<p>Get your Gamecock gear!
We got a flag for the yard online right after d made her decision. It was fun for her to drive home from school and see it. Once the decision was made she also felt like a weight was lifted from her shoulders and she could enjoy the rest of her senior year.
Congratulations!!</p>
<p>My daughter received the McKissick. That combined with admission to the Honors College is making the college choice truly a difficult one for my daughter. USC began as college choice number 5 on her list of 6 but has moved up to a strong number 1 or 2. I'm hesitant to even post the question, but I think the nagging issue for my daughter and for us is USC's overall reputation, particularly in regards to graduate and professional school admissions. Do any of you have any insight into this or is it a factor for you at all? When I look at rankings (which I try to take with a grain of salt) I can't believe that USC doesn't fall higher overall.</p>
<p>That said, we have been so impressed with the timeliness, quality and frequency of communication from USC. The emails, postcards, brochures, etc. keep South Carolina on our minds! The campus is beautiful and everyone we have come into contact there has been friendly helpful and responsive.</p>
<p>My opinion is, the HC made the difference for us. If it were just the general university, we honestly would have crossed it right off and never even applied.</p>
<p>Sorry if that hurts anyone's feelings, I am being totally honest. USC is ranked about 115th in National Universities, alongside OU, U of Missouri-Rolla, etc.</p>
<p>We have W&M, VT, and UVA here, all of which are very highly ranked.</p>
<p>The opportunity to be in the HC environment, design your own major, and the merit scholarship all played a part in the decision. It also helped that USC seems to genuinely care about recruiting good students and raising their national reputation. Our state schools don't seem to care whether you apply or not: they know they will get 5 applicants for every available spot.</p>
<p>northandsouth,</p>
<p>Seems we have a similar problem. FinAid packages aside (which are important), my daughter wants to major in International Business. The Moore School of Business is highly ranked in this area which was the reason she applied to USC in the first place. She has also been accepted into the school of business at the U. of Washington. Having been raised in SC and knowing Columbia fairly well, I have nothing against my daughter deciding on USC. But a major factor for us will be internship opportunites that lead to actual employment in the real world. So we also will have to compare Columbia to Seattle as well as just the schools involved. We already know about Microsoft, Boeing, Intel, and Starbucks intern opportunities at UW and during our 4 day visit to Columbia this will be a big a major issue we will be discussing with a representative of the Moore Business School. So I assume part of your concern, like mine, is of a "big picture" regarding post-graduation. What will an education at USC do better for our S/D in the long run than someplace else? Not a question to take lightly. Wish you luck in finding the right answer in making the right choice - because it's not only about the next 4 years, but for a lifetime.</p>
<p>Our son also plans to go to grad school, and I think that it's not necessarily important where you attend undergrad as long as you have high grades and good scores on your GRE, GMAT etc. (Feel free to correct me if this is wrong, it's just what I have heard from many people)</p>
<p>Money was a big factor. We are saving enough by S attending USC to pay for one year of grad school tuition.</p>
<p>My daughter did not even look at rankings so we can't really reply to that part of your question, but she did have reasons for choosing USC that we can share.
She really felt that she wanted to attend school in the south, partly for the weather, partly because she thinks she may want to live there in the future, partly because of the whole "southern hospitality" reputation. Also partly, I'll admit, because it sounded more glamorous than going where all of her high school classmates were going.
USC was number 3 on her list of 4 , and after visiting twice and receiving a scholarship and being invited to Capstone, moved to number 1. She liked the feeling of being wanted, liked the big school-big sports feel, loved the campus and area. She wasn't sure what she wanted to study so a large university with many choices was a must. She is happy with her choice. She did feel that some of her classes were not challenging first semester, but we told her to enjoy it while she can because it will get more difficult. This semester is bringing a little more challenge as her courses include some outside of her comfort zone.
There are so many great activities and she is soaking it all in. As cathymee has posted before, Columbia does have a lot to offer.
I won't say it is right for everyone, but she really is happy with her choice and has no regrets. (especially when she calls me to brag about the weather.LOL)</p>
<p>Just an anecdote for AFA007. I have a friend who graduated from a very small no-name state school. She went to USC for her master's in international business. Now, this was 15-20 years ago, but she did an internship with Mercedes-Benz in Germany. After she graduated, she got a job with AT&T implementing one of their of systems globally. Many trips all over the world, great salary and benefits.</p>
<p>Just wanted to say, I have been keeping up with USC from last year and this year, even though I only have one daughter and she's at school somewhere else. I have recommended USC based on Cathymee's and others experiences last year. I am keeping an eye out for friends that have current juniors. Good luck and congratulations to all.</p>
<p>Does anyone else feel that with the honor's program and capstone, along with the Innovista center and other capital improvements, USC is working hard to raise their status somewhat? I really do feel that by the time our kids graduate it will be a more recognized institution.
Maybe not, but I do get the feeling they are making a name for themselves in a broader sense.</p>
<p>Don't get me wrong, I'm not questioning anyones rationale for choosing USC. Just pointing out that other factors that are going into our decision - getting in-state status was a start. But even with a McKissick it still is a toss-up with UW financially (who hasn't released all it's scholarships yet). The Moore School gets an edge, but no one can deny that UW has some positve points as well. Some of us still have decisions to make, how we come to that decision may be a bit more laborious than others.</p>
<p>And please don't get me wrong either. I'm not saying that USC isn't a very good school. I firmly believe that a motivated and talented student can get a great education anywhere. It's just when we start putting the pluses and minuses into the columns comparing my daughter's choices that I wonder if overall national reputation and rank should be a factor in choosing a school if other things are equal. We too are still waiting to see what her other choices come up with in financial aid and are so relieved to know that if all other financial aid packages fall through, the McKissick at USC gives her a top notch choice that we are all very proud of. It may very well end up that even if her other schools come up with similar financial aid offers, she would still choose USC for numerous reasons. It really does offer EVERYTHING that she is looking for in a school and more except maybe the reputation. But hey, every school is lacking something!</p>
<p>I think the reputation is rising and will continue to do so. It is obvious they want to attract the best students for their HC.</p>
<p>I did forget to mention a very important factor. I have met several people in person in my area who had kids or relatives who attended USC, and not one had a single negative thing to say. Only positives!</p>
<p>That says a lot for a school.</p>
<p>AFA007
Could it be that your comfort zone with UW comes from familiarity? It sounds like its your local state U and therefore you know more about the city and the U ingeneral. I would advise a real heart to heart discussion with someone with good knowledge of your childs major area of interest. They would be the ones that could assuage your fears as to internships,etc.If its the Moore School of Business, they must be doing something right..they are ranked at the top.
In my S's case, USC wasnt even on the radar screen until it was reccommended to him by a prof at another college where he attended a summer program of interest in his major (Sports Magmt).So we investigated backwards you might say..from program,to University .
I will say I am experienced in having a D come out of a University with an even lower "ranking" than USC, she went to ASU.But it was chosen also specifically for a major and her outcome has been to say the least..spectacular. She was in their Honors College, was mentored very well in her department (Music) and had her choice of fully funded fellowships to well known Grad schools .I believe if you are concerned about Grad school, you must look on the major dept level not the University as a whole.See what their placement rates are like.Professional schools may be a different story but D's friends from ASU who sought admittance to Medical,Law, Dental, Pharmacy and Physical Therapy schools have all been successful,and in schools all over the US.
S picked USC for many reasons,not the least of which was winning the McNair and the Lieber (for NMF).He spent a few hours with the department director,was satisfied that they had the connections he would need in the industry.They require a practicum as well as an internship and require busieness classes.He wanted a big U atmosphere with big school sports and he was attracted to a warmer climate.Once he visited, he cancelled his scheduled interviews and visits that were to follow.
But everyone must judge for themselves. we weren't won over,frankly,until we visited.I would never have thought my kid would wind up in South Carolina...after all hes a half Irish half Jewish pretty liberal New Yorker and I was pretty freaked out by the Confederate flag on the State Capitol grounds, and the references to the "Federal occupation" on plaques on the Horseshoe.But he decided it was the place for him , and we spoke extensively to faculty who come from all over.Problems solved,at least for us.
Your mileage,as they say. may vary.</p>
<p>everyone, i totally hear ya on the reputation thing. usc has everything i want, and if i get mcnair, that would be hard to say no to. however, i just found out i got a full ride to UNC-Chapel Hill. I have no idea what to do!!! Any thoughts? I'm totally indifferent. I know I'd be happy at either and get a great education at either...but UNC just has the edge of being a very prestigious school, but USC has the edge of catering to my every whim lol if i get Mcnair. any thoughts?</p>
<p>cathymee,</p>
<p>I am repeating myself regarding the fact that I was born and raised in SC - and attended a small private college about 40 minutes up I-26 from Columbia. Many of my friends went to grad/law school at USC (or Clemson), some who are school teachers have taken additional summer course/seminars there within the last year. All have told me that there has been a lot of money put into USC, that I will be very surprised, and are happy that this may bring me back home more often (or even permanently) if my daughter chooses to go there. If aesthetics of the campus was a big factor then what I remember of Carolina has a ways to go to beat UW - and hopefully the dogwoods/azaleas/magnolias of April are in full bloom on and around the horseshoe to compete with the cherry blossoms and rhododenrons of UW. Sorry, but having a pretty good knowledge - as a born and bred "Sandlapper" - about Columbia doesn't make that much of a selling point against Seattle. I believe I also mentioned that we plan to have the Moore Business School show us why they can provide the most bang for the buck. Honestly, if it was an overall UW vs. USC (even with in-state status) comparison - if based mainly upon reputation, or many of the reasons given on this forum other than scholarships (i.e. Southern life-style, campus layout) - USC would not be a making this a hard decision. And that comes from someone having deep roots in SC versus only a decade in the NW. For those who have already decided on USC I can appreciate the load that has taken off their minds and I am in no way trying to dampen their enthusiasm. My postings were only expressing how a final decision comes to everyone based upon different perspectives. I'm going to visit in April hoping to be surprised - not from knowing too little about Carolina, or Columbia, or what it means living in the South, but rather already knowing too much.</p>
<p>well, as I said, your mileage may vary and everyone makes their own opinion based on their own needs/wants.Thats what makes the elusive "fit" so different for everyone.
Hope the visit is a good one for you.</p>
<p>Getoutabuffalo,
That is awesome, a full ride to Chapel Hill. Why would you not take it? Would you be in the Honors college? As far as rankings go, UNC is about 75 spots higher than SC....a little bit more than an edge.</p>
<p>GOB - didn't you post that you are also a Robertson semi-finalist at UNC? It seems like UNC is really showing you the love!</p>
<p>yes, i am a robertson semifinalist...man i am gonna WORK that interview OUT. whewww. that would be the end of everything if i got that. but if not...i just dont know...sc is a better "deal" but its UNC!! How can i turn that down?!!?</p>
<p>Getoutta, do you have a full ride to UNC regardless of getting the Robertson? So is it a financial aid offer? Well then Robertson would be the icing on the cake. Have you visited Chapel Hill. What did you think of the campus and town?</p>