USC just called telling me that I should apply for a scholarship due to my grades and community service work. Does this mean that they may be considering my application?
It certainly sounds that way. 
@ZairesZ - Go to and check out the list - is it one of these? http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/1733874-other-scholarships.html#latest
@ZairesZ USC is about to send out decisions for scholarship recipients and I am not entirely sure if they are talking about the Presidential, Trustee, or Deans for your particular case
@ZairesZ please share your stats and do you live in Cali?
I’m not sure what that means. Applicants who applied by Dec 1 are automatically considered for scholarships. Perhaps they mean outside ones?
There are a few that require applications at USC.and most schools will send out a letter telling a student to apply for certain scholarships or the honors program, etc. They indeed are likely letters and pretty secretive (unless someone posts about them)!
Would USC notify me to tell if I didn’t qualify for a (merit) scholarship and tell me that I am in still in the running for regular decision? Or would I not be notified and have to wait till the end of March?
@USCdreamer21 well it seems that in the past years they’ve sent out a letter; some people on CC are saying they’re being sent by email this year… i am not sure how the decision system is working this year
My D just got an email saying she was still being considered for admission and some other scholarships but that she was not one of the 1200 recipients to receive their most selective scholarships…this was no surprise because the school is a reach for her (although her stats are well in their range, it’s just so competitive to get in!). I’m wondering, were any rejections sent out yet or just letters saying whether or not you received one of the prestigious scholarships? They also said she should apply for financial aid which she will not get so not sure we will bother.
@collegemomjam - D got the letter re: not considered for the most selective scholarships but she was still being considered for admissions. She continued on the path and it worked out for us. Don’t lose hope until you get the final packet. It is worth doing the paperwork for FA. USC was a reach - and they came through for her. Costs were a bit tough the first year - but manageable. Very good FA the second year plus a nice scholarship. Maybe there’s a little luck left for your D too. Fingers crossed.
@collegemomjam - No rejections have been sent out at this time. All rejections will come in late March with the rest of the 8,000 acceptances (and spring admits). It isn’t worth filling out all the financial aid forms if you know you don’t qualify (we haven’t done it in many years after seeing our parent contribution numbers the first time we went through the financial aid forms), but until you file the first time, it is hard to guess where the cutoff is.
@collegemomjam If you have anything and make any kind of decent living, FA will just be loans, you sound like you know that. For many it really isn’t worth filling out the forms. It also isn’t worth dragging your student down a path you don’t want to be on (paying and/or borrowing $65K per year). Getting a new continuing ed scholarship is almost more competitive and they are very small (typically 2k, the most I hear is 8K and that is extremely rare), so don’t count on those going forward, just a heads up. I think keeping it real is better than giving kids false hope or going down a road you as a parent don’t want to go down. People are slowly getting smarter about what they are spending on an education. I think USC like many schools over sells the “aid” = loans knowing people get emotionally invested easily when their kid’s happiness is involved, then bam, there goes your retirement. My inner circle has a motto, if you are the many in the middle that will be full pay and needs a scholarship to actually afford a school, but doesn’t get one, move on.
Blueskies2day,
There are substantial continuing student scholarships. Are you familiar with all the scholarships I listed in my long post? Yes, they are competitive.
collegemomjam, read Arts and Letters post above. It can work out for some families. It is a process to fill out those forms, but if the package does not fit your family budget then it is time to send in a regret card to the university listing your reasons.
Without going into specifics, I can say that the continuing scholarship was substantial (more than the average being reported). It was unexpected, D knew it was competitive, but it made a huge difference for our family and in the end, put the total package in the same range as the Freshman competitive scholarships. So never say never. We’re middle class but at an income level where we “thought” we wouldn’t get anything once D enrolled and we were wrong.
My inner circle has a motto too - to try is a “maybe”. To not try is a definite “no.” Don’t get hopes up, but don’t count the options out until the paperwork is in your hands.
My student also received departmental scholarships we had been unaware of–and received notice in late March just after his acceptance package. They were substantial–more than the amount listed in above post, too. This may not be typical–truly–but they made the difference in terms of making USC affordable for our family. We also had very good luck with FA. This may not be the case for any other family, but I would say each individual should apply. You won’t know until you do. We have read of other families who were bitterly disappointed, so I want to make sure I’m not sugar-coating my advice. But we are extremely grateful to USC for what our son received.
My inner circle doesn’t have any mottoes. But we tried to be straightforward with our kids about what the bottom line was and what we would and would not be able to pay. We do not believe in parent loans. Fed student loans, however, were a choice for my son, as they add up to under $25K for 4 years. Not every family would be comfortable with this, so this isn’t meant as encouragement to go into any debt. I agree–no college is worth getting into a terrible financial hole.
I’m an international high school student applying from London. I received my acceptance in the post on like Jan the 23rd or so & on the bottom of one of the letters it said i was shortlisted for the Presidential (half tuition) scholarship.
I mention this to say that I think you can be accepted without a scholarship during this period also. I believe they will notify you if you’ve been given a scholarship & just won’t say anything about a scholarship if you haven’t.
Good luck!!!