<p>^This is so true. I received the Thornwell scholarship. According to the link posted above, the requirements are “an average SAT score of 1223 on critical reading and math combined (or ACT composite score of 27) and an average weighted high school GPA of 4.06.”</p>
<p>My stats in high school were a 1230 (slightly above the average SAT), a 25 ACT (2 points below the average), and a weighted 3.3 (a lot lower than the average).</p>
<p>I don’t think USC goes off of absolute numbers and I don’t think you should expect a scholarship. I was genuinely surprised when I received a scholarship and in another year, I may not have received it.</p>
<p>My son’s classes once he got past the intro courses and was taking upper level business classes have had about 50 people each. Prior to that most were 75 to 100. Every semester one or two classes (in the business school) are a problem and require getting an override from the instructor to get in. I have heard that getting upper level classes is a problem in other majors. I realize Carolina is a big state school so this is usual. Also, I suspect that South Carolina does award scholarships pretty much based on numbers as it would take quite a bit of time thoroughly vet the applications. It was my understanding that honors college students have an earlier and separate registration process and therefore are spared the hassles of waiting in line for an hour at advisement. Seats are available for their classes while seats for the general population sometimes are not. My son has loved Carolina but he feels as do many of his friends that each year lines get longer and access to everything from lunch to the Thurman center courts gets harder. The price of popularity I guess.</p>
<p>^I think this depends on a student’s major. For example, I never once had to wait to meet with my advisor. I signed up for a time and met with her one-on-one in about ten minutes time. It was that easy. My friend who is pre-pharmacy also had the same thing. The same was for my friends who were English, French, and Mechanical Engineering majors. I think that most departments have students sign up for a time and then show up then. I was told in my U101 class that some departments do group advising though. None of my friends had that however.</p>
<p>I’m not sure how registration times are made, but I have heard they are based on a combination of major and year. I don’t think honors college students get to sign up for classes much earlier if at all earlier. At least, none of my freshmen friends who were Honors College students in the same majors as I did. I have heard that International Business students get to sign up for classes first. Overrides are a part of life at Carolina and often can be pretty easy to obtain. Sometimes it’s harder, but that’s life.</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, advisement does not affect registration appointment times. The one exception to this is that you must be advised prior to registering for classes, but EVERY department offers advising in a timely manner to allow students to get advised before the registration period officially begins.</p>
<p>As far as lines go, if you don’t want to deal with them, then just be smart with how you spend your time. Me and my friends usually go to the Strom around 10 or 11 at night and have absolutely no problems with waiting on anything. We usually get meals around 1 or 2 for lunch and don’t have problems with waiting. I don’t think that this is unique to USC, though. If you go to any restaurant at 12:00, it’s going to be busy.</p>
<p>Let me just be clear that I’m not disputing your son’s experience at USC. I realize that everyone has different opinions and experiences. My experience with USC is that I feel like it’s a small school and have rarely noticed that it’s actually 30,000 students on campus. The only times I truly notice the actual size of the school are at football games. And this comes from someone who graduated in a high school class of 43. My suitemates had an even smaller graduating class of under 30 and they seemed to have the same sentiments.</p>
<p>Yes honors students tend to get in classes earlier because they do it during honors advisement which is earlier than registration…HOWEVER they are only put in honors sections (in fall that’s only 1 class for D2), they are not taking spots from other sections (and only advisors can do it, students can’t change their own honors schedule). For non-honors classes they have to wait on registration time which is determined by the number of credit hours you have earned just like every other USC student. </p>
<p>Now sometimes they do have earlier registration because it is based on your credit hours and and MAYBE honors students more frequently have AP/IB hours that push them ahead of grad year classmates. For instance, my freshman had enough hours to register as a junior for fall. Also, many honors classes fill very quickly and they have to wait until another semester or try for a non-honors section and it is easier to get what you want as you get more seniority. And they also have to read the honors calendar to see when the book is out to sign up for advisement times. There’s nothing automatic.</p>
<p>Yes, honors does get some nice perks and D2 loves it. As with many state universities with significant honors programs, it helps compete with other institutions with more overall selective programs. And yes sometimes it takes a ridiculous amount of time to get some things done as compared to D1 at small LAC, but that’s life and I’m guessing some majors have more hassles involved in scheduling than others. And yes I think there are some growing pains as the economy keeps people closer to home and unwilling to spend $50000 + that most really good private schools cost.</p>
<p>I’d say it all depends on your major - the popular majors are going to be crowded, but back when I went to UF 20+ years ago, it was the same deal - crowded classes, hard to get some, etc. That’s life at a major state university.</p>
<p>My S is a music major at SC this Fall, and with 600-700 students he had zero issues getting the classes and schedule he wanted at orientation - however, it’s all about music classes and very few gen ed due to his major.</p>