Trustee/Pres Survey results - what % actually GET the scholarship?

Colleges & Universities University of Southern California
1

<p>We did an informal survey last year to try to help answer this question. The results are statistically insignificant, but still interesting (and encouraging).</p>

<p>First, the problems with the study:</p>

<p>1) We had 33 respondants out of an informal estimate of about 800 scholarship candidates. This represents only about 4% of the candidates - too small a sample to draw conclusions.</p>

<p>2) Posters on College Confidential tend to be more qualified than the average applicant and may have represented the candidates most likely to receive a scholarship, which may make our results look too “good.”</p>

<p>3) Human nature - people are more likely to post positive news, so it may be those who were not awarded a scholarship chose not to post that information.</p>

<hr>

<p>Now for the results:</p>

<pre><code>33 Total respondants

23 (70%) were awarded the scholarship for which they interviewed

6 (18%) were “bumped up” from Presidential to Trustee

3 (9%) were “bumped down” from Trustee to Presidential

1 (3%) was “bumped down” from Presidential to Director’s ($12,500/yr)

All respondants were awarded a scholarship of some kind
</code></pre>

<hr>

<p>*** In all, 88% were awarded at least the scholarship for which they interviewed, and 12% received a smaller scholarship than for which they interviewed.***</p>

<hr>

<p>The details:

<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/888905-trustee-presidential-interview-results-3.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/888905-trustee-presidential-interview-results-3.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I hope this helps.</p>

<p>Good luck to all!!!</p>

2

<p>This is great and very encouraging. Thank you so much for doing this research alamemom! :)</p>

3

<p>Very encouraging! </p>

<p>Time to buy a new suit :D</p>

4

<p>This is very informative and great info. Thank you for taking the time to post this. My daughter is SO excited. She was taking my word, as by the time she came home from school, all links were not working. But today, I logged in, and everything is there for her to register for Explore USC for the Trustee interview. Mailman is not here yet, but hopefully that comes also. Alamemom, do you have any idea how the interview process works? Any information would be appreciated. This is such a wonderful opportunity for such a wonderful school!</p>

5

<p>The interviews take place on the second day of Explore. You will be informed of the time and place. They can last between 20 and about 45 minutes. You will have between 2 and 4 interviewers, one of whom is a present scholarship student in the department. They are generally conversational in tone, and not intense. They may ask questions on particular aspects of your application or about ECs you have done. Best advice is simply to be oneself. They usually also ask if YOU have any questions as well.
Best of luck!</p>

6

<p>should we dress up in the typical suit/tie attire both days, or only the day of the interview? Also, thanks to AP Stat (and my insane desire for most people to get at least the scholarship they’re considered for) I know that I can trust in this survey because the sample is 30+ :)!</p>

7

<p>No need to dress up the first day. The day consists of a welcome presentation, various informational sessions, a lunch and dinner, and activities.
For the actual interview, a suit and tie is not really necessary, as long as you look neat and don’t wear overly casual clothing like T shirts, flip flops etc.</p>

8

<p>Attire for Interview…</p>

<p>This is southern California. It may be 75o and sunny. Casual clothes are appropriate for the first day. Nights can be cool. Bring a light jacket for evening.</p>

<p>Marshall School of Business did suggest “business attire” for their interviews.</p>

9

<p>D has been accepted as a Trustees finalist. Can someone who knows firsthand, give a reason why they might have been bumped up or down from their original scholarship? Was it a mid-year grade, test score, questions/responses during the interview? I’m trying to determine how much to help prior to the interview or let her learn this life lesson on her own. Then again, we have at least $80k at stake here!</p>

10

<p>my gf was a student member of the interview panel for viterbi and she said that once you get to the interview stage everyone has amazing stats so that isn’t an issue. i think she mentioned that it has to do more with the student and their interview skills, how they present themselves, etc.</p>

11

<p>Thanks. That’s exactly the feedback I’m looking for. D is shy and adverse to talking to strangers. We’ve been emphasizing preparing for more than one word responses, eye contact, and of course, the firm handshake! Good luck to all the candidates.</p>

12

<p>^ Practice, practice, practice! Get family members and friends involved and do mock-panel interviews (3 interviewers) - be sure to emphasize FUN and a get-to-know-you kind of atmosphere rather than hard questions so she stays relaxed.</p>

<p>Sign up for a later Explore session so you can check in here to get a rundown on what the other kids are experiencing in their interviews and tailor your practice to that. Be sure she has a question or two ready for the panel - a question that shows she has looked into the unique programs or opportunities at USC is always a good idea.</p>

<p>Then, be sure she knows the results of our informal survey about how many “get” a scholarship - she can feel pretty confident that she won’t walk away empty-handed even if she freezes up a bit.</p>

<p>GOOD LUCK!</p>

13

<p>S was interviewed for presidential and bumped down to Dean’s a couple of years ago. He is a musician and was candid that he was considering a non music path and going to a different school for Biological Sciences. He is at USC, loves it and they have him performing at recruitment events for his program. We wonder if he had said he could only imagine himself as a musician at USC would the scholarship decision have been different. I would not be dishonest about it, but I would say go on the high end of the excitement you feel about USC and the program you are applying to.</p>

14

<p>This is just a guess, but in some cases I think the “bumping” (up or down) may have more to do with how many candidates show up for the interviews. Some of those invited may have already accepted ED or EA offers from their first-choice schools (these scholarship candidates are among those being accepted at the most selective schools in the nation) and will decline the invitation.</p>

<p>Each school (CLAS, Marshall, Viterbi, etc…) has a set number of Trustee and Presidential scholarships they can offer, and they have to invite more than that number because some will not attend the interview. After the interviews there will be some the panel decides they simply must bump up because of the interview, and there may be some they must bump down because they find they have too many candidates.</p>

<p>I am basing this GUESS on the reports of some of the candidates bumped down, who nearly all said they felt their interviews went very well.</p>

<p>raddad, I am so glad your son is having such a great experience at USC! I always worry that the kids who are bumped down are so disappointed by that - even though they have still been awarded an amazing 1/4 tuition scholarship and admitted early as USC favorite applicants - that they get a bad feeling about the prospect of attending USC.</p>

<p>Remember, no matter what the scholarship results - you kids are the cream of the crop and USC wants you to attend!</p>

15

<p>to moodragonx:</p>

<p>Your last statement in your stats post is NOT TRUE. You have a very high likelihood of getting the scholarship. IMO based on past percentages, better than 70%. They give out a LOT of Presidentials to those who qualify and there’s the chance you could be bumped up. And being Questbridge, maybe USC can waive the fee. If USC is on top of your list, please try to attend the interview.
USC also gives generous finaid above the merit scholarship.</p>

16

<p>hobo99,
My D interviewed for the Presidential scholarship four years ago She was also uneasy about the interview but in the end it was fairly casual and her interviewers were very friendly. The one question that threw her for a moment was something like "What is a current event that you’re interested in?’ or “What 's an issue that you’re following in the news?” That wasn’t a questions she had anticipated and she was flummoxed until she remembered some random story about a giant sinkhole somewhere. (Not the subject I might have suggested!) She got the scholarship and I’m sure your D will too. Best of luck.</p>

<p>One last thing - my D was NMF so had the guaranteed half tuition but she was also invited to interview for the Presidential. As I said, she wasn’t keen to do the interview but we figured she really had nothing to lose. We were glad she attended the interview session because USC was putting on a great show and encouraging the kids to come. It made a very good impression.</p>

17

<p>Trustee/Presidential interview results info for azndarkvader - read post #1.</p>

18

<p>For the entering class in 2010 these are the official USC numbers:</p>

<p>Received Trustee Scholarships and enrolled:</p>

<p>146</p>

<p>Received Presidential Scholarships and enrolled:</p>

<p>399</p>

<p>Received Dean’s Scholarships and enrolled:</p>

<p>121</p>

<p>I do not have official numbers for Town & Gown, Associates, Alumni, Asian American, Panhellenic and many other scholarships awarded for this class.</p>

19

<p>D interviewed for the Trustee scholarship earlier this week. She is not very optimistic. Interview didn’t go too well. It turns out she was sick and had a hard time warming up to the interview. They told us at the time that about 60% of the kids offered the opportunity to interview for the Trustee will actually get it. Not sure about Presidential. Agree with Puzzled88 that the show they put on for the candidates and their families was great. Marching band, tours, etc. was very well done and the campus is beautiful.</p>

20

<p>^ Having observed on the forum for several years, I believe significantly more than 60% are offered the scholarship (see post #1), but I agree that about 50 - 60% actually are awarded the scholarship. About 50 - 60% of those offered the scholarships actually enroll, which accounts for their vague statement we often hear that “about half” of the candidates are awarded the scholarship. Those who choose not to enroll are of course never actually awarded the scholarship :slight_smile: , though they were offered it. </p>

<p>Don’t give up hope yet!</p>