<p>Deadline for first year applicants to submit applications for admission. This deadline is for those seniors who wish to BE CONSIDERED for the many merit scholarships offered by the university and certain alumni or support organizations.</p>
<p>Some majors such as architecture, fine arts, cinematic arts and theatre (design) require a portfolio. Certain majors such as music performance and acting majors require an audition.</p>
<p>January 10, 2013</p>
<p>Deadline for first year applicants to apply for admission.</p>
<p>^^GeorgiaGirl, some Schools have an earlier deadline for all applications.</p>
<p>December 1: First-year applicant deadline for merit scholarship consideration.*
January 10: Final first-year applicant deadline for regular consideration.
February 1: Transfer applicant deadline for scholarship and regular consideration.</p>
<p>*The following programs require first-year and transfer applicants to apply by December 1:</p>
<p>School of Cinematic Arts
First-year applicants to all majors
All first-year and transfer applicants to the Writing for Screen and Television program</p>
<p>School of Dramatic Arts
All applicants to the Bachelor of Fine Arts programs</p>
<p>Try and get the app ready to submit days (better yet, weeks) before the due date! Sometimes the system gets overwhelmed and crashes. USC has usually been very forgiving and generous with such situations, but it creates an amazing amount of stress for the students. Don’t mess with this and get it done a little early.</p>
<p>Yes, a student has nothing to lose by submitting an application by the December 1st date. The competition is stiff, but if you are selected the larger scholarships are worth thousands of dollars.</p>
<p>Another benefit is the application is finished and submitted. It is one less to complete during the holiday season. Also, sending the information early establishes contact with
your admissions counselor.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Print out the timeline GG and madbean put together. Tack it on your wall. Put all the dates into your phone with reminders. Keep track of deadlines! It’s critical to get your applications in on (or before–preferably, for your own sake, before) the deadlines the school outlines!</p></li>
<li><p>If you’re not required to submit by Dec. 1 for USC, do it anyway! I got all my applications done by Veteran’s Day Weekend, and I felt so relieved to have them out of my hands! Getting them done early is good from a computer standpoint but also a personal standpoint: you’re done! No more applying! Applying is like a full-time job. Not exaggerating. Also, can you say free money? Because I applied by December 1, I got a Dean’s Scholarship. My best friend had a better GPA and better test scores but didn’t apply until the January deadline. Who knows what kind of scholarship she could have gotten had she gotten her app in when I did? Don’t be that friend!</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Dear applicants to the Class of 2017, I also want to add a dash of reality to the mix here. While everyone who is truly interested in attending USC and/or would truly need a merit scholarship to afford a private university, you may want to take a look at some of last year’s admissions results threads. There were many wonderfully accomplished students who were not invited for top scholarship interviews. Like admission to the most killer selective universities, these full and half-tuition scholarships are awarded holistically and essays, ECs, LoRs, even what you intend to major in will impact selection for consideration. Since I’m in a cautioning frame of mind I’ll also point out that USC does not automatically admit every NMSF or NMF who applies, either, even though many think of USC as their financial safety, if you will–due to the guarantee of the 1/2 tuition Presidential scholarship to all NMF who are admitted. I’m not trying to discourage anyone from trying for a merit award. In some majors, such as those which are talent based, top scholarships may go to those who have relatively lower stats, but they are rare, rare, rare. But why not give it a try? I’m just suggesting everyone think of the merit awards as a reach for ANYONE–even those fabulous 4.6, 2400, national award winners out there. And please, do not get angry with USC should you miss their cut-off. I can assure you from watching this process over many years that this decision is not a prediction of how you’ll fare in your other applications. So… keeping it real… put your absolutely best app out there, give a prayer, and move on!</p>
<p>Last year there were around 27,000 who applied by the early deadline. Out of that number roughly 200 received a full tuition scholarship. That includes the Stamps, Mork and Trustee scholarships. More than that number were offered scholarships, but decided to accept other choices.</p>
<p>Presidential Scholars received a half tuition scholarship. There were 349. National Merit Scholars who enrolled received a half tuition scholarship. Merit Scholars were 247.</p>
<p>Just looking at the new Freshman Profile and notice there are 139 students who received the full tuition scholarships this year. That number seems to be down from previous years where I seem to remember the number being closer to 170 or so. I believe they invite close to 300 to interview for those top top awards; some do not attend the interview (crazy!) and the selection process is by no means a slam dunk. However, many who do not get chosen for Mork, Stamps or Trustee may be awarded Presidential, Deans or other merit awards. </p>
<p>GG, I’ve always been confused at the reported number of Presidential Scholars. Using the latest numbers reported, do the 366 PSs reported this year include the 251 NMF Presidential Scholars? In other words, are there 366 1/2 tuition merit scholarship winners total incoming for fall 2012 or 617? Anyone know for sure?</p>
<p>Thanks, Georgia Girl! I’ve missed this place! </p>
<p>And I agree with Madbean. Absolutely try for the scholarships, but there are no guarantees. But you guys really should try, because you can’t get one if you don’t apply by the December 1 deadline!</p>
I’ll also point out that USC does not automatically admit every NMSF or NMF who applies, either, even though many think of USC as their financial safety, if you will–due to the guarantee of the 1/2 tuition Presidential scholarship to all NMF who are admitted. I’m not trying to discourage anyone from trying for a merit award. In some majors, such as those which are talent based, top scholarships may go to those who have relatively lower stats, but they are rare, rare, rare. But why not give it a try? I’m just suggesting everyone think of the merit awards as a reach for ANYONE–even those fabulous 4.6, 2400, national award winners out there. And please, do not get angry with USC should you miss their cut-off. I can assure you from watching this process over many years that this decision is not a prediction of how you’ll fare in your other applications. So… keeping it real… put your absolutely best app out there, give a prayer, and move on!</p>