<p>The car thing bothers me. cuz obv i can’t bring my car down to la from ma. 
and i don’t have a car to begin with.</p>
<p>Hey
So ive lurked through this whole board and its really cool to find other ppl looking into the same program as me. I want to ask who is really considering going to this program? I imagine there are some people like me who applied mostly as a practice application and to keep their options open. I mean, I’m sure for us pretty competitive students that have a chance at this program definitely have great doors that will open for us elsewhere later (HYPS etc.) that are higher tier than USC, not that its not a great school. Right now, I don’t think I’d attend if i were accepted but I’m still waiting for something to completely convince me for or against it.</p>
<p>Really, chuckles7023? You wouldn’t attend if you got in? I’m actually almost shocked.</p>
<p>Well, it seems that this program is absolutely perfect for me, which renders me almost unable to believe anyone would turn it up. I suppose if I were a straight-A student (which I once admit to, although after two or three Bs I cannot claim) I need to stay near at home for college, plus I’m sick to death of high school and more than ready to start college. I’m so grateful for the opportunity–almost really a godsend for me. </p>
<p>The information escaped me until two weeks before the deadline, when I got a notice in the mail saying to the accord of ‘you remember this information we sent you?’ (which I never saw) ‘well, guess what, you get another chance to check this program out’ (in a far more colliqual summary than the actual wording, you might surmise). I jumped at the chance, because although I had been bound and determined to leave CA for college for years, two months past I changed my mind drastically for personal and familial reasons. It was more a stroke of maturity than anything else, in short.</p>
<p>So even if I had learned about the RHP program in September, when the original notices were out, I wouldn’t have ever considered it. (My mum probably threw it out with this in mind.) Whereas, when I received information in November, I grabbed at it instantly and eagerly. I had everything submitted within less than a week, and I’m so happy that I learned about it at such an opportune time. </p>
<p>Anyway, I am definite that I will attend RHP if accepted, financial aid or no. It’s the best thing I believe I can hope for in this stage of my life. Plus, since I’m rather an old Junior, I get to go through the same anxious anticipation that a good many of my friends (in senior year) are experiencing at this time. </p>
<p>I really want to go. That’s my twenty-two cents.</p>
<p>*Whoops, unfinished sentence above: I suppose if I were a straight-A student (which I once could admit to, although after two or three Bs I cannot claim) I could feel confident enough passing up this opportunity in lieu of hopes for Stanford, but as I am not, I think I would be presumptous to do so. Think the girl in that movie ‘Accepted!’ who did not get into Yale when all she applied to was Yale and all her hopes were for Yale. I’m not the kind to throw away a great opportunity when it’s presented to me.</p>
<p>Dear poirotsfriend,
You spoke my thoughts EXACTLY.
I, too, used to be a straight-A student. My rank isn’t exactly something to flaunt about now, so even though my SAT score is relatively high, as an applicant I don’t have the confidence (or overconfidence) to assume that I will get into my top choices (Yale, Penn, Chicago) come senior year.
I had received the original invitation to apply for RHP earlier in the fall, but didn’t think much of it due to the large volume of college mail I was receiving because of PSAT last year (half of the programs I got in the mail were money-leeching schemes designed to trick parents into thinking they were actually worth something in terms of college application material). And then, like you, another letter arrived a few weeks before the deadline, saying, “It’s not too late to apply!” So I got curious. I poked around, did a little research online…AND IT’S THE PERFECT PROGRAM FOR ME. I heard it’s extremely writing-intensive…and I almost did a little dance.
I really want to go too. If I’m accepted, I probably will, but the ultimate deciding factor is how much aid they give me.
By the way, are you a guy or a girl?</p>
<p>chuckles7023, welcome to the thread!
Well, just speaking for myself, I am not doing RHP as a “practice application” for later. For all I know, this could turn out to be a very cruel practice session. As in, I might have to practice facing rejection. This, for me, is…what do they say? Legit.</p>
<p>For me it comes down to aid, and a big talk and decision with my family and school and friends. I feel like if I do get accepted, it may be harder for me to accept than for you, poirotsfriend, because i DON"T live in the CA area. if i did, this may be a better opportunity. and my family would like me to stay in New England, cuz there’s brown, harvard, mit, yale, etc RIGHT HERE. and i may have a good chance at any of them. not like definite, but a fighting chance esp with a top 5 class rank. so it may be easier for me to pass up going across the country than it is for you two. but all things considered, the scholarships are wonderous. if i get the chance to see usc, it may help. but since i’m basing my decision on NOTHING, i feel like i may end up not going.</p>
<p>Rosinyangster: I’m female; what was your impression? Merely curious. But I’m glad I’m not the only one who is considering the RHP program only out of lukewarm interest; it would be rather disheartening to know that everyone who applied just did so for ‘practice’. Maybe that’s why they only allow 30 kids–they just want people who are genuinely interested? I hope so. Otherwise it could end up being dreadful.</p>
<p>By the way, don’t worry too much about rejection. I applied last year to the United World College system and did not get in, for what reason I’m not sure. I cried about it for an hour or two, complained about it for another two months to everyone who had been sure I’d get in, then basically let it drift to the back of my mind. It did not devestate me, even though it was something I was really counting on getting and something I was really excited about. Personally, I think RHP fits my needs and interests a lot better than that program, anyway, so I’m grateful I wasn’t accepted to that because then I wouldn’t have had this opportunity. Where one door closes, another opens, you know.</p>
<p>Dopaminescene: You’re blessed in that respect, to have such great colleges so close by. I would have loved to have been born back East and lived there all my life–there’s so much history and lore and such back your way–but I don’t think I could move there at this stage in my life; I’m a little like a lizard in that I appreciate very much our dry, warm climate down here. I do think college climate is a major thing that people forget about until they’re actually there. Of course, for some people it’s unimportant, but for me it is.</p>
<p>yeah, blessed and cursed when things like this come up. i read recently that in boston, there’s 50 colleges within 50 sq mi. ridiculousss. and true. and arghhh. i would love to just get away as well, though. you know? get on a plane, and just go to california. no stress from home. but idk. i may just stay here. my mom’s pushing the ivies and mit noww LOL</p>
<p>and i think we girls outnumber guys 4 to 2 right now.</p>
<p>poirotsfriend: I wasn’t quite sure. Is “poirot” a reference to Agatha Christie’s detective character? Because then you could be either a guy or a girl.</p>
<p>dopaminescene: GAH, I’m sure RHP would want to keep the boy-girl ratio even…so more girl applicants is bad for us! <em>runs around screaming</em></p>
<p>HAPPY NEW YEAR’S…well, in three hours (Central Time).</p>
<p>Rosinyangster: I am indeed impressed you know of dear ol’ Poirot; I’m an avid lover of the detective mystery, as much as I do enjoy more ‘highbrow’ intellectual books/stories. (I saw East of Eden a few nights ago and LOVED IT. I need to read it.) I suppose the implication of my username is that I am analogous to Colonel Hastings, though I didn’t mean that when I came up with it sometime in 7th grade. Not that I remember what anything I said or did that long ago meant at the time. 
Anyhow. </p>
<p>dopaminescene: Your reasons are reasonable indeed. </p>
<p>HAPPY NEW YEAR’S TO YOU ALL! Though it’s much belated unless you live in Hawaii.</p>
<p>poirotsfriend: I know of him, but I haven’t read many Agatha Christie novels. In fact, just “Murder on the Orient Express” and “And Then There Were None” (which isn’t a Hercule Poirot novel at all). I’ve been likened to Justice Wargrave before. Muahaha!
And what are you doing up at at 6:18 AM, pray tell?</p>
<p>By the way, when are financial aid forms due? I’m probably just being lazy, but it would be nice if one of you can tell me. :D</p>
<p>Rosinyangster: You’re missing out, I can tell you. Offhand, a few really good ones are–Murder is Easy (not Poirot), The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Curtain, and The Blue Train. At least, those are the ones I can think of right now. Murder on the Links makes me happy because Hastings finally gets a nice pretty wife. Oh, I watched the ABC Murders with my dad last night, it was in some respects better than the book, but it was just overall fantastic. And if you care anything about Christie, you WILL read Witness for the Prosecution and The Mousetrap, two of her most famous besides Murder on the Orient Express and And Then There Were None. (I can’t decide which I like better of those two, but I think I’ll go with the latter.) And you have to experience just a tad of the darling Miss Marple and Tommy and Tuppence, so for the latter I recommend Partners in Crime, and for the former I recommend At Bertram’s Hotel.</p>
<p>Likened to Justice Wargrave? How so? That’s at a strech, most likely. Whoever told you that probably as a lot of imagination. </p>
<p>Oh, it was 2:18 AM when I posted that, for me, but I ended up staying awake til fourish. I was sleeping over at a dear friend’s house and we had too much Martinelli’s and coffee to go to sleep until absolutely compelled to because her family members were waking up. (They’re early risers at her house.)</p>
<p>FINANCIAL AID INFO</p>
<p>"USC guarantees to meet 100% of your USC-determined financial need, provided that you meet all University, state, and federal requirements and deadlines.</p>
<p>Register for and complete the 2009-2010 CSS Financial Aid PROFILE as soon as possible after October 1, 2008, at [CSS/Profile</a> - student financial aid application](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>How to Complete the CSS Profile® – BigFuture | College Board). Complete the PROFILE using your best estimates of 2008 parent and student income. Enter USC’s CSS School code: 4852.
Complete a 2009-2010 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1, 2009, [FAFSA</a> - Free Application for Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://www.fafsa.ed.gov%5DFAFSA”>http://www.fafsa.ed.gov). Use your best estimates of 2008 parent and student income. On your FAFSA, fill in USC’s Federal Code: 001328.
If you are a California resident, a Cal Grant is worth approximately $8,000 annually at USC. Have the registrar at the school you currently attend or have most recently attended complete a Cal Grant GPA Verification form. Submit it to the California Student Aid Commission as soon as possible. GPA Verification forms are available from your high school or the college you currently attend. The Cal Grant application deadline is March 2, 2009.
Complete copies of your and your parents’ signed 2008 federal income tax returns including all schedules and W2 forms to the USC Financial Aid Office as soon as possible after Jan. 1, 2009. If you are not legally required to file a federal income tax form for 2008, complete the 2009-2010 Student Non-Filing Statement. If your parents are not legally required to file a federal income tax form for 2008, they will need to submit a 2009-2010 Parent Non-Filing Statement form.
If your custodial parent is currently single, divorced, separated, remarried, or was never married, send the completed Custodial Parent Form with the appropriate documentation to the USC Financial Aid Office. USC will determine an expected contribution for the custodial parent, the non-custodial parent, and the step-parent, as appropriate. In order to determine this contribution, we may ask the student to submit each parent’s 2008 federal tax return."
“Apply for financial aid by February 1, 2009 (you can use estimated 2008 tax information on the forms). If you are accepted to the Resident Honors Program, we will send you a timeline to help you keep track of additional deadlines related to housing and Deans’ Halls, financial aid, and admissions.”
Cited page: [Resident</a> Honors Program](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/general_studies/RHP/#faq]Resident”>http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/general_studies/RHP/#faq)</p>
<p>poirotsfriend:
You make some good points so in the end, I guess it comes down to personal preference. I have lived in so cal for most of my life so for college I was really looking forward to a change of environment so I’m really leaning towards going east right now. I too am eager for college and getting out of a pretty lazy suburb town but I don’t think I’m as ready as you are for that. I know it might sound shallow but senior year and all the fun and friends (prom, graduation, parties etc.) associated with it have a rather big hold on me so I think one more year at home with people I know and love sounds just about right. And to you and Rosinyangster, 2 or 3 B’s in no way should discourage you from consideration at the top schools. They consider your application as a whole and would not zone in on that as an excuse to eliminate you from admission. You seem to really like the opportunity of RHP but I don’t think the decision should be based on the assumption that you can’t do better in regular admissions next year because there’s no reason you can’t. Btw, sry if my dismissive use of “practice application” offended anyone.</p>
<p>dopaminescence:
I find it funny that we apparently have the same point of view just from opposite sides of the country. I want to get away to the east coast but my parents are pushing Stanford, Cal Tech and Berkeley for me.</p>
<p>haha. but it’s more understandable for them to want me to stay in the area of harvard, mit, and brown and i concede that those schools are probably a better fit with me than usc is. while you could use those same schools to justify getting away to the east coast! because like it or not, the competition here is heated and ridiculousss.
happy new year to everyone as well!</p>
<p>and you didn’t offend me with the practice app. my parents said that too so that i don’t get my hopes up 
and so did the guidance counselor.</p>
<p>I don’t know why your parents are pushing Stanford, Cal Tech and Berkeley. Make sure you have some safety schools and that you are happy with your choice.</p>
<p>I think that’s pretty natural. They’re all great schools and my parents want me to stay close to home :P. Anyway, I don’t want to sound cocky but I’m rather confident having UCLA and Berkeley as safety schools. For sure, I’m going to check them out. Me and a friend are gonna take an east coast tour during spring break. She got it easy lol, Harvard’s soccer team offered her admission as long as she gets over 2000 on the SAT. She bombed the PSAT though so shes been freaking out lately.</p>
<p>“2 or 3 B’s in no way should discourage you from consideration at the top schools. They consider your application as a whole and would not zone in on that as an excuse to eliminate you from admission.”</p>
<p>I’ve watched friends work incredibly hard all their lives to get into an Ivy League and end up going to some lesser school across the country that sounds like an Ivy but isn’t, quite. I myself do not presume so much of my chances against these highly ambitious, ruthless people. I may not have the most ‘perfect’ resume, but I believe I am all the more whole a person for having allowed myself to pursue my natural course of life. I am also considerably more interesting, I believe, than many of the people whose sole dream is to ‘get in’ to ‘that one school’. Though perhaps I overestimate myself. </p>
<p>Also, I am a very sentimental person, and so while I might by some whim (of an Admissions counselor liking my resume) have the potential to end up somewhere such as Princeton or Yale, I am not sure that I would attend. My family–keeping it together and whole–means a great deal more to me than pursuing a prestigous education for the sake of a prestigous education. I work hard, I work well, but I know there’s more to life than getting into Harvard. </p>
<p>Seeing what kind of people have gotten into Harvard simply via financial connections (I’m not naming any names), I’m not so sure that I’d be anxious to go there, anyway. Not that all the Ivies are so afflicted, but it certainly puts a damper on the idea that it’s going to be like Shrewsbury at Oxford. (Rosinyangster, are you familiar with Lord Peter Wimsey by Dorothy L. Sayers? Brilliant detective, even more brilliant writer.)</p>
<p>In short, I desire college merely for the intellectual stimulus and hopefully to meet a similarly-intellectual husbad. Not for the drinking, not for the supposed ‘liberty’, not for the sororities etc., but for the improvement of my mind and life. I figure I can find that just as well somewhere nearer to my home and roots than somewhere thousands of miles away . . .</p>
<p>Plus, oh, by the way–guess what? USC is a Tier 1 School and is number 27 under National Universities on the US News and World Report! Goodness gracious sakes alive! Who would’a thought?</p>
<p>I also figure once they’re UP there, they’re fairly all the same. Especially in the top 25-30 schools. </p>
<p>Those are my thoughts.</p>