@pshiao
Yourâre welcome and congrats on your acceptance - hope you get the news you are dreaming of!
Last year, the portals for scholarships started updating in the evening of March 22. My daughterâs portal didnât update until around 4am. So donât worry if yours doesnât update right away. Good luck!
Hi @CADREAMIN, it is my S who got into Viterbiâs CS Game. Unfortunately he suffered a concussion in a car accident right before Explore USC and had to do a Skype interview instead. It has been almost 4 weeks now and he is experiencing post concussion symptoms and not able to go back to school. It has been tough. We are praying that he will get well soon so he can graduate.
@pshiao
Oh goodness, I am sooo sorry. Of course, it is all about his health right now. Sending hugs and good thoughts your way, what a struggle and the timing adds more distress, not that it is ever good. Bravo for him doing the skype interview - what a strong kid!
Have you talked with Viterbi or anyone about what he is going through? (I suppose so to arrange the Skype interview?)
Just so you know, if he is not ready, you an easily defer his acceptance up to a year. (Hopefully not necessary, but itâs there to do if needed or better to defer.) It is an easy request and a form to fill out that is coordinated with the advisor and signed off by the Dean of the school (Viterbi). With a big scholarship potentially on the line, what a stressful time for you. Let us know what happens or I can PM you if you want to go private conversation. But if USC is what he wants to do (and can financially, etc) and you need to postpone, it is important you keep an open dialogue with a kind advocate there. Do you know who is advisor is? (Some great, some meh, but they really do know each kid they accept and particularly the scholarship kids.) Is your HS counselor in touch with them at all?
I donât know about concussions, but there was a super helpful thread on here about them. Sometimes knowing more can be better or worse depending on the person (and online info can be too much sometimes), but I recall a thread(s) if you want to search for it.
@CADREAMIN, I have been in touch with his USC counselor. He is very understanding of our situation, but he did stress his admission is contingent on him completing HS. There is a chance my S will drop all classes except English just to graduate. The concussion has slowed his brain function so much that he is a hard time doing basic arithmetic. It is really good to know he has an option to defer enrollment.
And thanks on your concussions thread search. There is much information on this topic.
@pshiao I donât have experience with concussions, but my D applying to USC has a neurological illness resulting from a virus at age 13. She missed all of 8th grade and it took years to regain her cognitive abilities, with her math skills never returning to previous levels. My advice would be to get counseling for handling the trauma and fear that comes with being ill. Coping skills will help the healing process. Best wishes.
I know the financial aid office is seperate from the office of admissions, but the other day I received an email about missing documents (which I have since sent). Could this perhaps be an indication that an aid package is being created for me? I know itâs most likely just the system requesting documents so that in the case I get admitted, a package could be created for me, but I was just curious.
@pshiao my older S had a bad concussion also. Besides dropping all classes but English to graduate, maybe he can do the minimal required for a C in the semester. Talk to the teachers as I am sure your son had probably all As before the concussion. He needs rest. Rest from computers and phones. It will all get better soon.
My S fully recovered and is finishing junior year (deans list) in an extremely competitive top mechanical engineering program. Good thoughts going your way.
@fsnake01 It means nothing. They truly are separate at this stage.
Is psychology a popular major at usc? Do many applicants apply under that?
In my why usc I mentioned clubs I was excited to join and I mentioned. Joining a sorority to help get out of my comfort zone. Do you think that will hinder my application. They have made decisions already but Iâm reflecting. My application had to have been one of the first because I submitted the first week it opened. (I worked on my app for 6 months)
@radm02 I believe that psychology is a rather popular major choice. Honesty when applying can never be a bad thing regardless of how it was received. Hopefully yours was received well. Good luck⊠you shall know soon enough now. Just four more days until they are mailed out on the 21st⊠with portals updating on the 24th.
@WWWard Portals will update on the 24th, a Sunday?
and for the portal updates are we expecting noon EST like the scholarship updates this year, or is it too soon to tell?
Too soon to tell on time of portal updates, hoping we get a hint soon or they just put it out there, which they likely will when packages are sent.
The portal updates for early merit took place around noon on a Saturday. They obviously do it when either the Admissions office is closed or closing, so they donât have to answer the phones.
@WWWard Maybe youâll have an answer to this question? I was wondering about whether or not Urban Planning is a popular major at USC.
@pshiao oh my goodness, i am so sorry about what happened to your S! 
i really do wish him the best and that he makes full recovery soon and that he can happily graduate high school.
Does anyone know if USC fixed the portal glitch mentioned before?
anyone know when rd decisions are coming out? or perhaps a window with at least some confidence interval?