<p>Hi Cathy! Yep, last year Carolina Scholars got their letters on the 26th and McNair the next day…we are having so much snow here in CT I really think no Fed Ex truck would come down our driveway to deliver an envelope!!!</p>
<p>Yes, I’ve been hoping someone will post when they hear so we know the letters are out. Snow here too, so not expecting anything. After last storm (which was much less snow) FedEx was behind by a couple of days, so once someone posts, it will probably be several days more for us in this area.</p>
<p>Hi cathymee,</p>
<p>Just a quick note to tell you how incredibly valuable your posts have been to understanding the McNair and Honors College experience, as well as USC and Columbia in general. Our son has been fortunate enough to be named a McNair Finalist, so I have been doing lots of research, trying to get a better sense of what being a McNair Scholar would mean to him. (Or, being a McNair Finalist which, from everything I can gather, is an identical experience except for the $4,000 a year difference. And, if a Finalist is fortunate enough to receive “stacked” scholarships, even that difference goes away!) I have read hundreds of your posts, going all the way back to when your son acquired his nickname of “Lucky.” At this point, I almost feel like an Internet stalker LOL! Seriously, thank you for all the information. I very much appreciate it!</p>
<p>Congrats to all mcnair finalists. You’ll get a great look at campus next weekend and the temp. is forcast to be 70.</p>
<p>you are welcome Meadowbrook Court! Glad to be of service 
about the McNair weekend: don’t forget you are on “display” the whole time, not just at the interview. Take time to explore the campus, not just on the guided tour.If you can, try to explore the areas of interest off campus, like 5 Points or the Vista.
Meadowbrook…there are some subtle differences between Scholar/Finalist designation besides the $$…the Finalists do not get invited to certain social events but in terms of learning/living opportunities there is no difference.
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!</p>
<p>Hey all- a bit late on this bandwagon, I suppose, but better late than never! First of all, congrats to those of you who were selected as finalists! That’s incredibly exciting, and this weekend will be a phenomenal experience for you. And for those of you who weren’t selected, please, don’t give up on Carolina yet! It’s a great university and the Honors program is a fantastic experience regardless of whether or not you are a McNair/Carolina scholar. I have friends who are not Carolina/McNair and who very well could be. Why certain people were or were not chosen is something I don’t know, but I do know that the Honors college is full of really incredible kids. Don’t think any less of yourself because you weren’t selected. </p>
<p>I’m a current McNair- 2350 SAT, 4.5 weighted HS GPA (3.9 unweighted- put me thirty-something in my class of ~700), plenty of extracurriculars. The McNairs aren’t necessarily the kids with the highest GPAs, or the highest test scores, or the most AP exams. They aren’t all National Merit. They are generally very well-rounded: strong academically, involved in extracurriculars, and well-spoken. It’s easy to come into the weekend feeling very intimidated. Some kids write and direct plays, others compose music, others have done in-depth research. It’s easy to look around and and feel like you are way out of your league. Just remember you are there for a reason! You aren’t the least bit out of your league. There was something on your application that caught their eye, and they wanted to bring you out to Carolina because they want you here. So be proud of that and be confident in that! </p>
<p>Confidence makes all the difference, especially during the interviews. The interviews are long- I can’t lie about that. That said, I found it to be an incredibly fun experience. What they really want is to get to know you, and get a feel for who you are. We talked about literally everything: from my favorite band to how I would use economic stimulus money. Reread your application before you go in. That’s their springboard for the interview. Have an opinion, and support it. Sometimes they ask tricky, challenging questions, but they aren’t trying to be mean, nor do they want to embarrass you. They just want to see how you think on your feet. Read up on current events. But most of all, just relax and be yourself. I don’t care if it’s cliche to say that; it’s true. And if you’re nervous, say so! That’s perfectly fine too. They all understand.</p>
<p>During the rest of the weekend, just try to make the most of your time here. Go on tours, interact with the other families here, and get familiar with the Carolina culture. Ask questions. There are plenty of people who want to answer them! Go to the socials at night- I made some of my best friends that weekend. This weekend is not about just about seeing the campus and interviewing for scholarship money, because frankly, though the campus is beautiful, so are many other schools. And we all know that the money is nice, but there’s more to it than pure cash. It’s the opportunities that are available here, and it’s the people here. What makes Carolina truly special is the people here, from the students to the faculty to the staff. It’s the professors who go out of their way to help a student out, the advisors who genuinely care, the cafeteria workers who actually get to know you… And that part of the experience is true for you regardless of the scholarship you get.
//endspiel.</p>
<p>Really though, I love it here. If you have any questions, please, don’t hesitate to ask.</p>