University of South Carolina-Columbia Top Questions

Visiting a college before picking one has become crucial to the success of students. It is very important for a potential student to feel a sense of belonging or true interest in the school before making the long term commitment to college. Even then, some students don't always stay. I felt strongly attached to USC because I was born and lived just 15 minutes from the university. Both of my parents also worked at the university for almost 15 years. My family now lives in Cincinnati but I still feel close attachment to USC and its community. That example shows how I am connected to my school and its community. I encourage younger students to do some research on the institutions before they apply. College visits are an important first step for future students. When doing a visit, explore as much of the campus as you can. Try laying down on the grass of the campus green space, or hang outside a dorm or two and get the feel of it. I even recommend going into the most popular classrooms and see how it feels. These are just a few things to consider. Hope it helps!

First, make sure you visit the campus AND the surrounding area/town. If social activities and events outside of the campus are important, focus on them as well. Also, take as many tours as possible to give you a feel for places you will be spending your days. Meet and talk to as many faculty and students as you can because this will give you a real sense of the school's community, not just the people in the brochures. Don't forget to take pictures of the good AND the bad, this way you can easily remember the pros and cons of each school. It is also very important to do some research on the college majors that are available. Even if you are undecided, make sure a school has a wide variety of majors available and that each has a good reputation. Finally, look at the school's degree requirements; ones that require internships and hands on experience will really pay off in the future! And if you like to watch or play any kind of sport, be sure to chose a school where you can either play intrumurals, watch a game, or do both! Good luck!

Go to the college! It is really important to visit the college and not just rely on the website or print media. You can get a great feel for the students, classes, and over all feel of the university. I didn't expect to like USC as much as I do, the visit changed my mind. The students were really helpful and the campus was beautiful and had plenty of places to study. Don't worry about a specific major. I was a business major when I started and because of the great classes and department, I switched to Anthropology. There is plenty of time to change majors. The college should have enough options, that way if you change your mind, you can still stay there. Check into the social life there, make sure it won't over power your chances to study and really advance in classes. USC has enough academic and social activities to stay socially busy and learn!

Picking the learning environment of one's self or one's child can be a stressful and mind-boggling experience. Before high-school graduation has come and gone, letters are crowding the mail box from schools fighting to be reserved as the "first choice". For some that are making this life altering decision the choice is simple, but for many others it is overwhelming. One must think about the environment they can see themselves or their child learning and growing as human beings, but ultimately it is only the prospective student who can make this decision. Therefore, it is important to explore the options that can not only broaden one's financial and corporate horizons, but bring happiness and gratification in the future as well. In times where everyone seems to be living paycheck to paycheck, it just may be wise to stay away from schools who sport a price tag that can come back to haunt the savings account, and best to pursue the places that may bring life to the phrase "good things come in small packages".

I would tell any student who is indecisive about which college to attend to take campus tours and research each prospective college, and to not make a decision until they are one hundred percent positive that they are making the right decision. In order to make the most of your college experience you should make as many friends as possible, go to sporting events ,and join clubs. I believe all freshman should live on campus in order to make new friends.

Go through all the options, and visit the schools with your kids. My dad visited all of my schools with me, took notes on the tour and was so valuable in the decision process. No student wants to do it alone! It's a really scary time, and the one thing a student really covets is their parents input and support.

Visit the school first. That is most important. You will be able to tell if will enjoy living on a campus if you have visited it.

The advice I would give parents is to make sure you always keep in touch with your child. I noticed my first year that some students seemed to lose themselves in the more negative aspects of college life, I believe in keeping that strong family support system so they don't end up back at home. I would tell students to REALLY open up your books and try and read the material! That is, if you are at college for the right reasons. Because, there are some that aren't. I would tell them to remind themselves often why they are even at their college of choice, set priorities, and STAY FOCUSED! There are a lot of distractions and it can take one weekend to mess up your whole future. College is about growing up and being independent. Don't get discouraged because you are not alone!

Finding the right college is about finding a place that you are comfortable being yourself and, most importantly, helps mold you into who and what you want to become. Don't be afraid to experience new things and keep an open mind to other beliefs and ideas. It is smart to find a college that is affordable for you that has a good reputation for the major you choose. To me, making the most out of your college experience means getting involved on campus beit sports, academics, service etc. What matters most is that you are happy, and by becoming involved, you can reach a sense of self satisfaction and responisbility that will stay with you forever.

Searching for the perfect college can be a daunting task for both parents and students. Multiple factors come into play, such as cost and availabity of certain programs, that were not an issue before. When deciding which insitute is the best a few questions must be answered. What does the college of your dreams have? Size, location, programs, and many other things matter when picking a school. If the schools you a browsing are too large then look at smaller schools. And if there are school located in the heart of the country, but you would rather live on the coast, then check out schools that would suit your needs. Do the insitutes in question have desirable extra-curricular activities? Although getting an education is the foremost goal while attending college, having a place to blow of stem in ways that you enjoy are important as well. If you like football and the school doesn't have a team then there might be a better school out there for you. The best way to answer any of your questions is the visit your top 5 schools and make a "pro/con" list about each. One can only see to believe.