<p>I am a junior hoping to get into USC. I am a NM semifinalist and hopefully will be a finalist which might allow me to qualify for the Presidential scholarship and receive half tuition. I know there are no guarantees, but I did get a perfect PSAT score so maybe that will help.</p>
<p>My SAT score was 2320. GPA is about 3.7 for grades 9-now. This is unweighted. I am taking 2 AP classes this year and 3 next year. Been doing well with all A’s in sophomore and junior year so even though I have not calculated my exact weighted/unweighted GPA I think it’ll be higher than 3.7.</p>
<p>So my question is, what is the University Scholarship? I’ve seen it mentioned in other posts but can’t find any info on it. Some posters have mentioned that they have received the Presidential scholarship and University scholarship. I’d like to know if I would qualify for anything above the half-tuition. So what is the University scholarship and would I be qualified to apply for it.</p>
<p>It’s one of those mysterious pots of money that tends to show up; you don’t apply for it, and it’s hard to tell what the criteria are. My son is graduating this year. When he started at USC, we were pleasantly surprised that on top of his Presidential award, he got the University Scholarship plus an extra $1000 per year that was the official National Merit allotment. If you go to USC, you’ll thank yourself for having done so well on the PSAT!</p>
<p>OP, if you apply by the scholarship deadline, you will also be in the running for one of USC’s bigger merit scholarships of full tuition/4 years for Trustee, Stamps, and Mork Scholars. The latter 2 provide even more $$. And many who receive these awards also get that mysterious University Scholarship, adding yet more. These are highly competitive awards and the students who are invited to the finalist interview session are among those who have the top stats, talents, and other wow accomplishments. In fact, every year there are many who are admitted to ivy type schools who do not get invited to USC’s top merit round, so it’s equally selective. These scholarships are selected by the different Schools at USC, so have differing criteria based on those majors’ goals. Essays, leadership, ECs and other accomplishments count a lot, we hear. </p>
<p>As a NMF, you are just as eligible as every other great student, but there is no preference when it comes to these finalists. Maybe something to aim for?</p>
<p>And I guess I should point out, since this year there was one parent at least who was not aware–the NMF Presidential is guaranteed to all NMFs who are admitted, but admission to USC is NOT guaranteed to all NMFs.</p>
<p>I know there are alumni who give small scholarships anonymously. This may be why some of these smaller scholarships are called “University Scholarships” with no donor mentioned.</p>