SCend Offs

<p>Anyone going to these? Seems interesting, but not sure if I can go because of vacation plans :( What exactly happens at these?</p>

<p>what are they? No clue…</p>

<p>Chances to network. Looks like another reception.</p>

<p>Yeah, networking basically. Meet other USC students from your area, hear what it’s like from current students and alumni, get some free food and swag, etc.</p>

<p>If you’re from outside the LA area, it’s a good way to meet other students from your part of the country who are heading to SC. My S had fun at his last year, and met one girl he’s kept in contact with.</p>

<p>I went last year. It was really a way to get to meet alumni, current students, and incoming freshmen from your area. It was a good thing to do if you have the time, but you’re not missing out on anything super important by not going.</p>

<p>For our area, it was a luncheon. The area alumni put it on as a way to welcome the new students to the Trojan family, and make connections with other students from your area. My daughter had a chance to meet lots of alumni and they really went out of their way to get to know her. This year - at their invitation - she applied for an alumni club scholarship and got it! It was very much worth it for her to attend.</p>

<p>what is the attire? im guessing business casual maybe?</p>

<p>Probably differs for your specific event. Mine was very casual.</p>

<p>Do students usually bring their families to the event or is it more of an alumni and freshmen students only event?</p>

<p>I think many students bring a parent or two, but probably not siblings. The invitation will probably give you some guidance on attire; the one in our area was very casual.</p>

<p>The alumni were generally in business casual and the students varied, though most were very casual. And some people brought a parent or two. I went by myself and so did several other students, so either works.</p>

<p>The SCendoff for Georgia will be July 19th from 4 to 6 P.M. in the east Cobb suburban area of greater Atlanta in a private home. It will be casual attire. BarBQue and liquid refreshments will be served. For our alumni group it is a family event. </p>

<p>A memorable SCendoff held here was in the Buckhead area in the garden of a stately home near the Governor’s Mansion. Guests entered the garden and saw a sea of cardinal and gold. There were posters, banners, flags, streamers and alumni wearing USC shirts.
A buffet dinner was served and there was quite a bit of time to meet the alumni, classmates and gracious hosts. The local alumni president gave a brief speech of welcome.</p>

<p>Later each new entering student was introduced individually to much applause. Also, the local scholarship winners were announced. The alumni spent a great deal of time preparing for the event. I think the best part was the reaction of the freshman/transfer parents who saw members of the “Trojan Family” make such an effort to have their students feel “at home”. Many cards were exchanged and there were opportunities for the new students to meet each other, compare plane flights, dorm assignments and become better acquainted.</p>

<p>The club officers received positive responses about the SCendoff, particularly from the parents who attended.</p>

<p>In Honolulu, it was very casual. The incoming students wore what they usually wore to HS (varying between shorts & t-shirts to dresses to khakis & polo shirts). Many of us came as entire families. Ours was light appetizers and beverages. It was a chance to network & win a few prizes (they gave out prior year USC logo items).</p>

<p>It is a “nice to go if you can make it” but not to stress if you have other conficts/commitments. It really isn’t a huge deal–we parents seemed to find it more interesting to chat with one another than the incoming freshmen. We were trading info about where to stay when we helped move the student in, where to shop near USC, etc.</p>

<p>The recommended attire is anything cardinal and gold. Young people should dress like college students. Shorts and flip flops. It’s expected.</p>

<p>This is meant to be a fun event in an otherwise slow time of the year, the end of summer. It is like a mixer where you don’t know anyone but everyone has something huge in common, so it is easy to meet people and swap information. </p>

<p>The one I attended was at this very impressive alum’s house with great food. There were lots of people, students, parents, young alums and older alums, in attendance. </p>

<p>We managed to meet a young alum who had just graduated and had been in the marching band, and got a whole bunch of advance information on what that was like. The published info at that point had been kind of vague.</p>

<p>The one in our area last year was a lunch held at an alum’s house; we were all outside by the pool. Most of the females were in summer dresses and a lot of the guys wore aloha shirts and mostly long pants. One of the girls my daughter met there has turned out to be one of her best friends at SC. It was a great introduction to the Trojan family. There were even some band members who came and played a few songs. Definitely go if you can!</p>