As a Thornton admit, how long should I wait before I assume I’m getting no merit aid (did not apply for need-based aid) ? A parent on CC told me yesterday that their son got Thornton merit aid in his FAST portal, but I have nothing.
Nuance is that student is not yet in the USC system as a Presidential, and wondering if USC housing will accept or reject a McCarthy request from a student who is not yet designated as Honors.
@saltyandpeppery yes NMF are eligible to lint in McCarthy. My D’s roommate there was NMF. They were placed together randomly.
What are the chances of USC matching Cornell’s financial aid offer? I’m from So Cal and trying to decide between USC, UCLA and Cornell. I want to attend USC but the money isn’t there.
@saltyandpeppery
But they aren’t assigning on April 6th. You are just signing up, they are taking no action, and you are just getting in line to be assigned. The housing portal remains open till May 1st then they take time to assign and notify mid May. Everything is known by then. Nothing happens until after May 1st.
I pulled this out of the University’s news, dated February 20, 2020. I was hoping more generous packages given the expansion explained below.
President Carol L. Folt on Thursday announced two new policies to make a USC undergraduate education more affordable for those who most need financial assistance. These actions will be phased in with each new entering class, beginning with first-year students entering USC this fall and spring 2021:
Students from U.S. families with an annual income of $80,000 or less with typical assets will attend USC tuition-free.
Owning a home will not be counted in the calculation used to determine a student’s financial need.
This expansion of the university’s financial aid package will result in more need-based financial aid for students across the income spectrum, particularly those families who are finding it increasingly difficult to pay the rising costs of a college education.
I was asked for and just sent my 2018 tax return. However, it is not a reflection of my current financial status.
@JazzyG Well, you can draft a signed letter explaing the current financial situation too… and upload it as well. The Documents Library has many options… even a freeform statement by you.
@jazzyG Aid looks at past two years, not current status. Otherwise, everyone would just quit their job when they applied to college. So 2018 and 2019 are the big determiners this year, plus any assets, etc.
Dean’s Scholars are ELIGIBLE for Honors housing, but only on a SPACE-AVAILABLE basis after the initial timestamped apps are processed for Presidential-Trustee-Mork-Stamps scholars.
For NMF-Presidential Scholars admitted in March, you will be behind in priority number to all those merit scholars admitted in Jan/Feb who applied for housing in February, but ahead of Dean’s Scholars admitted in Jan/Feb and March.
Good luck to all! Agree with CADREAMIN’s earlier housing post. Both my D19 and S19 opted for Birnkrant over McCarthy, given the unique offerings in Birnkrant (a triple occupancy two-room suite for D19 and a single with incredible top-floor view of the Leavey Library relecting pool and international corridor of flags at VKC for S19). Yes, it was hot for about a month and a half (into say, mid-October), but manageable with oscillating floor and pedestal fans. And the location is unparalleled for first-year students for making friends and rolling out of bed and going to class across the quad. Main drawback is that the convenient “Everybody’s Kitchen” (or EVK) dining hall is inferior to the better food and offerings found at Parkside and Village dining halls. But the 24-hour Starbucks in Birnkrant and Chipotle 10 mins away can break up the monotony/mediocrity of EVK.
@AnimationMum Hi! Congrats to your daughter. The portfolio is definitely the most important aspect of the application for SCA. My parents had the same concerns about me living downtown as well, especially as Los Angeles natives. Upon visiting the campus with them they saw how safe the USC campus was. Not to mention how gentrified and trendy DTLA is becoming. I totally agree with you about the tuition though! I personally chose USC because I really wanted a traditional college experience with a high arts education, which is a very niche thing. I know Chapman is really great for film as well and I think the proximity to Los Angeles is key. If I have any advice for your daughter I’d tell her to look for students at both schools that do animation and message them about her situation! I asked a ton of animation students at USC and they really did love the program, so that definitely helped my decision. If she does choose USC she can message me at @okaztli on Instagram. I’m trying to make a group chat for admitted students if she’d like to join.
@CollegeOdyssey2001 thanks for clarifying Deans. I had heard from some that didn’t get in there, so that makes a lot of sense.
Does anyone know what will happen if USC has underestimated yield for this year? How would they adjust housing plans then?
They are able to adjust, I wouldn’t worry about that being a problem at all knowing the buildings they have to work with.
@CADREAMIN Thanks, that’s a relief to hear!
According to their own documents, no chance. On the form to appeal the determination of your expected contribution (i.e. your financial aid package) it says (and note the last sentence particular - bold emphasis mine):
Instructions:
If your family has experienced a change in financial resources (e.g., job loss, illness, etc.) during the application period or academic year, you may be eligible for a modification of the expected family contribution.
Some examples of changes we can consider are listed on the Financial Aid website under Applying for & Receiving Financial Aid, Special Circumstances, Change in Income/Resources.
To request a review of your expected family contribution, select this document type and click ‘Next Step’. You will need to upload or fax a written request (500 words or less) and provide documentation to support your request.
** Please note that financial aid awards from other institutions will not be reviewed or considered in modifying the expected family contribution. **
@RoboticsDad Is your child choosing USC over her other options?
Link to article on the details about this year’s admitted applicants…
https://news.usc.edu/167380/usc-2020-admissions-students-achievement-diversity/
@lkg4answers Yes, she accepted the offer today. It’s the right choice for her. They really pull out all of the stops for the USC Explore scholarship event. I just wish all admits could experience that. The gender parity in the Viterbi CoE was certainly a significant factor. It’s a shame that only the private schools seem to prioritize this. As to some other comments on campus safety, from my impression (and what I learned at USC Explore), USC takes student safety very seriously. The campus is fenced and access is limited after hours. Yes, there are patrols, but it certainly doesn’t feel like a jail. I didn’t feel that the security presence was any more intrusive than similar setups at other schools that we visited in urban settings, such as Georgia Tech. USC doesn’t have the bucolic countryside feel of Cornell, but that has its own disadvantages. My daughter attended high school in an urban downtown area, so she’s not fazed by the neighborhood surrounding USC, which, for better or worse, is rapidly gentrifying. She considers it an opportunity to help get more URM students, especially young women, interested in STEM majors.
Congrats! I wonder if there is a USC SCA thread? There are fewer students per major at SCA so probably fewer posts from them, too!