to look at some other large, southern schools as alternatives. Best of luck to everyone here!</p>
<p>My D has a 30 on her ACT and a 3.96 unweighted GPA (lots of honors classes, but only 2 AP). She applied EA and got a letter saying she would receive at a minimum instate tuition plus $2k merit scholarship, but it could be more. So I think there is hope.</p>
<p>It’s stressful to have to wait for final answers from some schools. I think USC sends out financial aid letters mid March. I know some schools my Ds applied to didn’t even release regular admission decisions until April 1 and it was later for money. Good luck to all who are waiting.</p>
<p>mjc–good luck to your daughter and don’t give up hope. My son didn’t get his scholarship letter until March.</p>
<p>My son got the letter saying he would get at least the in state plus 2,000. My question is do I have to fill out the financial aid stuff in order for him to get that?</p>
<p>MichiganGeorgia: No you do not. The scholarship is merit based and from USC. The FAFSA form is a federal form that is based on income/need.</p>
<p>^ Many schools require filling out the FAFSA in order to receive merit aid.</p>
<p>I don’t remember if SC is one of these or not, just saying that in general you can’t assume that because it is merit aid you don’t need to file.</p>