USC MFA 2023 - Scholarships, anyone?

[Kris 4_2]

Hi all! Has anyone who was accepted into any of USC's MFA programs heard back about scholarships/fellowships?

I emailed admissions awhile back and they said to hold tight until the end of March as they're still rolling out decision letters. Just curious as to whether anyone else has gotten a scholarship/fellowship email yet.

For context, I'm an international student (so no financial aid for me ) who got in for Writing for Film and TV, but my ability to attend hinges on whether or not I receive any kind of financial assistance. Fingers crossed for good news!

 

[xTide]

I'm waitlisted for the Production MFA. I was told by the financial aid office that my financial aid package would be ready to view in May.

 

[sifan_liu]

They send me an email about a virtual financial aid meeting on Apr. 6th. It’s for multiple people who have received offer or waitlist. Guess they will give us more information by then.

 

[edanna]

are they able to tell us our package before we come off waitlist? it would be great to know if it's actually feasible to stay on waitlist or not

 

[katiebonnie]

Has anyone had any updates on scholarships?

 

[Kris 4_2]

Has anyone had any updates on scholarships?

Apparently, they announced at the Graduate Admitted Student Day that all (or almost all) scholarships and fellowships for incoming students have been given out. (Disclaimer: I didn't attend, but heard this secondhand from a current student.) I got my award letter about a week ago.

I think this only applies to scholarships/fellowships though, not financial aid! As @xTide said above, finaid packages will only be available to view in May. All the best and I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

 

[xTide]

Apparently, they announced at the Graduate Admitted Student Day that all (or almost all) scholarships and fellowships for incoming students have been given out. (Disclaimer: I didn't attend, but heard this secondhand from a current student.) I got my award letter about a week ago.

I think this only applies to scholarships/fellowships though, not financial aid! As @xTide said above, finaid packages will only be available to view in May. All the best and I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

I attended the event and that information is correct. That said, there was no clarification on how scholarships and fellowships are being handled for waitlisted students. There's a financial aid zoom meeting on Thursday, everyone who was admitted or waitlisted should have received the email. I will be attending to find out more information.

 

[rcpsn]

The FAST page on my USC portal was updated a few days ago with federal loan information. It does say -

"Information about awards is generally available one month prior to the start of the semester or when semester charges appear on your student account. Please check back at that time to view the status of this award."

Guessing that's what they mean by scholarships? Or if they've already handed out the awards then I probably didnt get any. Hoping this gets clarified during the session on 6th.

Any other info from the grad admitted students day? I wasn't able to make it but would love to hear thoughts/details from anyone that was there!

 

[katiebonnie]

I couldn’t make the zoom session but I emailed and they said they’ve already handed out the scholarship awards and recipients would have received an email. I didn’t get anything so it’s looking like I won’t be able to attend

 

[jfjburns95]

I couldn’t make the zoom session but I emailed and they said they’ve already handed out the scholarship awards and recipients would have received an email. I didn’t get anything so it’s looking like I won’t be able to attend

I would reach out to the financial aid office. Explain your situation. If they can’t offer you a scholarship they should be able to help you with obtaining loans or other resources. The worst that happens is they can’t help you, but I would give it a shot. Schools want the people they admit to attend, and USC admits a lot of foreign students so I’m sure they have some resources to assist you.

 

[katiebonnie]

I would reach out to the financial aid office. Explain your situation. If they can’t offer you a scholarship they should be able to help you with obtaining loans or other resources. The worst that happens is they can’t help you, but I would give it a shot. Schools want the people they admit to attend, and USC admits a lot of foreign students so I’m sure they have some resources to assist you.

Okay so I did reach out to admissions and they gave me a sort of blunt but honest response that there was no way to appeal the decision because that would mean taking away someone else’s scholarship but that there was still a possibility I might receive something for the upcoming year.

8 minutes later I got an email from student services with a small scholarship. The timing was wild haha.

 

[xTide]

Currently attending the financial aid seminar. In regards to the wait-listed students getting scholarship notifications, a staff member replied, "Waitlist students would not receive scholarship notification unless/until they are formally admitted."

 

[sifan_liu]

Currently attending the financial aid seminar. In regards to the wait-listed students getting scholarship notifications, a staff member replied, "Waitlist students would not receive scholarship notification unless/until they are formally admitted."

Yes, and they said that means around last October. And if waitlisted students get off the list and join fall classes, they will send the scholarship package shortly after that.