<p>Any sense of what these are like?<br>
Is it recruiting to have students who are competitive have USC as a top choice? How much info is given to the students who attend?</p>
<p>It’s pretty much they have certain areas to get OOS students and they invite those who who have good scores to inform them about the McNair’s application process, it’s benefits, and other info about the honors college and general university. Pretty much it is meant to recruit people, but usually only people with USC on their list will go. Were you invited?</p>
<p>If invited, GO. They are usually held at a really nice restaurant. Good for a free meal anyway.</p>
<p>Mark2457 is correct: If invited, GO! Our son received an invitation last year and blew it off. His mother and I had the same attitude…we didn’t know anything about the McNair or the Honors College at USC. Then, a couple of weeks later, our son received a letter suggesting that he apply to the Honors College because he might be competitive for the McNair. I did some research and thought that he should throw in an application, although we remained skeptical about the Honors College. After much cajoling, our son applied, but still had no interest in attending.</p>
<p>All that changed after being invited to compete for the McNair. Our son was BLOWN AWAY by what he saw. When he returned home, he said that he was going to attend the Honors College even if he did not win the McNair. The Honors College went from “no interest” to the top of his list. In the end, he selected it over quite a few schools, including Emory, Vanderbilt and the Honors Program as well as a merit scholarship at UNC-Chapel Hill. P.S…</p>
<p>All of this year’s Honors College freshmen received in-state tuition and a merit scholarship, making it less expensive than most of the out-of-state students’ in-state flagship schools.</p>
<p>thanks for the replies. ends up i don’t know if the time of the dinner will work since there’s a school tryout that may be ending right as the dinner is starting and it’s an important one for primary EC / senior year. also think competitive for honors but not necessarily for McNair so hoping that missing it won’t hurt that application</p>
<p>They also did these in SC for Carolina scholars. We couldn’t go last year because of conflict with tennis match. People that went seemed to enjoy it. Did not affect daughter’s chances…she was invited to compete for Carolina scholar. However, if you want, call host of dinner or admissions officer listed and express your interest and that you would be there if not for conflict. Can’t hurt (although I don’t think USC “tracks” interest like some schools.)</p>