Why i dont get any news from USC ?

Colleges & Universities University of Southern California
81

<p>^ I am suggesting that the acceptance rate this year for all applicants,* including NMSF*, will be approximately 20%. meaning that approximately 80% of all applicants, including NMSF, will be rejected.</p>

<p>I agree with camomof3 - some NMSF come in to the admission process at selective schools thinking that one test from junior year is going to put them ahead of all other applicants, and when they are accepted/rejected at similar rates to other applicants at USC someone puts forth a conspiracy theory that it is a “negative.” NMSF is a positive, but it is not as important in admissions as transcript, actual SAT/ACT, ECs, and essays. It is an honor, not a shoo-in for admission.</p>

<p>Please also remember that USC receives 50% of their applications from students in California - a state where the cut-off was over 220 this year - as a result MANY of them are presenting credentials that do not say “NMSF” but they may have actually scored as well or better on the PSAT than many applicants from other states who’s application does say NMSF.</p>

<p>In addition, California’s UC and CSU systems do not offer ANY NM scholarships. None. So applicants in California with NMSF status look to USC as the highest-ranked California private to offer a significant NM scholarship.</p>

82

<p>Plus, no CSS Profile and out of state tuition makes SC even more appealing to non-Cali residents.</p>

83

<p>alamemom,
clear your PM’s</p>

<p>and can you point to where your figure of 3000 NMSF applicants for last year came from?</p>

<p>“I am suggesting that the acceptance rate this year for all applicants, including NMSF, will be approximately 20%. meaning that approximately 80% of all applicants, including NMSF, will be rejected.”</p>

<p>this does not make too much sense, given NMSF’s who advance to NMF’s rank are among the top students statistically, GPA and SAT wise in the country, and in most cases are more desirable to USC than students with 1200 SAT score and a 3.2 GPA.</p>

<p>I would really like to see where the 3000 number came from.</p>

84

<p>"Please also remember that USC receives 50% of their applications from students in California - a state where the cut-off was over 220 this year - as a result MANY of them are presenting credentials that do not say “NMSF” "</p>

<p>There may be States which can sneak in with 204 like Wyoming with low population numbers but most states where the largest numbers of NMSFs are assigned based on the number of high school graduates are pretty close to 221 in California.</p>

<p>[National</a> Merit Scholarships](<a href=“http://www.collegeplanningsimplified.com/NationalMerit.html]National”>http://www.collegeplanningsimplified.com/NationalMerit.html)</p>

<p>Texas and New York were 219 this year, and I see several states in the east between 219 and 223.</p>

85

<p>Only 7 states, plus the District of Columbia had a NMSF cut off of 220 or higher for 2012.</p>

<p>“no CSS Profile”</p>

<p>?</p>

86

<p>It’s hard to know what the admissions rates are for sub-sections of applicants. While 20% (give or take) is the rate for the total applicant pool, if we looked at a slice of the top 30% of applicants by gpa/SAT, wouldn’t we suppose the admit rate was much higher? Maybe even 35-50% as a guess. After all, GPA, rigor of transcript, and scores are all a major component in evaluating students for admission, and those falling in the top range would expect to see more admits. While all won’t get in, certainly many will.</p>

<p>USC has been a school on the uptick for 20 years and one way to improve rankings is to improve the overall test-score/gpa range of incoming students who, not surprisingly, want to study alongside equally bright peers. Another is keyed off the number of NMFs attending, which also brings up the number of successful academic stars. Another is hiring highly honored star faculty (who, in turn, want to teach top motivated students). Another is to increase endowment, and bringing up the rankings and stats of incoming freshmen attracts more alumni support and pride. And on. USC has made impressive strides as an institution, where top students and faculty are slowly improving the institution’s peer image. To accomplish that goal, a lot of credit is given to Stephen Sample, USC’s former president who led this charge for the past 17 years. Now, Dr. Nikias is continuing the commitment. That is why many see USC as both well-funded and certainly willing to continue attracting NMFs with $$. At the point where USC feels the top candidate admissions pool is sufficiently motivated to apply and attend without the edge of high merit awards, they may choose to stop. But for now, they seem well-served by their policy.</p>

87

<p>I’ll also weigh in on yield. Many think the NMF Presidential is very appealing, but then many of these students are admitted at other elite universities so competition to land these students is different than a slightly less highly statted pool. If admissions rates may be higher among the NMF-type applicants (very high stats, high gpa, etc–see my post above), I suggest the yield from this pool is a good bit lower than for total pool of admits. </p>

<p>For full pay families, aspects of “fit” often play a large role. If the student wants a LAC-type campus, east coast, play Div III sports, rural/small town, to leave home (California), wear an ivy-league T-shirt, chase a higher ranked school, elite STEM college, art school, whatever. They may choose to attend elsewhere, despite the lure of $$.</p>

<p>For high EFC families, many elite schools and ivies will be happy to give FinAid in high numbers. The draw of USC’s $21,000 will be topped by FinAid dollars, even at USC! They can make their decisions relatively free of the lure of the NMF Presidential.</p>

<p>It often leaves the cost-sensitive mid-to higher middle income families as most desirous of the high merit awards, in addition to those NMFs who find USC a perfect fit–whose majors, programs, professors, size, football team (rah!), Trojan network for employment, sunny beautiful campus, great food trucks along Jefferson, movie industry internships, etc etc etc fit them so well.</p>

<p>But since many in the top merit pool also are choosing between Brown and Harvard, between MIT and CalTech, between Cal and Yale and Stanford… well, it raises questions, too, about USC yield among NMF admits.</p>

88

<p>"At the point where USC feels the top candidate admissions pool is sufficiently motivated to apply and attend without the edge of high merit awards, they may choose to stop. But for now, they seem well-served by their policy. "</p>

<p>Hopefully USC will get there soon. My kid decided to withdraw without the allure of a full scholarship and finding no reason to wait until USC makes a decision in March to wait on the half scholarship.</p>

<p>Goodluck to all the other applicants and admittees!</p>

89

<p>Jeesh! Was it something said on an online student/parents forum?</p>

<p>texaspg, it sounds like your family is looking for merit aid as a top priority. If your kid is NMF, why would you withdraw an application before decisions are made? </p>

<p>This process is brutal. The application, feelings of fear and helplessness and rejection, and sometimes missing out on great opportunities that could have/should have been ours–it’s nuts. And watching our kids go through it all is even nutsier.</p>

<p>Still, withdrawing a college application on a Sunday because one is disheartened about the odds (or doesn’t care for the discussion online) seems extreme.</p>

90

<p>madbean - It is not anything said here and nothing against USC. It is just a logical decision that was made after considering where my kid already has admissions and whether there is any chance whatsoever of attending USC. MY kid has similar stats to someone who made trustee two years ago but went to Stanford, and already has admissions to two engineering schools that are ranked much higher than USC at the moment. So as fullpay parents we had a lot of incentive for the merit money but the kid didnt. We did not object to withdrawing after receiving the letter from USC saying there is no admit yet. Let me just say the kid felt insulted to have a deferral with close to perfect SAT, PSAT, and SAT IIs. </p>

<p>Now you may understand why I have been trying to get a grip on how USC process works.</p>

91

<p>Sorry 'bout that, texasgp. I admire fullpay families and kids with near perfect SATs. (!!) It’s the best of all possible college worlds, in fact. You have the top of all odds although (as we read on cc everyday) not every school comes through, nor every top merit award as these things happen. </p>

<p>It does feel insulting to get a “not up for the top awards” letter when you are, frankly, among the top kids applying. I don’t know how schools can avoid this if they need to do Feb. interviews (requiring the earlier than usual notice). So sorry your kid got a bitter taste. But sounds like he/she has great options already, and certainly more to come.</p>

92

<p>^^ I can understand your son’s decision, especially if he has already been offered merit scholarships from other schools. But, it’s not just about the numbers. I know the waiting can be very difficult for the applicants.</p>

93

<p>madbean - a letter like DadinNeb’s son got would have been sufficient to have without the interview invite. Then you know you are in and it is upto you to decide to go.</p>

<p>Ohiomom - It was a bit painful to be asked why there was no letter for past two weeks. USC was among the very first college visits we did back in 2009 and heard a lot about from the relatives who attended over the years. So it is a pretty difficult end. May be the next kid!</p>

94

<p>The difference between 2 years ago and this year could be the Common App and 27,000 applicants by Dec. 1? We are also waiting to hear.</p>

95

<p>From looking at previous CC threads on USC merit scholarships, they seem to value leadership and ECs more than some other colleges. Hence near perfect scores and top notch academics alone may not be the ticket for trustee and presidential scholarships.</p>

96

<p>Our family is in the same situation as Texaspg–and unless you are a full pay–it is very difficult for others to understand the tough decision to make–send child to a school for less money or to a school that may be a better “fit” overall. Is it really worth $250K in this global economy? Probably not. Some of the great things about USC is your connections–but many of those are in southern CA and you better like that area (which I do). We are from the midwest. Son has much more than top grades. Top student in his class, 4.0 Unweighted and a full IB Diploma candidate. 300 hours of service, many ec’s including captain of the football team (All-State) and Deca and a few others. Very well rounded. The only blemish- if you can call it–is a very good–but not top ACT of 33. Didn’t really expect top scholarships–but a hint about acceptance is in order. I agree the common app is probably the killer. He will study CS --and applied to the Engineering school where competition is tough. He is already accepted at higher ranked such departments like Michigan, Wisconsin, and in-state with top scholarship at Purdue. He also has likley letters type offers from U of Chicago and Washington U. in St. Louis. He was deferred at Harvard–so that probably won’t happen. Yet, the academics are a best possible match at USC for his various interests across several potential majors and minors. If he knew his parents are now reluctant to send him to a high pay school, he would say it is ok, though I know his heart would be broken. We are upper middle class, and that full pay is very stressful so any relief would have been a deal maker–not to mention even a hint of potential acceptance. He obvioulsy has some nice options–but the truth is in today’s pool of candidates, many highly qualified students are not going to get their first choice schools–and many students who are rejected will miss a spot when others decide not to go because its simply costs too much. There is no real solution.</p>

97

<p>Hi everyone! This is my first post on here so hopefully I will do this right. We live in Florida and my daughter has not received any letter at all. She applied in mid November. Her friend, who is NMSF but has lower GPA and not as strong EC’s, did get an early acceptance. Both of them were national winners of NCTE writing award. My daughter applied to Annenberg. I’m thinking my daughter is going to be one of the missing letter applicants from what I have been reading. She’s staying positive for a March acceptance! If anyone has any other info for applicants who have not heard anything and did apply before Dec. 1st I’d appreciate hearing from you. Thanks!</p>

98

<p>computerdad,<br>
Is your DS a NMSF?
Did he apply before the Dec 1 scholarship cutoff date? </p>

<p>“He also has likley letters type offers from U of Chicago and Washington U. in St. Louis. Yet, the academics are a best possible match at USC for his various interests across several potential majors and minors. If he knew his parents are now reluctant to send him to a high pay school.”</p>

<p>Why would you consider sending him to Chicago, which does not even have a CS or engineering dept, and eliminate USC? The costs at both schools are the same . And USC’s FA program is comparable to that of Wash U and Chicago. Have you tried finding out what your EFC would be at USC using their FA calculator? I dont know if you applied for FA, but I would not give up hope about him landing some unexpected $$ from USC.</p>

99

<p>This is an update for those who have not received anything from USC. I also did not receive anything.</p>

<p>So I called USC yesterday and they told me that I didnt pay the Common App fee!!! I verified the CommonApp as well as the Credit Card statement and it was there, paid on 11/30. I sent in the receipts by uploading and faxing late last night. I dont know how adversely it is going to impact my chances for admission and scholarships with departments having already finalized their list - hope not!!</p>

100

<p>That is terrible! Thanks for posting that info laloooji. I’m going to call with my daughter when she gets home. I have to say of all the schools my daughter applied to (Michigan, NYU, Columbia, Northwestern, UCLA, UF and FSU) I am least impressed with USC. I know kids with very high stats that never even received acceptance or rejection letters last year. A school of such a reputation should not have this happen so often. I also don’t understand why they don’t respond electronically as well so that kids that have worked so hard though high school at least have the courtesy of a response.</p>