@JHS USC has an early application deadline (usually Dec 1) and a regular deadline (usually Jan 1). But the Dec 1 deadline is not true EA, in that it is a deadline if you wish to be considered for merit or other special scholarships. In the past, they have estimated that about 15% of the students who apply by Dec 1 will be offered scholarships. And, most seem to hear about the scholarship awards in Feb or early March, as I recall. Women Engineering applicants, talented under-represented minorities, tippy-top students, and recruited athletes are the ones I know who have received major half or full tuition scholarships. A number of these people did apply for fin aid. I don’t know if kids in that 15% are ever offered less than half-tuition or not. I would think so. While both of my kids applied by Dec 1, neither received a major USC scholarship, so they had to wait until April 1 for their acceptances.