<p>just sent son 1 his acceptance (no financial aid award yet). Has anyone seen a financial package from them? Do they have a reputation for being generous? As a NMF he gets a half off tuition waver but we need a little more to make it happen.</p>
<p>Sorry, I have no knowledge of USC's FA -- just sending my congrats on your son's acceptance -- and take it from one who knows: california ain't so bad :)</p>
<p>Thanks Katliamom</p>
<p>USC was one of his big 4. We await Northwestern and Penn. I wish USC had sent the financial aid details though.</p>
<p>USC has the reputation of being very generous and consistent from year to year. </p>
<p>My understanding is the admissions and financial aid departments are completely separate, and financial aid does not begin working a file until they get word that the student has been admitted. So there is often a gap of weeks between the admissions letter and FA award. Expect something toward the end of March, beginning of April.</p>
<p>Hmmm - well, I suppose it depends on what he's interested in -- but if I had to pick from USC, Northwestern or Penn, I wouldn't pick USC, it's certainly the least prestigious of the three... But then, it's your son and not me who'll decide so...</p>
<p>Drizzit: I have two D's who graduated from USC and I have a S who is attending one of the other schools you are still waiting for word from. Both D's received merit assistance from USC (one had quarter tuition and one had half tuition) and also received some additional need-based financial assistance. If I remember correctly we heard from financial aid in early April (before a final decision had to be made). FWIW - both D's really enjoyed USC and are now attending grad/professional schools, feeling very prepared by their undergrad experiences there. Feel free to PM if you wish more information. Good luck!</p>
<p>presitigious? is that all that should matter?</p>
<p>there is much more to picking a school beside prestige- location, size, student body, majors, etc...</p>
<p>I guess I get frustrated when that would is thrown around and is used to put down some wonderful schools</p>
<p>And prestige is all realitive</p>
<p>oh yeah CONGRATS!!!!</p>
<p>sheesh Katliamom, most students don't go to college because of the "prestige" factor, what ever that is, they go to get an education, which is possible at MANY fine universities, including USC. Your post shows a very snobbish attitude on your part. Lighten up, the OP started this thread with the statement that the acceptance letter was just sent, he wasn't looking for opinions about whether this was a good choice. The choice has been made.</p>
<p>drizzit, be sure S sends in the National Merit form designating USC as his first choice before the deadline, which I think is in April, so you also get the $1000 NMF scholarship!</p>
<p>Meh, I suppose I would be impressed if it were ND but USC...? That's really no better than U of M.</p>
<p>/\ was anyone asking you?</p>
<p>Thanks Menlo, dt, and papa.</p>
<p>We are aware of USC's NMF notification deadline. Son is unsure if he will commit to USC yet. Prestige is not an issue or even a concern.</p>
<p>He liked Oregon State, UC Boulder, Arizona, and Utah as well. We went on solid engineering schools that he felt like he would enjoy.</p>
<p>Two years ago, I was admitted fairly early under their system, then went to their scholarship interview weekend a month or two later. I got my financial aid package some time after that. A few weeks after I recieved my fin aid package (I don't remember when, exactly), I got another letter offering me a bit more money and a guaranteed undergraduate research position, so know that there may be more things coming.</p>
<p>Oh comon get into the rivalry. It's part of the fun.</p>
<p>Honey, this thread is about FINANCIAL AID, not college rivalries. For that, go to the USC thread.</p>
<p>The 3 schools you mentioned usually meet the need 100%, but as we all know curriculum is paramount! If a school initially tries to bait you, appeal the award letter, and don't take it.</p>
<p>I'm sorry if I sounded (well, I guess I DID sound) snobbish. I went to college in California and in those days USC had only a so-so reputation, certainly versus UCLA or its peer-in-terms-of-cost Stanford. My thinking was more along the lines of: Penn is an Ivy, Northwestern is a near-Ivy both schools are known for their rigor and attraction to/by top students which isn't something usually believed about USC. As to prestige well, when you're paying as much as USC costs, isn't it at least REASONABLE to take prestige into account?</p>
<p>But clearly I offended some readers, and for that I apologize. Full disclosure: I am a public school grad and my D attends a private hardly considered 'prestigious'. I very much understand that there is more to choosing a school than prestige.</p>
<p>Honestly, I think you are splitting hairs when you start talking about prestige differences between the 3 schools mentioned. It's like you know you are going on a hot date with an attractive blonde, brunette or redhead, but don't know which.</p>
<p>Papabear, My daughter has been accepted to USC Annenberg and we're waiting on the financial aid package. When we visited, my daughter really liked the school and Annenberg seems first rate. Here are my concerns: Did your daughters feel safe on campus? How about after they had to move out of the dorms? I hear they're guaranteeing only two years of housing. Also, did they have a good social life? Did they join sororities? My daughter worked very hard in high school and is a bit shy -- no boyfriends, few parties. She mostly just hung out with us when she wasn't busy with school, newspaper or band. She wants to go to a school where she'll have a fun social life as well as a great education. We're from Southern California, but she's not the stereotypical socal gal -- no expensive clothes, no blonde hair, or piercings --just a down to earth, sweet girl looking to have some fun and maybe even a boyfriend! I hear the frat scene is big -- she's interested, but I'm not sure she'd fit in. Is there a good social life for kids outside of the greek scene? Also, she will not have a car. Would that be a problem? Thanks for any advice you offer!</p>