<p>I hadn’t head about alumni at the interview, GG. I have heard there are usually 1 administrator from the School or Department of the student’s major, 1 current student/Scholarship winner, and 1 professor in the Department. Sometimes there are only 2 on the panel. </p>
<p>Each School at USC appears to invite their own subset of scholarship finalists from whom they select final recipients. Depending on the School/major involved, the interviews may be slightly different in scope and topics covered. For instance, USC is vying for very impressive and gifted applicants in pre-med. These are students who may very well have acceptances to weigh from HYPS and other fine schools. When such a candidate walks into the room and seems uninterested in finding out about UG research opps at USC or knows nothing at all about USC’s med school, it can signal that student is not considering USC seriously as they may well have their eye set on another school. These candidates can be seen as trolling for honors/scholarships and that may work against them as USC would look for more serious aspirants for their top awards.</p>
<p>OTOH, at some of USC’s most selective majors such as the School of Cinematic Arts, Thornton School of Music, or Marshall (just to name 3), many if not most of the merit finalists may truly want to attend USC and have it among their top schools on their lists. For these majors, the process is not so much about detecting the level of interest in attending (most SCA merit finalists are simply thrilled to have been admitted to the film school at all), but in what that student’s vision is for their future career. These Schools look for thought leaders, creative entrepreneurs, go-getters who have found outstanding opportunities outside of their HS. It shows they most likely will bring this same adventurous outgoing spirit to USC and beyond. The trouble is there are a limited number of scholarships, and seriously–if you have been invited to interview you really really really have earned such a wonderful award. So, in the most competitive Schools, who are small and so therefore have even fewer top awards to distribute, there is a chance that the luck of specializing in one particular aspect (sound design?) catches the attention of that particular panel on that particular day. Or make-up design. Or costume dramas. Or low-budget horror. Or…??? Who can say? </p>
<p>I would suggest you truly try to be your (best) self. If you are naturally shy or quiet in such a setting, do practice interviews with your GC, parents, any other adult or teacher who is willing. Speaking softly, not fully answering, being too modest to tell about awards, or giving the impression you have not given USC serious consideration will not serve you well.</p>
<p>Best of luck from the parent of a Trustee Scholar.</p>