You should be fine – that’s what my D’s FA portal says now. Prior to this, whenever they wanted more information, there would be a clear indication about what they wanted.
Can you plz help me! My son will appeal and we would like to know what exactly they are looking for ! Can you please message me so we can chat!
@WWWard @CADREAMIN I had a quick question about my FAST portal. From the time I submitted my application till now my FAST portal has had the same message.
"If you have not already done so, you can apply for federal or USC need-based financial aid by submitting a FAFSA.
The Required Information and Forms Page might not reflect your FAFSA or CSS Profile submission until mid-November.
If you did not include your Social Security Number on your application for admission, please submit a Student Social Security Number Information Form, which is available in the Document Library, to update your record.
Applicants for a Federal Direct PLUS Loan must submit a FAFSA and complete a Financial Aid Supplement.
If you are not applying for financial aid but expect to receive a scholarship, please direct questions to the issuing department or organization."
And it has no green check mark or anything like that just a red triangle with an exclamation mark on it saying Application Status. Is this something I should be worried about or ask the FA office about?
@onlyworthypotato I would email them now… and also call Monday.
When you click on Required Info & Forms, you can then check Required Documents and Received Documents. Required should say None, and Received should have a list.
For example, my daughter’s says:
Custodial Parent Clarification
E-sign the Parent 4506-T Form
E-sign the Student 4506-T Form
FAFSA Data
Income and Expense Declaration Form - Father
Income and Expense Declaration Form - Parent
Tax Supplement Form - Parent
Tax Supplement Form - Student
Your list could be different, but it could have some of these elements plus the CSS profile. It at least needs to have those two items at a minimum - FAFSA and CSS Profile. If not… submit asap. Or if you have… call and see why its not reflected as such.
Good luck…
Thank you. One other point, we never completed the CSS profile which looks like was due mid Feb. However it does not look like they are requesting it from us as nothing is indicated as missing or incomplete. Should we complete this doc now or just sit tight and wait at this point? Thanks so much!
That, I would call and ask about. I thought they required the CSS.
^^^ They do for freshmen. At least that’s what they say.
Does anyone know if you have to pay tax on merit scholarships?
Only if it goes toward things other than tuition, fees and books. Even then, it will all depend on what other income your d makes during the year, and how much she receives in scholarship money that exceeds tuition, fees, and books.
@socmom9
see this thread from 2 years ago
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/2067172-usc-appeals-class-of-2022-p2.html
@lkg4answers My daughter received a 1098-T in her name from USC (and also a 1099-Q for distributions from her 529). She hasn’t filed yet so I’m not sure what the implications are yet…
One and only post but I want to thank @WWWard and @CADREAMIN - both of you have helped us gain invaluable information in this process and helped educate me and hundreds of other parents and students. Our daughter got accepted to the USC Film and Production program in January and last night she learned she earned a Presidential Scholarship. And while FSU, our alma mater is FREE and she’ll actually make money going to college and would be closer to home, the prestige of the film program and the passion you two have shown on this post have convinced me she will be okay if she chooses to go there and go into debt to finance her education. Also, not sure if she will be eligible for any other scholarships, especially in the SCA school after she gets there but she’ll figure it out and get a job like many of us have done in college.
Finally, I would love to hear some tips on best times to go up there and visit especially from our fellow Floridian @WWWard
Thanks again for the time you put in to help us stay sane during this process.
You’re welcome. Glad to be of assistance.
And congrats… such an accomplishment for your daughter. My younger daughter was in a similar situation. She too could have gone to FSU’s film school with her tuition covered, but her older sister already being at USC and the prospect of SCA loomed larger for her. Plus, I think she was eager to leave the state and go somewhere grander. Too many of her friends were simply deciding between USF, UCF, FSU, UF, UTampa and UMiami.
In 2014, none of us had visited USC before when my older daughter got in, so we came out for the admitted students weekend plus orientation. And my younger daughter came along in year two to help her sister move into Century Apartments. Its a shame that the current situation makes travel to and visiting at USC in person impossible for the foreseeable future. Instead, it seems that photo galleries, google maps and earth, virtual tours and youtube videos may have to suffice. Being there in person the first time really clinched the decision for both of my girls. I’m sorry that you may not be able to go through that same process.
Welcome to the Trojan Family 
Fight on!
@onlyworthypotato That sounds like the same thing we had back in January, and if it is the same, it means your FAFSA hasn’t been matched with your FAST/financial aid docs at USC, but we submitted the social security form that is in the document library and it was fixed right away.
@juleval I thought that form only needed to be submitted if I hadn’t included my social security number on my FAFSA and CSS profile but I did include it. Should I still submit it?
Hi, I’ve tried searching this in previous threads, but have not found a specific answer. Does anyone know if not receiving an email request for an interview automatically equates to not being chosen for the Norman Topping Scholarship? Thank you!
Does anyone know an email address for financial aid? I know it takes while to update FAST but we did Verifax at least a week ago and it still says we still need to do it to e-sign a document.
We tried to re-do it but because it’s already done, we aren’t even able to do it again.
I looked all over the USC website and can’t find any email address. No would prefer not to waste their time with a phone call on Monday if it can be answered by email.
Thanks
*veriTax haha (hate not being able to edit past 15 min)
It used to be fao@usc.edu
They now tend to prefer you use their online contact form http://ask.usc.edu/app/ask , but I guess you can try this direct email address and see if it still works.
Include your name and USC ID #.
@WWWard thanks so much!