<p>I usually live over on the Alabama forum, since my oldest is a rising junior there. It is great to see that USC's forum is just as active and helpful. I tried searching pretty thoroughly before posting this, and didn't see exactly what I was looking for. It has been a big topic on the Bama forum, so I'm sorry if I'm repeating a question that has been beaten to death here already! </p>
<p>We are considering USC as an option for our 17 year old son. He has very high SAT and ACT scores, but has a pretty significant anxiety problem that has affected him on and off through high school so that his unweighted GPA is a 3.52. He may or may not qualify for merit aid at USC, and while that will affect our decision, it isn't the only factor. We're also searching to find a school that can accommodate a kid who isn't interested in Greek life or sports, and I'm just wondering whether a quirky kid can find his place at USC. He is interested in the Applied Physics major, participates in Academic Bowl on a nationally ranked team, and has a gang of friends that thrive on fantasy games like Dungeons and Dragons. His political leanings are liberal leaning but not rigidly so, and he is passionate about following current affairs and public policies. While he is a bright and curious kid, he isn't academically driven or an over-achiever. In almost every way, he is definitely a square peg in a round peg world. </p>
<p>My neighbor has a D who just completed her freshman year at USC. She thrived there, but told her mom it was because our high school was for "hipsters" and USC is for "prepsters." I wish kids didn't feel the need to label like that, but it is true that our high school is very diverse and you can find a group to hang with even if you have purple hair, tattoos, and nose rings (my daughter scores on 2/3 of those by the way). </p>
<p>So, any thoughts are welcome. We are trying to give our son some strong options, especially given the fact that he has gone above and beyond in confronting his anxiety disorder with courage and persistence. I think he can thrive in college given the right circumstances, and really appreciate any feedback you might provide about USC.</p>
<p>When we were searching for colleges, we were told “you can make a big school small but you can’t make a small school big”. South Carolina is quite “big” and there are enough different personalities among those approx 4,500 freshman students for your son to find his niche. </p>
<p>Remember, the Greek scene is only about 18% of the students. That leaves a lot of kids that are into other interests.</p>
<p>Daughter had a classmate from elementary school who also attended Carolina as a “computer geek”. Never involved in Greek Life, she never saw him at football games etc., yet he also graduated, had a very different “experience” and yet both of them loved Carolina.</p>
<p>Different kids find their different paths.
Good luck.</p>
<p>I agree with LynchburgLover. You can make a big school small, but not a small school big.</p>
<p>Your son may not be the “typical” USC student, but I’d argue there isn’t a typical USC student. We’re a pretty diverse community with students from around the country and there’s pretty much something for everyone.</p>
<p>It’s also been my experience, that people I wouldn’t have gotten along with in high school, I get along great with in college. People are more open to hanging out with different types of people. Honestly, I’m surprised by a college freshman’s choice to label that way, because as I see it, the tight-knit cliques of high school are a lot more fluid in college. They’re less about superficial things and more about people having the same major or being in the same club… just spending time together because they have common interests.</p>
<p>One of my really good friends in college was someone that I did not get along with at all in middle/high school. We basically hated each other and kind words were never shared. Now, we’re in college and it’s completely like night and day. You would never guess we didn’t get along.</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, a lot of my friends have never even been to a football game. And I hardly know anyone in a sorority or a fraternity.</p>
<p>Not to pile on, but I think the key thing to remember is that there will be a built in “quirky” population from South Carolina in addition to any out-of-state students that are drawn to USC for various reasons. In my experience, college gives people license to explore interests that they otherwise might not share for fear of non-conformity in high school. There is even diversity within the Greek community. One thing I didn’t anticipate was how much time guys in my frat spent playing video games. It was always tough to find a tennis partner because half the guys were playing Halo or some other game, which in high school might have been deemed nerdy. Students interact with so many different people through classes, clubs, the gym, sports, and other activities that it actually becomes more challenging to hang out with a defined group all of the time than it does not to.</p>
<p>My D would prob fit the quirky category and there are plenty of hipsters around. Lots of different groups to be a part of. Definitely look at honors which is great program and has available single rooms (shared bath with another single) which could be a positive if anxiety means he needs down time space.</p>
<p>Funny, that term hipsters. My D came home using it to describe her student body this year too! </p>
<p>I’m wondering about the social scene at USC. Is it dominated by the greeks or do the hipsters and geeks find critical mass elsewhere? </p>
<p>I don’t know if my S would go greek, probably not, and is a musician so I’m wondering if USC is the kind of place where he could hook up with other kids to jam.</p>
I know more than one kid who I never would have guessed would be interested, go for Greek life.</p>
<p>And sports - big-time college sports is a lot of fun, even non-sports fans can have fun at a football game. It’s nice to have the option, you never know what interests will awaken.</p>
<p>^^My D has 3 roommates who all went Greek. She did not. Not a problem with doing stuff with them (and they are some of her best friends) or having other friends to hang with. Not the biggest sport fan ever, but does get into it for one or two football games a year (spent night on Shoe for college game day and Georgia game last year) but for the most part gets excited for about half a game and then moves on :). There really is something for everyone who wants to find a group. For instance, many of her friends are very involved in student government and that’s a close knit group (and totally not D).</p>
<p>Absolutely! I’m a rising senior at USC right now and my roommate last year was a “hippie” sort of. She found people just like her at USC in Sustainable Carolina, Green Quad, doing Yoga, and in her classes. I’m pre-med, and I’ve enjoyed my time at USC too. Do I feel like there are other schools where I would have fit in better? Yes. But they were far too expensive. The entire honors dorm is FILLED with guys who love playing Dungeons and Dragons and there are quite a few student organizations on campus dedicated to public policy etc. FORWARD, the Roosevelt Institute, and Amnesty International are just a few. He will fit right in, I promise. He might have several different groups of people that he feels at home with, in fact. Just tell him to give it a semester, before making any judgements. The first semester, it’s really easy to make friends because as a freshman, you say hi to anyone and everyone. There really are a lot of opportunities to meet others. Most people I know are not in Greek Life, and some who are end up regretting it or saying that it’s not really worth it.</p>
<p>So my wife and I just experienced our oldest going through his first year of college in an ultra liberal school (students & staff). We are very much not of the liberal mind or family…very much not so!! Our DS is on the path to get himself ready for OCS in three years. Will he make it…I have no doubt! </p>
<p>All that being said he was a bit concerned going to this liberal school but in the end he found himself in a new wave of kids that is nothing he expected. As a parent we also saw the same thing. We have found it to be very encouraging that these kids are very accepting of all. </p>
<p>Our sons roommate was a D&D game player and very introverted but all was good. Our son became very good friends with him. They have very different opinions and views. By the end of the year my son played a little more D&D and his new friend went out a little more with our son. Our son found a frat that marched to his very beat much to his surprise he roommate is now considering joining. Although this is not USC it is a college just the same. </p>
<p>Our DS2 is looking at USC, he has it as his B plan No.1 choice and I love the idea. (A plan is the Naval Academy). My wife is quite concerned because it is a southern school with southern kids and she is worried they will not accept him. We all have the inner personal power to respect one another. Seeing what we have seen, these kids at these schools find their nitch and it all works. These kids value that inner personal power of respect. Is it perfect, nope but that small %age I’m sure find their way home in a short amout of time, it’s not HS.</p>
<p>College is a social construction of kids standing up for themselves, they are now finding facts and not an agenda from a classroom. It is great to see and good for all of us.</p>
<p>WhitLo, your DS will go to college with a value added personality that will be an asset to the school and student body. Other kids need your DS as much he will need them. He is a person and will be valued. </p>
<p>AUGirl posted a very clever 3rd paragraph. She helped me with my wifes concern over the southern thought. It was AUGirl that assured me of some positive insight. </p>
<p>So will your child fit in you bet he will, more importantly he will have friends, he will just need to engage. I wouldn’t worry about not being a sports fan too much he will find himself not wanting to go but will follow and then all kid madness breaks out. The atmosphere alone will make him a sports fan.</p>