Good luck all! Here’s my daughter’s USC miracle story from last year:
USC was her top choice. The financial aid tool said we’d get no money even though we are very middle class. When she learned she didn’t get merit in the early round, she was very disappointed. We thought that meant there was no way she could attend. When she got accepted a year ago she just sort of mentioned it casually — a sad day.
HOWEVER, I was hit with massive requests from FA and they gave us enough aid that brought the cost below a UC!! We couldn’t believe it. She’s attending and couldn’t be happier.