<p>@homie253 - it’s not JUST about the award/honor - it’s about who you are as a student. I know of several amazing students who made NMF, for instance - one was the only one in his school. He was turned down by USC but got a full ride at Arizona State and loves it there.</p>
<p>So don’t read too much into what USC wants or will take. It just depends on a lot of things, including how strong you would be as an addition to the campus culture and the academic climate. There are a number of achievement scholars who have similar stats applying to USC. There are only so many places. USC is not looking at how many per school, etc.</p>
<p>So do your best. But don’t get your hopes up. If you get in - you can celebrate. If not, just have back-up plans in place that you will love just as much. </p>
<p>Because there is something else no one talks about. Getting a half scholarship doesn’t cover the other costs. USC’s cost of attendance is about $64,000. So a half scholarship (tuition) covers about $22-24,000. Depending on financial aid, you and your parents may still be looking at a lot of loans after grants are taken into account. I do know of one young man who got a partial scholarship but whose parents declined to take out loans because he got a full ride somewhere else. (meets 100% of needs is often a lot of loans - even for low income students and parents)</p>
<p>So getting in is half the battle. Paying for it is the other half.</p>