@traveler2000 if you are asked to interview for a scholarship, it is not a guarantee of anything. My D interviewed for full tuition (Trustee) and was awarded less than the Deans 1/4 scholarship. In some cases, it might be best that you get the acceptance with no interview (meaning not interviewing for Trustee, Presidential, etc.) and therefore, I believe, by default you get the Dean’s 1/4 tuition. In my D case, not even considering USC unless she got the Trustee…She had way more prestigious schools that she got into.
@LvMyKids2 , that could be USC’s version of yield control. If they know your D probably won’t come, then no reason to give the Trustee. I guess they learned that over the years. A friend’s son applied a few years ago, got the Trustee, but decided to go to Yale with full pay of $70K/yr. Where did your D end up going to?
@WWWard , thanks for the great info on housing. McCarthy Honors sounds great, but first things first. Hopefully S will have the opportunity to interview for Trustee or Presidential next month.
@devon123, Nice to hear that your D loves SC. No doubt you are glad to have that stress behind you. The next six to eight weeks are going to be a nail biter.
@bogeyorpar I don’t think that USC does yield control when offering their highest merit scholarships. They are earnestly trying to lure the best & brightest. They face what every college in the country faces when offering excellent merit aid: odds are high that their top candidates will also be admitted to several ivies, Stanford, U Chicago, etc. They still go for those top kids. My daughter was awarded Trustee a few years ago, and ended up going to Harvard. It was a tough decision, because she loved both schools. If the same kid had interviewed at USC solely for the $, and was not truly interested in the school, the panel might read that unintentionally transmitted message, and opt to not award their top scholarship. As an adult, I once interviewed for a job that I didn’t get. I ran into a hiring panel member later, and was told that I was the most qualified & their first choice, but that I gave off a vibe that I didn’t really want the job (they were correct - I was unenthused about the job! It’s harder to fake it than we realize).
It is amazing how schools are using a similar overall formula/evaluation which results in the same top kids getting into the same top schools. I think every year there is at least one poster on here having angst between full pay at an Ivy versus taking the big bucks from USC. Then of course there is the same dilemma for another kid choosing XYZ school with a good scholarship/cheaper or USC full pay.
The decisions go round and round.
But I think SEArent brought up valid point, it is easy to see when the heart isn’t in it or a kid is interviewing cause parent’s made them, but they aren’t that enthused, which ultimately effects the money received (or of course they just get too nervous and choke, sadly that happens too).
@searent I agree with your post 100% I think they are trying to get best and brightest. Unfortunately (well prob not unfort), my daughter wasn’t that interested and that probably came across in the interview…not on purpose, but bc her heart was never at USC (not in her Top 5). The other 2 girls she met had EA offers from harvard and Stanford…so they were going for top kids.
@LvMykids2 I didn’t realize you could end up with less than a Dean’s and I really appreciate that info and honesty! It helps us advise others and set expectations appropriately. I thought Dean’s was guaranteed and believe that has been stated several times in here. It sounds like it worked out fantastic for your daughter. She can look back at her USC interview as practice for some other interview that will certainly be in her future. Thanks again.
@CADREAMIN Yes, it is true. And although it wasn’t good for her ego (for a couple of hours) - it was actually less than the Deans. If I recall - being completely honest it was like $4,000 a year. My first thoughts were “you have to be kidding”…because she was asked to interview for the Trustee (full) and of course was a stellar student and contributor to her community. Even my hubby thought it seemed weird that one would interview for a Trustee and not get atleast a Dean’s. But I have heard that is not always the case. But in looking at USC’s side…I am sure they could tell she was not that interested. I forget what she told me after the interview, but she just didn’t feel she did well. It was probably because she didn’t hide it. Truth be told - it was not originally in her Top 5 and she would have only truly gone to USC if she had received the scholarship because she would have felt “special”. So, it really worked out the way it should have. I believe in the whole college process. Part hard work, part luck…and then a dartboard that is in the admissions office that you hope lands on the bulls eye!!!
Love the dartboard! Yes, everything happens for a reason. Your story reminds me of a friend’s daughter at SCU who got the email that she received a scholarship and when she opened the doc, it was $500 for books. At a $65,000/yr school, lol. She felt like getting nothing would have been less insulting! In the end and after her “couple hours” she stills tells the funniest story about getting that “great” offer.
@CADREAMIN that story is better than mine. It would be fun to write a book with a collection of “funny” stories that kids have about going thru the process. It makes light of a very serious time (for that senior year) in their life!
$500 is book scholarship, that’s just great :). What did USC call that $4000/yr thing, Mini Dean’s? But if a kid is not really into a school for whatever reason why bother going to its interview, unless it’s for acting major? Sometimes ego and bragging right for parents and kids really get in the way of the whole ordeal. I don’t really want to go there but I just want to see if I am super enough to get a full ride or admissions of that and this (top school). Yes it’s a validation of your’s handwork and talent before college but it’s just a small snapshot of your early life. If you are talented you’d be all right no matter where you go.
That would be really disappointing to fly across the country for a Trustee or Presidential interview and be given “$500 for books”, or a fraction of the original scholarship. I have to think that is not common. If an interview did not go well or little enthusiasm for USC was expressed, it might be understandable to not get as high an award.There is so much pressure on our kids these days that anything can happen. Agree that things sometimes happen for a reason and they will land on their feet, hopefully learn through the experience, and end up where they will thrive and fit well.
hi guys! new poster here. usc is my dream school and i’ve been following this thread for as long as i can remember. a lot of you are so helpful and positive and i’m really thankful for this load of information on the school. about the scholarships: do they only award to students who literally have the best scores and grades or do they look at the applicant holistically? like if someone is very talented at art or music, but have like pretty average grades/scores, would they not give them a merit scholarship at all? thanks!
@18121812, Short answer is that it appears to be very holistic.Others have posted that every year, 3000 applicants in the top 1% of stats are not even admitted to USC in March. I am no expert but best I can tell is that there may be a minimum number(s) they may be looking for in terms of stats and not likely has to be near perfect grades or ACT (only a guess), although no doubt there are always exceptions. Stanford, for example, is known to admit students who are very talented in one area, with not a perfect GPA. That would make sense if somebody is extremely good at say Computer Science, and not getting all As in History classes in high school… There are so many other variables they must consider beyond stats. Thornton Music School no doubt has auditions or some interviews that weigh heavily.
hey everybody! I just spoke to my regional counselor and he told me that we will be notified about scholarship consideration via email and portal update - did not mention anything about snail mail.
do you think that means that they are not sending snail mail this year?
@chrys1, USC seems to enjoy the mail box surprise so they are not likely to divulge about snail mail and when they will be sent. Some have posted earlier in this thread that a student in admissions replied via snapchat that the scholarships will be mailed Tuesday, tomorrow, and that the portal will update on Friday at 10pm (PST).
I am not entirely convinced, still think it is possible they will be mailed today, given last year they were mailed on Monday, January 23. If they are mailed today, we should see some posts by around noon tomorrow from students who got the box in the mail. If not, it seems likely they will be sent tomorrow. In that case, should hear from students posting on Wednesday and Thursday.
@just4years my D may have considered USC had she gotten the full tuition, but she didn’t go to the interview just for ego. They had no name for the $4,000…maybe it should have been called “Ego Busting” scholarship.
Getting nervous for S18 since the consensus seems to be mailings are happening today or tomorrow. USC is definitely one of his two top choices. Best of luck to everyone!
They will be mailing packages, no question about that.
Anyone receive anything today? Particularly those in California?