Scholarship Overview
The Norman Topping Student Aid Fund (NTSAF) at the University of Southern California (USC) proudly offers the Topping Scholarship for the academic session of 2024/2025. This scholarship aims to provide financial assistance to students who exhibit significant financial need and a strong dedication to community service. The Topping Scholarship prioritizes applicants who are first-generation college students and those from the local area, but it is also open to a wide range of candidates who demonstrate a commitment to enhancing their communities through volunteer work. Designed to be renewable for the entirety of the recipient's tenure at USC, the scholarship underscores the importance of academic success, full-time enrollment, active participation in NTSAF events, and ongoing community service engagement.
Host Institution(s)
The University of Southern California, a leading private research university located in Los Angeles, is known for its high standards of academic excellence, dynamic campus life, and diverse student body. Established in 1880, USC offers a broad spectrum of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across various fields, including but not limited to, business, engineering, medicine, and the arts. USC encourages an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit, providing students with opportunities for engaging in cutting-edge research, experiential learning, and global projects.
Level(s)/Field(s)
The Topping Scholarship is available for both undergraduate and graduate levels, encompassing all subjects offered by USC. This inclusivity ensures that a broad spectrum of students can benefit from the financial support, irrespective of their field of study, fostering a diverse and dynamic community of scholars dedicated to personal and professional excellence.
Scholarship Value
Recipients of the Topping Scholarship benefit from financial assistance that is renewable on an annual basis, contingent upon the fulfillment of scholarship requirements. These stipulations include maintaining a minimum USC cumulative grade point average—2.5 for undergraduate scholars and 3.0 for graduate fellows—ensuring full-time enrollment, participating in all required NTSAF events, and completing 20 hours of community service per semester. This comprehensive support underscores the program's commitment to fostering academic achievement and civic engagement among its scholars.
Eligibility
Eligibility for the Topping Scholarship is broad, including both domestic and international applicants. Candidates must be applying for Fall admission as full-time freshmen, transfers, or graduate students to on-campus programs, or be new Spring/Summer admits. Demonstrated financial need is a requirement, assessed through the submission of the FAFSA or Dream Act application. Moreover, applicants must exhibit strong community awareness and an active commitment to community service, reflecting the core values of the NTSAF.
Application Instructions
Prospective students interested in the Topping Scholarship must undertake a straightforward application process, starting with filling out the online application form, which includes answering autobiographical questions. Additionally, applicants are required to submit one letter of recommendation, which can be uploaded via the online portal or sent via email to ntsaf@usc.edu. Critical deadlines include March 1 for first-year applicants and June 1 for transfer and graduate applicants, with the application window opening on December 15, 2024.