<p>Do any of you know whether the placement tests are given on the same day as the Showcase? The newsletter said the Showcase was in April, and SC students' placement tests would be in April, too. Anyone know how that works?</p>
<p>We still didn't get the newsletter, hopefully it will come Monday!</p>
<p>Since some of you didn't get the Accepted student newsletter, I thought I would mention a few more things that might be important. There's a "plug" for the dorms...says to get $145 room deposit in soon. If you didn't get a housing app in your acceptance letter, to call admissions, or sign up for housing on the web through VIP. (We did it on the web. Very handy. Paid his fee, etc. Housing apps opened on Oct 15, and I was online at 12:01 AM! Hopefully son will get his 1st housing choice!) Also, students can sign up for a "U Choose" roommate matching service that gives them a list of potential roomies based on a survey they fill out. Newsletter says dorm assignments start going out in June. Info also in newsletter about clubs, volunteer opportunities for students, University 101, reminder to get immunization forms in, make sure you have AP test scores sent to USC, and financial aid priority deadline is April 1st to be considered for all types of aid.. After that, it's on an "aid available" basis.</p>
<p>Greenville,
Just turned on computer,so just saw your post. We have not yet recvd. newsletter, but are up North too, so maybe on Monday. Son is planning on revisiting during our April vacation week. Does anyone know what areas placement exams are required. I vaguely remember asking our tour guide this question and remember him saying math and foreign lang. require placement exams.<br>
Also, we are getting many inquires regarding campus safety. CathyMee, you have always been so great with responses, what is your assessment of campus safety. We figure it is like most schools, use common sense, travel with others and stay away from known trouble areas. Heck, several of our northern schools are is the worst areas of the city, but no one ever seems to shy away from these schools. I guess it goes to show you, some people feel compelled to talk about negative things, not "Congratulations and great news!"</p>
<p>Placement tests are language and Math only. If your kid has AP Calc they won't need the placement test or a language AP tests them out as well. Dont worry about it..S didnt take Calc in HS (he took Stat instead) and he did fine on the placement,he said it was relatively easy. You can wait until Orientation in June to do your placement tests even if you are in state.
The campus is relatively safe. I'm a city kid, now living in suburbia (NYC) so I'm used to urban campuses...like NYU.S wouldn't be spooked by an urban setting,but others might be.USC is urban, but theres no "bums" etc loitering on campus.
Dorms are key card entry and have security desks inside.visitors are signed in and out. Theres seems to be the usual mischief/vandalism reports,no different from other places( Ive worked on college campuses, plus this is our 2nd kid in college, so Im used to what goes on). Alcohol levels seem to be okay, maybe b/c the frat system is in a self contained location,and frat parties are not "open" like on other campuses.
S had his bike stolen,but he had only a cheap lock on it.Now he has new bike with U lock and is smarter..Over the winter break he put the bike in his room,locked up. Havent heard too much about laptop or room thefts but the kids are smart,they know to use the computer locks. S actually lost his wallet in the common room, and someone returned it untouched.
I would of course warn kids to travel in groups,girls especially.Campus seemed wel lit and the surrounding neighborhood is decent.By no means is it in a bad part of town.
There is theft in the parking garages,common sense would apply about car alarms,leaving stuff in vehicles,etc.</p>
<p>Cathymee,
Can you fill us in on parking? Did your S purchase a garage space, or are there plenty of spaces in the lots? My S is planning to take a car, but hopes to mostly get around with the bus system. I guess we haven't thought about a bike. Should we look into that? Please share your thoughts. Thanks!</p>
<p>Since we came from NY,S didnt take a car (he will next year).
You go into a lottery for a garage space unless you are a McNair or Carolina who they give preference to. The lots are iffy depending where on campus you need to be. supposedly the kids who live in Bates and Columbia have good luck with lots near their dorms.
The bus service is one of the only areas about USC I see needs improving.They arent frequent enough to accomodate the 15 minutes between campus, and theres no off campus service.
Kids walk alot.
S wanted to bring a bike once he saw where Maxcy was and where alot of his classes would be (Coliseum) also uses it to get to the Strom, and hes had to go off campus to the Columbia Convention Center and the kids museum(Edventure),and to ride around the neighborhood..
Hes had no problem getting lifts when he wants to or needs to go off campus to shop,movies,etc and gets rides to the airport when he needs them.
He likes having the bike,it's exercise ,but its not a big biking campus as his sisters was in Arizona.</p>
<p>ooops meant to say the 15 minutes between class times.</p>
<p>I think we should all thank Cathymee for being here when she doesn't really need to be. I know she has been a great source of info for us all.</p>
<p>I am going to try to be here this time next year to continue the tradition she has started</p>
<p>thanks namtrag..its in the blood I guess
Ive worked at colleges my whole adult life(until i stopped working LOL) and helped kids all through the years apply to college and especially with financial aid stuff.</p>
<p>Still no accepted student newsletter. We did get a letter from USC, thinking it was the newsletter, but it was the rejection for the McNair. It said S would hear by the first week in March about other scholarships. How do they have a scholars day in March when we don't even find out if we are one until March?</p>
<p>Namtrag,</p>
<p>S did not get the newsletter either. But given how good SC is at providing information, I figure we will know what we need to know in time. </p>
<p>Does everyone have a small stack of SC publications, cards, brochures? And they are not generic, but are up-to-date glossy print. They aim to impress.</p>
<p>USC is wonderful about sending info. The newsletter is a glossy, 4-page informational bulletin, and the title of it is "In Touch...newsletter for accepted students. Winter 2006-2007." Here's a quote from the 1st page "Through the spring you can expect to receive information from us that we believe you will find helpful. The Office of Student Orientation and Testing wil be in touch with you, too. Together, we'll make sure you know what to do and when to do it. So don't worry. We'll be In Touch again soon." I'm sure you will all have copies arriving soon. Sounds like they will have all the needed info on the way! (S got accepted at another school...got an acceptance letter, housing contract, and that's it.) USC gets my vote!</p>
<p>I was looking at the USC website, and ran across the calendar for the Russell Student Union. This is where all the events are booked. Here is what's on the calendar: March 24th- Scholar's Day. April 14 - Showcase.<br>
April 28 - Spring 07 Open House. Please double-check this yourself!!! (Don't book any plane flights yet!!! I'm sure these dates could all be tentative.) Here's the website:
<a href="http://www.sa.sc.edu/rhuu%5B/url%5D">www.sa.sc.edu/rhuu</a> (That's the address for student affairs) Then on the right hand side, click the link called "Today in the Union."
You can tell I'm an information person!! I like to get things on my calendar.</p>
<p>Excellent research greenville. Thank you for sharing. I looked but was not so successful. I too like to avoid calendar conflicts, just in case.</p>
<p>You will have piles and piles of information from USC by the summertime.
They were the best by far in providing details.
One postcard of the Strom from the poolside of the building is so nice I still have it up on the fridge a year later!</p>
<p>Still no newsletter, the carrier pigeon must have got lost on the way here!</p>
<p>I think someone must be hiking from Columbia to hand deliver our newsletter. It still hasn't arrived as of Wednesday after the mail came.</p>
<p>Starting to worry even though I really shouldn't</p>
<p>Since that was the "Winter" edition of In-Touch, maybe they will send out another edition soon. My son was accepted in late September, if I remember correctly, so he could have been on some early edition list. It was put out by the admissions office. Perhaps you could call and ask them to send you one?</p>
<p>Hi Greenville,</p>
<p>I guess I wil call. I know they are busy, and was trying to avoid it, but it will only take a minute. Thanks for the advice.</p>
<p>A student (at least it sounded like a young person) from USC called for my S on Monday night while he was at Tae Kwon Do. We told them to call back Tuesday, but they never did. Hopefully they will tonight.</p>