<p>Nikara,
When you can fit it into your schedule, could you give us an update on how the Explore SC day is going? Is it raining? What activities are the most popular?</p>
<p>Sure. I know that over five for the rooms in the hall where I RA (Marks Hall) will be hosting students tonight. I'll be interviewing tomorrow. If anyone ends up in Marks, stop by my room to say hi! </p>
<p>It isn't raining yet over here, but it is cloudy. </p>
<p>I'll tell you more as the day continues!</p>
<p>Nikara,
Thanks for the quick reply. Where are they serving meals? What are the parents doing?
Do the students appear to be enjoying themselves? Do they receive a tour? Will they have any free time to explore inside the buildings?
I do hope they will visit the incredible new School of Cinematic Arts complex, even if they are not future cinema students.</p>
<p>Yikes! So many questions! I only really see people as they walk around campus. I'll meet a few when they come to move into the hall for the night. The people I've seen look excited and nervous! The only aspect that I am involved in this year is hosting during the night (you don't get your student until 5:30) and interviews tomorrow morning. Everyone has the opportunity to go on a tour of both campus and the neighborhood- you have a choice of activities for the beginning of the day. They get a chance to go to classes tomorrow and sit in on lectures, so they can definitely see inside the buildings. I'm not sure where food will be served tonight for dinner. Lunch is usually at the Lot, with coupons provided. Dinner will be either at Parkside or EVK. I'll find out when the students get over here.</p>
<p>Your posts are getting me nostalgic about last year's Explore session--I believe my S attended the first one offered. While S was absorbed with all the new input, getting the vibe of the campus, meeting kids, taking tours, sampling the food, making fast friends, trying to get into the Zemeckis building (lol--no one could tour them there, but they prevailed and found a wonderful grad student with a key card), etc, the parents couldn't help notice that these other families were all competing for the top Trustee scholarships and not all students would be offered one. It was a friendly group, but... unsettling. I've mentioned before how impressive the kids are in this group of finalists, and how openly some talked about waiting for ivy results, etc. It seemed to me that was not the way to win the hearts of the USC jury who awards the scholarships--just a heads up to those going to Explore. As parents, we were very impressed with the first night parents dinner, where we were seated at a table with a professor in our S's major (SCA) who spoke quite openly about the program and answered many questions. </p>
<p>USC does an excellent job in welcoming the new Explorees (and for those not going to these scholarship ExploreUSC sessions, they do an equally wonderful job for all new admits in April too!). I was especially interested in details about the Thematic Option program, housing, and the new facilities underway. </p>
<p>One year later, I believe everything we learned over those two days was not just PR hype, but a true representation of the programs and friendliness of the school. If anything, we have found the school to be even better than presented.</p>
<p>Hope we hear back from those attending this year.</p>
<p>Two students reported on Explore USC on Facebook. You can check them out at USC Class of 2013. I liked the one who wrote, "Amazing".</p>
<p>Georgia Girl sent me a PM asking me to describe ExploreUSC (: It's actually today, so..I don't know if you guys'll be checking it since the 2nd Trustee is today. But anyway:
Who did you see? What did you do during the day? Was there a feeling of energy on campus? How was the staff? Were they helpful? Did you attend a class? Was there a campus tour? If so, what did you like the best?
Posted have been questions about the interview. Was it long? Were there "trick" question? Were you interviewed by more than one person?</p>
<p>When I walked in (the wrong gate -<em>-), I had to trek across campus with my duffel bag and a map to the Admissions Center. Once I was in the vicinity, there were little signs that said "Explore," so I followed those. In the admissions center, I dropped off my duffel bag but kept my purse. I then walked to a little..reception area? There were refreshments, and all of us signed in there. They also gave us an ExploreUSC tshirt :D
In the packet handed to us, there were papers detailing exactly what we could do. In the morning, there were basically four choices: Thematic Options seminar, Financial Aid help, a bus tour, and a walking tour. Each had different time slots so we could feasibly attend them all. (I ended up skipping Financial Aid because I've already submitted everything anyway. Plus, I was hungry, and the first day lunch was not provided.)
The campus tour guide was funny, smart, (and pretty good-looking too, but I sound really shallow right now). He took us around and showed us the different buildings. I really liked this tour, as opposed to tours from other schools, mainly because it felt more personal and interesting.
The bus tour of the neighborhood wasn't too interesting. I kind of fell asleep -</em>- I was really tired, and the neighborhood..isn't the best. The most interesting part of that was seeing "The Row," or the fraternity houses.
Personally, I loved the campus. It's pretty much everything I've looked for: GREAT students and a lively atmosphere (sports or not). If I do get the scholarship, the only reason I won't be going is if I get into a BA/MD program in a UC.
I know you didn't ask about this part, but in the afternoon, after lunch and such, we attended a general session for all the "Trustee I"s. The dean of admissions (I think that was him) was really engaging. He brought the USC Band in to play for us, and that was really fun. Afterwards, we split up into groups depending on what college we were in. Since I was in CAS, I was lumped in with the majority, and we were taken to a location at which various higher-ups talked to us about CAS. Um, I think I dozed off here too-the room was way too stuffy. But then they split us up into humanities and science/math majors, and brought in one of the more celebrated professors for each group. As a biochem major, I was in the science group, and the Neurobiology professor was amazing.
We then filed out and met up with everyone else. We were assigned hosts for the night, and learned our interview times for tomorrow. Most people had 2 scholarship hopefuls per room, some with 3 and some with 1. Since my host had just a single, I was the only one with her. My host was amazing and took me to dinner and the "social event" at an open mic night. The acappella group and comedy improv team were the best I've seen. We then went to an "ice cream social," but since she'd already treated me to a milk shake, we left. I then just spent the night relaxing in her room (she had the best: a single in a suite at Parkside IRC, which I guess is the only building with A/C). At around 1AM, we went to sleep :D
Since my interview was at 9:30AM, I had to wake up at 8 ):. I woke, showered, dressed up, ate breakfast with my host, etc. I then moved out of my room and carried my duffel bag back across to the admissions office, and she went to her first class. My interview was at CAS (because that's my college; duh) and I got there at 9:20. I was actually called in a few minutes late, but that was okay. The interviewers already had a copy of my application printed, so I was relieved because I didn't bring a resume. There is supposed to be a panel of 3 people: a staff member, faculty member, and current scholar. I had one of the Admissions Office's assistant directors, a current professor in the Bio department, and a freshman. The questions were pretty straightforward: they asked me about the strong points on my application and interesting tidbits I had. There weren't any really strange questions. They did ask me about current events or if I'd been following any news (I talked about California's state budget), but that was about it. At the end, they just questioned me about my choice of "Favorite Book" in the QuickTakes at the end of the USC application, and I told them about it. Um, that was about it; I think I ran a bit overtime but that's okay. When everybody came out of the room, we all were happy and said the interview went well, so..yeah. They're good at making us feel good about ourselves.</p>
<p>Um, that's about it. I hope I've helped/am not too late! (:</p>
<p>Thank you for the detailed description of your experience. We appreciate your impressions.</p>
<p>Oops, I forgot to mention that on the second day in the morning, we had classes that we could sit in on. My interview was scheduled at an inopportune time (couldn't make it to any classes on time in the Bio department), so I didn't actually sit in on any. I just sat in a cafe and observed :) I was pleased. But the option was available, ahaha.</p>
<p>thank you for this post - very helpful!</p>
<p>My son is interviewing on Tuesday for the Presidential and your information was great. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience.</p>
<p>Fight On!</p>
<p>Some people already had it? My letter says it's in the next two weeks...
Also, is anyone else severely inconvenienced by the fact that the sessions are held over weekdays? I attend a year-round school, and the sessions fall exactly on my first two weeks of school.... I know these scholarships are ginormous and the events seem rly helpful, but I don't want to fall behind at school so early...</p>
<p>No problem, guys! I actually had already wanted to write something about it on my Livejournal, so this provided me the motivation to actually do so (:
MisterA: I was considered for the Trustee scholarship, and the 2 choices were this last Mon/Tues and Thurs/today. The different scholarships are being interviewed on different days, I think. Luckily, I didn't miss anything, but a girl I met said she'd missed out on performing as a lead role in her musical on both days. We speculated that they're just trying to separate those who are really dedicated to SC and those who just go when it's convenient.</p>
<p>Oh, edit! I forgot to mention that I got a thank-you card for coming to USC from all three of my interviewers (they all signed it). They mentioned a few of the things I'd said in my interview, and it was handwritten: very personalized. :D I'm not letting it to go my head because I figure everybody who interviewed is getting one. :O And it's another one of their tactics to get me to like SC better. I can't say it's not working (:</p>
<p>I went to USC and I can tell you it wouldn't give you a fair representation of the University if you went on a weekend. I think the idea is to give you a feel for what it would be like to attend USC as a student. With the exception of football Saturdays, the campus is pretty subdued on the weekends. </p>
<p>I also agree with NonSenescent's thoughts that they are also probably trying to identify those prospective students that truly show a desire to attend USC.</p>
<p>Important reasons for having the sessions on weekdays is to view the campus when classes are in session, meet students, stroll freely around campus, walk in buildings, visit the libraries, attend a college class, tour laboratories and experience the "vibe" of SC.<br>
Frankly, I do not feel the university uses this as a way to judge interest in attending. If a senior is invited to interview for a Trustee Scholarship, SC hopes that student will join the Trojan family. I feel the university regrets students have to miss high school classes.
In the life of busy seniors it seems to me there would not be a time when it would be convenient for all students to visit. Weekends are full of sports activities, family events and religious services.<br>
SC is a private university. All those scholarship funds have been donated by loyal alumni or friends of SC. Funding does not come from a government agency.</p>
<p>At the same time, though, if students don't show up to ExploreUSC, they're disqualified..so I thought it was somewhat of an elimination process to cut out those who don't really want to to to SC.</p>
<p>well, Explore USC is a requirement for the scholarship. So meh...</p>