National Merit Scholarships

runline
Fri, 11 Oct 2013 18:09:18 +0000

OK, this is probably really stupid and paranoid, but…

I’m a national merit semifinalist and I’m debating putting USC down as my first choice (it isn’t, really, but it’s my first choice that offers any significant money for national merit scholars) in order to be in contention for the National Merit Finalist Presidential Scholarship, which is half-tuition.

However, I also definitely want to be considered for full-tuition scholarships at USC as well, and I don’t think these scholarships are way outside my reach (I have 4.0 gpa, 2400 sat, etc…) I’m wondering if USC might be more likely to just give me the half-tuition national merit scholarship if I put them down as my first choice rather than seriously consider me for the full scholarships? Could it benefit me more to take myself out of contention for the national merit scholarship so that I could have a greater chance of getting a full tuition one? Or is this just way overthinking things?

I definitely could not afford USC w/o a half-tuition scholarship, and likely could not attend without a full tuition one.