<p>Hey, so I went to USC Explore last month and absolutely LOVED the university and am already thinking about submitting my housing form–but every time I bring it up to my parents they FREAK OUT. They’re worried that if I submit my housing form–thereby allowing the admissions people to be pretty sure I plan on attending–it will hurt my chances of getting the Trustee scholarship. Thanks to National Merit, I already have a Presidential–but it would be incredibly more helpful still to get the full ride, and I don’t want to jeopardize that. What’s the story here? Also, if it helps, I’m applying to SCA–does that make a difference as to whether the people evaluating my scholarship candidature see my housing forms?</p>
<p>Also, can I submit my application for housing before I officially register my acceptance? That was going to be my potential compromise with my parents–to submit my housing form now but not register my acceptance until after we find out about the scholarship…</p>
<p>Yeah, you can apply for housing before you officially register your acceptance. I’m almost positive it won’t hurt your chances at all - EVERYONE at Explore kept emphasizing that we should submit our housing application early, even if we don’t know where we’re going yet because you’ll have a better chance of getting the location you want. If you don’t decide to go, you’ll only lose the application fee. My Explore host applied for housing in February and she got the scholarship; she was actually bumped up from Presidential to Trustee, if that helps at all. I’m planning on sending mine this week!</p>
<p>keely, like mjang said, a LOT of Explore kids come home and sign up for housing, even if they haven’t decided to attend USC yet, and we know many who are awarded their scholarships afterward. My S signed up for housing about 4 weeks before getting his letter saying he got Trustee (great day, btw). The decisions about the scholarships are made by the interview panels and it’s highly unlikely they even have access to housing files. But if your cautious parents really don’t want you to make any waves yet—perhaps you can just wait. If your first choice dorm is one that fills up fast, I guess you have a little more pressure. But all the dorms are pretty good.</p>
I’m planning on sending mine this week!</p>