<p>If you’ve received a merit scholarship (directors, trustee, presidential), what does it say when you click on “status check page” on the top right for class: and major: ? Does it display your first or second choice major, undecided, or unknown?</p>
<p>Son interviewed for Presidential for Viterbi and got it! Very happy. Still deciding and has 2 more schools to hear from this week. But we were both really impressed by USC (and this from a former UCLA Bruin). USC would be a fantastic choice. It’s up to him now.</p>
<p>bonard48,
Many students in recent years who received the NMScholarship half tuition also were informed later they had been awarded a smaller scholarship from their particular school. My suggestion is to wait until you see your son’s entire package before making a decision. Read over the threads about the National Merit Scholarships and you will find information about the $1000 per year NMFoundation Scholarship on this forum.</p>
<p>Quick question: Is it tuition + fees or just tuition? Not trying to be greedy, just curious :P</p>
<p>There will be a number of fees not covered by the tuition scholarships including NTSAF (which I think is about $1), orientation fees ($350-ish), a student body fee, others… The total should be less than $1,000. (I am assuming you know that room, board, books and personal expenses are not covered by the tuition scholarship except up to the stipend amount for Stamps & Mork). In my experience, many Trustee and Presidential scholars receive additional smaller scholarships (the most common I have seen is $2,500/year for 4 years) in mid-to-late-April. </p>
<p>We were also surprised by fees for labs since we didn’t investigate this in advance. D is a science major and has multiple lab classes each semester. The lab fees do add up ($100-$400 per class, depending on the lab and I’d guess the materials/resources used for it). </p>
<p>That’s right! How soon we forget 
. Your post reminded me that many SCA classes included lab fees (we saw $50-$300), and the private music lessons (available to all and often required of music majors) had fees of $350-$700/semester. Argh.</p>
<p>@alamemom @camomof3 Thanks for the info! Hmm so they’re not that bad, anyways. Room & board, on the other hand…Those smaller scholarships would be helpful. (:</p>
<p>^Yes, it is expensive. There are some (relatively) cheaper R & B choices on campus and off campus housing is also a possibility --no required meal plan off campus-- usually saves money for those who are not big eaters. D has saved $$ not having a meal plan. </p>
<p>Our daughter saved a LOT by living off-campus in non-USC housing junior and senior years on the “bad” side of USC :), by cramming 4 people into a 3-person apartment (with landlord approval) and by eating VERY cheaply. The downside is that you have to pay 12 months of rent in non-USC housing, but she had internships over the summer and had to stay in LA anyway so the 12-month rent wasn’t a problem.</p>
<p>You can also save at least 1/2 on textbooks by buying used through Amazon Marketplace and other online options.</p>
<p>USC is a first rate organization. I’ve had questions about housing and the credit union, and someone has responded to me immediately each time, with courteous assistance. Their emails and letters make my son feel very much wanted. He’s super excited to be joining the trojan family. he’s worked hard and gets to go to his first choice school. What else could a parent wish for.</p>
<p>Thanks GG. The info someone posted about using the Exceptional Funding program to extend the Presidential and higher schollys to help with summer or study abroad tuition seems pretty nice as well.</p>
<p>T actstudent, Dornsife, IL → TRUSTEE
T bonard48’s S, Dornsife - Astronomy, OH
T coolbeans1, Viterbi - CompSci → TRUSTEE
T db84n6, Dornisfe - Biochem, MO
T dragonflymusic, Marshall - Accounting, NM → TRUSTEE
T fighton425, Marshall Business, WA
T iflyplanes, Viterbi - Aerospace Eng., CO → TRUSTEE
T lametrojan, Marshall Business, FL
T Lilliana3300, Dornsife, CA → TRUSTEE
T LK5D67
T mramadan’s D, Dornsife → TRUSTEE
T MsMommy’s S, SDA - Acting, UT
T veritasrmc, SCA - Production, CA
T wwsosfs, Dornsife - Intl. Rel. & Global Econ., CA
T DreamingFIlms, SCA</p>
<p>P 2018dad’s D, Dornsife - CS-Physics, CA → PRESIDENTIAL
P 4beardolls’s S → PRESIDENTIAL
P BiomedFather’s S, Viterbi - Biomedical Eng (Biochem), NJ → PRESIDENTIAL
P Blue89’s D, Viterbi → PRESIDENTIAL
P breadcleaner, SCA - Production, TX
P Cavmom’s D, Marshall Business, CA–> PRESIDENTIAL
P cookie16, Marshall - Accounting, MD → PRESIDENTIAL
P DreamingFilms - SCA → PRESIDENTIAL
P hashtagyoloswag, Viterbi - Astronautical Eng., NV
P hillerburton, Viterbi, NC
P ilaydk, Architecture, Turkey
p krisharmaan, Viterbi → PRESIDENTIAL
P Lucyplayspiano, Dornsife, TX
P MaybeonMars
P rani9933’s S, Viterbi, AZ
P sidd96, Viterbi - CompSci, IA
P SoCalDad2’s S, CA → PRESIDENTIAL
P striker0088, Dornsife - PoliSci, TX
P windowpainting16, Keck - Global Health, CA
P Jacoboa, Annenberg - Broadcast & Digital, TX → PRESIDENTIAL
P nvaparent’s D, Dornsife, VA → Presential</p>
<p>D GammaPenguin, Viterbi - CompSci (Games), CA
D CLSOF2014, Viterbi - Mech Engineering, CA</p>
<p>? 18yrcollegemin’s S, FL
? aac5449
? ChloeShaw
? ? c00kiequ33n, CA
? datherine,
? HI2014’s D
? meerkatt, Keck Global Health, WA
? MerlinTheCat’s S, Viterbi - CompSci, MD
? PatrickEvansmom
? Shutterstock, Viterbi, CA,
? WatchfulEye, Keck HP&DP</p>
<p>zen1usa, IL, Viterbi - Comp Sci/Business
Presidential—>Trustee </p>
<p>Could not believe they bumped me up, could not be more thrilled, I worked day and night for a month preparing for the interview. Still wasn’t expecting anything more. Fight On!</p>
<p>iceblender, CA, Vitberi BME
Presidential->Presidential</p>
<p>Was really hoping for Trustee bump up, since NM finalist gives me the same scholarship, but I’m happy nonetheless. Does anything come out of having both?</p>
<p>T coolbeans1, Viterbi - CompSci → TRUSTEE
T db84n6, Dornisfe - Biochem, MO
T dragonflymusic, Marshall - Accounting, NM → TRUSTEE
T fighton425, Marshall Business, WA
T iflyplanes, Viterbi - Aerospace Eng., CO → TRUSTEE
T lametrojan, Marshall Business, FL
T Lilliana3300, Dornsife, CA → TRUSTEE
T LK5D67
T mramadan’s D, Dornsife → TRUSTEE
T MsMommy’s S, SDA - Acting, UT
T veritasrmc, SCA - Production, CA → TRUSTEE
T wwsosfs, Dornsife - Intl. Rel. & Global Econ., CA
T DreamingFIlms, SCA</p>
<p>P 2018dad’s D, Dornsife - CS-Physics, CA → PRESIDENTIAL
P 4beardolls’s S → PRESIDENTIAL
P BiomedFather’s S, Viterbi - Biomedical Eng (Biochem), NJ → PRESIDENTIAL
P Blue89’s D, Viterbi → PRESIDENTIAL
P breadcleaner, SCA - Production, TX
P Cavmom’s D, Marshall Business, CA–> PRESIDENTIAL
P cookie16, Marshall - Accounting, MD → PRESIDENTIAL
P DreamingFilms - SCA → PRESIDENTIAL
P hashtagyoloswag, Viterbi - Astronautical Eng., NV
P hillerburton, Viterbi, NC
P ilaydk, Architecture, Turkey
p krisharmaan, Viterbi → PRESIDENTIAL
P Lucyplayspiano, Dornsife, TX
P MaybeonMars
P rani9933’s S, Viterbi, AZ
P sidd96, Viterbi - CompSci, IA
P SoCalDad2’s S, CA → PRESIDENTIAL
P striker0088, Dornsife - PoliSci, TX
P windowpainting16, Keck - Global Health, CA
P Jacoboa, Annenberg - Broadcast & Digital, TX → PRESIDENTIAL
P nvaparent’s D, Dornsife, VA → PRESIDENTIAL
P zen1usa, Viterbi CompSci → TRUSTEE
P iceblender Viterbi BME → PRESIDENTIAL</p>
<p>D GammaPenguin, Viterbi - CompSci (Games), CA
D CLSOF2014, Viterbi - Mech Engineering, CA</p>
<p>? 18yrcollegemin’s S, FL
? aac5449
? ChloeShaw
? ? c00kiequ33n, CA
? datherine,
? HI2014’s D
? meerkatt, Keck Global Health, WA
? MerlinTheCat’s S, Viterbi - CompSci, MD
? PatrickEvansmom
? Shutterstock, Viterbi, CA,
? WatchfulEye, Keck HP&DP</p>
<p>Question. My S flew out to interview for the Trustee and was bumped down to the Presidential. He is obviously appreciative of the offer but disappointed it was not the Trustee. USC had been his number one choice but now he is back considering a couple of full ride scholarships. Additionally, he has a classmate that interviewed and received the Trustee but he knows this student has already accepted a slot at another University. My question: is there any possibility that USC bumps up some students through April once they see their yield from their offers or do they calculate their offers knowing what their yield will be. I appreciate any help on this and hopefully it is not too confusing.</p>
<p>Congratulations on your son’s Presidential scholarship! If I had any say at USC (and I don’t ), they would not specify a particular scholarship when sending out invitations - then the huge accomplishment of earning a prestigious scholarship wouldn’t feel like a disappointment :)</p>
<p>It sounds like he is considering all of his options and letting the dust settle before making a final decision - smart, talented AND sensible!</p>
<p>No, once the scholarship notifications go out, I have never, ever heard of changes in scholarship offers. USC has carefully considered historical data and knows just how many scholarships to offer to reach their targets (and every year for at least the 5 years I have been watching they have exceeded their targets - that is, more scholarship awardees accept the offer than targeted). I can tell you that very often Presidential Scholars find other, smaller scholarships added to their account in April. The most common one I have seen in the University Scholarship of $2,500/year added to the Presidential, but they may range from $1,000/year to $4,000/year.</p>
<p>Best of luck to your son on his decision. It is a testament to his hard work and talent that he has so many wonderful options from which to choose. I hope USC is lucky enough to get him :)</p>
<p>T actstudent, Dornsife, IL → TRUSTEE
T bonard48’s S, Dornsife - Astronomy, OH
T coolbeans1, Viterbi - CompSci → TRUSTEE
T db84n6, Dornisfe - Biochem, MO
T dragonflymusic, Marshall - Accounting, NM → TRUSTEE
T fighton425, Marshall Business, WA
T iflyplanes, Viterbi - Aerospace Eng., CO → TRUSTEE
T lametrojan, Marshall Business, FL
T Lilliana3300, Dornsife, CA → TRUSTEE
T LK5D67
T mramadan’s D, Dornsife → TRUSTEE
T MsMommy’s S, SDA - BFA Acting, UT–> TRUSTEE
T veritasrmc, SCA - Production, CA
T wwsosfs, Dornsife - Intl. Rel. & Global Econ., CA
T DreamingFIlms, SCA</p>
<p>P 2018dad’s D, Dornsife - CS-Physics, CA → PRESIDENTIAL
P 4beardolls’s S → PRESIDENTIAL
P BiomedFather’s S, Viterbi - Biomedical Eng (Biochem), NJ → PRESIDENTIAL
P Blue89’s D, Viterbi → PRESIDENTIAL
P breadcleaner, SCA - Production, TX
P Cavmom’s D, Marshall Business, CA–> PRESIDENTIAL
P cookie16, Marshall - Accounting, MD → PRESIDENTIAL
P DreamingFilms - SCA → PRESIDENTIAL
P hashtagyoloswag, Viterbi - Astronautical Eng., NV
P hillerburton, Viterbi, NC
P ilaydk, Architecture, Turkey
p krisharmaan, Viterbi → PRESIDENTIAL
P Lucyplayspiano, Dornsife, TX
P MaybeonMars
P rani9933’s S, Viterbi, AZ
P sidd96, Viterbi - CompSci, IA
P SoCalDad2’s S, CA → PRESIDENTIAL
P striker0088, Dornsife - PoliSci, TX
P windowpainting16, Keck - Global Health, CA
P Jacoboa, Annenberg - Broadcast & Digital, TX → PRESIDENTIAL
P nvaparent’s D, Dornsife, VA → Presential</p>
<p>D GammaPenguin, Viterbi - CompSci (Games), CA
D CLSOF2014, Viterbi - Mech Engineering, CA</p>
<p>? 18yrcollegemin’s S, FL
? aac5449
? ChloeShaw
? ? c00kiequ33n, CA
? datherine,
? HI2014’s D
? meerkatt, Keck Global Health, WA
? MerlinTheCat’s S, Viterbi - CompSci, MD
? PatrickEvansmom
? Shutterstock, Viterbi, CA,
? WatchfulEye, Keck HP&DP </p>
<p>Thanks alamemom for your thoughtful reply. I had the exact same thought that USC should simply send an invite for a scholarship interview at which point any money would be a bonus but I am confident that like most admissions decisions they are done a certain way for a reason. We will wait and see when all of the dust settles but I appreciate the insight into historical data. Thanks again.</p>