Direct admit to Smeal is a HUGE accomplishment! And it’s def not bc lots of kids applied to DUS — that happens every year. Congrats to your son!!
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Yes, huge congrats. This is my son’s top choice right now - Fall start DUS. Older son already there and loves everything about it.
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trying to get my son to go to visit but after visiting USC again for admitted students day (I thought they did a really good job) he liked it even more. He liked the weather and IB program and I like the price as an OOS-MA, it would be much cheaper than out in-state flagship. Told him since he got the main campus and Smeal he should at least visit and check it out. The few kids we know how have attended recently have really liked it. Good luck with acceptances but it sounds like he has a great option no matter what happens.
I think the issue with the southern schools broadly is the volume of apps they have received as illustrated by the 30k early action that SC publicly communicated. Common app is the problem in my opinion. People just have to pay a nominal fee and there is almost no incremental effort to apply to many schools.
Agree, common app is a major contributor. I capped the number of applications my son was allowed to complete but it was still 10! If he had to do individual apps and essays maybe he does 3. We did tour schools last year and he removed some from the list. We both loved USC so fingers crossed. Good luck to everyone still waiting for the yes!
You should try and get him to visit if it’s a serious consideration. We are down to Penn State Smeal, Indiana (Kelley) and USC if she gets in and we’ve visited all three. Smeal is definitely her preference and her visit there is what sold her but we’re still considering all three. We’re in Atlanta so USC would be by far the easiest travel and logistics wise.
Do you recall where you saw that? I would be interested in looking that over and I agree wiht your sentiments on common app
Echoing the frustration with the way the college application process has evolved. It is not good for the schools or students but seems there is no turning back at this point.
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agree, but schools make $$$ on application fees, so not like they are going to advocate for restrictions.
It was, then we went to admitted students day at USC. It was almost 80 degrees that weekend and they did a really good job between the Honors and regular admitted students day. Plus, it was almost 50 degrees warmer than MA! Suddenly all the colder weather schools slipped down the list! We were supposed to go to Kelley next week, we’ll see.
My son is the same. Won’t even consider Virginia now. Too cold. He was sold when it was in the teens here and 80 degrees there for ASD. Charleston is out for him - no football. All of the other schoolsa are in Florida.
If my student just received an email from financial aid to verify a correction on their FAFSA form, could that be a good sign towards admission? Or (as I suspect) the financial aid office works pretty independently of whatever the admissions office is up to?
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Maybe I’m interpreting this wrong, but you said verify a correction made on your FAFSA form, so wouldn’t that mean you changed something on your form? Idk I don’t have the answer for you but sounds more a positive sign than anything
When we submitted to FAFSA months ago - there was one number entered incorrectly. We changed it the next day on the FAFSA website - and then went on with our life. The email from USC is asking to confirm that change was correct and to have parent sign it confirming the correction. We have not received this request from any other schools listed on our FAFSA - so perhaps USC is just more diligent in their paper work? Again, may not mean anything in regard to admissions. Just killing time until Friday 
this is so weird i just now got an email from south carolina with my vip id information
Virginia too cold? Wow. I won’t tell me son that. Mum’s the word! UVA is one of a couple of schools (we are waiting on 3, all unlikely) that would probably be ahead of USC and what the school offers him.
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Well we are in Vermont, so no sure what he is thinking. Committed to SC, he wouldn’t even apply to any Northeadt schools. He’s so out of here. I may move down too. We shall see.
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Do we have any fun hacks or side ways in to anything anyone wants to share??!! lol. Was enjoying all our fun discoveries the other day. Im convinced a member of the admissions follows this thread since they shut down all our back door tricks.
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I was literally thinking the same thing today 
. I’m convinced someone from admissions has been reading these threads.
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Well I wish they would chime in and give us the exact date of when they plan to send out responses