<p>Hi guys, I applied for a few USC merit scholarships. I am looking to become a doctor so I need to save most of my money for med school, and a scholarship would be awesome to an outstanding school like USC. What are your opinions?:
Male, white/jewish
Long Island, NY- top notch public (sends 10-15 grads to ivies/duke/georgetown each year)
SAT I: 2290 (single sitting)- 800 M, 750 CR, 740 W
SAT II- spanish 800, Math I 800, Bio 760 (soph year- took REGULAR bio, not AP=self study a looottt) , Chem 770
GPA: 97 UW, 99.2 W
Class rank: N/A- top 5% (380 students)
Junior year courses/grades: (school weighs +2 for H, +5 for AP)
Algebra II/trigonometry H- 101 W- A+
Chemistry H- 100 W- A+
APUSH- 95 W- A
AP lang- 97 W- A+
AP psych- 100 W- A+
ECs (main ones): Scrabble Club (co-founder/co-president), Science Club, Hebrew Culture Club (secretary), Latin Club, Jazz Band, NHS, Spanish NHS, Science NHS, Mu Alpha Theta NHS
Awards (major ones): Siemens Regional Finalist (cancer cell biology), National Merit Finalist, National Spanish Exam Gold x2, All-county jazz band x2, AP Scholar w/ Distinction, NYSSMA: outstanding score x6
Sports: XC- all-conference individual, county and conference champ team
Varsity Swimming (x4)- All-division medley relay, Conference champ team&county runner up
Varsity Baseball- Conference champions
Other: not sure if it counts for community service, but 440+ hours doing cancer research at Sloan-Kettering over 2 summers w/mentor, around 25 hours at VA hospital (playing trumpet for veterans, serving veterans food on Christmas)
Colleges:
USC (scholarship hopeful!)
Duke
Princeton
Yale
UC Berkeley
U of Mich
Northeastern
Penn State</p>
<p>Goch,
If admitted, you will already qualify for the National Merit Scholarship 1/2 tuition scholarship plus the NMFoundation $1000 per year scholarship. No interview is necessary for the NMScholarship.</p>
<p>We have no numbers yet for applicants for the Mork or Trustee Full tuition scholarships for students entering in August of 2012. Last year there were around 22,000 early applicants who wished to be considered for the merit scholarships. Out of 22,000± seniors 20 received the Mork Scholarship and 140 received the Trustee Scholarship. As you can see the it is highly competitive. </p>
<p>It is not all about scores. Recipients are judged individually. Some students have had to overcome health or family challenges. Others have stood out due to unique accomplishments. With additional students added to the pool this year I cannot even guess about chances. </p>
<p>I suggest contacting the USC Alumni Club of NYC regarding club scholarships and application procedures. Last year I recall the club gave out about 30 smaller scholarships.
Give some thought to applying for local scholarships from civic, religious, academic, ethnic or business groups in New York.</p>
<p>Note: On the NMScholarship you must put SC first on the form for the National Merit Foundation. You have until Decision Day to do this after you have seen your other offers.</p>
<p>You have a fine resume and will have many wonderful opportunities in April.</p>
<p>I just wanted to mention something about one of the schools on your list - if you would like to save money for graduate school, UC Berkeley for an out of state student would generally be a poor choice. The COA for out of state students is >$50,000/year, and the major scholarships, the Regents and Chancellor’s, are only a $2,500/year honorarium for students without demonstrated financial need. [UC</a> Berkeley Financial Aid and Scholarships Office: Undergraduates Types of Aid Scholarships Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship](<a href=“http://students.berkeley.edu/finaid/undergraduates/RCbenefits.htm]UC”>http://students.berkeley.edu/finaid/undergraduates/RCbenefits.htm)</p>
<p>EDIT: Goch965, in your post history you describe yourself in various posts as a sophomore, a junior and a senior, and give at least 4 different SAT score totals as well as varying profiles of activities and awards. Your profile lists you as 15 years old. All of those varying posts have been in November - December 2011, so changes over time cannot account for the variation.</p>
<p>NONE of the chances you have received as a result of those inconsistent posts have any meaning or validity.</p>
<p>I cannot imagine what sort of satisfaction people get from posting imaginary resumes and receiving “chances” based on those creations.</p>
<p>The only thing that is evident from your chance threads is your immaturity, but that is appropriate for a 15 year old. Best wishes on actually doing all the things you list in your imaginary resume.</p>