<p>Yes, getting into college (especially very popular ones) has been like an arms race, at least over the past decade. However, even if you are rejected from your dream school, there is hope.</p>
<p>You can enroll in your local community college or attend a college/university a few spots lower according to us news (which is not a good way to solely choose a college anyway) on scholarship, try your best, get high grades which you are most likely well prepared to do, then transfer into the college/university of your dreams.</p>
<p>Another option is to attend a community college that has a transfer agreement with your dream college. This could save 2 years of college tuition which can be valuable if you plan on going to grad school!</p>
<p>Santa Barbara City College has a transfer agreement with UCSB and SBCC students may live in university-affiliated dorms in Isla Vista allowing students to socially be on their own and a part of the UCSB community.</p>
<p>Similar situations exist with the following and many rural colleges/universities with local community colleges:</p>
<p>University of Florida and Santa Fe College in Gainesville
University of Central Florida and Valencia Community College in Orlando</p>
<p>Remember to keep thinking outside the box and consider all of your options!</p>
<p>@elan_xu: which one!? Oh my goodness, I didn’t mean for either of them to sound that way at all! In fact I attempted to word them so that they wouldn’t give off that impression!</p>
<p>Absolutely bring in several years income tax returns to Financial Aid. They do have hearts. And they read. In addition, bring current paystubs/income forms to compare this year to last.</p>
<p>Also bring in your other offers from other colleges. And statements from any programs/therapies your brother is in. </p>
<p>Oh - if you live far away, don’t fly the whole family to Los Angeles to meet with financial aid! (A tidbit of advice from my favorite financial aid book “Paying for College Without Going Broke.” You might want to get a copy - they are about $18) Get on the phone and tell them about your circumstances, that you are sending a package of documentation, and you would like to schedule a telephone appointment to go over it all.</p>
<p>^ alamemom recommended that book to me when I posted on here a long time ago asking about financial aid and it was THE MOST USEFUL BOOK EVER. Seriously. Good investment.</p>
<p>@alamemom: We’re just in AZ, so its a relatively short car ride. I could easily go with my dad or something for a day and look at the campus again anyway. USC is sooo pretty. (:</p>
<p>alamemom and dream…I looked up the reviews on the book and it says that it should be read during your junior year in high school. Do you agree? Would it do me any good as a senior? Please let me know if you think so and I will go get it. I do need help with the financial aid. Unfortunately I am one of those that has an EFC that is more than my family can pay. I am scrambling to find money right now.</p>
<p>The book would be most useful far in advance of the college years - I think middle school parents should be reading it. It gives some great advice on (legally and ethically) preparing for the financial aid applications during the “base” year - the calendar year previous to starting college.</p>
<p>It also has some useful parts even if you use it right now about looking at your offers and possibly approaching the schools about adjustments - as oxolojo is considering. The part about “The Offer” (Part Four) is just one chapter, so you can actually probaly get all you need by reading that chapter right there in the bookstore.</p>
<p>Thank you for the information. Those are such fine schools with great tradition. Could you suggest to your friends to post here? Right now the SC Forum could use some aloha spirit!</p>
<p>For the 2008-2009 year 25 students enrolled at SC from Punahou and 21 from Iolani.</p>
<p>USC alumni in Hawaii have been generous supporters of the university.</p>
<p>@everyone: I’ve been considering ohio state because it seems to have a lot of what I’m looking for, and I received a merit scholarship there, making it significantly cheaper than usc. However, I was informed today by my dad that he is more likely to take out loans for me to go to usc than ohio state. Either he just isn’t a buckeye fan or usc really is my destiny!!</p>
<p>Also, this has probably been asked a billion times, but if I got into usc and accepted a (extremely low, I’m sure) financial aid package, I could get it re-evaluated in subsequent years, right? So what I get freshman year isn’t necessarily what I will get sophomore year and beyond? I think telling my parents that freshman year will be the worst might ease them into it a little (I’m the first kid they’re sending to college).</p>
<p>I’m not sure if I can persuade everyone to post.
But believe the ones who have been accepted have had 3.7 GPA or above 2000^ SAT scores. Good solid recs and extracurriculars. One girl I know is a URM who got into Stanford early and recently recieved USC acceptance. </p>
<p>From what I know from c/o 2009 USC admissions though, they rejected some qualified students and admitted some underqualified ones. My friend who got into UCSD did not get into USC. And there are always a few that get into USC for sports.
SAT ranges were about high 1800s and above.
USC tends to favor iolani punahou kids for sure. </p>
<p>I’m really banking on that since my sat is only 1900
My GPA is 3.8 UW(ap/honors), good recs, good ECs.
We should all hear soon though.
I think the bulk of acceptances are coming out soon.</p>
<p>There are a few more schools I am waiting for decisions. All are April 1, Hopkins and Chicago. What is special about USC is the stubborn and funny status wording/changes that drives people crazy, me included. I find that this part attracts me to USC, or at least let me meet many great people on USC board, haha.</p>
<p>They scare me for the same reason oxolojo! I got it from their website. I can post a link if you’d like, they have a lot of other information as well. (average gpa, etc)</p>
<p>elan_xu, i’m trying not to but those stats worried me…!</p>
