<p>Many questions.
[ol]
[<em>]Unlikely that it will jump 2 points, so I think you should be safe.<br>
[</em>]The two names you picked have no effect in reality.
[<em>]Apply to USC and get admission early. All National Merit finalists who designate USC before the deadline will get the Presidential Scholarship, which is half tuition. Again, you have to remember the COA for USC is about $53,000 and half tuition is about $19,000 so there is still a big gap that either USC or you need to meet.
[</em>]So to answer your question, you get to designate your college later. You can choose to designate USC but find out what their cut off is. I think it is sometime in March.
[li]Search on postings by mom2collegekids in this forum. She has list of things you need to do make sure you become a finalist. About 90% become finalists.[/li][/ol]</p>