All responses apply to both Trustee and Presidential Scholars unless otherwise noted.
Additional Funding | Advisement | Auditing | Billing | Leave of Absence | Pass/No Pass | Registration | Scholarship Renewal | Seniors | Tuition Insurance
Can
my scholarship be extended beyond 8 semesters?
No, all scholarships are awarded for a maximum of 8 semesters, (10 semesters
for Architecture students), contingent upon the satisfactory completion
of renewal requirements. There is an
opportunity to apply for additional funding for use during the 8 semesters of scholarship eligibility.
Please refer to the Exceptional Funding page
for detailed information.
How do I request
Exceptional Funding?
Please visit the Exceptional Funding page for
detailed information about the policy and process. Exceptional Funding
is available only to Trustee & Presidential scholars who entered the
institution as freshmen.
I am a Presidential
Scholar, can I upgrade my scholarship to a Trustee?
No, Trustee and Presidential Scholarships are granted by the Office of
Admission specifically to freshmen. Selection criteria is based
on academic excellence, leadership, and service during a student's tenure
at their high school or previous college.
Does your office
provide other scholarships?
No, the Academic Recognition Programs office does not actively support
other campus or local scholarships. If you are interested in international
fellowships, please visit our fellowships
website.
We also recommend talking to advisors in your major/minor department and visiting the Financial Aid website for scholarship resources.
Important policy:
*Trustee Scholars are not eligible to receive any other scholarships from
a USC source.
*Presidential Scholars may retain up to $2,500 of scholarship(s) from
other USC sources.
*Learn more about combining scholarships and need-based aid by reviewing
the full scholarship policy.
What kind of advisement
does Academic Recognition Programs provide?
We advise students on issues directly related to their scholarship, including;
GPA & unit requirements, scholarship probation, exceptional funding,
leaves of absence, and general policy issues.
Do you provide
academic advisement?
Generally, no. For advisement on your major or minor, please contact your
academic department. The Office
of College Advising provides advisement for undeclared or undecided
students as well as for the General Education requirement.
How can I meet
with an advisor in your office?
Schedule an appointment with our staff in Academic Recognition Programs
by calling (213) 740-9116. You can also schedule an appointment by emailing your availability M - F between 9-5 to arpstaff@usc.edu.
Will auditing a
course effect my scholarship?
Yes, it can. Grades or units are not earned in courses which are audited.
The Financial Aid Office will not factor the unearned course units into
the 32 units required per academic year to renew your scholarship. You
will be placed on scholarship probation if you earn under the 32 unit
requirement, or lose your scholarship if you are currently on scholarship
probation. An academic year is comprised of the fall and spring semesters.
Units earned during the summer term are not counted toward the 32 unit
requirement!
Additionally, to receive your scholarship funds each semester, you must be enrolled in a full-time schedule (12 or more units for which you will earn academic credit). If your audited course is part of those 12 units, you will receive a bill for the semester's tuition.
My scholarship
hasn't yet been applied and the bill is due immediately. What is going
on?
1) Are you currently enrolled in at least 12 units? The scholarship only
credits your bill at 12 or more units.
2) If you are enrolled in 12 or more units, please contact our office
immediately: (213) 740-9116, Student Union 202
Can I take a leave
of absence?
Yes, but you must first clear it with your academic advisor. Once your
academic advisor has approved your request, please bring a copy of the
completed form to the Academic Recognition Program's Office in STU 202.
Our office will then notify the Financial Aid Office of your intention
in order to protect your remaining scholarship eligibility.
When you are ready to return, notify both the Academic Recognition Programs and Financial Aid offices in writing one semester in advance.
Keep in mind:
*If you enroll at another institution during your leave of absence, you
will lose one semester of scholarship eligibility for every 16 units (or
full-time equivalent) earned.
Can I take classes for pass/no pass?
Yes, but you should consult with your academic advisor before enrolling in any course on a pass/no pass basis. A "pass" grade will not alter your gpa and the units will count toward the 32 units required per academic (fall/spring) year. However, keep in mind that you will not receive unit credit for a course with a grade of "no pass."
Can you help with
registering for classes that are full?
No. Talk to your academic advisor to check out your options. Work with
the professor to see if there is a wait list and explain your situation.
Do Trustee &
Presidential Scholars receive priority registration?
There is no priority registration for Trustee or Presidential Scholars.
Registration dates are assigned based on the number of units you have
earned. This is addressed briefly on the Registrar's website (see "Most
Commonly Asked Questions" section, question #2): http://www.usc.edu/dept/ARR/registration
What
do I need to do in order to renew my scholarship each academic year?
In
summary, you must earn a total of 32 units and a minimum cumulative GPA
of 3.0 per academic year. An academic year is compised of the Fall and
Spring terms. Summer term grades and units are not factored in. Please
review the full renewal policy for additional
pertinent information.
I
am a graduating senior, can I take a reduced course load in my final
semester at USC?
Yes, if you are in good academic standing (not under scholarship probation),
there are two possibilites:
1. Enrollment in 12-15 units: Formal approval not required, however you
must inform our staff of your intention.
2. Enrollment in under 12 units (less than full-time): Advanced approval
is required from our office. Please contact our
staff for approval and additional information.
Does tuition insurance
protect my scholarship?
We recommend you carefully consider this elective insurance. It may help
protect your scholarship for future terms in case of serious illness or
accident. Please contact the Financial
Aid office for more information regarding this insurance.
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