<p>how hard is it to get a scholarship to USC? does it depend on your major at all? id love to go there, but face it, its just too much money. any reccomendations on what others did in order to get scholarships? thanks - ohnonomiss</p>
<p>^ It depends on your GPA/SAT scores and stuff like that, and possibly extracurricular activities (though mine weren't too impressive and I got a scholarship). There's really no surefire way to get a scholarship. An off-campus interview might help...I think that helped me, at least.</p>
<p>Well it's tough to say the least. You have a shot at a small academic scholarship if you have ok stats. For example, I didn't have the greatest SAT's, but have good grades, and I got the Trojan scholarship (4k) along with some other merit money. You've really only got a chance for the BIG academic scholarships if you have really good stats. Like straight A's and 2300+ on SAT's (which is not me). Scholarships are tough to get, so I'd recommend looking into outside scholarships right now if I were you... (I sure wish I had a year ago!)</p>
<p>I didn't get any merit aid, but I got so much need aid that it was cheeper than the colleges that did give me merit aid</p>
<p>Guidez89..that's not exactllllly true lol...i didn't have the best SAT Is....like 2130 i think...but really solid grades and good SAT IIs..and i got the trustee....i think it also depends on the competition within each state...because your regional/state admissions officer reads the apps and makes recommendations! :) hope that helped! Your major is also another key think because each school gives out a certain number of scholarships.</p>
<p>The average SAT of kids asked to interview for trustees was 2230.</p>
<p>lol sbehbaha. your stats are amazing overall though, and 2130 is a GOOD Sat score. :)</p>
<p>haha i think i just got lucky! :) but hey, i'm not gonna complain about a little luck! Now hopefully i can keep the scholarship...haha I personally think USC admissions and like scholarships are a bit random because people that should have gotten scholarships/admissions...(that i know) didn't</p>
<p>I think scholarships are a bit random...I was #17 ranked at my school, and #2 was up for presidential. I interviewed, and got, trustee. But I think my SAT scores were better than his...</p>
<p>USC also has leadership scholarships where your school counselor nominates students. My son wasn't considered for either Presidential or Trustee but because he was a National Merit Finalist, they gave him the 1/2 tuition Presidential. I think he wasn't considered because his grades & class rank were low while his test scores were high. His cousin had great grades & rank (I believe good SATs) but didn't get any merit awards at all. His friend didn't even get into USC but was accepted at UPenn (ivy). We are a bit puzzled by it all.</p>
<p>haha excuse my n00bness, but what is all this, presidential and trustee? i assume they are types of scholarships. are those the names exclusive to USC only or do all colleges use those scholarships? also how much are they worth? lastly, what is merit aid? thanks - ohnonomiss</p>
<p>trustee = $33,000 a year (full tuition)
presidential = $16,000 a year (half tuition)</p>
<p>yep, they are scholarships excusive to USC, but some other schools have them. Merit aid is usually given form your particular dept. E.G. Thornton give merit music scholarships...</p>
<p>I also think the trustee/presidential scholarships increase with tuition, so that way they will always be half for full tuition even if tuition costs more in future years.</p>
<p>Interviews are also a help, apparently. I was asked if I wanted to help interview engineering trustee candidates (the committee is one admissions person, one faculty, one student apparently?) but I think that was <em>after</em> people were invited to interview...</p>
<p>Yes, these USC scholarships do increase with tuition, but I don't think the other USC scholarships do UNLESS they specifically say they do. If you are a National Merit Finalist, the Presidential Scholarship is awarded by USC & not tied to your major field of study or school--son did NOT interview with a panel/group for it either.
Many schools do offer "merit" scholarships, where students are awarded scholarships or grants because the school wants to attract them due to their academic record or for whatever they're bringing to the school. These are NOT based on need & generally don't require the family or student to submit any financial data. The amounts schools award varies considerably up to & including a "full ride" which generally means full tuition, room & board.</p>
<p>Damn, I probably would have gotten some money if I hadn't applied after the scholarship deadline. Does anybody know any details about applying for scholarships after freshman year?</p>
<p>You can ask the School you're in about scholarships for continuing students (e.g. School of Arts & Letters, School of Business, School of Engineering). USC.edu has phone numbers & e-mails for all of these if you want to contact them.</p>
<p>I was told by the financial aid officer (at the spring reception) that there are MANY scholarship opportunities for underclassmen...you just have to ask</p>
<p>We were also told by parents of USC students that there are lots of jobs on campus & not all are work-study. Getting good grades, getting involved & talking to others & teachers will help you find out what's out there & expand your options.</p>
<p>True, for example, if you're in engineering and are good, you can get hired as an engineering tutor. If you're really good, you can get hired as a grader(though grading is dismal work that pays awful so mostly graduate students do that) Also there's things like supplemental instruction where you can get hired as an undergraduate "semi-TA" where you get together once a week and help people solve homework and study for a particular class.</p>
<p>But these are all "merit" jobs; they don't count as financial aid(i.e., not work-study) and you do have to earn your way in grade wise and impress people. They do provide extra $$$ that can provide that extra little push to make it affordable, though.</p>
<p>Alas, the Trojan Scholarship doesn't increase with the ever increasing tuition.</p>