<p>notrichenough are you sure about that? I just went to this very long and boring FAFSA meeting and they told us differently</p>
<p>It varies by the school. At my S’s school for example, a FAFSA is required every year for merit aid.</p>
<p>I don’t know for sure if SC requires it, last year I filled out the FAFSA for everything.</p>
<p>I actually need to find out definitely since DD has a scholarship.</p>
<p>I would double check with Fin Aid to be sure, but I’m pretty sure they don’t require filing for merit scholarships.</p>
<p>USC doesn’t give out university aid based on financial need for the most part. (They do have the Gamecock Guarantee). Basically the FAFSA is used to determine your eligibility for federal awards such as Pell Grant, Work Study, and Stafford Loans. [There’s also the SC Need Based Grant]</p>
<p>I remember that I got awarded my USC scholarship (I think I have Thornwell) before I even applied for financial aid.</p>
<p>And I’d assume if you’re receiving a letter guaranteeing you a certain amount, that you’ll get at least that with no other application needed.</p>
<p>I also know that you don’t need the FAFSA to be filled out if you are getting LIFE or Palmetto Fellows.</p>
<p>I also have a daughter at a different university that receives MERIT AID ONLY. It is a bit annoying to say the least that I MUST submit the FAFSA every year for her to receive her 4 years of MERIT AID. To be safe call each school to be sure of their rules.</p>
<p>I am trying to look at my paperwork to see if SC requires FAFSA for their merit scholarships. I do know that several of the other outside scholarships my son received requires submitting FAFSA each year to receive renewal of the 4 year scholarship. Those were not financial-need based scholarships. They were all merit! I would rather submit it, than make the mistake of not following all the guidelines and missing out on a scholarship. You can always deny the GSL.</p>
<p>OK, Thanks everyone.</p>
<p>[University</a> of South Carolina - Financial Aid and Scholarships](<a href=“FAFSA - Financial Aid and Scholarships | University of South Carolina”>FAFSA - Financial Aid and Scholarships | University of South Carolina)</p>
<p>USC doesn’t require FAFSA to be filled for Merit Aid. :)</p>
<p>AUGirl could you help me out with info. You clearly got Merit scholarship, did you also get instate tuition. My D just got her acceptance letter, how long does it take to find out about scholarship. She has her heart set on USC but as OOS it would be tough with no tuition reduction. Her SATs were 1960 (CR/math 1390) and GPA 4.85 weighted. What do you think?</p>
<p>All of the main merit awards come with some sort of OOS tuition reduction. For a McKissick or higher, you get in-state tuition and $2000/year.</p>
<p>Your D’s stats are comfortably between the McKissick and the Cooper, so I think she has an excellent chance for a McKissick.</p>
<p>The merit awards are not announced until later. End of Feb/beginning of March? Sometime in there.</p>
<p>[University</a> of South Carolina - Financial Aid and Scholarships](<a href=“Scholarships - Financial Aid and Scholarships | University of South Carolina”>Scholarships - Financial Aid and Scholarships | University of South Carolina)</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your response, she would be heartbroken if she couldn’t go.</p>
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<p>I’m an in-state student and my high school transcript was less than stellar. I think I had a 3.4 (2.9 unweighted) with a 1230 SAT. I did come from a really good private school though and had all AP/Honors courses as well as a really good resume of extra curriculars. That being said, I got the smallest scholarship (The Thornwell, I think) of $500 a year.</p>
<p>As I recall, I found out scholarship information in March. It didn’t make or break my decision to go to USC. (As a 0-EFC student in-state, I was guaranteed at least the full Pell Grant and the LIFE, so cost wasn’t a factor.) They then released further financial aid info in April and that was much more substantial for me than the USC scholarship I received.</p>
<p>I agree with notrichenough, your daughter’s stats are very good and she’s likely to get in-state tuition.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info, and lots of luck to you in your studies. Sounds like you are on your way!</p>
<p>If any parent or grandparent is a USC Alum, look on the My Carolina Alumni Association website for info on their Legacy Scholarship. The number of scholarships vary each year depending on funding, but a significant number are awarded. This scholarship can be stacked with another USC offer. The form is an easy one. Also on the site is info of a scholarship sponsored by the Black Alumni Council.</p>
<p>my S got an Honors college admit letter today. There was a separate letter stating he was guaranteed in state tuition and at least $500 more. It seems like last year they stated that the applicants would qualify for at least a McKissock. His sat’s were 1440 and they recalculate his GPA so I’m not sure but I know he has pretty much all A’s. Is this an early notification for Honors and if so he should receive at least a Mckissock right? Does everyone get notified of Honors College acceptance now?</p>
<p>@bandgy I received my Honors College admittance as well today. On the letter, the Dean said it was earlier than usual.</p>
<p>schindaddy did it say you would get in state tuition but a minimum of $500? All Honor students get in state tuitionl</p>
<p>My D got the same scholarship letter today, but no honors admit yet. SAT 1400, w gpa 4.49</p>
<p>I also received my acceptance letter to the Honors College today!! I got the same scholarship letter about instate tuition and a minimum of $500 on top of that. In one of the letters I got an invite to a scholars social in April. One of my friends that also got into honors was invited to an Honors Reception in Jan, March, or April. Does anyone know the difference?</p>
<p>My DS is up for the NROTC (180K) scholarship. If awarded does anybody know how this would work with the scholarships offered through USC?</p>
<p>My daughter just got an acceptance letter for the Honors College as well! She also got the scholarship letter. I do recall last year the same letter said “at least $2000 per year merit” (in addition to in-state tuition) because the minimum in-state tuition award included $2000 (the McKissick) so maybe they lowered the minimum merit award for the lowest level in-state tuition scholarship from $2000 to $500 (?) I’m not sure, just a thought. But the letter received today says “guaranteed the same in-state tuition rate as South Carolina residents” so they will have - at least - in state tuition, plus whatever merit they decide, which the letter said will be sent out after Feb. 1st. We are very excited for this news! Having 2 in college is tough enough!</p>