<p>Although we were fortunate to receive significant merit aid from USC, I frankly believe that the school gives out too much merit aid and makes up for it by “gapping” students who have financial need. I have heard stories on this site, as well as within our community, of students accepted at USC but not given sufficient need-based aid to be able to attend. Many of these students received more need-based grant money from every other school to which they applied than they did from USC. </p>
<pre><code> One way USC could cut back on the merit money excess is by refusing to let students “stack” scholarships in excess of the cost of tuition. I also think their enrollment management advisors could do a better job of predicting how much money it will take to lure particular students away from higher ranking schools (e.g. some students who received a Trustee scholarship would have been just as willing to attend had they received a Presidential).
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