<p>Does anyone have any information regarding when we will find out about scholarships from the University of South Carolina and also when the university will be releasing invites for Capstone Scholars? This seems really late compared with all the other schools my D applied.</p>
<p>Judging from last year’s thread, expect the letters re: scholarships within the next week - the first post about someone receiving merit aid last year was on March 7.</p>
<p>Yes, I saw that too from last year. In 2008, someone reported receiving
the letter on Feb. 28th . They may be arriving this week. Capstone, it appears
from last year’s threads, comes out closer to the middle of the month. My
daughter is impatiently waiting. She received scholarship info from other colleges
quite some time ago.</p>
<p>My D just received a call from a student and he told her scholarship notifications were not going out until March 15th. We were reallly hoping to hear this week, and like Caitydid90, have received offers, info and invitations from other colleges some time ago. In fact, we are attending an honors event at one of them this weekend, planned some time ago. If we are going to make a trip to SC we would sure like to have some warning! We feel another trip is necessary to make a decision. We are also wondering if the delay and lack of communication is typical for their administration. Any one know?</p>
<p>I wish they’d notify us about the delay by email at least. Been checking the mail every day like the rest of you. Scholars Day is April 10 and we are definitely waiting on the scholarship decisions before we make non-refundable reservations, have not visited yet at all so want to do this!
The wait is definitely going to make it harder to schedule and get decent airfares.
Think I’ll call tomorrow and see what they say about when the results are coming out.</p>
<p>Please let us know what you find out! We were really hoping to hear something within the next few days.</p>
<p>March 15th would be rather late to be sending out the scholarship letters. I
hope that is not the case. Yes, it would be inconvenient for those trying to
plan a visit trip, and whether USC is a viable choice. We visited last year after
my older daughter applied. We really liked the campus, and thought highly of
the honors college. My daughter chose not to attend USC, but my senior this
year applied also. She has talked about visiting campus again over spring break.
Receiving a scholarship offer may be a deciding factor in attending USC.</p>
<p>The delay and lack of communication is not typical. Everything my parents have attended here (Move-In Day, Parents Weekend, etc.) has left them extremely satisfied and they have raved about the organization and efficiency.</p>
<p>Notifications in the past were done sometime between now and the 15th so that we had enough time to plan a visit for Scholars Day in April.</p>
<p>Next week is the Spring Break week,though offices I’m sure will be open .Why not just call with your questions…</p>
<p>Ok, just got off the phone.</p>
<p>First, always drill down to the most specific person you can get - the very nice woman who answered the main admission number (from the first scholarship schedule email) said that they would get them out between the middle and the end of the month! I inquired as to if that was reasonable considering we were trying to decide to book flights based on a verbal invite to the Scholars Day, which would be a week later - and she transferred me to someone who could give more info from admissions.</p>
<p>He said that they were trying to have decisions sent out by the end of the week, so we may not see until Monday or Tues., but that was what they were shooting for. I gave him my name but it’s not like he looked my son up or anything, though I did mention that he had been accepted to the Honors College so getting flights in time for the event was my concern - still I don’t think it was anything specific to just honors kids or anything like that.</p>
<p>I will be so happy when we know where we stand and can get this finalized one way or another!</p>
<p>This is VERY helpful information! Thanks for taking the time to call USC and get it. I agree that finding out at the end of the month would make flying there in April far too expensive for us. Our D was accepted into the Honors College, so something should be in the works. The HC congrats letter said we would be notified “by March.” Heh. The waiting really is the hardest part, both emotionally and financially.</p>
<p>^ and on that Tom Petty note… since I have to celebrate with someone on this …
I just now got 2nd Row center Petty for Tampa, 3rd row center for Chicago and Milwaukee!!!</p>
<p>now back to the topic at hand :)</p>
<p>AL34 and sparky13</p>
<p>I can’t imagine your son or daughter not getting significant merit money if they were accepted into the Honors program. Their process is very formulaic i.e. a GPA of “X” with an SAT of “Y” equals this scholarship with “Z” dollars per year PLUS tuition reduced to in state level etc. </p>
<p>If they obviously could satisfy the Honors requirements I think they will be just fine as far as merit moneys are concerned. This has certainly been the case in the past. </p>
<p>My D is now a senior at USC. She was awarded a McKissick Scholarship and named a Capstone Scholar. Her tuition is less than at our flagship school as an in state student.</p>
<p>^thanks for the encouraging words eadad -
since I have you here - I have what is probably the most basic question that I should definitely know the answer to - but must be missing something…</p>
<p>what is the difference between a Capstone Scholar and the Honors Program?
I can’t really seem to find any comparison anywhere… thanks in advance!</p>
<p>About five or six years ago USC realized that a number of highly qualified and desirable applicants who were rejected for Honors ended up not matriculating. After some serious discussion at very high levels, including Dr Sorensen, the former president, they created Capstone Scholars which was designed to be a living and learning community. It offered as a major perk housing in Capstone Dorm which previously had been an upperclassmen dorm due to it’s large suite style rooms, very central location and in-house dining facility. There were a few Capstone only classes, weekly gatherings like movies and lectures etc and the ability to apply for merit money for a summer abroad program.</p>
<p>They had no idea how it would be received and were very surprised when a little over 500 kids accepted the offer. My D was accepted into the second year of the program and the number her year increased to closer to 600. It was a great perk for the kids because the dorm floors were arranged by majors or schools i.e. all Sports Management were on the same floor which created instant bonding and friendships even before classes began which helped to ease the transition into a bigger school than might otherwise have happened. The school wins because they get 500-600 kids they might not have gotten previously and the over school profile goes up…higher SATs and GPAs for the incoming classes and higher profile for the school.</p>
<p>Five years ago they had rolling admissions. Four years ago they had so many accept spots before December 15 that they had to suspend admissions and then began offering admission only for a January start date rather than in the fall. The rise in applications and acceptance of admission continued one more year before they switched to a hard cut off date for admissions, abandoning the rolling admission process. Applications continue to go up.</p>
<p>USC is definitely a school on the rise and is getting noticed by increasingly more potential applicants across the country. The amount of merit aid offered is attracting very highly qualified kids who not only didn’t look at USC before but also are now matriculating. The bar for merit aid has gone up every year and is getting more selective as a result.</p>
<p>That’s a long answer to your question but I thought you’d appreciate the “history lesson.”</p>
<p>;)</p>
<p>Totally appreciate the lesson. That’s exactly the kind of information I was looking for. Had not really heard much about it and then when I saw all these kids saying they were hoping to get into Capstone and all, wondered if we had missed the boat with DS.
So, not being judgemental about it, but Honors is the highest level - ie. more selective than Capstone?
I looked at the website and it sure looks like a lot of fun as far as the bonding and all. I hope Honors offers a similar comaraderie, and definitely hope DS gets good word about merit $ so we can visit and see for ourselves!</p>
<p>Thanks again, :)</p>
<p>AL34–congratulations on getting those tickets! Three shows? You are a die-hard fan.</p>
<p>eadad–thank you for the information. I, too, hope that the Honors College is as convivial as Capstone. Since my youngest is leaving home, I think I’m more worried about how she’ll fare than she is.</p>
<p>^ I hear you! My son is just ready to get going - I really hope we love USC as much as his other main choice… great to have two to choose from. :)</p>
<p>Yes, Honors is the highest level and also has it’s own housing…brand new last year as I recall.</p>
<p>AL/Sparky</p>
<p>Have you visited previously or is this your first trip to COLA? Where do you live?</p>