<p>Are there any Gateway students or parents on this Forum? I am a parent of a new student. I would love to hear from others on how this new experience is going for them.</p>
<p>We were very excited about this new program. Although it has been a very slow process getting information because of the newness of this program.</p>
<p>Is the gateway program the program where students live at USC and get to do USC stuff but actually take courses at a community college?</p>
<p>From what I understand it is kind of an expansion of the bridge programs that already exist between tech and 4 year schools. Successful completion of 30 transferrable hours at tech as a freshman guarantees full enrollment at USC as sophmore. Can do most things USC students do except Greek life, major athletic tickets and club offices - maybe one or two others. Closer to how Clemson does bridge program since housing is involved.</p>
<p>I’m curious what others think about this program. I really appreciate what it’s trying to do and while I think that it theoretically is a great idea, (I personally am all for community colleges! The kids who choose the community college/transfer route are making an extremely sound financial decision and are often very independent and responsible students.) I do wonder how practical something like this is for the students participating and the actual school. I’ve heard of the program at Clemson, but know very little. My concerns are for the students. They live at USC, but don’t attend classes there, which makes the point of “living on campus” kind of pointless. They still have to commute to classes. (Do they have to provide their own transportation between USC and Tech?)</p>
<p>Also, housing isn’t really overflowing with ability at USC. The initial waiting list of students who wished to live on campus in the fall was 900 students long. We received many threat letters about losing our deposit and how important it was to let housing know if we chose to live off campus because the waiting list was so bad. I have a friend who was accepted to USC as a transfer student, but was told that there is absolutely no housing available and that she couldn’t even be put on a waiting list. So it seems strange to me that current students and students who have formally been accepted to the school can’t get housing, but students who have conditional admission and won’t be attending classes on campus (thus having less of a need to live on campus) get on-campus housing.</p>
<p>I love the idea for the program and I wish your son or daughter really good luck! I just think that USC might should sort out its own growing pains first before embarking on something like this. :-/</p>
<p>Midlands tech students can already participate in at least some of the extra-curriculars. I know of at least one Midlands tech student who did marching band at USC last year, but he was not allowed campus housing.</p>
<p>im actually a student that is going into the gateway program the fall of 2012. Im so excited, though i felt like i should have been accepted into usc i waited to late to do my application but never the less im still thankful that i have the oppurtunity to go to USC in a way. So far after all the talking to counselers and going to visit the 6th of july i have gotten that we live on campus we take classes at midlands tech(airport campus) and we pretty much have the benefits of all the other students except for the football baseball and basketball games and joining soroities and fraternities and becoming a club president and things like that but luckily none of that concerns me though i will have to get the football and basketball and baseball tickets. But as far as the hosing i have went and visited and its a pretty nice dorm its called the roost. Only the gateway program students will live in it so we will all be together. As far as all the other 900students on the waiting list the roost is far from the campus its actually closest to the football stadium and right by the practice track and softball field so i dont think that students would want to live in that dorm being that it is so far away from their classes. Oh also we will have a shuttle that will go back and forth from usc to midlands to transport us.
Im very grateful for this program because it gives kids that truely deserve it more than the kids that take it for granted a second chance. Im a football player and my dream has been to play for USC, at 1st i gave up hope but now i have bben reassured as i have a year to workout and get in tip top shape before i can walk on, and im going to give it my all.</p>
<p>Oh and one last thing to the person that has a child also going to the gateway program my counserler told me the 1st few days we are there we will be doing a lot of group activities such as eating dinner on some spinning building, going to concerts and orientation and all of these things will be only for gateway students. So our first few days are going to be a blast.</p>
<p>Thanks lendog31, my son also turned his application in very late. We were very excited that they invited him to this new program. I am very happy for you…I really think this is going to be a great opportunity for all of you. </p>
<p>We drove down to see the Roost but there wasn’t anyway to get in… He was hoping to check out the room before move in day. He and his roommate were going to pre make a loft but we thought it would be good to see the room first. Were you able to get into the building? My son is on the 2nd floor. May I ask what floor you are on? We will be there for the later move in time. I think it’s going to be a very busy morning! </p>
<p>Other than orientation we didn’t know about the other activities. That sounds great! The Midlands campus is really nice. Having gone to a bigger school…I think it will be nice to have all of your classes so close together. </p>
<p>Thanks again for your response and good luck!</p>
<p>“Some spinning building.” That made me laugh, lendog31. It’s Capstone. The mechanism for the top floor was purchased from a World’s Fair way back when. It was a regular restaurant for a number of years, but the lack of kitchen facilities on the top floor held it back. It’s now used primarily for special events. The views of Columbia are great, particularly to the east toward Five Points and to the south toward the Stadium. The campus sits on top of a pretty big hill. Don’t put anything on the window sill, or it might be gone next time you look.</p>