<p>Even though this thread’s intent was results only, it looks like it’s turning into a discussion, so let me add my point of view. Hopefully this will help future finalists, and is not just a seemingly whiny post on my part. Yes, USC needs to adjust their process in setting expectations for merit scholarship finalists. As it was explained to me, scholarships are doled out to each college and possibly even down to which specific majors. I know my D was 1 of 2 Trustee finalists invited for a specific major in one of the professional colleges where only 1 Trustee was allotted. There was no Presidential and no Dean scholarship to award. We didn’t know this initially, so for 2 months (from acceptance in late January until notification in early April) we figured she had a shot at Trustee, with perhaps worse case being Presidential. Heck, in hindsight, we may have even accepted a Dean’s! So both Trustee finalists showed up for the interview and D only got a Director’s. D was heartbroken. Did she fail miserably in the interview? Did the panel re-think their acceptance of her in the school? </p>
<p>Something is always better than nothing, so I guess we should not look carelessly at a $4000 award. But it sure feels like a booby prize when the school thought highly enough of her to consider her a Trustee finalist. And as the school has reminded me after my many appeals for reconsideration, we should be grateful she was in such a highly select group for consideration. It’s frustrating when it seems like the bigger schools (CLAS, Viterbi) have more wiggle room for their scholarship recipients to make single jumps up/down.</p>
<p>I got bumped down too. and listen to this email I just got:</p>
<p>Dear minniemouse,
…
I am pleased to announce that you have been selected as a recipient of the [blanking for privacy reasons] Scholarship. This award is worth $3,000 per year…</p>
<p>Yea. Sorry USC. I’m not changing my mind at this point in the game. When I found out I was bumped down, I thought I had completely lost in the college admissions game. Thankfully I got into another dream school four hours later with considerable financial aid. Trust me, I know I was lucky to even interview for a scholarship (and receive a Presidential)… but after convincing myself I’d end up at USC, which was only possible with a Trustee, I was disappointed to say the least.</p>
<p>And that’s the end of my rant, I’ll crawl back in my hole now, thankfully I haven’t been on this website in a few weeks.</p>
<p>I know that this is last year’s thread, but I see no scholarships for School of Cinematic Arts. Does anyone know if they award trustee or presidential for SCA?</p>
<p>Keep in mind the above is just a small sample of those who received scholarships. Last year there were 20 Mork Scholars, 140 Trustee Scholars and 349 Presidential Scholars.</p>
<p>This year added will be 10 Stamps Scholars. The numbers of Trustee and Presidential Scholars vary a bit from year to year.</p>
<p>Yes, alamemom is always right. My son (SCA) received the Trustee. We are terribly grateful literally every day. </p>
<p>I’ll just mention that in his year, there was one other Trustee hopeful attending the same ExploreUSC interview weekend in his specific major, and maybe 11 others there to interview in other SCA majors. Since there was another weekend for Trustee interviews, I’m not sure what the total number of candidates may have been for the 5 undergrad majors in SCA. The other student in my son’s major ended up receiving the Presidential (along with another outside merit award) and is currently attending USC. I must say this is an exceptional student with a lot of talent and I’m sure these decisions are brutally hard to make. </p>
<p>In answer to compton, last year about 20,000 applications were submitted to USC before the scholarship deadline.</p>
<p>We are also grateful everyday for our sons’s scholarship. He can’t wait to host future scholars this spring and everyday is more pleased with his choice of USC… Good luck everyone. Fight on!!</p>
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