Ah the games have begun - the “friend of a friend who knows a counselor tales” or the best is “someone on reddit.” USC has been doing this for decades and decades - they know what they are doing. AO’s don’t let things slip.
I get playing “Where’s Waldo” on your portal passes time, but it’s not helpful to make others more nervous with unverified claims. And particularly your applicant - if they are hearing any of this speculation.
Any changes to the FA portal doesn’t mean anything right now btw…FA is a long way away.
Oh and every year someone on reddit posts they were accepted well ahead of anything being released. Wait for it, it will come.
No you don’t. USC (and some other schools still do) used to require FAFSA be filled out for the merit scholarships, but don’t anymore. And I wouldn’t put all that info out there if you don’t need to!
From USC - Students applying for merit scholarships offered by the Office of Admission do not need to submit need-based financial aid applications to be considered.
We are full pay too, but decided to have ours get the Stafford loans (the ones up to 27K the students carry, not the parents, $5500 for Freshman, $6500 Sophomore and $7500 Junior/Senior year). We wanted them to have some skin in the game, establish some credit etc. If paying them off was an issue, we secretly agreed to step in, but they knocked them out in a year or two. The Stafford required the FAFSA be completed but didn’t seem bound by the deadlines. Meaning, in the summer if you decide to do a Stafford, you can complete it then.
Yes. That’s what I thought you meant, but the original wording made it sound otherwise. I agree, the only way my S24 is going to USC is if:
He can’t get into any other place he applied, AND
He actually gets a substantial scholarship because we don’t qualify for aid.
Having grew up in So Cal in the 80s and attended the other LA school, I can’t fathom paying anything over 36k/yr (what any of the UC would cost) for USC.
About regular FA decisions deadline. We actually didn’t even apply for FA. Son got the email yesterday , but he is EA applicant.
Anyway we will find out tomorrow, I am just making myself ready for anything - mental
wise
