Thank you for mentioning the email, I have been looking all over my D24’s portal and could not find anything. I will have her give it a try. We have the same merit that you originally had, but worth a shot for more! Plus there are many things that have happened since her original application. We haven’t committed yet, but it is in the top 2.
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Thanks for this update. My D is in the same boat (Superlative Award) but she didn’t receive her appeal email until 3/29 and she sent an appeal right away. Hoping they bump it up to compete with in-state. The problem is my D is still torn between UNC/SCHC and might make a decision before they get back to us. I’ll update the group either way so others know how the process worked out for another kiddo. Phew, I’ll be glad when all this mess is over. That is, until S28, starts the journey 
edit…Bummer, just checked back through old emails and she did receive the appeal form link 3/15. It was in a long email explaining merit she ignored. Oh well. I imagine we’re at the back of the pack if folks from the original appeal group are just now hearing and thus, less likely, to receive any additional money. Will still try to update if we hear anything. The 2nd appeal email with link came 3/29 in response to FAFSA delay. I imagine many families are uncertain without a full financial picture and that is why they extended the merit appeal olive branch.
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We were accepted off the waitlist on 3/27, months earlier than expected in the original notification of May 15th. No notes of merit. We did also appeal via a link that was once there but no longer found. Still waiting to hear. Anything will help as the cost being OOS is excessive. She has already accepted as she will attend given this is her number 1.
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I’m following back up on my own post regarding merit appeal. A little over two weeks since we submitted the appeal and we never received word back or additional merit. My D ended up deciding UNC, our cheaper in-state option, over the weekend. We officially withdrew her application so we’ll never know if that appeal was going to come through. She has the cost of grad school in her future so that came into play. I LOVED SC and a part of me is sad to see it go. Good luck to everyone’s kiddo in this next chapter in their lives 
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For those awaiting merit appeals we got an update last Thursday. OOS daughter got a “Recognition Award” which is supposed to be around $22k/four yrs.
wow that’s great, would you mind sharing your daughters stats, we appealed as well and fingers crossed we get something. Did you already pay your enrollment deposit prior to the appeal?
Just got invited to capstone scholars program
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My D24 received a response to her merit aid appeal yesterday (4/18). She submitted the appeal on 3/19. She was accepted during EA for Education. She initially did not receive any merit. Yesterday she was awarded 22k over four years (5500 per year). She’s OOS with 4.35WGPA TO. It’s not quite enough for her to choose USC. She has some other great options that will be less money.
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Good that they considered your appeal, but bummer it’s not enough! For those looking for next year, students with test scores see more merit, so if you’re oos and want merit, get a submittable test score!
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Did all that received merit also get invited to capstone scholars? In my email notification of Capstone scholar it says “All Capstone Scholars also receive a scholarship from the university!” So I’m wondering if mine was merit aid or capstone scholars scholarship.
Capstone Scholars isn’t a scholarship – it is special opportunities. Mine got merit long before being named a Capstone Scholar.
I also received mine a couple weeks ago
Appreciate this comment! I know I can scroll, but do you have a general thought on test score needed for merit for OOS? Thanks!
Does anyone know approximately how many ‘Academic Scholar - Excellence Awards’ are given out? For reference, it’s in-state tuition +$2K/year scholarship.
Mine had an ACT that was a 33 and was awarded in state plus $2k/year. I think some saw merit down to a 30/31?
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Hi - we waited until after the appeal result to pay the deposit. She went test optional (1350 SAT), top public HS with all honors or APs in HS, GPA 3.78 uw. Some JV sports, student gov, jobs and focus on science research but no unusual ECs or achievements/awards. Other schools gave merit money which she mentioned in appeal letter.
my dd went test optional and got merit after an appeal
Do you mind sharing how much merit or messaging me?
how come USC has not extended decision deadline past May 1?
I just received out of the blue another scholarship that added roughly 5k to my previous 5k per year. I didn’t appeal or anything I just randomly got it
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