<p>Anyone hear about the Woodrow or Sims scholarships yet? Any news as to when those letters may go out?</p>
<p>Final financial add letters go out in March.</p>
<p>That’s frustrating that it takes that long. A lot of students left in limbo waiting.</p>
<p>Yep, but there are a lot of schools that don’t even let you know regular admissions decisions until April 1. Even USC sends out RD acceptances through mid-March…so I guess one thing at a time.</p>
<p>I talked to someone in Admissions and was told they were hoping to get the merit scholarship letters sent out by the end of this month (Feb) or beg of March at the latest. She also confirmed that the test score averages for the scholarships posted in the Money Matters are more likely the minimums this year as this year’s applicants are more competitive than last year (they get more competitive each year).</p>
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<p>That’s when scholarships go out. Full need-based aid isn’t given out until April because the priority deadline is April 1. As long as someone meets the April 1 deadline, they get full consideration for all funding they are eligible for.</p>
<p>Some things might be posted earlier than that (such as federal loans), but other things aren’t posted until later.</p>
<p>This is their post from last year. <a href=“Redirecting...”>Redirecting...;
“As always, we will begin awarding all available aid (including loans) after April 1st!”</p>
<p>So you probably will not see your full financial aid award until April, which is pretty darn close to the May 1 deadline.</p>
<p>Right but I wasn’t talking about need-based aid. I asked them specifically about the merit scholarships and the admissions rep I talked to said they were a little ahead and “hoped to get the letters mailed out by the end of this month or beginning of March at the latest.” Is that incorrect? Do they wait to mail the merit scholarships out with the need-based aid? That’s now how she said it to me so I hope not.</p>
<p>^I was just posting that for the benefit of anyone else reading this who might have both need and merit-based aid.</p>
<p>Merit awards go out before need based aid.</p>
<p>Financial aid includes merit and need-based aid. Need-based aid won’t go out until April 1, so you won’t receive your final “full” package until April. You will, however, find out your merit information earlier.</p>
<p>I don’t know what your particular situation is, but most students that I know have a combination of need-based and merit-based aid. I know I do. In March before my freshman year, I found out I got the Thornwell, which was great and everything, but it was only $500 a year. I didn’t know if USC was going to be a reality for me until April when I found out that I had gotten grants, loans, and work-study.</p>
<p>@AUGirl: is it difficult to balance work study with school? & is SC need-based aid merit blind or do they count in your merit while they’re giving you your Federal?</p>
<p>^Sometimes. Sometimes not. I’m working 18 hours a week right now and I have a 3.8. It sucks because there’s never really been a semester where I have a free lunch period, so I sometimes miss out on ‘social’ activities, but overall it’s not too bad.</p>
<p>Need-based aid is merit blind, BUT if you go over a certain amount of aid (the total calculated cost of attending USC), they start taking away parts and pieces of your aid. They usually start with loans, then more to things like work-study or scholarships. The last is usually grants because grants are usually easier to keep than scholarships. (Grants usually have a lower GPA requirement.) That doesn’t happen often, but I know my freshman year, there were some people expecting $1000’s in a refund check and were upset when they’re total financial aid package got diminished over the summer.</p>
<p>Which I don’t know what exactly you’re asking, so hopefully I answered it. As for SC Need-based aid specifically, there’s very little of it. There’s the SC Need-Based Grant of $1500 but that’s about it. Most grants come from things like the Federal Pell grant. The other big form of aid is the LIFE scholarship, but that’s not need-based and USC scholarships aren’t need-based either (for the most part).</p>
<p>This waiting game is awful! The last I heard it is still sometime in early March before letters go out.</p>
<p>I don’t know who that other person was I talked to from Admissions last time but apparently that information was incorrect- or hopefully this information is incorrect— I just called again and the person I spoke to today informed me that the (non-honors) merit scholarships will not go out until the LAST WEEK IN MARCH. I told her what I was told previously (end of Feb/ Beg of March) and she said that would never happen because they are still processing Regular Decision applications and all those applicants will be included in the same merit scholarship decision pool. </p>
<p>I am really stressing out over this because the other schools my son was accepted to are accepting housing assignments now on a first-come-first-serve basis but USC is his first choice. Since we’re out of state, he really needs to get the scholarship so we’re in limbo until we hear either way on the scholarships. </p>
<p>Plus, isn’t the deadline to apply to USC’s Living Learning Communities on April 1st? So what if we don’t get notices until March 31st? How will that work out?</p>
<p>You could apply for housing now. $50 application fee + $100 deposit then if you
do not receive in state tuition you would only loose the $50 but at least it would
give you a peace of mind. Here’s a link which may help</p>
<p>[University</a> Housing](<a href=“Housing - Housing | University of South Carolina”>Housing - Housing | University of South Carolina)</p>
<p>^^If I were you, I would put a deposit down at a second choice school. Most schools will refund the majority of it if you tell them you’re not attending by May 1 (or whatever date). That way, when you find out about scholarships you aren’t stuck.</p>
<p>I didn’t have the same problem because I’m an in-state, 0EFC student, so I already knew that I would get certain scholarships/grants (LIFE, Pell). The USC scholarship was a bonus, but it was only $500 a year, so it didn’t make or break my decision.</p>
<p>Other people that I know were in the same position, and they basically deposited at two schools expecting that they would have to attend the second choice, but hoping for the first.</p>
<p>You can certainly check with housing. On the website it does say April 1, but it also says Feb. for housing application and it just went up at very end, so call and verify. I would look at the app you are interested in and fill it in (or have a draft if need essay or statement of purpose…don’t really know what it includes) so you can be ready to go as soon as find out. I suspect they won’t commit to earlier than last week, but will try to get out soon after reg decision are made - around March 15. You’re not alone in these kind of issues. Many schools don’t send out acceptances/financials until April and as someone pointed out, if waiting for need based you are waiting later also. Basically you have all of march to decide if you feel comfortable putting down money you might loose in order to get in a community…if really is due april 1 you don’t have to turn it in until March 31 :)</p>
<p>Call housing for some specifics, but USC is not a first come, first serve housing school. Housing or maybe website can tell you if LLC are based on merit of app, lottery or order requested…and it may be different for different ones.</p>
<p>^^^Also, housing facebook page is good place to ask questions. They seem to respond pretty quickly with an actual answer or with specific person to contact. Already answered several questions for people who were confused about submitting housing stuff.</p>
<p>Thanks all… I basically decided to lay down the acceptance deposits and apply for housing at both places. I’ll lose $100 either way, but considering 2nd choice school’s housing is first-come first serve, we at least have piece of mind knowing that is secure too. Son’s grades and test scores are within the range- even a little higher for the Woodrow and Sims OoS scholarships but that doesn’t guarantee he’ll get one. </p>
<p>We have plans to visit the USC campus over our spring break- March 28-29 so hopefully we’ll know something by then. We visited it last year over spring break too and it’s beautiful! My son is really hoping this will work out for him. He’s learning that getting accepted is only the first hurdle.</p>
<p>I called this morning. I was told that letters still haven’t gone out. They hope to get them out “soon.” :(</p>
<p>We’re also waiting to hear. Son heard he got one scholarship in January and the letter all but promised more money coming. We know he didn’t get the McNair Scholarship, but we’re eager to find out if he is getting any more. We’re in CA, so if it’s mailed, we’re the last to find out. Still one of his top choices. :)</p>
<p>The only possible scholarships are the instate+2k or instate+4k right? I wonder if they’ll introduce new scholarships this year maybe. I know the U of Miami did this year without telling anyone</p>