Why i dont get any news from USC ?

Colleges & Universities University of Southern California
101

<p>People are going to jump on you because you said you are not impressed with USC. I see some very passionate people in CC who can not hear anything negative about USC.</p>

<p>My mom called just a few minutes back to verify that the documents have reached and the admission office told her that they have received the documents. And also told her that I didnt qualify for Trustee/Presidential scholarships!! The same office told me last evening at about 5 PM that they dont see any information about that on my file and could not say why no letter went out.</p>

<p>Not sure what to make of it</p>

102

<p>USC provides a page called USconnect page which clearly shows all of the pieces that have been received by them. I am not sure at what point they issue these logons but we received one early January. I was not sure what the difference between the email USconnect vs using your ID is but the first page was the same for both.</p>

103

<p>"I know kids with very high stats that never even received acceptance or rejection letters last year. "</p>

<p>Are you talking about acceptance letters? or letters notifying them if they did or did not receive scholarships? </p>

<p>I have a hard time believing the first complaint ,as I have never heard that in 6 years here on CC. And as for the 2nd, it is not likely that students did not receive the letter in forming them that they were not considered for scholarship consideration. Sounds like sour grapes to me. </p>

<p>An awful lot of people seem to be under the impression that if you are a student with top stats you WILL receive a scholarship at USC. And that you WILL be accepted at USC. That is clearly NOT the case. Being invited to interview for one of the top scholarships is statistically MUCH, MUCH harder than getting into HYPS!!! Only 5% of the DEC 1 applicants were invited!!! 5%! USC is looking for much more than just great grades and scores when making decisions about who to admit and offer big merit scholarships to. They want students who are accomplished in other areas as well AND have shown a passion about wanting to be at USC. This includes NMF’s.
USC is not a safety for hi stat applicants. Not anymore.</p>

104

<p>MPM - They admitted 1000 out of 27000 but a bunch were not invited. Not knowing that number I will use the admitted number and say it is 3.7% at the top end and if 500 were invited, it would be less than 2% at the bottom end as an estimate.</p>

105

<p>An awful lot of people expect to be informed one way or the other. That includes me and I believe that is what momalisa is referring to. It is communication.</p>

106

<p>Hi Menloparkmom.<br>
I am talking about the actual acceptance letter in March! Our friend, also from Florida, had to call in April to see what her status was. She never received any notification even though her application and records were all complete and correct. She then met someone else who said the same thing happened. She is currently at UCLA and very happy so things are meant to be I guess.
A far as being considered for scholarship we know it is very difficult and what the percentages are. Even though my daughter has excellent stats she was not NMF and that is a big factor. We were not expecting the interview invite, although we knew she had a decent chance, but we do expect some type of communication letting us know the status. I believe everyone who applied before Dec. 1st deserves to be notified either way and it seems from these boards and prospective students we know from home that many just don’t hear. I find that unacceptable.
She did just call admissions and was told not everyone has received notification and to wait a bit longer. They did not give indication as to yay or nay over the phone. They did have her payment and application has been complete since November 22. i just hope she receives some notification either way. That much is deserved.</p>

107

<p>Menloparkmom
EFC too high. Chicago does have a CS program- tied in ranking with Northwestern- below USC though. I can get to Chicago in 3 hours driving- quite a bit less than flying to West coast- at full pay- it all adds up quickly- on other forums here, you can spend 60K a year at USC. Still, son would love it. I have been to campus- my job took me there a few years ago. Not a NMF either. Trust me- full pay- there goes retirement if he gets in!</p>

108

<p>I don’t mean to shock any regular readers of this forum, but I think complaints about delayed and missing notifications of scholarship status are completely valid. Organizing a mailing to 1,000 or so recipients of good scholarship news, and the less fortunate other 26,000 applicants should not be so difficult, I agree. The system needs a fix. But whether or not your student got a “so sorry” letter (which of course she/he deserved to receive) or it is still missing due to mailing/processing mishandling, their chances at admissions in the regular cycle are unaltered. The mailing of that letter has nothing at all to do with admissions decisions. I can understand the anger at waiting and wondering and frustration at deducing (!) your student is not invited to scholarship interviews, but USC offers admissions to about 7500 more applicants in March and such amazing kids as ComputerDad’s and so many who post their stellar stats here have excellent chances to be among that group–as they do in all highly selective universities. I’m not sure why some seem to equate the decision on Trustee/Presidential interviews with all hope of admissions? To put it perspective, out of 100 students who apply by the deadline, fewer than 4 students get good $$ news. 1 will be interviewed (no guarantee, however) for Trustee. 2.3 will interview for Presidential, and .7 (what would .7 of a teenager look like?) will receive Deans. I imagine that out of the 96 cool and brilliant kids who are not in that lucky group, MANY are equally gifted. </p>

<p>I personally object strongly to posters who, in defending USC’s (or any institution) right to select their scholarship candidates, inaccurately suggest that USC has selected the top 3.7% for interviews. The kids are wonderful, but they are also the lucky ones. They are AMONG the top students applying this year, but by no means represent some definitive quantifiable “top.” If anything, perhaps they meet–in this admissions cycle, out of this pool of applicants–some specific needs of the various Schools and majors to which they apply. This is not a qualitative distinction–just the difference in flavors that make up the applicant pool. </p>

<p>So many of our wonderful kids know how important top scholarships can be to our finances and missing this invitation is harsh. The gnashing of teeth from middle and upper middle income parents is truly understandable. It’s hard not to feel badly that it doesn’t go one’s way. </p>

<p>In answer, USC offers 1/2 Presidential scholarships to their admitted NMFs and that does make a huge difference. If any of you have kids in this group, please do not give up hope. It’s only about 6 more weeks and all will be revealed. If you do not have NMFs (I don’t), there may be other smaller merit scholarships available. And I would encourage everyone to visit the FinAid website to run the FinAid calculator. If you have more than one student in college it makes a huge difference. A family who has an EFC of $50,000 (practically full pay for one student) is expected to pay that same amount for 2 or even 3 students in college at the same time. USC offers a significant amount of aid in grants. It’s worth checking out.</p>

<p>Lastly, I really want to apologize if my long posts seem to be apologies for USC. I am simply beyond grateful my sons have been part of the lucky ones. I do not think it is more than that–although of course my boys are excellent!! (heh) But they are very lucky too. Many wonderful universities that my have high ranking but are not quite as wonderful as USC (my bias now showing!) do not offer ANY significant merit awards. </p>

<p>My goodness, are you still reading this way too long post!!! :)</p>

109

<p>No letter of any kind here, application was received before Thanksgiving. Did not expect to receive one of the big scholarships (though my D received half tuition scholarship today from her safety) - but now that it has been stated that “everyone” who applied by the scholarship deadline is sent a letter, lack of such does tend to make a family feel anonymous.</p>

<p>I’m not down on USC admissions at all but in our age of digital communication this method seems to put them behind the curve. Surely those who have been invited to interview would have been just as happy to learn that at USConnect or via email.</p>

110

<p>I’m going to pass on many of the issues raised on this and other threads regarding communications between USC and applicants[and copy a link to this thread ]to the admissions dean at USC.
They have been very responsive to past suggestions about simplifying regular admissions notification procedures and the various messages that students receive -hopefully they will review the current method[s] of scholarship notification and make some adjustments.</p>

111

<p>That’s a great idea melonparkmom. We think USC is a fabulous school that can provide an outstanding academic education as well as letting D continue her artistic passion or else she would not have applied there. Although i am a huge fan of the old school letters in the mail I do think adding digital communications as well could help greatly. When D was accepted to Michigan last month she actually received a phone call first! That was so exciting! She then received an email with a great welcome video (She applied to dual degree and received different acceptance email videos for both LSA and SMTD schools.) and of course the beautiful package in the mail followed with an invitation to apply for the Leads scholarship. With so many schools following the Go Green initiative I am just very surprised USC is behind on this trend and not one of the leaders of it. I’ll post if we do hear anything. Good luck to all the scholarship invitees and those awaiting acceptance!</p>

112

<p>My question: is all scholarship info sent through post mail? As in if you didnt any of the smaller merit scholarships would they send a letter? Cause I did receive the one saying that I wasnt being considered for the Presidential and Trustee, but I was for other ones. But of now, nothing else</p>