<p>So I'm looking at these two schools because they offer pretty good scholarships / possibly honors colleges with my GPA, I visited Coastal and really liked the campus and will hopefully visit Winthrop soon. They both have programs I'd be interested in, and just seemed pretty nice all around in general.</p>
<p>But I live down in Georgia and know almost know one who (recently) went to South Carolina for college, so I don't know any "inside info" on them... Does anyone have a general idea of what their student life is like, their academic reputation, any personal experiences of current students / transfers out / alumni / people who just have knowledge? I've heard mixed things from people here on Coastal and almost nothing on Winthrop. Thanks!</p>
<p>(Hope this is the right forum to post this in.)</p>
<p>What’s your GPA? What’s your ACT/SAT score?
Do you qualify for Hope and/or Zell Miller?
What type of school do you want - do you want an urban school or a college where life is centered on the campus? So you want a college that primarily prepares undergrads for jobs or primarily prepares undergrads for grad/professional school? Do you want small, interactive classes, or do you prefer being anonymous and taking notes in a lecture hall? </p>
<p>Some numbers:
Only 33% students graduate in 4 years at Winthrop, although 60% manage to do so in 6.
The top 25% students have scores in the high 500’s, with 75% students below 570 or so.
38% classes have fewer than 20 students, 26% have more than 30.
Virtually all freshmen live on campus.</p>
<p>At Coastal Carolina, only 30% students graduate in 4 years., which is not surprising since the students are even less strong than at Winthrop, with the top 25% hitting the low to mid 500’s on their SAT.
35%classes have fewer than 20 students, 12% have more than 30.
The campus overall has a nice location.</p>
<p>If you give us your stats, the CC community will be able to provide you with alternatives or similar choices that offer scholarships for your stats.</p>
<p>As far as reputation is concerned, I’d choose Winthrop over Coastal. If your stats are high enough, I recommend College of Charleston over either Winthrop or Coastal. Is there a particular reason you want to attend school in SC instead of Georgia? </p>
<p>Sorry for lack of info. Rising senior. Stats are 3.4 UW GPA, 3.5 weighted, 32 ACT, 2060 SAT (1330 M+CR). I qualify for Georgia’s HOPE I know, but I don’t think it also applies for SC. I like less urban, residential campuses (with things at least somewhat nearby to do). I prefer small interactive classes but I’m fine with a few large ones for things like core subjects. I want a school that prepares me better for graduate school, as I want to become an occupational therapist as of right now.</p>
<p>SC’s not the only state I’m looking at (just happens to have more than one I’m interested in), and I’ve just found it has more interesting options than Georgia does. The only school in Georgia I’m interested in going to is UGA, and it’s not guaranteed I’ll get in with my stats. So I’m looking for out of state options that will offer me a decent amount of money, which unfortunately means they won’t have the BEST reputation, but I’m hoping if I get into Honors Program it may be better. </p>
<p>No, HOPE only applies in GA.
College of Charleston sounds like a better option than either one, indeed.
USC is a possibility.
Note that with a 3.5 weighted and 32 ACT, you get automatic Honors College, Honors Dorm, and full tuition at UAlabama (flagship). The basic application is online already. Once you’re admitted, apply to the Honors College.</p>
<p>Your scores are good. It would be helpful if you could raise your GPA this coming semester. CofC is urban, but in a charming small city way. Can you provide additional info regarding your coursework, class rank, type of HS, ECs and how much you can afford for college? Also, are you male or female? Wofford may be a good match for you academically, but it’s hard to assess affordability without more info. Wofford has pretty generous merit awards and I’ve heard awards tend to be larger for higher test scores. Your GPA/class rank may be problematic for Wofford Scholars though. </p>
<p>Coursework isn’t too impressive. I’m labeled as a “gifted” student, but I got kicked out of advanced math. Only gonna graduate with 3 APs. My school doesn’t do class rank because its a magnet program that requires everyone to have a 3.0 or higher, also it’s an arts school, but it’s the highest rated in our county/top 5 I think in the state. ECs, a lot of theatre and choir mostly, not president of anything, some volunteering at deaf education schools. I’m nothing impressive in any of those areas which is why I’m aiming for not as great schools that will give me lots of money and possibly an honors program.</p>
<p>Wofford, never even heard of that. I’ll look it up. Also, Im definitely applying to Alabama, but it really doesn’t seem like the right place for me unfortunately. :(</p>
<p>Lizzer72, do not be too quick to judge the U. of Alabama. My older son attended the school as a National Merit Scholar. He never thought he would like a big SEC school with a big-time football tradition. Was he wrong! He loved his four years. Double major. Double minor. Studied abroad a couple of times. He had small classes and lots of individual attention, too. His roommate was a Truman Scholar. Another was a Goldwater Scholar. His best friend won a Hollings, Goldwater and a Mitchell! She is finishing her masters degree in Ireland and will pursue for PhD in engineering at Stanford. As for my son, he was a Hollings Scholar and will be on scholarship at UVA Law. </p>
<p>A lot of kids come out of Alabama with very bright futures.</p>
<p>Your profile absolutely doesn’t mesh with either Winthrop or CCU. Do apply to UAlabama Honors. College of Charleston Honors may not be impossible. NCF (New College Florida) if you want to attend graduate school would be rather cheap. Eckerd is another good school where you’d likely get merit money. Both are very different in atmosphere from UAlabama, CCU or Winthrop, so check them out in the Fiske Guide or in person, but they’re both excellent and challenging.
If the idea of a coastal university appeals to you and you want an academically stronger university than CCU, why not look into UNC-Wilmington? In the top tier of the UNC system (exactly, top 4 with UNC-Asheville and NCSU plus UNC-CH, ou of 17 universities), great location, some terrific, unique programs, good honors program.</p>
<p>I would be hesitant to recommend CCU. It doesn’t have the best reputation out there - other than it’s high rate of STDs. Winthrop is better - I agree with the others that C of C is best. </p>
<p>If you’re into theater and choir you would love College of Charleston. Artsy city with beaches. The magnet program may help you. How much can you/your parents afford to pay? Have you run any of the Net Price Calculators yet? I’m just trying to get an idea of the amount of merit you need. If you are willing to forego the coast, UNC - Asheville is worth considering too although I don’t know whether they give many OOS scholarships. Agree with MYOS that you should definitely check out NCF and Eckerd. </p>
<p>I am considering UNC-Asheville a lot. If they give any merit I will go there if I decide I’d like a very small school- I loved the impression I got when I visited!</p>
<p>I’m hoping to attend for less than 25K a year. I’m capable of more but I don’t want to be a burden and use more money than what’s in my college fund and build up tons of loans or anything. I looked at CoC, and it doesn’t sound like that’s financially possible with what I’d like. </p>
<p>You’re entitled to borrowing $5,500 for freshman year. The total for 4 years should not be over 27,000, which is what a college graduate can pay back. Obviously you don’t have to borrow that much, but if you limit yourself to that amount you can expect to handle it okay as it’s a worthwhile investment.
Attending for less than 25k a year means getting a LOT of merit… </p>
<p>NC public universities don’t give out a lot of merit aid except the big ones (the Park scholarship, The Morehead,etc.) While you might be eligible for smaller merit aid, it’s unlikely you’ll end up with enough to get you down to 25K. </p>
<p>Furman might be a possibility. They have some merit awards. Have you run an estimated EFC calc and are your parents willing to pay that amount? Georgia Regents Univ. in Augusta has a pre-OT BS degree and a MS in OT. (It’s still Augusta College to me…used to live there long ago) The professional degree for an OT is generally a MS, so you may want to use your HOPE to pay for UG so that you can afford grad school.</p>
<p>Have you looked at GA college in Milledgeville? I know you don’t want to stay in-state -but Hope is really hard to pass up. My D always wanted to go out of state -but in the end she just couldn’t turn down the Zell Miller (Hope) scholarship. </p>
Also, Im definitely applying to Alabama, but it really doesn’t seem like the right place for me unfortunately. :(</p>