*******USC Class of 2020 Results/Discussion Thread**********

@crnllfffff i got mine within 48 hours

@crnllfffff My son submitted his app before the merit deadline and got his confirm email approx 2 days later. However, I would not sweat it if you didn’t get yours yet. They’re busy working on getting the merit letters out this week. Some of my son’s schools didn’t send the confirm email up till 10 days later. As long as you have the Common App receipt email that shows you submitted, you should be fine.

You might also want to check your spam folder. My son found some college emails in there.

Anyones portal change yet?

@crnllfffff I submitted mine shortly before the RD deadline, and just received my confirmation email yesterday. I think they’re just getting around to looking at RD applications. They’ve had their hands full with scholarship decisions, I’m sure.

@sbmom13 My son’s hasn’t changed but both he and I noticed that it was verrrrry slow to load.

The portals shouldn’t be changed yet. If decisions are mailed out tomorrow, then they will probably start updating the portals soon, but not before they even mail out the letters.

Realistically, I’m not expecting an interview just because of the amazing accomplishments of the applicant pool. Fortunately, I have the National Merit to fall back on and have been pretty relaxed until I read Madbean’s post saying that NMF status doesn’t guarantee admission. So assuming a “no scholly” letter next week, are there any steps I should take to maximize my admittance chances? Is visiting the campus and meeting with the admission’s staff a good idea? What about email contact? I’ve been on campus several times before so a tour isn’t informative, but if it helped my chances, I could arrange it. Anything else worth doing? Yeah, maybe I’m a bit of a worrier, but this whole college application process does have that effect.

@labpuppy did you apply early anywhere else? I’d be shocked if anyone turned down a nmf finalist. Assuming your grades are top notch and you took the hardest classes at your school.

Of course notifications are probably going to go out just in time to be delayed in the east by the snow ._.

^My thoughts exactly. All this time and still no snow until the exact week when I need the mail to come on time. But it’s alright I suppose; would rather have the postmen and women safe.

@LabPuppy, yes, @madbean is absolutely correct, unfortunately. Two years ago one of my son’s school’s NMF did not get accepted at USC. Believe me, everyone was shocked, this was a kid with great EC’s, community service, tons of APs, not the highest GPA but in line with USC certainly, but a no go there. That was a bad year for the high school with USC overall and the story seemed to be that there was not enough specificity in the essays about why kids wanted to go to USC as opposed to any other good college. In other words, lots of essays where you could have put any college name in and the essay still would have worked. For this particular kid, it probably didn’t matter as the 1/2 Tuition at USC would not have been enough to meet the family’s need so he ended at up UofArizona Honors College with a full tuition and housing package and is very happy there.

Thanks for the comments @sd2016 and @sbmom13. I guess a little suffering/worry is good for the soul. I think I will get in touch with the admission’s contact who visited our school and make it clear that USC is my first choice. One thing working in my favor, I believe, is that my brother is currently at USC. Good luck to everyone, and I’d still appreciate any further insight. Fight On!

Quick question: Will I be notified if I am not a candidate for the scholarships?

If you did not receive a scholarship, you will be notified in a letter/portal update within a couple days of scholarship letters going out that you did not receive a scholarship but are still in the running for admission and will find out in March.

It is safe to say way more than 250 NMF’s apply to USC (the # of NMF scholarships). Of course there is yield, but even so, many NMFs are not accepted every year, and every year some are totally surprised (they think they are auto admit, not so). But many do get in so think positively for a few more days.

Does having multiple people from my school affect my chance of admission? There are about 30 student applying from my school with many bright and talented applicants.

Anyone apply to the Iovine and Young Academy?

Just wanted to add on to what @CADREAMIN posted–yes, many NMFs apply to USC, but many also did not name USC as their top choice school on their NM app. Only those who do qualify for that particular scholarship.

@glasshours students have until May 1 (or other school-specific deadline) to name a top choice school with NMSC. Many choose not to pick a school for now. NMFs haven’t even been decided yet.

Just a quick q: Apparently in previous years people’s portal changed to “forwarded to committee for review” when they were in line for a scholarship but hadn’t yet received their letters. Does anyone see this?

I dont know if theyve updated portals yet.
People last year said portals were down for a few days @ref1ections