Wanting to start a discussion about the Capstone Scholars Program at USC. Can anyone with experience with the program offer information about advantages, benefits, opportunities, mentoring, etc? Also, are there any negatives to be aware of?
My sophomore D highly recommends. Lived in the Capstone dorm which was amazing–those kids are so tight. Has had a great advisor through Capstone (her regular advisors have been awful…) She went on a Capstone Maymester trip to Greece last year. It’s just another way to make a large university feel a little smaller/more personal. She’ll also be a Capstone Fellow which goes on her diploma and something else to put on a resume. There is a community service requirement but it was easy to fulfill.
What does capstone fellow mean? That’s great she had an opportunity to travel as a freshman. Is that common? Are there requirements that students have to meet as part of the program? Do any of the capstone students party? Appreciate any in sight
I’m actually with my daughter now so I’m able to get some scoop. To remain in the general Capstone program, there are various events you are required to go to (she said you basically just check in and they’re meant to be fun), like one volunteer thing a semester for the four semesters, and then complete some sort of personal challenge. I believe the requirements are on the website. To be a Fellow you do all of that, need a couple of professors to write you recommendations, and then study abroad or some other “extra” thing. She said that one of her favorite parts of being in Capstone is having her own Capstone advisor who has been great—she has had her in addition to her academic advisor (who has not been great). Also, the Capstone dorm is likely the most fun dorm on campus…not kidding. These are the work hard/play hard kids. She’s currently dating a guy who lived in the Honors dorm and said if he could go back and do it over, he’d have preferred Capstone as it would have been much better socially, but Honors does have its perks—special Honors section classes, priority for registration, etc.
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Thank you for this the post. My daughter just committed as a Capstone Scholar. We are now in the midst of researching dorms. DD is leaning towards Capstone bc she likes the idea of bonding with her peers. Her second choice is Preston. Both seem very community oriented. Though the Capstone building is kinda far from the main campus and rooms seem kind of dingy.
It’s definitely not the newest dorm but it has been updated a tad since my daughter was there–new wood-look floors and paint. She didn’t find that it was that far for most of her classes, the rooms are the absolute largest on campus, and then you also have the advantage of having dining in your actual building, and you can have your U101 class right there as well. I will tell you that my daughter has met a lot of students over the years who said they wished they’d chosen to live in Capstone.
g8rmomk8ans, you have sold me on Capstone. I think DD will make it her top choice. Are there material difference between Capstone and Columbia Hall? In any case, there is something to be said for bonding in common “suffering”.