@thumper1 - correct but
there really is no need to call admissions, especially in light of the fraudulent admissions uproar going on now. I think that students and parents only have to look at the following post containing previous information re: how and when USC notifies students that they are eligible for the scholarship- again from the Dean of Admissions-
"Thanks for your writing and for your continued presence on College Confidential. The misinformation runs rampant and it is refreshing to see that there are a few folks who are willing to set the record straight.
Nothing has changed in regards to our practice with National Merit Finalists:
· NMSC periodically sends us rosters of NMFs who have indicated that USC is their first-choice. We have already received one such roster and expect a couple more before the end of the month
· Once we’ve selected our admitted class (which, as you know, will be done next week), we then formally award Presidential Scholarships to admitted NMFs, and send them an award letter.
· NMSC continues to send rosters throughout April and May, with the last one usually coming in late May. This piecemeal approach causes no real problems for us; we just keep making Presidential awards as student’s names show up.
Students don’t need (and never have had) to tell NMSC before May 1 that we are their first choice and I believe that NMSC allows students to change their designation anytime between now and the end of May. Bottom-line is that as long as we receive a roster from NMSC with an admitted student’s name on it indicating a USC first-choice, he or she will be awarded a Presidential, regardless of when that roster comes to us."
re: the website not being clear- it’s been that way for years- I dont know why, but that is why I stay in direct touch with the Dean of Admissions at USC re the NMS scholarships.