Freshman Orientation

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of South Carolina
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<p>Good times Belle3… My DS is also the only one from his school, in fact he is the first ever to attend USC from what guidance said. He is well liked and many of his friends are now asking their parents if they can go for a visit. The parents are now asking me is it worth it…“Yes”!</p>

<p>The college move in rush is nutty, our older son attends UCONN and even living close the move-in was not an easy day. With this son move-in day will be a non-issue, he gets to move in a few days sooner than all the rest. </p>

<p>At least you get to go to orientation, my DS put his foot down and gave us a firm no we can’t go so he is flying in on his own to session 3. </p>

<p>My son came home the other night from a barn fire with his friends. He said he got to laugh at his friends because it was 34F and they were all cold. He told his friends that this time next year he will be at a USC barn fire with shorts & a “T”… </p>

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<p>@3unitsIlove‌ - that’s a shame he won’t let you go to freshman orientation. I went last year with my son and there are a lot of parents there. The freshman are not even with their parents until the end so he’d hardly know you’re there. There are separate sessions just for parents so they have their own ‘orientation’ and it’s very informative. You might make him aware of that in case he thinks not many parents go or if he thinks he’d have to have you with him during that time… totally not the case. </p>

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<p>Any advice for Honors Housing roomate picking? My S filled out the survey and only a few other students had published their information. Does the school randomly choose a roomate for him if he does not choose one? He said that they won’t read his survey when they randomly assign. Any advice?</p>

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<p>@3unitsllove: I am not looking forward to move-in day during rush, for sure. I guess the only good thing is that it will be less hectic than the Saturday move-in, when all the rest will be coming in. My daughter and I are very close, and she would have been upset had I NOT gone to Orientation. I am, however, staying at the Inn, while she will spend both the night before, and the night of, in Patterson. @Vinmic2: There are many students (like over 3,000) on one of the FB pages set up by students in the University of South Carolina Class of 2014, where kids are just talking to one another and finding roommates. There are three different pages. One is for Honors girls, and the other two are just both males and females. If he does a search on FB, he will probably find it. And there may be one for Honors guys.</p>

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<p>@VinMic2‌ - My daughter was wondering the same thing. She filled out the survey and got 2 responses but one had a roommate and the other didn’t click. The FB page we saw was mainly for the other dorms. We’re having trouble finding honors dorm roommates. I see that @Belle3 mentioned a FB page for honors roommates- I’ll have to get her to look for that … quickly too! Else, I hope they consider the survey responses as my daughter is an introvert and would not work well with an extroverted partier type girl (nor would that girl be happy either). </p>

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<p>BTW: We sent our daughter’s immunization form and citizenship verification back in March. Yesterday I went online to double-check when they were received, knowing that by now they would have been, but that was not the case. I actually couldn’t find a place that even said whether they had been received or not. Finally, I clicked on “Student Holds,” and there it was. Said those items were missing, and that she couldn’t register for classes at Orientation until they were received. I called the school, and the woman told me that she did see the immunization form, and would update my daughter’s record, but did not see the Citizenship documents, even though I had the fax paper saying they had been delivered and received. So we resent the CV papers today. And that is another reason I want to go to Orientation-just in case something needs to be done!</p>

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<p>^^It’s a good idea to follow up on this stuff. I sent D’s residency forms twice at least when she was a freshman. Downside to large school! When other D applied to USC for grad school, I walked the forms in :)</p>

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<p>My DD is a freshman (for one more week) in the Honors Dorm. I don’t think you will have to worry about the “partier type girl” in the honors dorm although there are definitely a group of kids that go out more than others. The risk you take without putting a roommate preference down is that they could get a single. Now that could be an OK thing but they are more expensive and they charge you the higher price even though you didn’t request it. There are TONS of singles in the Honors Dorm.</p>

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<p>Just an FYI… Requesting a roommate in Honors will not guarantee NOT getting single. My daughter found roommate on Facebook last year and even though they requested each other , they received connected singles. While at first they were upset, other than the higher cost, the singles worked out great! </p>

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<p>To all those talking about attending orientation alone… Imo, it’s no big deal. I attended by myself. (I didn’t see the point in paying extra money for my parents to attend. I’m the one attending college, not them. They also felt the same way. I think in the end, we all agreed that it would have been a waste of money for them to attend.)</p>

<p>I’m very, very close with my parents. I call them every day (I average about 12 hours of phone calls a month with my parents right now, according to my phone bill… That works out to be roughly 25 minutes/a day). That being said, I felt like I missed out on absolutely nothing with them not being there.</p>

<p>If your kids don’t want you to attend or are indifferent about it, then so be it. It really isn’t a big deal. If you really want to be there, then do it, but I don’t think it will make or break your child’s experience. I guess CC is probably more of a place where parents would want to be more involved, but like I said, I really just would encourage you, as parents, to see what your child wants. (If they want you there, great! I’d say, of the 200 kids at my orientation, maybe 10 of us didn’t have parents there. So it’s definitely more common for parents to attend. If they’re more hesitant, maybe let them go on their own.) It all just depends on the kid and each family.</p>

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<p>Coleman4…He is very independent so no worries on our end. In the end it is a good thing, his mother can begin to prepare herself. This after all this is more like a 9 year gig and not just 4; adding to college, once an officer there is no telling where he will get stationed or when we could see him. For me, I was a bit proud that he wanted to do orientation alone, it will give him a stronger piece of confidence when we actually drop him off. </p>

<p>While he is at orientation, I’ll be on the beach with a few cool drinks!!</p>

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<p>@Belle3 what is rush move-in? From reading this thread, it sounds like the school has to have all the immunization records and such before orientation? I’m guessing the kids probably got an email or something about this, as this is the first I’m hearing of it. Gosh I hope my D has had all the shots she needs, as getting a doctor’s appointment around all the senior activities and before orientation might be a challenge. </p>

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<p>^^Rush move in is for girls who are planning on going through recruitment for sororities. You have to sign up for rush to be eligible. Before last year, rush was the same week as welcome/start of class week and that led to more stress and scheduling conflicts. Now girls who are rushing move in early and get several rounds of recruitment in before other students come in.</p>

<p>D is now junior, but yes immunization records need to be complete before they allow you to register. In “what to do next” information for new students that should be on check list and there is a form to print out (may can fill out on line now). I know with my pediatrician you can call and get shot records or drop off school form for nurse to fill in. That’s what I did last summer for other D who took a summer school class. If you are not up to date, you could probably get what you need without formal appointment. Check with your doctor’s office - may be something nurse can handle. I know at mine, shots can be given without seeing doctor. Seems like USC also had opportunity to get shots the day of orientation for some things but I would call about that. </p>

<p>Here is link for freshman checklist. <a href=“http://www.sa.sc.edu/orientation/files/2014/04/FreshmanChecklist-Summer-Fall-2014.pdf”>Orientation - New Student Orientation | University of South Carolina;

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<p>Thanks, @scmom12 Forgive me, but we’re from the northeast, so this who sorority thing is Greek to me :slight_smile: I don’t understand the first thing about it. If an incoming freshman is interested, would she have already had to sign up? I don’t even know if my D is interested but is this her only opportunity if she is?</p>

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<p>Here is link to sorority recruitment information. <a href=“Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment - Fraternity and Sorority Life | University of South Carolina”>Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment - Fraternity and Sorority Life | University of South Carolina;

<p>Have your D read this and maybe check out some of individual sorority pages. You do not have to rush as a freshman, so if she’s not sure, then she can wait until sophomore year. That way she’ll have time to meet other students and get a feel for the groups. My D wasn’t at all interested and has lots of friends and activities (her sister is in one at another school and loves it). One of her roommates joined as freshmen. Two others joined as sophomores, only one is still really active. Read the link, but I think you can sign up until August 1, so you may have a chance to look specifically at greek life when you come for orientation.</p>

<p>Rushing as freshman does not commit D to taking a bid and there are girls who go through just to meet a lot of people, but I’m not sure that’s a great idea since there is a cost involved and does take time. Some girls enjoy sororities for a ready-made group of friends and social events (dances, etc) but there are lots of other ways to get involved at USC.</p>

<p>All types of girls join. Yes there are some real partiers, but there are also just plain ole nice girls who like to have a ready made place to be involved.</p>

<p>Maybe start a new thread about greek life and you’ll get some responses from students who joined. </p>

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<p>@mizkittysplace‌ - I couldn’t recommend freshman fall rush more. I am in a fraternity (and rushed freshman fall) but all of my gal friends who rushed as freshmen have the same opinion. </p>

<p>There are two main components to joining an organization: rush & pledging. The rush for girls is very intensive – it lasts 3 weeks (and starts before school). They get a chance to really meet the girls from every sorority on campus. Each side slowly whittles each other down - your daughter would pick her 10 favorite, then 7, and so on as she goes through the rounds. The sororities slowly create a list of their top-desired girls as well. At the end, you’re left with two and on “bid day” you are handed a shirt telling you what organization you will be in. The girls then run to that organization (that is grouped up on the horseshoe) while a large crowd cheers them on.</p>

<p>Pledging is the intensive part for guys, not as much for girls. Once girls are invited to join an organization (i.e. Bid Day), they can accept it and are virtually a member. They have “new member” meetings and all that but truly get to take part in everything the sorority does.</p>

<p>I think it is a great opportunity - you get to join a group of people who have very similar values and ideals as you. Sororities especially raise tens of thousands of dollars every semester for philanthropy. Finally, the social scene is phenomenal. Through mixers, functions, tailgates, etc. I have met a wonderful variety of people around campus.</p>

<p>During the process of pledging, your daughter can get involved on campus. My freshman fall I was in the honors college, pledged a fraternity, worked on campus, and was in student government. The “stick to your fraternity/sorority” idea is a stereotype - I am very close with my organization, but have friends from everything else I am involved in. </p>

<p>On the sorority side, the true rush experience only happens in Fall, so it comes down to a freshman/sophomore fall decision. I think people miss out by not pledging freshman fall - the majority of your “pledge sisters/brothers” are freshmen with you, so everyone is having this brand new experience at the same time. It really creates a family away from home.</p>

<p>There are sororities for every girl. Some are quite stereotypical and what you’d expect (which is a fit for some), while some of my favorite sororities contain girls who are all very down to earth and involved on campus. Fear not, through the intense rush process, your daughter will get a very good grasp on the kind of organization she is joining. And as the poster above me mentioned, you aren’t forced into it - it’s a yes/no decision at the end of rush.</p>

<p>Hope this helps! I am passionate about the subject and willing to answer any other questions you’ve got.</p>

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<p>C not T,</p>

<p>Do you have TKE for a fraternity? His older brother is a TKE up here in the northeast! To that end if you in fact have TKE would his brother be of any help if he were to get involved. As of right now he has no desire to get into the frat life; however, this can all change.</p>

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<p>@cocknotTrojan, Thank you. Like I said being from the Northeast, it’s all a mystery. I don’t think any of this was addressed at Accepted Student Day, so it weren’t for this forum, I (and, ergo, my D) wouldn’t even know about Rush move in and that she has to do if she’s interested in a sorority. I’ve heard that being in a sorority is “very expensive” but I haven’t seen/heard any hard fast figures. Anyone care to comment on that? Even a range would be helpful. Are we talking hundreds of dollars? Thousands? Thanks so much. </p>

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<p>Here is link to Greek guide. <a href=“Fraternity and Sorority Life - Fraternity and Sorority Life | University of South Carolina”>Fraternity and Sorority Life - Fraternity and Sorority Life | University of South Carolina; Even though the link says 2012 it looks update for 2014 and there is a chart with fees. It can get a little confusing since different sororities may have different requirements about meal plans. And you have to remember to compare meal plan/housing for sororities to if you weren’t in one - you’d be paying something for room and board anyway. Biggest additional cost is going to be the chapter fee, etc columns.</p>

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<p>You’re talking thousands over the course of four years. Initial membership is usually around $1000 and then semester dues after that end up being about $500.</p>

<p>And while there are meal plans/boarding requirements, it’s cheaper to not be in a sorority. (Also, a lot of people leave the meal plan after freshman year.)</p>

<p>I’d also like to say that sororities are not necessarily for everyone. I completely do not have a problem with them and I have a lot of friends in sororities who really enjoy it, but I also have a lot of friends who are not. If your daughter isn’t interested in it, it’s not a big deal. I also don’t agree that there’s necessarily a ‘sorority for everyone’. I did the rush process and I decided that it just was not for me. For a lot of girls, it is. I only did rush because a lot of girls were doing it ‘to make friends’, but when it came to Welcome Week, almost all of the friends I was making were not doing rush.</p>

<p>If she is interested, then it can’t really hurt to rush and she may find a place for her. So, here’s my suggestion: If your daughter is the least bit curious about sororities or thinks it is something she wants to do, then she should rush. If she is not interested and is only doing it because that’s what everyone else is doing, then don’t. I don’t believe that greek life makes or breaks one’s time in college. You can be perfectly happy at USC in a sorority or not in one.</p>

<p>Personally, I decided not to join one, because A) I didn’t find any sorority that really fit and B) because it’s expensive. I don’t know all of the details, but I have heard from friends that there are extra expenses on things like retreats and buying presents for your ‘little’. One of my friends told me her sorority required something like a minimum of $300 that bigs spend on their littles for presents. I’m not sure how uniform or common that is. Also, there are standards for dress at different events… and buying different dresses for different occasions can be expensive too. I just couldn’t justify myself in spending the extra money where I wouldn’t normally.</p>

<p>But one of my best friends at USC rushed her freshman year, didn’t get matched with a sorority she liked, so she took a year unaffiliated, and re-rushed for her sophomore year, and so far she absolutely loves her new sorority. And she’s very happy she joined.</p>