<p>For my daughter’s college visits, I purchased a very compressible, compact mummy sleeping bag (backpacking type) that weighs only 2.5 lbs from Sports Chalet. For the pillow, we use a small square pillow for a sofa and compress it like a pancake in a compression bag. You can purchase compression bags at travel stores or some Department stores. We also use compression bags for bulky clothing. Then you can fit everything into a standard suitcase.</p>
<p>I did not even see the “drunken party” comment! Chiming in here as another parent who did not see or hear anything about any drunken parties - my daughter said there was a scavenger hunt around campus. Then the floor of her host’s dorm.</p>
<p>As a student who actually attended Explore, I can tell you that its definitely not a “joke.” I remember going to a comedy show on campus and then hanging in my host’s dorm, playing games and talking. </p>
<p>I mean, your kids aren’t stupid. Sure, they might decide to drink, but I would think that some have $40,000 or $20,000 hanging over their heads, they would be responsible. </p>
<p>Explore is definitely not a waste of time and money. It helps many students make the decision to attend USC the following Fall and gives you a look at what college life is like. I’m a student ambassador this year and an Explore host and I know the Admissions Center is working really hard to pair host and student who have similar interests together and are planning events that keep students busy throughout the whole day so that by the time they go to their hosts’ dorm, they are ready to sleep. </p>
<p>On that note, as for sleeping on the floor, it’s not that big of a deal. Its only a few hours and I think being able to interview for (and potentially receive) a half or full tuition scholarship, makes up for sleeping on the floor for one night.</p>
<p>My daughter and her roommate had two girls stay with them - she said they stayed in and went to sleep early :)</p>
<p>If you come on the Thursday session I can guaratnee there will be parties on the row that night. Most likely not as much giong on for the monday session. My mom had the same reaction last year- she was upset i would be sleeping on the floor in a dorm room the night before such a big interview that could mean getting a HUGE scholarship. Hosts are told many times not to take their students out, but there are definitely some who will.</p>
<p>Woah, did not expect this backlash! But I do have to justify my comments in saying that I do have MULTIPLE friends on scholarship who have told me that they did end up drinking and going out the night before their interview… so much that they were still drunk during the interview or extremely hungover. (And hurray for you all, because those friends are hosting Explore kids this year with the intention of bringing them out to party but I didn’t tell you that.) </p>
<p>This is an assumption, but from my experiences, most of the kids on college confidential are probably not the partying, hardcore Greek type anyway, which would, as Madbean posted, be why this situation “went way below the radar on cc.” As other posters have said with their own experiences, there are definitely students who spend their time wisely on Explore weekend (and hosts who are willing to abide by the rules). </p>
<p>BUT, I think it would be ignorant not acknowledge the fact that there are kids who are very willing to party at USC for the weekend, even if it is for a scholarship interview. To be quite frank, USC has been known to be quite the party school, and my friends said they just couldn’t turn down the opportunity. Sure there’s a scholarship at stake, but there’s a surprising number of kids who just aren’t that interested in USC, (believe it or not) so partying at Explore wouldn’t be too much of a loss for them. That’s what happened with my friends, anyway; but they all ended up at USC, obviously, WITH the scholarship they wanted.</p>
<p>And to Georgia Girl, I highly doubt that a kid who partied before their interview would say so on a public Facebook thread. Especially because on FB, you can put a face to the name, so to release such public information would put the Explore hosts in a tight spot because they are not supposed to take their kids partying. </p>
<p>Just my two cents. Take it with a grain of salt. I’m not trying to scare off Explore kids, I’m just telling the truth. I’m sure the kids who partied went along willingly and weren’t forced to by their hosts, so I wouldn’t worry about it. But don’t write off the partying-before-Explore as a “fallacy”, because it’s definitely, definitely, definitely not.</p>
<p>What this all means is that there are going to be some hungover kids who will make great competition for me :D</p>
<p>I am pumped about seeing the campus, spending time there. Without this opportunity of spending time at an EXPLORE scholarship weekend, I wouldn’t have had the chance to experience the campus at this level, and USC probably wouldn’t have been near my first choice. Surely kids at this level have some level of discernment of what they can handle the night before interviews.<br>
I am really excited about meeting you fellow explore-ites :)</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, I partied hard the night before my interview and I’m a Trustee Scholar now.</p>
<p>To pack a sleeping bag, consider either a compressing “mummy” bag and/or getting the air out in a “space saver” type bag to get it into your luggage.</p>
<p>With so much riding on the interview, I would not recommend “partying” so much that you’re not at your best the day of your interview. The difference between getting a scholarship or not can be $90-200K. Figure out your priorities.</p>
<p>hey, so i’m packing right now, and i cannot possibly, for the sake of my life, figure out how to get a sleeping back along with my shirt/suit and everything else into a carry-on sized bag. is there a target or dicks sporting goods near USC where i can buy one? thanks.</p>
<p>NeonG-Take one/two blankets, it will be fine.</p>
<p>^that was going to be my next question haha… i think that’s what i will do. thanks!</p>
<p>Flying out tomorrow for LA and so excited about my presidential sch. interview, but even more excited about staying on campus, and meeting everyone!
Fight on!</p>
<p>Neon Green - haha yeah, I was having the same issue. In the end i opted to keep most of my clothes in my bookbag (aka my flight allowed “personal item”) and my shoes, some clothes, and the sleeping bag in the carryon bag.</p>
<p>Are you guys doing jackets/vests? or just dress shirts</p>
<p>I’ll be doing a jacket… going all out :)</p>
<p>Do we room with other prospective students or just ourself and the host?</p>
<p>^ you room with both. i was in a room with my host, her roommate, and 4 other girls. so, 7 girls total shared one room, haha.</p>
<p>You usually room with another prospective student (typically in the same school or major), the host, and his/her roommate.</p>
<p>@mjang - Seven in one room?! Was it a standard double, or bigger?</p>
<p>A note on the partying. I don’t doubt that it sometimes happens. But I know that every host has to sign a document promising that they specifically will NOT take their explore students out to drink or even allow them to step foot on the row. It may happen, but it isn’t all that often that it does. And it is completely against the rules when it does happen.</p>
<p>@soadquake981 - hahaha, yeah. my host had two students, and her roommate had 3! it was a suite double at parkside so it was fairly larger. all 5 of us (prospective students) fit on the ground, lol.</p>