<p>GPA: 3.98 UW, W 4.4 10/700-rank
ACT:33
SAT 2's:770BIO, 750 USH
Extracurriculars:
High intern position at a research lab for 2 years
NHS president
Lots of volunteering and good essay.
Teacher recs were amazing as well.</p>
<p>You can look at last year’s chance thread to get an idea of the types of applicants invited to interview for the Trustee and Presidential scholarships <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/1074764-usc-fall-2011-stats-only-decisions.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/1074764-usc-fall-2011-stats-only-decisions.html</a> Most of those posting acceptances the last week of January and first week of February were interviewed for the Presidential or Trustee or awarded the Dean’s (1/4 tuition).</p>
<p>In 5 of your 8 posts you list a 34 on the ACT and different ECs. Were those posts in error?</p>
<p>It should be noted that with the move to The Common Application this year, there is likely to be a significant increase in applications to USC, making competition for these scholarships more difficult than recent years. Last year there were approximately 37,000 applications, and it would not surprise me if there were something between 40,000-45,000 this year.</p>
<p>Also want to add that if you are National Merit Finalist and you are admitted, you will automatically get the Presidential 1/2 tuition scholarship–no surprises! Otherwise, it is hard to know who will be selected for the interview-based merit scholarships. The major/School you apply to may have some influence since they spread the awards out over most of the majors. It seems that STEM majors have so many very very highly qualified students that each year many wonderful students are disappointed–the merit scholarships are selective and holistic. Arts majors require excellent grades/scores too, but may place higher weight on portfolios, auditions, national awards, special honors. </p>
<p>As alamemom says, there are many excellent applicants each year and the numbers seem to be growing larger.</p>
<p>Still, somebody has to get the good news! So good luck.</p>