<p>My best wishes to all of you. I too keep reading this and also recommending USC to others. DD received a McKissick Scholarship last year. Honestly, if she had been invited to be in either honors or Capstone, she would BE at USC. Those two programs made the HUGE school feel smaller. She was told she would not be considered for Capstone (even if others didn't accept it) because her SAT score was 1230 instead of 1250...no kidding. She is very happy out in CA at college. But honestly, we all felt that USC was a terrific school and have recommended it to many others.</p>
<p>yes, i have the full tuition and room and board through the pogue. im also up for the robertson...which is all that plus perks like u cant believe!!</p>
<p>Well GOB- you definitely did your homework and put a lot of time into looking for scholarships so it's nice to see all of that work paid off! Now you have the enviable problem of wading through an abundance of offers.
Just remember that with everything there is no one "perfect" answer so don't kill yourself trying to figure that one out. Go with your gut and I am sure you will do fine whereever you end up. You just have to keep us all posted as we have been along on this journey with you so far!</p>
<p>I have been following the USC thread for a bit, since my s has decided that he is interested in the school. As a junior he is starting to put together his list and USC is on it. He has some big schools, some small LACs, kind of a mishmash of everything right now. We haven't visited anywhere as of yet, but plan to this spring. We are from Virginia, so getting an OOS waiver would be wonderful. I have been looking at the wonderful scholarship opportunities for oos kids; they are some of the best out there as far as I am concerned. My s has a 3.9 GPA right now with how do they say "a rigorous class load of APs, Honors, etc" (You really learn a new lingo when you begin to go through this process don't you? :)) and just got back his first ACT test scores from Feb. 10. He scored a composite 28. </p>
<p>He doesn't have many ECs because of time constaints due to being a year round senior group swimmer. Do you all have any advice for him (or his mom!) about the next year and applying to South Carolina? One concern I have is the size of the school. I had always thought small is good, (he is hearing impaired and wears a cochlear implant) but maybe if he were to get into a smaller dept. or even an honors college setting it would work. He thinks he wants to major in (Marine) Science and possibly double major/minor in studio art. (we fluxuate on this one- I have heard everything from Landscape architecture to marine science) </p>
<p>Anyway, I look forward to hearing about the kids who are heading off to Columbia. Best wishes and if you can lend us any advice we would really appreciate it!</p>
<p>It sounds as if hed be a candidate for the Honors College...but who knows?How about contacting their Office of Disability services (or whatever they may call it..sorry if Im insensitive sounding I dont mean to be). Maybe they could be a guide for you on services that are available, success stories of other kids with his samehearing impairment on a campus this size. Im wondering in this case whether bigger may be better...larger student body=larger offices dedicated to providing services??</p>
<p>just write directly to Ed Black, he can point you in the right direction. <a href="mailto:blacke@gwm.sc.edu">blacke@gwm.sc.edu</a></p>
<p>Just tell him Mr. Gartman gave you his email address. He was the guy who came to our area to showcase the McNair last year, then he helped us with setting up our tour in August last year. Really nice young man!</p>
<p>cathymee, ud be pleased to know both me and "texas girl" got the mcnair!!!!
actually, i just got off the phone with sorenson about 5 mins ago...what a nice guy! :-) and offering 108k doesnt hurt either!!</p>
<p>Woo hoo...Congratulation Getoutta!!! This is such terrific news for you!!! Personally <em>I</em> am rooting for USC over NC because I think USC is such a rising star...and they treat their scholarship recipients VERY well. Wow!!</p>
<p>Oh Wow!! Now I feel my "work" paid off!!
Such great news and so great to get a personal call from the University President..kinda gives you an indication of things to come..LOL did the President of UNC call you?????
So you have a hard choice to make now..any inkling of how you're leaning?
I think Texas girl kinda has her mind made up LOL.</p>
<p>Congratulations GOB; when Pres. Sorenson called my child re: Carolina Scholars, we weren't home. He left his cell phone number. Truly a nice man and a nice recruiting touch. </p>
<p>And for all you sports fans... Baseball - USC (ranked #4) beat Clemson (#2) yesterday 12-0.</p>
<p>Congratulations GOB, s of namtrag and everyone who I have been reading about recently on this board. You all should be very proud of yourselves indeed! Kids like you deserve all the recognition and reward you can receive; it is not easy in today's world to be a young adult and keep a good head on your shoulders and your eyes on the prize. Whatever your decision, you will do well. </p>
<p>As we are just starting this process of looking seriously into schools, stories like yours give us much hope. We have only begun to talk to people there, (I spoke with Mr. Black this week- thanks namtrag :)), but they seem so genuinely nice and interested in helping you. We have a visit scheduled for the first week of April. Any suggestions on decent, inexpensive hotels near the university? </p>
<p>Again way to go everyone!</p>
<p>That is awesome Getoutta. Congratulations and good luck deciding!!! Your fols should be soooo very proud of one.</p>
<p>KandK's
Theres a Colimbia Mariott nearby with a group rate from USC..call Admissions and get the code.Will you have a car with you? Theres a new "suites" type hotel about 10 minutes away thats supposed to be really nice,amd more reasonable..I'll find out the name for you</p>
<p>K and K
the site I use for hotels is the Columbia Convention and Visiotrs Bureau..its
columbiacvb.com
the area outside of town thats cheaper is the Harbison Blvd area,thats also where the mall,big box stores and lots of restaurants are.
be careful booking anything that describes itself as being near Fort Jackson.They have lots of graduations/ceremonies on the base during the Spring.
The Clarion would be walking distance but might be pricey,as is the Inn at USC (on campus)
The Holiday Inn adjacent to campus is closed for renovation.</p>
<p>awww thanks everyone! yea, cathymee, ur work did paid off! as did mine :-D</p>
<p>pres sorenson actually called last night when i was at work, so my mom called me and said that he had called. he left his number, so i called HIM this morning -- lol. he listed off all the benefits of the program and he goes, "how does that sound?" well, pretty damn good!!</p>
<p>im torn. but im definitely leaning to UNC.
A. the presitige...its chapel hill!! not many out of state kids even get in...no less a full ride!
B. overall, better academics. in case i change my mind re: international business, ill have a strong program awaiting me
C. better social life...you cant beat the liveliness of chapel hill and franklin
D. easier/cheaper to get home -- direct flights buffalo to raleigh under $150 vs columbia...2 flights $250+
E. Cousins in raleigh...place to store stuff over summer/rides home at christmas</p>
<p>But...then on USC's side
A. THE PERKS!! aka being treated like a queen
B. Better dorms. UNC dorms are GROSS
C. that laptop...
D. that study abroad grant...
E. Easier academics in a way... plus kick-butt fun honors classes
F. All that personal attention
G. Palm trees and an outdoor pool dont hurt either...
H. have u SEEN greek village?!</p>
<p>I just don't know...i'm like 70/30 though in favor of UNC.</p>
<p>Here's why rankings don't matter:</p>
<p>USN&WR ranks USC as #112 in the nation. But what about just the honors college? What about just my particular program of interest? What will this ranking be in four years when I graduate? If I have financial concerns, where does USC rank as far as deals?</p>
<p>At least 14 of the 18 factors involved in this particular ranking would change if only the USC honors college were evaluated and not the university as a whole.</p>
<p>Get the point?</p>
<p>GetOutta
since i dont know much about Chapel Hill, could you explain what makes that area livlier than the Columbia area around USC?
Are you concerned at all about the UNC "cap" of OOS students numbers?Do they have an actual Honors College that you'd be a part of or are the Pogue/Robertson winners mixed in with the general dorm populations?
Please,if you do decide UNC is for you BEFORE the acceptance deadline dates..could you let USC know..perhaps your scholarship money could be released to someone else....</p>
<p>I could be wrong, but, isn't unused scholarship money rolled over to the next year, and not offered to someone who was not in the running initially? </p>
<p>Ofcourse, you should still let schools know as soon as you have decided. But do take all the time you need, as you don't want to officially turn down something that you may regret in a few weeks.</p>
<p>good news -- im a robertson scholar finalist!! so im going back to visit UNC and duke in about 3 weeks. that should really help things. another look at campus never hurts :-D</p>
<p>****<strong><em>Excitement</em></strong>******</p>