<p>My son lived in a dorm last year, and a private apartment this year. His private apartment is closer to his classes than his dorm was.</p>
<p>Much of the private housing is essentially the same as a dorm. My son’s apartment building is virtually all students, it’s only a tad more expensive that a dorm, and a heck of a lot nicer.</p>
<p>What’s the Columbia transit system like? Does it go to any shopping malls from campus, for example? I’ve heard good things about the campus transit system, but don’t know anything about the Columbia public transit system.</p>
<p>Don’t count on Columbia transit to get you anywhere. They are struggling to figure out how to keep transit system funded (very long story, increase in sales tax this election to “fix” it) and keep cutting routes and hours. Might be okay in core of city, but getting to outlying areas like malls is ever-changing. My advice is make friends with students with cars!</p>
<p>USC Shuttles are good, but are only travel in and around campus.
[All</a> Day Routes](<a href=“Parking and Transportation Services - Parking and Transportation Services | University of South Carolina”>Parking and Transportation Services - Parking and Transportation Services | University of South Carolina)</p>
<p>Thanks for all the great information!! How is parking? If you buy a parking pass are you guaranteed a spot in whatever area you buy a pass? D would probably walk everywhere in walking distance, but would want to have a car available to go to places like the mall. Sure wish the transit was more accommodating in that area. </p>
<p>What’s the department of retail like? I’m trying to locate information on the it’s reputation. </p>
<p>I’ve heard that although the it’s a large school, there’s a small campus feel somehow. Not sure exactly what that means other than students typically mingle with the same groups of folks most of the time.</p>
<p>What’s life like as a black student? My daughter has friends of all nationalities, but I’m wondering what it’s like. I don’t recall seeing too many minority students on our visit. I’m interested in gospel choir, fraternities/sororities, and multicultural activities. We saw the homecoming step shows on YouTube…nice!</p>
<p>She’s down to the wire on deciding where to commit. It’s difficult to do a fair comparison of UofSC (which she’s only visited for an afternoon tour) with her previous college in Boston where she’s spent an entire year. Forums like this have become invaluable in getting a view into the school!</p>
<p>Thanks for all the great information!! How is parking? If you buy a parking pass are you guaranteed a spot in whatever area you buy a pass? D would probably walk everywhere in walking distance, but would want to have a car available to go to places like the mall. Sure wish the transit was more accommodating in that area. </p>
<p>What’s the department of retail like? I’m trying to locate information on the it’s reputation. </p>
<p>I’ve heard that although the it’s a large school, there’s a small campus feel somehow. Not sure exactly what that means other than students typically mingle with the same groups of folks most of the time.</p>
<p>What’s life like as a black student? My daughter has friends of all nationalities, but I’m wondering what it’s like. I don’t recall seeing too many minority students on our visit. I’m interested in gospel choir, fraternities/sororities, and multicultural activities. We saw the homecoming step shows on YouTube…nice!</p>
<p>She’s down to the wire on deciding where to commit. It’s difficult to do a fair comparison of UofSC (which she’s only visited for an afternoon tour) with her previous college in Boston where she’s spent an entire year. Forums like this have become invaluable in getting a view into the school!</p>
<p>About 11% of students are black, minorities in total are about 17.5%.</p>
<p>[USC</a> Institutional Assessment and Compliance](<a href=“Institutional Research, Assessment, and Analytics - Institutional Research, Assessment, and Analytics | University of South Carolina”>Institutional Research, Assessment, and Analytics - Institutional Research, Assessment, and Analytics | University of South Carolina)</p>
<p>Another question: how difficult is it obtain on-campus or off-campus employment?</p>
<p>Thanks notrichenough!</p>
<p>Look under parking services for prices. If you park in a garage you are guaranteed a space but it is not specifically assigned.</p>
<p>^Some garages are specifically assigned. It’s depends on the garage. I think Senate (or Pendleton-can’t ever tell which is which- they’re right beside each other) is assigned parking. One has a gate which is general. They other has meters and no gate and is assigned.</p>
<p>If your daughter is in Bates West, she should get a general parking sticker which is significantly cheaper (like $500 cheaper over the course of a year). There isn’t guaranteed parking, but there are always spaces available in the Bates area. The thing is, no one wants to walk all the way down there, so people usually get garage spaces. I’ve never walked down there and not seen parking available.</p>
<p>USC just won a diversity award. <a href=“http://www.dailygamecock.com/index.php/component/k2/item/5537-university-receives-national-award-for-diversity[/url]”>http://www.dailygamecock.com/index.php/component/k2/item/5537-university-receives-national-award-for-diversity</a> Only school in South Carolina to do so.</p>
<p>Oh. And on-campus employment is super easy to find if you have work-study and more difficult if you do not. There are places like Russell House and the library that hire a lot of students, though, and there are many businesses, fast-food places, and shops within walking distance of campus that hire students.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the great info once again!</p>