^^^An applicant shouldn’t just show up and say they want more money, it has to be documented and put in writing - everything does these days. Changes would only be made if there is documentation that changes what was originally submitted. You can call and ask about it to see if there is anything else to be done, but showing up may come off as pretty aggressive.
@Doodlesack Topping scholarship targets low income students and from urban area around USC, those are primary groups that get it, those more financially challenged.
It’s very forumla driven, versus a “we can’t afford it because our house payment is too high” kind of thing. On what basis are you appealing? Many don’t realize that if the parents have a home with any amount of equity, it is considered something that can be sold or borrowed against to pay for college. They see it as a bucket of money you can use to pay for college. USC uses CSS profile so they have a lot of flexibility on what they can deem assets to pay for college. It will often times not match up with calculators used to determine aid.
@GotYa55 I appealed my financial aid and they gave me more. I just wrote a letter (addressed it to whom it may concern) and explained my situation and why I needed more money than they offered. It was about a page long and I also added into it what my family would realistically be able to contribute. They got back to be about a week later asking me for more documents, then 2 days after i submitted those they gave me my aid If you want to pm me I can go over more of what I wrote in the letter, mannerism, etc. I submitted everything through my FAST Page. They give you the option to submit documents for appealing aid if you look under all forms i think
@zettasyntax I got the scholarship! I was not expecting it at all because the girl in the panel who’s asking the most questions seemed unimpressed. There’s a lot of USC affiliated scholarships and I suggest you to look into that. I met so many supportive and nice alumni at the SCend Off that are based in NYC. They’ve given me tips and advice in navigating the scholarship interview and they root for your success in USC. The Trojan spirit is very much alive outside SC campus, I am grateful!
@Native523 hey fellow Topping Scholar, This is happening so fast! My transfer orientation is on Aug 16. so I will head over a little later after I am done with registering for classes. Everyone in Norman Topping is so nice and helpful. I felt extremely loved. I’m excited to start my SC experience.
Yes, Norman Topping gives special consideration for first generation and low income students but it’s also open to everyone who wants to apply regardless of one’s background. I’ve read at their website that they’re trying to diversify the student body and have a much more inclusive cohort. My tip is to make your application as compelling and unique as possible. You should be comfortable sharing your story and owning your uniqueness.
@fadenrock Congrats! That’s great. I didn’t know about the sweatshirt thing. My interview was almost three years ago though, haha. Some of the people that were on my panel are no longer there. I felt comfortable at first when one of the workers was talking to me about King Taco and then suddenly it turns out she was on my panel. I guess that was to get me comfortable. I had the opposite impression at first. Another girl on my panel had called me about the interview and she seemed happy that I remember her name for some reason, lol. It wasn’t in the cards for me, but it seemed like a great community. A Topping Scholar was the first student to reach out to me after all. She was such a friendly and helpful person
They do admittedly try to target certain populations. When I filled out the application, they had a question specifically asking if you had attended certain CC’s that aren’t in the best areas. Two of mine were there (East Los Angeles College and Los Angeles Trade Tech).
Hi does anyone know when the transfer credit report details are available?
I’m a spring admit and currently have 68 credits and believe that I will meet the 64 max on transfer credits, so I’m unsure if I should attend my current university for the fall.
I emailed my admissions counselor two weeks ago, but still have not received a reply. Called the admissions office and was told that transfer credit details would be available the day of orientation??
@byndme The information you were told on the phone is correct. Your transfer credit report is done by the time of your orientation. Usually it happens quite a bit sooner, but some people can wait quite a while. For example, my TCR wasn’t finalized until a few days before my orientation. I actually have an email saying it was updated. Not sure if they do this anymore, but that email was from December 2nd and my orientation was only a few days later, so they really cut it close with me. Spring admits transfers do usually have to wait longer than fall admits given that their orientation dates happen later. My wait is a bit atypical though from what I’ve heard. I don’t know why, but such things always happen to me, lol. Maybe my coursework was a bit confusing. I had attended six community colleges and had nearly 100 units, so perhaps it just took longer to sort mine out given that it is a manual process done by a small group of workers. Anyway, if you have any other requirements to meet like say a level III of a foreign language (if required of your major), you can take that in the fall. Otherwise, if you have all possible GEs that can be completed and are sure everything is transferable, I don’t really see why you would have to take classes in the fall. You can do something else. Work, vacation, etc.
Anyone got in without an SRG??? I never was asked for one, I did not do good and I’m wondering if it would be a better idea to submit them anyways to finally get an answer?
@Doodlesack You are appealing. It is basically August. If you did not send in your spring grades they are going to figure something is up and you are hiding them - an appeal should be accompanied by your updated grades. Actually, anyone should have sent in updated grades the minute they get them whether or not one gets an SGR. My guess is you will not get in on appeal without having sent them in, but even if you did, it will be recinded if your grades are as “bad” as you are implying (D’s or F will get you recinded). So yes, you need to be upfront about your grades, it’s not like they are gonna let it slide if you were to be admitted.
You already committed to UCB right after getting into UCLA and UCB? Both great schools, congrats on those options!
@lookingxaround - Sorry, I know, it is hard to let something go, even parents feel that little heartbreak when a kid says no to a school they loved too. You made a decision because USC was going to be too big a struggle financially. That’s a solid reason.I think it’s limbo time in late July and August - and it is hard not to be reflective, but you have to look forward. Once you start up at your school really try to commit to it - dive in and get into things, don’t stay on the outside edges. There is always some degree of “what if” in any big decision in life - college, buying cars, houses, etc., but you have to love the one you’re with (as the old song says). Go online and find your school’s shirt and make the mental move. then get everything out of the school you are going to, don’t waste time or resources - use them all!
I have a question. So my older brother is going to be graduating this upcoming school year. Will my financial aid for usc drastically change once my brother is no longer attending school? Will usc think that it’ll be easier for my parents to pay for one kid now and give us less aid?
@CADREAMIN Do you think it’s possible to ask the FA Office at the school to project my future cost for the remaining years there? Just so I can have a solid idea of how much I will be paying for each year there?
If you want to pm me I can go over more of what I wrote in the letter, mannerism, etc. I submitted everything through my FAST Page. They give you the option to submit documents for appealing aid if you look under all forms i think