University of South Carolina-Columbia Top Questions

Some of my professor do know my name since I have taken the time to visit them during office hours. With class sizes of 90 or 120 students, if you want the professor to know your name you must visit them and introduce yourself during office hours. In my smaller classes my professors know every students name. Sometimes I pass professors while walking on campus and they recognize me and even say hello. My favorite class is Journalism 201 because I am very interested in pursuing my minor of Public Relations. My least favorite class is Philosophy because I am not interested in learning about logic and different derivations. Our library on campus always has students studying and working on group projects. I feel students put in a good amount of time, but also have enough time to socialize and enjoy some free time. Smaller classes have lots of participation in class, but most lecture classes do not involved class participation. Students on campus are very intellectual and have very intelligent conversations outside of class. The students on campus are very competitive in their studies and always are trying to improve their grade point average every chance they can. I feel our school has excellent requirements. It is essential that students are prepared to start college classes when coming to the University of South Carolina. Also, the requirements are not too hard, but also not too easy either. The University of South Carolina works to prepare students for the future and their career path rather than teaching students just for the sake of learning. When a student graduates from Carolina, they have the tools and skills needed in the real world.

There is a huge variety of majors at my school and because its a large school some academics are good and some are not as good. We have the top international business school in the country. We also have a top Exercise Science program as well as a couple other highly recognized programs. I think that because of the large number of students that attend school here, it isn't until you higher level classes that you get to communicate with teachers and your not just a number. There are all types of classes here and my most favorite was Shag Dance class. It teaches you the Shag which is the state dance and allows you to see a different type of culture some people were not brought up in. Overall I think that the academics are great!

At USC, I am a biology major and I have had many long nights in the library studying. The workload offered isn't all that tough if you have multitasking and time management skills. You're also presented with many opportunities to succeed in your classes. For any class with a large fail rate, they provide Supplemental Instruction which is where you meet with a student that took the same class that you're in with the same teacher and they help you study and explain what the tests are going to be like as far as formatting goes. They can answer any direct questions you have with the material and help you on all your homework. There are also the ACE tutoring centers that can read over your writing before you have to turn in a paper or help you with math. Teachers have set office hours where you can stop by and receive direct help on anything that you're having trouble with. Also, many classes have teacher's assistants that can answer many of the questions that you have also. Something I don't like is the extra classes we have to take to graduate that don't really have anything to do with our major. For biology I was required to take two semesters of English, two semesters of Spanish, two semesters of computer science and two semesters of history. None of those classes have anything really to do with being a veterinarian (what I plan to go to grad-school for) but we are required to take them so we receive a well-rounded education from the university. I feel like if we didn't have to take those classes, it was save us a ton of money and we would be able to advance into our professions in a lot less time. Overall I am really impressed with the academics at USC.

Most professor do not know my name, but I am in the prestigious Moore School of Business. Students take pride in there studies and are found shifting through books all the time. I'm a finance major and these classes are the hardest of all.

I've made sure to make myself known to every one of my professors. It comes in handy sometimes, and it's always nice to have that bond if you ever have a problem or need a recommendations. If you don't make your presence known, they probably won't remember your name. My favorite class is vector calc. I enjoy the subject more than anything. My least favorite class was Comp Sci 145. The teachers they hire are ridiculously BAD. It's unfortunate, given that it is the hardest class I've taken at USC without taking the bad professors into account. Some classes have high rates of participation, while others do not. You play it by ear as to whether speaking up with an opinion is appropriate or not. I hear intellectual conversations frequently. I also tend to hear stupid conversations. Most students aren't too competitive, but I am for sure. The most unique class I've taken would have to be University 101. We got to do a ton of activities on campus and earn points towards our grades. It was a great way to get to know what USC offers beyond the classroom. I'm in the math department, which has it's great professors and it's not-so-great professors. The building is a bit run-down, but you learn to love it. I will say hello to my professors outside of class if I see them, but I don't make it a point to have meals with them or contact them frequently. I dislike the academic requirements of this school, because it seems like the classes don't really relate to what you do in the real world. It definitely seems like learning for learning's sake. Luckily, you'll find a few professors who attempt to add in real world applications.

Because USC is a bigger school not all of my professors know my name. I personally go see all my professors on the first day of school to get acquainted with them. But the further you get into your major the smaller the classes become. I have found that class participation is mandatory and in the athletic training or psychology major you will have quite a few class participation points in your classes. Within the psychology major students are not very competitive but within the athletic training major, everyone is competitive because we are all looking to get into the program next year. I study most week nights, and most students study during the day. But the thing is everyone's study habits are the habits they choose, so essentially you will choose your own study times and habits.

...relaxed but not slacking. Out of my 2 years here, I have only had one bad professor and often times students will use ratemyprofessor.com to understand what their class will be like. Professor are often very willing to help you out, and many have grading scales that work in your favor. There are many different options on how to fulfill your general requirements so you won't have to take a class you hate. Ask upperclassmen on which classes are interesting, which professors are hard, etc; fellow students love to share their experiences. Some classes may be big, but it is still easy to have discussion and professors are easy to reach before,after, and during office hours. Education at this school will help you learn what you need to do well in the future, as well as giving you opportunities to explore different majors. We offer standard classes but also classes such as Astronomy and Sailing. With so many different options, it is easy to get the education you need (even in a big environment) because our professors are easy to access, while still having a huge social life. Many students will offer you tips on how to handle the work load and professors will try to provide extra chances. But it is still college and there is a very real element of taking responsibility for your own preparation and time management.

The academics/classes at USC are very intellectually challenging. It seems that no matter what type of course it is, there are always educational debates and your opinion is always heard. Like I've said before, the school is what you make it. If you put forth the effort to get to know your professors, then they will do the same with you. I am an elementary education major with a minor in political science. Sometimes the advisors are not the best, but within my sorority I have talked with older girls to help me choose my classes. All of my major courses have been more than useful for the profession that I want to go in to.

Starting answeringThe academics definitely vary based on your major. Most students come here for the business school, nursing, journalism, hospitality, or sports management. If you are in nursing be prepared to spend a lot of time in the library, especially when it comes time to take organic chemistry. Nursing students typically don't have a lot of freedom when it comes to picking their schedule and spend a lot of time studying. However, we do have one of the top programs so it's worth it. My favorite class so far has definitely been University 101. It's a seminar class for incoming freshman. My professor was amazing and is even my academic advisor for the business school. She made the class fun and enjoyable while also informing us a lot about campus resources. We did everything from career exploration to scavenger hunts on the historic campus to de-stressing about finals. What's great about this class was that it really gave me a chance to not only get acquainted with the university but with a professor as well. I still continue to talk to her and use her as an important resource. A unique class I took as part of my general education requirement was Anthropology 102, Understanding Other Cultures. This class didn't require attendance but it was one that I couldn't wait for. The best part of the class was the documentaries that the professor chose. The films not only fit the themes we discussed in class, like language, marriage, and identity in other cultures, but they also evoked enticing conversations within the class. Not only did I learn a lot about other cultures but also it really gave me a better global perspective. I am currently an International Business and Economics major with a minor in Italian and Political Science (and I will still graduate in four years). The International Business program is very hard to get into but has been top ranked for many years. As part of the program you are required go abroad, co-major in another business field, and minor in a language. While a business core of 40 credit hours may seem like a lot it really is beneficial because it gives you a well rounded background in all aspects of business from communications to economics to management. The classes truly prepare you for the real world once you graduate. Most of them carry a heavy emphasis on professionalism in the future. Overall, the academics are challenging but make you well prepared for the future

Academics at USC prepare you extremely well for the field of interest you are studying. i do admit, some of the general education classes have 200-300 students where the teacher may not know your name. IF this is the case, there will most likely be a teacher aid who will answer any question you have. These teachers are still very willing to help and have accessible office hours throughout the week. Other students in the class are always willing to help. IN the smaller classes, the teachers LOVE the subject they teach and want to see nothing but their students to succeed. Teachers and students are very academic focused and ready to to do their best.