Just as update - ii just spoke with FA office since they published decisions would be avail today. The guy was helpful and looked up my sons records – saying “we are almost there – it should be avail by end of week!” Not what i expected… said they will START releasing today… but we had all doc in and will not hear until end of week. very stressful since we have booked a trip to Explore USC but do not know if it will be at all feasible until we see FA!
Anyone have any insight into this, which I heard from my student, who picked it up on some social media or chat channel related to USC admission: They were asked to come interview for a Presidential scholarship. In the interview, the interviewer said and wrote on the form she was recommending that they be bumped to Trustee. When the notification came out, the award was Presidential, not Trustee. Great news nevertheless. But my student was told via this group chat that if you don’t respond immediately and wait a couple of weeks, it is not unprecedented that USC may wonder if you are considering going elsewhere and sweeten the offer, coming at you with additional enticements, maybe even the bump if they were on the cusp. Has anyone heard similar, or know if there is any truth to this?
Good luck to everyone with FA whenever that comes in!
does anyone know if financial aid usually all comes out on the day they listed on the portal?
Has anyone ever noticed or reached out to admissions about this?
This article says “So how do you show us that you’re interested in USC? Instead of spending your time emailing us with updates, it is in your best interest to use that time to work on your response to the application question ‘Describe your academic interest and how you plan to pursue them at USC.’”
https://tfm.usc.edu/a-guide-to-uscs-college-admissions-process/
But this one says "Students often ask me how they can let the admission office know that USC is their first choice. It’s simple: Just tell us. Tell us in your application, over email, telephone or in person. And we make note of that. We add these things to your files if you ask us to, and we keep them in mind as well.”
and "We’re trying to see who does well academically, but also who does a great job of showing why they want to be at USC and why their USC major is a perfect fit for them.”
I don’t know what to make of this. I am appealing my rejection so I don’t know if I should tell them how interested I am in USC. I only saw the first article before applying, so I decided not email my admissions counselor because I thought it would negatively affect me if I did.
@WWWard my kids applied to other private colleges that are need blind and supposably offer 100% of demonstrated need. They got almost a full ride on $72,000 tuition. I heard NYU AND USC offer about the same and it’s nowhere close to demonstrated need??? I’m HOPING USC gives my daughter what the others did that would be awesome, but I’m skeptical. Wish they’d hurry up and release it
Is it true we will receive 2 award letters? Merit and need based
Do Spring 2019 admits hear about financial aid the same time as Fall admits?
I did not have a child apply to NYU, but they had friends who did. Those that got in to NYU, who are similar in terms of having a financial status or standing with their families to our family, were shocked at how little NYU offered. By their own admission, NYU only meets something like 72% of demonstrated financial need. USC claims to meet 100%. When those NYU applicants saw or heard about my daughters’ USC FA offering, they wish that they had applied to USC and got in there too. Hopefully your USC FA package meets your goals.
@camcam20122
Not unless you were admitted in January during the merit offering round. For those admitted in March instead, very very few will get any sort of merit money now. Instead, it will simply be based on perceived need.
@WWWard if awarded from the list of scholarships including Black Alumni Association where does it appear?
@WWWard do you know about Spring admit FA packages?
I was really happy to receive my acceptance last week, but I’m now worried about getting rescinded from USC. How likely is it to get rescinded? Is one or two Bs acceptable?
@WWWard Should I go to UCSB on a scholarship with loans below 5k each year or to USC where ill likely pay at least room and board (15k) even though my household doesn’t make much money?
@camcam20122 If already awarded, they should notify you separately, and it would also appear on your FA summary. I just do not know if that will be the first method of informing a recipient. Just keep in mind that any merit or scholarship monies that USC is aware of will be applied and then reduce the cost of attendance – just as they would apply a federal or university grant. It does not necessarily then just reduce what they expect you to be able to contribute as a family overall… inclusive of work study and loans potentially. But that is the same with all universities generally.
@BrianP9999 I am not sure… but I suspect that they would need to inform you too soon… so that you can make an informed decision about whether attending is feasible or not.
@peppermint0103 That is highly unlikely for just a B or two.
@SexMeUpLadies That is a decision for you and your family to make. Every family has to decide on what is feasible or reasonable. Luckily, I did not have to make such a decision. USC made it possible for our family to afford. I suggest waiting and seeing what USC actually offers you and then deciding. If the differential is really going to be something like $10K a year or more, you may want to save the money and apply it in another manner toward your future success. I likely would have capped the differential at like $5-6K per year when evaluating the #s.
@WWWard, Thanks for your swift reply. Is a university grant specific from USC that is not a loan that has to be paid back? Was that something you did not see from the other schools that offered aid such as the ones you mentioned offered similar aid packages to your daughters? By the way, had heard NYU was not the best with aid, but S was never interested to apply there anyway.
@WWWard My family makes little more than what the cost of attendance at USC is, but I know USC can be pretty generous. How much were you offered for your family members to where it was considered affordable?
@peppermint0103 Do not need to worry about being rescinded about a B or two - at all. Certainly avoid the obvious Ds and Fs. Even a single C will not destroy you, just don’t have a dramatic swing in the wrong direction.
@FutureUSCdad
"But my student was told via this group chat that if you don’t respond immediately and wait a couple of weeks, it is not unprecedented that USC may wonder if you are considering going elsewhere and sweeten the offer, coming at you with additional enticements, maybe even the bump if they were on the cusp. "
this is wishful thinking and is totally false.
USC always offers more Trustee Scholarships [to students than they really want ] than they know will be accepted. About 1/2 of those offered Trustee scholarships enroll elsewhere, and USC does NOT offer them to $$ to others .
@menloparkmom I suspect you are right. But, I also don’t see the downside to taking a wait and see, and responding later in April rather than right away, so long as the May 1 deadline isn’t missed!