<p>H and S got in late yesterday. Had a great time at orientation. Muffins for breakfast, both together for a welcome session, then parents and students split. Housing and overview sessions separately. Son now knows DORM only, but not room # or floor or roommate.. USC had so many freshmen some of the housing is spilling over into upperclassmen dorms. Some of the engineering learning community students from Bates, for instance, are being housed in Bates West (apt. type with BR, LR, and kitchen. ) Don't know whether they will be charged the rates for those dorms (a good bit higher). Husband got the impression that parking will also be at a premium. Better sign up now!
Parents and students back together for an "information fair" in the ballroom. Son says they split again for lunch - buffet in the ballroom. (Maybe that was S's choice, I'm not sure!)
After lunch, students receive test placement scores, are advised and register up until 4 pm. Also, from 2:30 to 4, they can get Carolina Cards made and get hands scanned, which is the entry method for Strom fitness center. Parents are attending Bursar's office presentation, and session on academic integrity, wellness, etc. Starting at 3 pm, there are sessions you can choose: financial aid, career center, library, health center, college of Education has a drop-in. At 4:10, all the dorms are open - you can choose one dorm and tour it, led by an orientation leader. Bus service back to parking area by 5:15 PM. Son and husband left about 4, because he was through registering and had seen the dorms previously.
Husband got detailed printout about how to pay through the VIP system. Bills will go out last week of July.
Also you will get a detailed booklet about move-in day, listing staggered times for the various dorm floors to move in.The students also got info about carpet, dorm belongings insurance, linens for X-L twins, and lofts that can be rented.
IMPORTANT NOTES: 1) $60 convenience fee if you pay tuition by credit card! 2) THere is a bulletin board in Russell House that students use to post carpools for THanksgiving break, Xmas, etc. 3) New this year: No telephone land line included in tuition. Most students bring cells. I am going to change our plan to unlimited minutes, and get my son a Columbia, SC # so calls he makes to friends will not be long distance. 4) Currently, comuters using VISTA will not access the network, although USC is working in that direction. S is computer engineering major. We bought him a new computer with - you guessed it - VISTA. 5) Caution to make sure that the USC staff that is helping you on move-in day is actually USC staff! 6) Capstone: Capstone students must keep either Mon or Thurs from 4 -5 PM open on their class schedule, because they are required to attend Capstone Conversations at that time. Son got home with schedule, and realized this after the fact. Took him 3 hours to re-work the schedule! 7) Books: There is a limited supply of used books. If you plan to reserve books through the bookstore, the earlier you reserve, the greater your chance of used books. Son's books came to $558 for the fall.
They both came home with lots of printed info to answer any questions we might have.
H and S very pleased with the whole experience. S is looking forward to move-in day!</p>
<p>sounds like they had a productive session and visit!
the move in booklet will also be available online when its published at the Housing website
S did buy the carpet through the service last fall as he lived in Maxcy which is not carpeted.It was good quality but was left rolled out and bound in the room so make sure to have some kind of tool to rip open the packaging with
LOL about the schedule change,welcome to the world of college greenvilleS!!
Since he had to change his schedule,does that affect his book purchase?
500 or so sounds right for a semesters worth of books.
Just a note to anyone attending Orientation next week...Boys State of Sc will be on campus all week, about 750 kids and chaperones.They will be staying in West Quad and eating 3X day at the Russell House(Grand Market Place),so it might get crowded there.Most of their sessions are at the Coliseum across from the Koger.</p>
<p>Hi Greenville,</p>
<p>I'm glad orientation went well. My son's orientation is Monday. What dorm did your son get? My son has Capstone as his first choice. My second question is in regards to the laptop. My husband and I are going to get our son a laptop for graduation. What did they say about the VISTA system? Do they think they will be "vista ready" by the fall? I'm wondering if we should just get the XP and upgrade. Would you mind letting me know more about what they said in reference to this subject...Thanks!</p>
<p>Hi Memon,
My son was pleased to see that he got in Capstone, which was his first choice. I don't know if you have seen Capstone, but it is one of the nicer freshman dorms. S is taking "potluck" on roommate, crossing his fingers for another engineering major. (We'll see!) S is a computer engineering major, so he gave me all the info on what USC said about VISTA. Right now, Windows operating system computers with VISTA will NOT connect to the internet or the USC network. This is because USC only permits connections for computers with the USC antivirus software on it. (No way around it - it kicks you off if it doesn't detect the antivirus software.) USC is waiting for their antivirus software company (TrendMicro, S thinks) to finish the antivirus software for VISTA. USC said they are hoping to have this in place by Fall, but can't guarantee it. S reports that USC advises that entering students use XP and then upgrade to VISTA later. (S has an older laptop with XP on it, which he can use until the VISTA upgrade, and then switch to his new computer.) </p>
<p>Cathymee - You were right about the class switch and the books. We had to call bookstore and cancel the first order, then place a new order. New total: $590!</p>
<p>H says he has more info on the phone line: Land line is not included in tuition, but you can get one for an installation fee + monthly fee. We're planning to just go with the cell phone.</p>
<p>greenville
S says nobody he knew even installed a landline phone to take advantage of that option last year!</p>
<p>Memom,
Forgot to tell you one thing son mentioned. In Capstone, there is one computer "outlet" in the wall that has 2 "data ports" - 1 for each student. Son said you will need at least a 20 foot ethernet cable, to go from the data port to the computer. One person in the room will likely have to run a cable across to the other side of the room, depending on how students arrange the desks. Son is bringing a 50 foot ethernet cable. We are definitely going to get carpet, so the cable can be run under that vs. having a cord running across the middle of the floor, possibly pulling a computer off onto the floor when somebody trips on it.</p>
<p>I am not very computer savvy but another parent on our Capstone tour asked about computer ports. The student guide pointed out there is one on one side of the room and that you need to bring a very long ether cord (sp?) to wind it along the sides of the room to the student's desk. Students can rearrange their desks so that the desk is closer to the port and not only be along the wall with the window. Windows have no screens and can only be opened slightly. A screw is in place to keep the windows from opening fully and if the student removes them he will get "written up". In the room we visited someone had put up a shower curtain panel for a curtain and hung them up using hooks you can stick on the wall.<br>
As for coed housing in Capstone you can have a suite of 4 males/4females next door to the opposite gender. I had the impression it was going to be all the same sex on one floor alternating.<br>
In the laundry room you can use your Carolina Card so you don't have to worry about having lots of spare coins.<br>
Comparing Maxcy gregg to Capstone I must say Capstone has nicer, larger rooms. However I found the lobby areas and student areas in Maxcy nicer.
I believe in the 1940's Maxcy had a student canteen/student center in its basement.</p>
<p>greenville
S and roomate did this with the TV cable wire last year..put it under the carpet and where it stuck out after the carpet ended and before it went under the dresser the TV was on top of they tacked it down with duct tape so it couldn't be tripped over.The duct tape stick-down lasted all year.
Capstone rooms are definitely bigger and nicer than most in Maxcy plus Capstone has FOOD!!But I couldnt talk S into living there,he insisted on the Horseshoe location.</p>
<p>My son and I just got back from orientation about an hour ago. Everything went very smoothly, pretty much like Greenville stated. Son did get Capstone and is happy about that. For the most part, he likes his schedule. I wanted to add one note that was not mentioned in any other posts. Beginning with this fall semester, you will not be allowed to pay with VISA. They will add American Express and you do need to remember the $60 convenience fee if you pay tuition by credit card.</p>
<p>I brought back a lot of information and was overall very impressed with orientation!</p>
<p>wow memom
thanks for the news on AmEx..that makes my life easier as i prefer using that to Visa/MC.
Glad your Orientation experience was a good one.
Now they get to look forward to getting roommate info and all the expectation of move in time!</p>
<p>Memom,
Do you know if that VISA rule applies to everything at USC or just tuition? Son has a Bank of America VISA debit card that he planned to use for some "expenses" like Starbucks, etc. (Gotta get that caffeine to get going!)Do you know whether VISA debit will be accepted for items like that? We are still trying to figure out Carolina Card vs. checking account.</p>
<p>Hi Greenville,</p>
<p>That question was asked and it is only for tuition. There should be no problem using Visa for other purchases. I'm also trying to decide on the meal plan. Right now, he's signed up for the 16+ $100 meal plan. </p>
<p>I also forgot to mention that Beginning Spanish has already closed out. His advisor told my son it would be no problem to take it his sophomore year.</p>
<p>memom
just wanted to tell you S had the 10 meal plan last year and hardly ever went over each week,amd if he did,I dont think it ever reached 16 meals a week.he ate off campus sometimes,skipped breakfast lots of times.The times you can use the meal plan on dont always fit in with the students schedule. Lots of times, the kids wake up and make it to that first morning class in 10-15 minutes with no breakfast time to spare.S kept milk/oj in his mini fridge and cereal,pop tart type things in his room.You can always start off with a lesser plan and then add on.of course, your kid may like to keep to a stricter schedule, be more of an athelete who needs to eat 3X a day, or so forth.It worked better for S to have less meal plan and more Carolina Cash,which was usable everywhere,all the tiime.
This year hes living in woodrow,which is apt style and has a kitchen.He'll have no meal plan but Carolina Cash and debit card $$ for groceries.They are even allowed to grill on the stairwell decking outside their apts!</p>
<p>cathymee,
Can you "up" the meal plan in the middle of the semester? Or maybe after the first few weeks of class? We were going for the 21 meal plan, but S's first class is 11 AM, and I'm betting he won't get up for breakfast. If we could, I'd like to start with a lower plan and then increase it if needed. If so, do they pro-rate it? S and H didn't bring back any info from orientation about meal plans.</p>
<p>I just asked S and he said NO WAy get the 21..you cant even use those up there arent 21 meal plan times b/c Sat and Sunday theres only brunch and dinner. I know you dont get prorated...if you dont use the meals in any week,you lose those credits,unlike straight Carolina Cash which stays in the account until they graduate.The whole dining plan arrangement is very mysterious,you are right they dont publish much info and the website doesnt give much info either.
I believe you can adjust the plan during the semester but maybe only for the first few weeks?I'm really not sure,you might want to call and ask.
Another reason we never "upped" from the required 10/week is that S felt the retail price and the Plan price were the same, in other words,they weren't giving you any discount on price for using the Meal Plan.If your meal went above a certain "credit amount" for breakfast,lunch or dinner they charged you the difference which needed to be paid in carolina cash,real cash or debit card.
Greenville...if your S doesnt have a class before 11 chances are those days he definitely wont eat breakfast!
S says if you feel you must have more than 10 try the 14 not the 16.He really feels strongly that you're getting no discount for meal plan $$,you can use Carolina Cash just as easily,you are getting ripped off b/c if you dont use the meals that week you lose them,you are going to eat less meals in strict time periods than you did before you were in college, and they make you get a plan just b/c you are a freshman.</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>Most students bring cells. I am going to change our plan to unlimited minutes, and get my son a Columbia, SC # so calls he makes to friends will not be long distance.>></p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>Before you go with a local to SC area code...check your plan. DD is in California. She has a CT area code on her cell...but hers is a nationwide plan with no roaming. AND here is the clincher...we DID the "local area code for the college" thing with DS...and when we tried to put him on our family plan...the answer was NO...you have to have the same area code. In this day and age of cell phones, "long distance" has a very different meaning...or maybe I should say..no meaning at all. Just make sure you have a nationwide plan with no roaming (which is how most plans are now). </p>
<p>Glad to hear about this year's USC crowd. We still talk up this school with friends. As the "old timers" here know...our DD chose a different school, but it was a hard decision (which has worked out well, BTW). USC is a great school...and you all are going to love it.</p>
<p>Another comment about ethernet cables in Capstone. As someone mentioned previously, there is one outlet with two plugs in the room. If your child selects the side of the room with the outlet then 20 ft cable should be more than enough (unless they decide to put desks under the window. If they select the bed on the other side of the room they will literally have to run the cable down the roommate's wall, around the window wall and the back down their own bed wall. 50 feet may not be enough since the wall the outlet is on is about 18 feet long. I think we either had a 75 or 100 ft cable and D just kept the excess behind her desk but it also gave her the flexibility to move laptop onto the floor or her bed.</p>
<p>Make sure they check their ethernet connections as soon as they move in because we had a problem with one not working and it required a workorder for the repair..which took some time to be completed.</p>
<p>Greenville</p>
<p>I second cathymee...DO NOT select the 21 meal plan. The only bad thing we found at USC was the fact that they forced freshman to select the numbered meal plans as opposed to the block plans which have far more flexibility. In the block plans you purchase X amount of meals and can use them ANYTIME for any meal whereas the numbered meal plans are tied to specific meals on specific days so if you don't use them you lose them.</p>
<p>Oh, wow...am I ever glad you guys filled me in on the meal plan. Just to make certain I understand, are you saying, for instance that the meals have to be basically be purchased at breakfast, lunch, and dinner time frames? In other words, if my S crawls out of bed at 10:30 and wants to grab a "wrap" sandwich and some tea at 11 AM from Colloquium (sp?) Cafe on the way to an 11:30 o"clock class, that does not count for his breakfast meal? So.. breakfast (and other meals) have to be eaten at a certain time? I thought it was just 21 meals. I am soooo glad I found this out!</p>
<p>yes you are correct
the meal plan has time blocks
and just for your info, some places on campus don't take the meal plan...Colloqium was one of them ,its the newest place,but the kids agitated and they started accepting the plan..however things there are pricey.The Fast Break inside the Coliseum is another...thats where S has alot of classes and has to use Carolina Cash or real cash.Starbucks as well...carolina or real cash...are you beginning to see why less meal plan<more Carolina Cash is a good idea??</p>
<p>Yes, that makes a lot of sense! My son will have a lot of classes in Swearingen, and he thought Fast Break would be a good place to eat. We have eaten at Colloquim, too and he likes the food there a lot because it's all fresh and seems wholesome. I wish they offered to block plan to freshmen! We have certainly gotten tons of helpful info from this discussion forum. Thank you all so much!</p>