Gamecock Gateway Program

Are there any SC students who started in the Gateway program? If so can you share your overall experience and whether or not it was favorable, pros/cons, etc. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

We are residents of SC and my son will be attending the gateway program this coming Fall. I have heard good things from several people about the program and kids seem to transition well into USC.

We are also looking for more information on this program. We have heard positive things as well. but we want to make sue the kids in this program feel very connected to USC

The kids live on campus, can use the facilities of USC (gym, cafeteria, library, etc) and have the same opportunity to get tickets to football games etc. Several people have told me that their kids still hung out with their friends who were in USC already. Their kids studied in the USC library and met their USC friends for lunch. They can’t join a fraternity or sorority- I have a son and wasn’t very e

Sorry, I didn’t finish- I have a son and wasn’t very excited for the fraternity distraction anyhow freshman year.

Thank you for all of the responses. Since my post we dug in a little. MtPmom is correct they have the same on campus experience as other USA students, can pretty much do everything but Greek (not a bad thing my opinion especially as a freshman). The freshman GPA carries through to your sophomore year and with class sizes much smaller at MTC it’s feasible the grades will be better at MTC than USC that first year. My daughter wants to apply to the Nursing program thus a solid GPA start to her college career would be a good thing. The only other issue we’ve learned is the logistics can be a pain especially if class schedule doesn’t mirror the shuttle schedule. My daughter may bring a car (Gateway students can have a car on campus as a freshman) because of this minor issue. I think she is going to move forward with the program, she wants the USC experience and her brother is a sophomore there and loves it.

Is anyone attending the invitation only information session this weekend or the following weekend?

We are going to the meeting this Friday.

My daughter pulled the trigger and will attend SC. In a weird way the program might be a blessing as any sorority desires get pushed off for a year and MTC’s classes are smaller and I’m guessing a little easier than main campus thus she will hopefully be able to goose up the GPA her first year which will help as she wants to apply into the nursing program.

Hi, I’m new here. My daughter is most likely going to attend the Gateway program also. She has her heart set on USC. Most of the info I’ve read seems like they are definitely a part of the USC campus. My concerns are missing the shuttle to/from MTC and it seems like Bates House is pretty far from everything else. Does anyone know if they work with a counselor to ensure transferability of credits so next year there will be no problems transferring?

My daughter was admitted to the program as well. I am happy I found this forum. My fear is that she is not guaranteed full enrollment at USC the following year. When I looked at the map, Bates House seems to be away from everything.

Bates and Bates West have been part of USC for a long time. My H stayed there as a freshman in 1970s and he was certainly part of the campus. I don’t think it’s further from core of campus than Greek Village. In fact I think it’s more connected because you just walk down the bridge without dealing with crossing streets. That’s the next part of campus on the schedule to be updated.

The nice thing is that Bridge students are on campus. Clemson has a popular bridge program where kids stay nearer the tech school but can’t get to campus without driving (they are working to move them closer now). So at USC, you drive to get to MTC but can easily walk to center of campus for everything else.

Jerseyma, you can look at MTC website and see the courses that directly correspond (and are completely transferable) to the USC course.

My son is probably going to do the gateway program next year. In your child’s gateway packet are several numbers for you to call and ask questions. I spoke to someone last week and they were very helpful and several of the advisors actually work in an office in Bates House during the school year. I would call to ask questions, the advisor I spoke to was extremely informative.There is an orientation time during the summer where the students will sign up for classes. The advisors should be knowledgeable on what classes the student should take but also the student at that time should also be ready to pick classes as well.

Well we also pulled the trigger, exciting but yet scary. In the paperwork it says they will be in touch with more info within 10 days. Has anyone received that yet? Just wondering if it will come via mail or email as my email has been acting up lately.

we were a bit confused…when i spoke to the advisor asking about my daughters acceptance into USC he mentioned that she was admitted to the gateway program. We received 2 emails within the past two days saying first that the girls gateway is waitlisted and then the boys are close to capacity and then they have reached full and we need to send $750 to be on the waitlist.

My friends daughter who got accepted into gateway but is not going also received that email. If you didn’t already reserve your spot and send the money in you are now waitlisted as it has reached capacity. I guess they weren’t kidding when they said it fills up very quickly. Glad we reserved when we did.

Has anyone who is committing to the bridge program and paid the fee received the additional information that they are to send in the mail?

Not yet.

@sclady12 I received the additional gateway package in the mail today.

@Jerseyma We did as well.