USC Trustee Scholarship

<p>Hello, </p>

<p>I was nominated, very excited. However, what sort of odds do I have? Does being nominated make it... vary likely? somewhat likely? or less than 10% of nominees get it?
In so many words --- what's the deal?</p>

<p>Also an advice for the interview?</p>

<p>Lastly: if the interview doesn't go very well, do they downgrade to presidential or deans? or do they just not give it to you?</p>

<p>Thanks for answers to any of the above questions. </p>

<p>good luck to everybody else in the admissions process!</p>

<p>Odds are really good. When my D went through it, we figured out that around 3/4 of Trustee candidates received it. (300 slots for the interviews, around 125/128 Trustee scholars matriculated, and considering that there are those who choose other top schools, we figured about 200 were offered the Trustee). Not to say it will be the same this year.</p>

<p>Interview…depends on the department and participants…some are very relaxed, others a little less so. Main thing is to just be yourself…these interviews are basically just to get to know you better. Generally no difficult and too challenging questions are posed.</p>

<p>Yes, some get the Presidential or Dean’s instead. I don’t know of any student who did not get one of those if they didn’t get the Trustee.</p>

<p>You will much enjoy the Explore session. Best of luck!</p>

<p>@Sequoia</p>

<p>Thanks for the reply!
Unfortunately as a US citizen living outside the US (very far away) as well as school interference I will end up conducting the interview over the phone. I was admitted to CAS-undecided for the record!</p>

<p>Indeed USC is a top choice simply by virtue of the potential scholarship at the moment.</p>

<p>When my D interviewed for the Presidential a few years ago, the only question that surprised her was something along the lines of tell us about some current event or something in the news that you find interesting. I’m sure those aren’t the words they used but that was the idea. She blanked out for a minute and then talked about some nutty story about a giant sinkhole. Pretty ridiculous but she got the scholarship.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>Barty, have you verified with USC that the scholarship can be conducted over the phone? The official statement is that the on-campus interview is mandatory. I recall seeing one poster say they were able to do a phone interview, but she never updated as to whether she was awarded the scholarship.</p>

<p>@alamemom</p>

<p>Yes, that was the first thing I did. I called the office of Undergraduate Admissions to explain my situation and they informed the director - who emailed me saying it was ok. My phone interview will be in March and should last ~20 minutes.</p>

<p>@Puzzled88</p>

<p>I’ll be sure to read the news then before my interview ;-)</p>

<p>Thanks everyone for all the help, I’ll update you on whether I get it!</p>

<p>Barty, wishing you good luck!</p>

<p>Since you will not be at Explore, I thought I’d mention that all Trustee and Pres. scholarship recipients are invited to participate in the USC Honours program, called Thematic Option. You will miss the presentation, but I believe there is some info online. It’s a superb program, very challenging but well worthwhile. Small classes, best profs.
If during the interview they ask you if YOU have questions, you might consider asking about it. One of your interviewers will most probably be a TO student.</p>

<p>barty13… did u rec a email from them about the trustee ?</p>

<p>@Sequoia</p>

<p>Thanks again, I’ve heard about TO, definitely a good topic of conversation for the interview!</p>

<p>@hougang</p>

<p>I received a printed letter informing me of my candidacy. An email regarding my phone interview since I’m “breaking the rules” so to speak.</p>

<p>Hi! thank you all for the great information about the Trustee’s scholarship and about the interview process. Does anyone know if Trustee’s can still recieve financial aid if they have the need? I believe they can not recieve another USC scholarship, right?</p>

<p>Thanks for the information everyone. What about the Presidential Scholarship? Are the chances of getting that one after being invited to interview about the same? I’m sort of confused how many scholarships they actually offer… Could you still get the Dean’s if you don’t get the Presidential?</p>

<p>Good luck, Barty! Can’t wait to hear all the results!!!</p>

<p>College182, the odds are about the same. There are 450 slots for interviews, and probably 350+ are offered the scholarship. 288 Presidential Scholars matriculated last year.</p>

<p>And yes, the few students who get bumped down have been offered the Dean’s.</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

<p>Hey Barty, I just got accepted to USC, but haven’t heard anything about if I am eligible for a scholarship or not. How did you find out, and when did you get accepted (I’d assume that scholarship info would come a set number of days after acceptance). Thank you!</p>

<p>vicky1, …if the need is there, yes, you can get financial aid even if you have the scholarship.</p>

<p>you get your scholarship notification a few days after your acceptance into USC. if you do not get a scholarship, they will tell you so later on.</p>

<p>Last year I seem to recall one student from Europe having a phone interview and a student from Dubai. So this has been done before, but perhaps not from your particular school.</p>

<p>@hlfinsninsmnc</p>

<p>Congrats on your acceptance!</p>

<p>I received my acceptance on the 28th of January, but it was sent on the 26th (dated on the letter)
Similarly, my scholarship info arrived the 1st of February but was sent on the 28th. </p>

<p>As I live outside the country USC sent everything by DHL express mail, I don’t know if they do the same for people inside the US.</p>

<p>I got my presidential scholarship letter today! so i guess they’re still out there being delivered. It was postmarked Jan 28th.</p>