I’M SO MAD AT MYSELF!!!
I never considered USC as a realistic option before senior year because I had basically been raised on the idea of attending UW ever since I was little. I made the fatal mistake of not doing enough research about USC’s scholarship applications (where you submit the Common App with the supplementary information by December 1st…) and I’m so angry at myself for not figuring that out sooner! I sent in the Common App in January 
Now that I’ve done more research about USC, I’m realizing that I really, really, REALLY want to go there, but I’m really losing hope because it’s so expensive, especially compared to the amount I’d be paying at UW because I’m in-state.
I mean, obviously there are other scholarships that I can apply for, but time’s running out and it doesn’t seem like there’s much hope for me to go to USC without taking out loans and being in debt for ages after graduating; so UW seems like the best choice. At the same time, I don’t want to regret not going to my dream school…if I didn’t have to consider costs and whatnot, I’d choose USC without hesitation.
Before I can even make the decision to commit though, I still have to wait for USC’s decision letter. In the chance that I do get accepted by USC, how worth it do you think it would be to pursue my education there, versus at UW? I’m so conflicted…
How much can yoir family afford to pay? Is USC even going to be affordable?
I would suggest that you wait and see until you have all of your acceptances and offers in hand. You can then compare…right now…it’s all speculation.
Having said that…UW is a fine school.
Did you submit an application for need-based aid at USC, and file the FAFSA and CSS profile according to their deadlines? There is still the chance for smaller general university merit scholarships plus need-based aid.
Yes USC gives need aid and you can estimate that by running the Net Price Calculator. But only smaller meri offers are available, not the large awards full and half scholarships available to those who apply by the earlier deadline. If it is any consolation, those awards are extremely competitive, offered to the top of top students, I know students who had Ivy admits who didn’t get an interview for those scholarships.
@thumper1 my parents have said that they’re willing to pay whatever, but I don’t want them to have to worry about paying a huge sum…which is why I’m so mad at myself for this.
@yoamogatos @BrownParent I did fill out the FAFSA and CSS according to the deadlines, thankfully. I’m just uncertain as to how much I’ll even be able to get, and that worries me…although I probably wouldn’t have stood a chance at the December 1st deadline scholarships (because I’m sure there are always going to be people with much better grades/extracurriculars than I do), I’m mostly disappointed because I missed the chance and the amount of scholarships they offer aren’t so low that it wouldn’t have been completely hopeless…