<p>My SAT wasn't in the top 1-2 % of test scores (only 1380) but then I had an ACT of 32 and SAT II writing of 750. If you have the cut off score then they consider all your other credentials (i.e. grades and extracurriculars). I think they look for students who are motivated and are actually passionate about their studies. Test scores wouln't get earn the scholarship for you. The best advice I have for your daughter is for her to try to convey herself fully in her app. Take a specail note to the quick takes section... they really do read them! My interviewers asked me questions all about them!</p>
<p>I agree with lobsta, don't be afraid to show your quirky side. My interviewers asked me the strangest questions. One of my recs from a spanish teacher said that I went all out on everything, including preparing food for our culture days. So the interviewer asked me to explain how to make authentic chile rellenos and candied lime rinds. It was weird. And if you have any unusual interests, really emphasize them.</p>
<p>Poordad:</p>
<p>Geez, you'll be a lot poorer if you daughter wants to go without scholarship.</p>
<p>that's the nightmare scenario</p>
<p>I don't know if this will help, but there is an unknown scholarship called the Trojan Scholarship that's awarded by the Student Financial Aid office. It's not listed anywhere, you can't apply for it, and I have no idea on what basis it's awarded. My son got one several years ago. We found out one day by looking on OASIS. It's $4,000 a year. Not much in the scheme of things, but hey, it's $4,000 I don't have to pay. Maybe you'll luck into one like we did.</p>
<p>you just woke up one day and they had credited his account for $4,000?...nice</p>
<p>I hope you've discussed Stafford loans with your son.</p>
<p>I got the trojan scholarship which is $4,000 and an alumni scholarship for $2,500...I am not going to USC because its too expensive...the Trojan scholarship is probably not talking about on the USC website since it is worth nothing compared to the $45,000 per year it costs to attend USC</p>
<p>a few suggestions.
1. The next child up has to take SAT practice courses, not so much to do well and get admitted to upper strata schools, but to work a plan to get scholarship offers. That's plural. The SAT has to be approached like a business plan - the kid's job. It is very serious. It is very workable.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Dump any activities that get in the way of SAT and grades. </p></li>
<li><p>Dump any wiseguy AP teachers that make life torture for high-school kids.</p></li>
<li><p>The kid has to figure out what he/she likes to do - really likes to do. Pursue that. Be fluent in that. Don't hack around with some guidance counselor's idea. Do what is most interesting; read about it; think it out; make USC part of the plan. USC has everything.</p></li>
<li><p>Sell the plan at any scholarship interview. Be knowledgeable because you like your interests; be fluent becasue you know what you're talking about. Make the sale. Don't be someone else.</p></li>
<li><p>USC is numero uno in football, two in a row. That's not an accident; the whole place is like that. Don't be shy; make the sale.</p></li>
<li><p>But no one gets to make the sale unless they have the SAT and grades, so go at those entry points with the understanding that prep courses for SAT work very well and that grades are silent - silent means that a B does not speak that the couse was intensely hard and that a B was a great grade. B speaks of a B. A speaks about winning. </p></li>
<li><p>Ditch the TV and Cable - do SAT prep. Work at it. Summer is not for play; it is the chance to use time to study, study, work and work more. Do summer school. The game comes on in the fall; be ready to play hard. </p></li>
<li><p>If the kid won't work the plan, don't pay the tuition. Life is rough. Don't mortgage the house, borrow like crazy, and live in debt to send the kid to college. Either the kid earns it or not.</p></li>
<li><p>Pay for the SAT prep; do two courses. Cut that damn cable tv. That's the investment. Don't do minimum wage job this summer: study, work at SAT, study, work at SAT. It's not boring - it's the plan.</p></li>
<li><p>Play to win.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>u sound like an asian, say are u an asian?</p>
<p>Response to rumbean22:
"Question for Trustee Schoars: Would you take it over an Ivy???"
(sorry! dont know how to quote =(</p>
<p>choosing USC w/ trustee scholarship over Yale.</p>
<p>Similar issue, though not ivy- Carnegie Mellon in computer science or USC with presidential scholarship.</p>
<p>sweezfan.. don't worry, I grew up in the new haven area... you'll be much happier staying in southern cal. Falls are nice yet the long winters are depressing and cold.. not to mention there isn;t nearlt as much for entertainment.</p>
<p>Untothebreach,
While that is certainly a way to do it, it is by no means the only way. I took the SAT once with no classes and got a 1440. I never took summer school. It is true that I don't watch much TV, but I do watch some. Also, I got several B's and a C. The main thing was that I showed improvement on my grades. Also my classes were difficult, the readers knew why my grades were lower. It is definitely helpful to have good activities and service. That is probably what got me a scholarship. By the way, I have never watched an entire football game other than the superbowl. I'm sure that will change, but I am still a Trustee Scholar and in Thematic Option.</p>
<p>I can't say the football matters... only game I've seen in entirety is a homecoming game I was forced to go to by my orchestra teacher freshman year... it's not like they ask you about football, unless you were to put it in the "quick takes" section. In my interview, the professor seemed amused by my favorite movie being Dr. Strangelove: or how I learned to love the bomb, though I think the other two interviewing me didn't know what it was. I would suggest taking that seriously, since they ask questions about it.</p>