<p>Did you go solo to orientation?</p>
<p>I would like to send my d by herself -- is there someplace where rising freshmen can stay overnight?</p>
<p>fendrock
there will be accomodations for a small price (maybe 25$ a night if I remember correctly) in Capstone for Orientation stays. Some kids do come alone and they pair them up to share a room. There are parent programs going on at the same time the kids do their registration so you may want to reconsider when the time gets closer.
An early date is a good idea.If you do a search on the USC main webpage for orientation you may be able to bring up last years info as a guide.
Out of state students do their required testing on the day before their registration/orientation date so plan accordingly (language and math). The tests are marked right away so class placement is correct.There was a later afternoon test time S was able to make after flying in that morning.They will let your D (and you if you wish) stay in Capstone for the extra night.
S will be in Columbia through the end of May(after classes end) to work at a conference if he can be of any help.</p>
<p>I personally did not go alone, I went with ym dad and he wanted to see the campus and get to know the school since I live far away but cathy got it right, they do offer housing in Capstone, one of my friends from high school who also goes to SC went by herself and she made great friends from her trip.</p>
<p>What is the typical academic load (number of credits and number of courses)?</p>
<p>Is a three credit course a semester course?</p>
<p>What level of language are you taking, and how well did your high school classes in that language prepare you?</p>
<p>5 classes is the normal ammount which is either 15 or 16 credits depending on whether you are taking a lab science. Most classes are 3 credits which is a semester course but lab sciences are 4 credits because of the lab. I took 15 credits last semester and am taking 16 this upcomming semester.</p>
<p>I am taking intermediate spanish (210) because I am minoring in spanish. My school prepared me very well, I went all the way through and took AP spanish and all that. But most dont continue in a language unless you plan on majoring or minoring in it, you take a placement test and depending on how you fair on it you either place out, it is determined you have to take spanish 102 or something, or you take a 2nd test which determines a higher placement level</p>
<p>My D made a number of friends at orientation including her current roommate and best friend. Both are OOS and being there early helped them meet people in smaller groups and a less overwhelming environment than just before move in. To be fair, she's pretty social but she said going early was the best thing she could have done to ease the transition.</p>
<p>Okay, I'm sold on my d going to orientation, and I know she would love the social aspect of it.</p>
<p>For those of you who had to travel from out-of-state, how did you schedule the trip to enable the placement testing prior to orientation?</p>
<p>I came a day early and they had testing at like 5 pm the day before the scheduled orrientation</p>
<p>same for S..took an early flight made the last a/v time for testing in the afternoon.stayed overnight for the full day orientation the next day.He travelled with his father and they stayed off campus at the place thats now the Courtyard Marriott which is literally across the street from where the bulk of the orientation takes place (Dad wanted internet and TV!)
For sure, a kid going alone would want to stay at Capstone with other kids.
Be aware Fendrock that orientation dates may vary according to your D's intended major .Some majors don't use all the dates (and they do their registration at their particular School where their major is housed).
Be mindful that a kid arriving alone at the airport will need ground transport, there are taxi's available.</p>
<p>and to add on taxi's are about 20$ from airport to school</p>
<p>So is it easy to find a taxi, or is it good to arrange for one in advance?</p>
<p>D is undecided about her major, we will check to see if that is covered for all orientation dates.</p>
<p>I havent been during off times but when I come back from breaks and stuff there is always a few taxi's right outside the baggage claim areas</p>
<p>Also if you daughter is very unsure on what she wants to do, when she comes the USC career center could be a very good tool in helping her decide. They offer a career test which determines what occupations are suitable, and it is supposedly very helpful</p>
<p>taxis are generally available right outside the baggage claims area.I was just warning you that there is no public ground transport available!</p>
<p>What is the most fun coed dorm? Where exaxactly are most of the parties (off campus housing, bars, apartments, or frats?) Are the parties hard to get into? How much harder are the classes compared to high school? How many hours a day do you usually spend on homework? What is your schedule like on a given day? I am going to be a business major fyi. </p>
<p>Lots of questions haha but I am very interested in SC (top 3 with JMU and Penn State)</p>
<p>Most fun coed dorm-
Id have to say either Columbia or Bates since I know the most about those. Ive heard that columbia is pretty fun and I know if you meet the right people at Bates that it is extremely fun</p>
<p>Parties-
Most of the parties are at either off campus housing bars or apartments, they are never in the frat houses really because I heard that it is not allowed. And parties are not hard to get into if you know the right people. You cant really get into frat parties if you are a guy unless you are in the frat but there are always parties going on if you get out there and meet new people. </p>
<p>Class-
For me classes are much easier than my high school. I went to a very tough private school where I was an average student to USC where I got all A's last semester without doing too much work. But I have heard many people who have struggled just as much so it depends on how prepared you are</p>
<p>Homework-
For the business core classes I really didnt get that much homework. My most homework was in spanish and univ 101 (most dont take spanish) but id spend 30-40 minutes a day somedays less some more because of essays or projects. It is not bad at all.</p>
<p>Schedule-
There is lots of leeway on your schedule since there are a lot of classes, you can basically pick what times you want to take your classes at for your freshman year. On MWF (monday, wendsday friday) I had class at 9 (only class I could take since it was not a normal class (spanish)) and then a 2:30 class which I scheduled for that time because of the teacher and that it was a business university 101 class. On TTH (tuesday thursday) I had 3 classes straight from 11-3:15 with 15 minutes in between each. You can take class the MWF classes and have 50 minute classes of TTH classes and have them be an hour 15 minutes so that is why I had so much classes on TTH. I wouldnt recommend 3 in a row though. </p>
<p>feel free to ask more questions if you want me to go more in depth or anything</p>
<p>JRWriter, were the standards high for the writing in the required freshmen writing course?</p>
<p>Also, how easy is it to choose courses according to instructors, ie, using something like the rate my professors site to avoid bad instructors or choose ones you've heard good things about?</p>
<p>My first semester teachers standards were fairly hbigh but she did a very good job in revising our papers and allowing us to give her drafts. I really enjoyed her policy which was that we didnt have to hand in our final draft until the last day of classes so it allowed us to really correct each paper and make it the best that it could be. It probably though really depends on your teacher which leads into your next question</p>
<p>This upcomming semester I originally got crap teachers but I have found it fairly easy to choose my courses based on instructors. As of now with still another 2 weeks to change classes I have changed 4 out of my 5 classes to teachers that I have wanted. It has been pretty easy to do</p>
<p>I originally wanted a coed dorm (Maxy or New honors) but I'm starting to consider Sims.. are the all girl dorms more secluding and uptight? I do plan to go greek..</p>
<p>Well the girls dorms are mainly located right in the middle of campus so they arent really secluded from the campus but they are all together and yes they are kind of uptight but its not too bad, you have a visitor policy the first semester</p>
<p>JRWriter, when did you submit your application for housing?</p>
<p>Was Bates your first choice?</p>