But, as stressful and complicated as it may be for you seniors out there, it is just as stressful for us in Admissions. Will they come?  Did we do a good job explaining the virtures of our university?  In this decision, admissions offices are virtually powerless.  We can't make the decision, only the student can (with a little help from mom and dad, perhaps). 

To those of you still undecided, we anxiously await your decision.   I know you will make the best decision for you and your educational goals, which is what us admissions people ultimately want--for you to find your place in the world.  But, we can't deny that we hope you will pick us! 

So decide by May 1, and if you need help deciding, just think Garnet and Black and I'm sure the right answer will appear.

What to do?  Well, my advice is first and foremost to apply for financial aid by completing a FAFSA, regardless of your financial circumstances.  Even if you don't think you'll qualify for free or "gift aid", you might be surprised, and if your circumstances change throughout the year, you have started the process to seek aid later. 

Also, you have to do your homework to find outside scholarships.  Sometimes if may feel like finding a needle in a haystack, but there are still organizations out there that are able to award scholarships.   So apply!   These organizations may award smaller awards than last year, but every little bit helps, doesn't it?  Don't make the mistake of counting yourself out by not applying.  There are good websites, like FastWeb.com  and CollegeBoard.com that help you find financial resources. States have non-profit student finacial aid organizations that can help.  Do a web search on google or yahoo.  Browse through your local newspaper.  Check with civic organization.  But be persistent.

For example, are you a South Carolina resident?  Will you be attending college in the fall pursuing a bachelor's degree?  Do you have at least a 2.5 GPA?  Are you responsible and civic-minded, and need help paying for college?  You might qualify for a scholarship from the Strom Thurmond Foundation.  Here is the website where you can find an application to complete:

http://sites.google.com/site/stromthurmondfoundation/

There are many, many organizations out there, you just have to look for them.

1)  Admitted - If you are a high school senior applying for Fall 2009, this is, obviously, what you hope to receive. 

2)  Not Admitted for Fall but there are options- Admission for fall is extremely competitive this year, and we cannot take everyone.  Many students will be offered admission in the spring term, which starts January 2010.  Another option is to attend another USC System campus, or particiate in our Statewide Bridge Program.

3) Your application has been canceled -  Typically an application is canceled when it is incomplete, because we have not received test scores or high school transcripts, or because it was submitted past the application priority date and we are out of space.  Canceled applications can be considered for Spring admission.

So if you haven't heard yet, please be patient, you should hear from us very soon.  

Oh, and next week we will start sending out invitations to be in our Capstone Scholars program! 

I like sending mail.  Despite all of today's methods of communication, including telephone, e-mail, text, blogs, websites, social networking, you name it, nothing to me is as satisfying and effective as ink and paper delivered via the good ol' US Mail.  It is tangible, reliable, and comforting.  I must admit that every day when I go home, one of the first things I do is check the mail.  Sadly, most of the mail I get these days is bills or junk mail, but occasionally I get a letter or card from a friend, which really brightens my day....but I digress.

Anyway, today the mailman must hate me, because today we had a little--check that, BIG--surprise waiting for him.  That's right, SCHOLARSHIP LETTERS ARE BEING MAILED TODAY!    He had to go back to the mail truck to get a dolly.  (sorry Mr. Mailman!)

Like all universities around the country, times are tight as we all feel the effects of the economy and budget cuts. At the same time the competition for our top scholarships is increasing, as more and more students are applying to USC.  Unfortunately we are not able to offer as many scholarships as we have in the past,  but we are still offering plenty of scholarships to deserving students, as evidenced by the many mail bins that were waiting for the mail man this morning.  So that is why the mail man may be upset with me today. 

I, on the other hand, am a HUGE fan of the mail man, and wish him fast and safe delivery of these very important letters.  I hope you will soon be a big fan as well!

Oh, one final thought:  take a minute to write a handwritten note to your grandmother, grandfather, aunt or uncle--anybody really--and drop it in the mail.  They will love you for it.

“The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement….each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.”

Each of us may have our own definition of the American Dream, but for me the American Dream means that no matter who you are, where you come from, or whatever your personal circumstances, you can grow up to be whatever you want to be.    We all have the freedom to pursue our life ambitions, and through hard work we can all achieve success.

Time and time again in our country we see evidence proving the American Dream is in fact a reality. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, S. Truett Cathy (Chick-Fil-A), Oprah Winfrey, Wayne Huizenga (Florida Marlins, Miami Dolphins, Blockbuster), are all people who have risen above their meager beginnings to become successful beyond anyone’s expectations, fulfilling their own American Dream.

 There is no better example today than President Barak Obama, who has put to rest the question can a person of any race become president.  But, just because anybody can live the American Dream, does not mean that everybody will.  Success in life does not happen to you by accident.  It comes from hard work and dedication.    Like all people, Barak Obama was born with certain gifts and talents.  He worked hard to develop those talents, had a vision to become the leader of the free world, and set his mind to the task of becoming President of the United States.

We all have innate abilities, gifts and talents, and we owe it to ourselves and our Creator to make the best use of these as we possibly can.  By making good choices and through hard work, we can use our gifts to achieve what we want in life.   However, there is one critical component to success that none of us are born with, but we can all obtain—and that is an education.  Without an education, our chances of success are greatly diminished.  With an education, our chances of success are greatly improved.

Education is a life-long pursuit.  It does not end with a high school diploma, or even with a college degree.  Obtaining an education does not happen overnight, it is something that constantly occurs over time.  Indeed, we spend our lives “learning something new, every day.”     Education is not something that happens to you.  You can’t just attend class and expect that to do the trick.  You have to be an active participant, seek knowledge, and engage in the process.  Teachers, counselors, professors, and parents all help you on your path, but ultimately only you can educate yourself.

Education builds on itself and requires a strong foundation and preparation for the next phase.  If you want to be a professional golfer, you don’t just walk in to August National on the first day of the Master’s and ask to join the field.  It takes years of instruction, practice, and dedication.  Likewise, if you want to be a doctor, you don’t start the process by going to medical school.  You have to start early, by learning your ABC’s in kindergarten and making the choice to learn and succeed at every stage of education so you can do the same at the next level.  Just as you must crawl, then walk, then run, so must you progress through the educational process—there is no skipping ahead.

Education is the great equalizer in our society—something attainable for all who make the choice.   What do you want to be?  What is your American Dream?  With hard work and by making good choices, I’m willing to be you can get there—but not without a strong education.

Q:  I received a letter that says my decision is deferred until March.  What does that mean?

A:  Being deferred to our March 15 decision date is very common and nothing to be alarmed about.  There are many reasons one may be deferred, most often because we want to more carefully review your application.    Other reasons include an incomplete file or waiting on SAT or ACT scores from the December test.   No matter the reason, keep in mind that "deferred" DOES NOT mean "denied."    To think otherwise is to draw your own conclusions before we have drawn ours.  The vast majority of our admission decisions for the entire applicant pool are sent on March 15.

Q:  I have been admitted to the university but I have also applied to the Honors College.  When will I find out if I have been accepted?

A:  Honors College admissions applications are being reviewed, and we have just started making these decisions. Honors College decisions are not mailed on a single date like regular admissions decisions, they are mailed in batches as we screen them.   Some honors decisions were mailed out on December 23, and we should have them all mailed by February 15.   If you were not notified in the December 23 group, all that means is that your application has not yet been reviewed.

Q: When will I find out if I will be offered a scholarship?

A:  Most of our scholarship offers will go out in Mid-March after we make all the admissions decisions, Honors College admission decisions, Capstone Scholar invitations, and Carolina & McNair Scholar interviews. 

Every student that applied by October 1 AND who had all their credentials and scores in to the Admissions Office will be hearing from us this week with an update on their status.   However not everyone that applied by October 1 will receive a final decision this week.   Some students will find out that we cannot make a decision on their application until March.  This is because we have more applicants that we have space.  For the majority of our applicants, we must wait until after everyone has been carefully reviewed, which will take at least two more months.  Then, after everyone has has a fair and thorough review, we will be able to make our final determinations on who we can admit.

At least I have ten years to make it up, but what should students and parents of students about to enter college do?    Unfortunately I don't have all the answers but I do have some suggestions to help you make informed decisions about college:

1)  Understand the costs of attendance -  Figuring out what it costs to go to college is kind of like walking on a car dealer's lot and asking how much is a new car.  Just like a new car purchase price depends on the options you select,  the cost of a year at college often depends on the number of classes you take,  the nature of the classes, whether or not you live on campus, which residence hall you pick, the meal plan you choose, and the list goes on.   "Tuition" is sometimes used as a catch-all term by some people to refer to all their college costs, but tuition, or the cost per credit hour for the courses one takes, is often just part of the costs students will pay.   It is important to understand what goes into the average cost of attendance:  Tuition, course fees, other fees, such as health fees, activity fees, athletic fees, books, "room and board" (residence hall and meal plan for students that live on campus), parking and transportation expenses, and miscellaneous personal expenses.   You can see the Unversity of South Carolina's estimated annual expenses for the current year at this link:  http://www.sc.edu/admissions/costaid.php  So, don't just focus on tuition, but make sure you are aware of all the typical expenses college students will incur.

2) Apply for Financial Aid - Many students and parents think they will not qualify for "financial aid", and what they usually mean is they don't think they will qualify for aid that does not have to be repaid, such as a federal Pell grant.  Therefore, they don't bother completing the FAFSA, or "Free Application for Federal Student Aid."    Fill it out anyway.  You may be surprised what you qualify for.  And, if you think you may want or need to take out a federally-subsidised student loan, you'll need to complete the FAFSA regardless.  Here is link to get started:  http://www.sc.edu/financialaid/start.html  And, if you need help at any point, consult with a counselor in the financial aid office.

3) Consider working part-time while in college - Not only can students earn money to help pay their expenses, but the research shows that students who work part-time, especially in on-campus jobs, do better academically that those who work off-campus or not at all.  Maybe it is keeping a tight schedule, or being connected with faculty and staff who can help advise and encourage students, but working on campus benefits the educational process.  Also, Co-operative Education programs and paid internships are more in demand these days as a way to get valuable experience while earning money for college.

4) Seek Outside Scholarship Support - There are many, many civic organizations, foundations, comapanies, and individuals that provide scholarship support to students, if they would only apply!  You have to do some digging to find private scholarship support, but you can find it through a variety of websites, internet searches, and your local library.   Beware, however, of companies that charge to find scholarships for you.  In most cases you can find them on your own for free, and many of these "scholarship locator services" are not legitimate. 

5) Have a Back-up Plan -  For years the prevailing advice to students applying for college has been to apply to at least three schools:  Your "dream" or "stretch" school that you have a shot at getting into but it is a long shot, your "solid" school, to which you are pretty sure you can get into, and your "safety" school, one you are certain, beyond any doubt, will accept you.    I suggest tweaking that a bit, to include a school you are sure you can get into AND that you can afford to attend.   

As I said I still have ten years to go before my oldest child will be applying for college. Who knows what will happen between now and then, but I believe that going to college is now and probably will always continue to be the single best advantage and opportunity for a better life for my children, and I am prepared to make that happen for my kids,  regardless of the sacrifices I have to make. 

But, what if you haven't signed up for orientation yet?  There are always a few students that for one reason or another are not able to attend one of the June orientation sessions. What if you are in that 5% minority?  Well, don't dispair, we have a final orienation session in August that you will soon be able to register for on our orientation website.

So, get oriented to USC, attend new student orientation.  You'll be glad you did!

Q) How do I know if I am getting a scholarship?

A) We mailed out letters extending scholarship offers last week.  If you are being offered a scholarship, you should have received your letter by now.

Q) What were the requirements to get a scholarship this year?

A) They vary by type and level of award, but generally speaking a 1250 SAT (Math + Critical Reading) and a B+ average were the minimum requirements to be considered for most scholarships. 

Q)  I received a Woodrow Scholarship and it mentioned a tuition reduction.  What does that mean?

A)  A Woodrow Scholarship is for out-of-state students and is considered a "departmental scholarship", which means it qualifies for a tuition reduction that is approximately half the difference between in-state tuition and the non-resident tution rate.  In addition to this tuition reduction, recipients also receive $500/year applied to their outstanding bill.  Therefore, beginning with Fall 2008, the annual net value of a Woodrow Scholarship is expected to be $500(award) + $10,317(reduction) = $10,817/year.  Over four years, the net value of the Woodrow will be more than $43,268.

Q) Same question, but I received a McKissick (or Cooper)  Scholarship. 

A) Almost the same answer, except the Cooper and the McKissick scholarships are considered "Institutional" or "general university" scholarships.  In addition to the dollar amount of the awards, recipients also qualify for in-state tuition, as if they were South Carolina residents.  The benefit of the Cooper is expected to $4000(award) + $14,241(reduction) = $18,241 per year, and more than $72,964 over four years.  The benefit of a McKissick is expected to be $2000(award) + 14,241(reduction) = $16,241, and more than $64,964 over four years.   These rates are based on average full-time tuition projections for  next year and could vary slightly from student-to-student and year-to-year, but you get the idea.  Actual tuition for next year will not be set until the June Board of Trustees Meeting.

If you ever have any questions about your scholarship award, please call the admissions office at (803) 777-7700 and ask to speak with an admissions counselor.

Our goal is to have all admissions decisions on their way by the first week in March.  Within that same time frame we will send our our final round of offers to the South Carolina Honors College, invitations to be in the Capstone Scholars program, and our institutional scholarship offers.

Matty, I know you and everyone else is anxiously awaiting to hear about scholarships.  Be on the lookout for notices to arrive in early March, and thank-you for the question...and your patience!

Even more competitive are the Carolina Scholar and McNair Scholar competitions.  The very best Honors College candidates are screened for these, our two top awards, and once we name those finalists, we begin the chair reaction of awarding all our other scholarships, so the coming weeks will be exhilarating for some, disappointing for others, and stressful for all as tough decisions have to be made.

The ball is now rolling. we just named 41 McNair Scholar finalists today, Friday, January 25 at 4:00pm, and I cannot leave the office until I sign each offer letter.  For you, our future class of outstanding McNair Finalists and Scholars, I have some advice:  you may want to hang around the house tomorrow, just in case the FEDEX truck comes rumbling down your street.   Good news sometimes comes in a thin, cardboard envelope! 

And, for you Carolina Scholar candidates, please be patient, it won't be much longer for you, either!

In fact, Fred Thompson's headquarters leading up to the Republican primary was on campus in the Russell House, Mike Huckabee held a rally at Williams-Brice Stadium, there was a GOP debate in the Koger Center, which is where Barack Obama is holding an open forum tonight.  Yesterday, Mrs. Obama was on campus as well, promoting reading initiatives.  Over the summer, the College Democrats held their national convention here at USC, which was visited by all the major democratic candidates, including Hillary Clinton and John Edwards.  Needless to say, this is the place to be if you are interested in the political process!

Personally, I am torn when it comes to rankings.  On one hand, the more information the better, provided that information is accurate, objecitve and relevant.  As a consumer, just like anyone else, I want an outside expert opinion so that I don't have to sort through all the data myself.  I would never buy a TV without Consumer Reports, CNet, and Crutchfield sharing this burden with me.  So, how can college rankings be bad, right?

But, on the other hand, using rankings is only part of the discernment process, and relying exclusively on rankings has many pitfalls.  One of the biggest dangers, in my opinion, is that we tend to focus on the very top in a given ranking system, and unfairly discount the lower scorers, even if the difference between number 1 and number 100 is insignificant. 

In the higher education market, applying the various rankings out there to your college choice can be helpful, but consider these questions when doing so:

1)  What is the ranking system actually measuring?  Are they measuring criteria that are important to you?  Why are these criteria important to you?

2)  How does a particular college's performance on a given ranking translate into the experience you will have at that school, if you choose to attend?  

3) How much does a particular ranking system differentiate the schools being ranked? 

For instance, consider two schools, ranked #1 and #2 on graduation rates.  School #1 reports a 90 percent graduate rate, and school #2 reports an 89.98 percent rate.   Obviously, they both have excellent and almost indistinguishable graduate rates.  But consider school #95 in the list, with an 88.5% graduation rate.  Also excellent and nearly the same rate as the others.  If you just look at the rank, #95 may not sound impressive, but if you just compare the actual graduate rates of all three schools, this measure is meaningless in differentiating the schools because they are all excellent on this criteria.

 There is one big factor missing from college rankings: YOU.  Your abilities, interests and motivation are critical factors in the kind of education you will obtain at your college, and no ranking system can measure that.  It is entirely conceivable for one  to attend one of the nation's best universities, only to coast through, not apply oneself, and graduate with little more knowledge and education that what one started with.  Likewise, a great education can be obtained at an open admissions community college.  It all depends on the individual's motivation and drive to learn.

I am not suggesting that you should not aspire to attend the "best" school possible.  Not at all.  In fact, I recommend attending the best school you can get in and reasonably afford, assuming the schools you are considering are good fits to begin with.     Use rankings to help you define your list, but don't discount a school just because it does not have a good ranking in a magazine you never read but pop culture leads you to believe it knows what it is talking about.  Keep rankings in perspective--rather than being so concerned about "the best", make sure you find "the best fit" for you.

Oh, and one last thing. If you do look at rankings, don't just use one ranking service, consider several.  One that I particularly find useful is Kiplinger's Personal Finance's Best 100 Public Universities.  The 2008 rankings have just come out and can be found at the following link. http://www.kiplinger.com/tools/colleges/  The University of South Carolina, for example, is ranked #35 in in-state value, and #59 for out-of-state value.  Considering that there are over 3,000 colleges and universities in the United States, we are certainly pleased with our ranking.

The thing I like about Kiplinger's is that they consider academic quality, costs, and financial aid to determine value.  For any ranking system, always examine their ranking methodology to learn more about how the service ranks schools.

Campus is quiet now, but when we return January 2, we begin our final phase of the admission decision cycle for the Fall 2008 freshman class, and things won't be so quiet anymore.  So far, we have received about four applications for each space in the freshman class, a new all-time record for USC.  It's nice to be so popular!

Students that applied by our October 1 early answer date have received their admission status, but for the vast majority of applicants applied after October 1, and  for these we have not yet made a decision and will not be able to do so for some time.  We will send out the rest of our admission decisions in early March, once all applicants have had a complete and thorough review. 

And so, if you are waiting for an answer from us, we appreciate your patience as we work as quickly and carefully as we can to review your application. 

May this holiday season be restful and peaceful for you and your loved ones!