Thank you! DD just got a confirming email from her USC admissions rep, who also shared that McCarthy will be ‘sold out’ by the time USC receives their next list from NMSC, so kids will need to try Village out sophomore year.
That is interesting. Looking at the profiles from past couple of classes, they enrolled approx 100 Trustees and 300-450 Presidential scholars. McCarthy houses around 600 so it seems that there should be enough space. Top USC Freshmen Find Home at McCarthy Honors College • Trojan Family Magazine
Just like financial aid and admissions are independent, so is housing and admissions. You might reach out to housing and ask them. For what it is worth, housing (room) and hospitality (food) also work independently.
Yes is interesting! Now I’m wondering… DD was told she won’t be assigned to McCarthy unless / until named a Presidential scholar, which won’t happen until they receive the list from NMSC with USC designated and it filters through USC’s process to officially name the student a presidential scholar. I believe the next list from NMSC goes out 5/2. Rep further said they typically make housing assignments in early May so she and her brother may not make the cut in time. Rep definitely said he expects McCarthy to fill up in initial wave of housing offers “early May”. I doubt housing could help because they won’t see my students as presidential scholars yet. Curious how others handled this since we held off on naming #1 school with NMSC until all decisions were in.
My D22 is in the same position. After she got accepted to USC, she named USC as her college pick through NMSC. She did this on 3/28. I just called NMSC and they said a roster was sent to USC on 4/1 so hopefully USC will process this in time to name her a Presidential Scholar in time for the early/mid May housing decision (she also listed McCarthy rooms as her top 3 picks in the housing application). The NMSC rep told me that the next roster will be sent around 4/15 so if your student adds USC as their college pick before 4/15 then USC will get that info in mid-April which will also be hopefully in time for USC to process it before the housing decisions are made in May.
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I also found this on the USC website. USC says it takes 2 weeks for them to process your scholarship once you have named USC as your first choice school: When will National Merit notify the University of my first choice selection?
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S22 changed his first choice to USC with NMC on 3/30, and today on 4/6 the NMF Presidential Scholarship was added to his USC FAST portal. It made him feel better to see it in print. Hopefully this will also lock him in for McCarthy housing, as he had already requested that.
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Great! Thanks for sharing the timeline. Were any additional scholarships added as well?
The $3750 University Scholarship was already there, and stayed there when Presidential was added.
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And… Did you say your student received the $2500 from NMSC?
He was awarded that but not in his USC portal yet. NMSC won’t send that out until May 3.
We just checked and my D22 had the NMF Presidential Scholarship added to her USC FAST Portal on 4/5 (she added USC as her first choice with NMC on 3/28). She never received any email about this update (maybe that’s on the way?) Also added to her portal was the “National Merit College Sponsored Scholarship” for $1000. The description of that scholarship was listed as:
A renewable award for National Merit Finalists.
- Fall $500
- Spring $500
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Great! And your daughter did not receive the $2500 from NMSC. Is that correct?
I’m trying to figure out if people can decline the $2500 from NMSC and still receive the $500/semester from USC.
No she did not receive the $2500 from NMC and from what I can tell that’s a good thing (at least financially for us!) If you can’t decline the $2500, then you are out $1500 if you choose to attend USC!
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Any updates from parents on NM Presidential award processing times in April at USC? My son specified USC with NMSC on April 8 and I was hoping NMSC sent an update to USC around 4/15. Anyone have confirmation about this (or I can call them tomorrow). He is waiting to officially commit until we see the Presidential award in his FAST portal. I know USC officially says it can take 2-4W to process, but anyone have more personal current info? Also, he received a corp award from a NM corp partner - how does this get transferred to USC for tuition payments?
The corporation will likely send the check directly to USC. If they ask for an address, you can find it here. I received an outside scholarship. What should I do next? Follow up on it. Sometimes outside scholarships get lost. Keep all documentation.