<p>We went and visited several colleges last spring, but at that time, South Carolina wasn't even on my daughter's radar. Now that she's contemplating international business, she is seriously considering it. Unfortunately, she will not be able to visit or revisit any colleges before making a decision because she is in Spain as an exchange student, so she is having to rely on the internet to help with her choice. The SC website doesn't seem to have many pictures to get a good feel for what the campus is like and after visiting other colleges, I know what a big difference the actual campus can make in how my daughter feels about it. Can anybody describe the campus or even compare it to others, particularly one we've been to like Iowa State, Auburn, GA Tech, UGA, LSU, GA State, or Emory. Is the campus part of the city or more it's own space? How big is, how long does it take to walk from one side to the other? I know it's kind of a hard question to answer, but I would appreciate any help.
Thanks.</p>
<p>I can only compare to UGA since it’s one we visited. Although USC’s campus is growing, it is not as large as UGA which was huge (could not realistically walk to class especially if live down past health center, etc). USC has adjusted class times starting this fall to give students 20 minutes between class and that should take care of problems if you have to walk from end to end. Central campus is pretty compact…furthest out is engineering, music school and now journalism, but soon Business also which will have a brand new facility in 2014(?). When I was a student I had no trouble getting from Coliseum (journalism was and where business will be) to other classes and like I said, they are adding time between classes starting in fall. Center of campus is horseshoe which is similar to old part of UGA.</p>
<p>There is a virtual tour of horseshoe but can’t find one of entire school strangely enough. There used to be so must be part of new website they’re suppose to be rolling out. There are a few youtube videos, the newest of which is commercial that runs during sports and maybe Gameday video.</p>
<p>^^I saw on another thread D got into honors…that’s an advantage for international business students and gives you a better chance for on-campus housing more years. Honors Residence is very nice and fairly centrally located. As honors student, you have a good chance of living on horseshoe, which is so nice. Look at different USC facebook pages (main one, housing, admissions, etc) and you might see some more pics.</p>
<p>My daughter found this video helpful for previewing the campus:
[University</a> of South Carolina: College Profile | YOUniversityTV](<a href=“http://www.youniversitytv.com/colleges/sc]University”>http://www.youniversitytv.com/colleges/sc)</p>
<p>I have only visited UGA from those on your list, and it really doesn’t compare in size or feel. </p>
<p>My daughter liked the USC campus layout as it is next to the city, but most the campus is it’s own space. There are quite a few restaurants and some shopping in nearby Five Points, so students can easily get off campus to dine and shop.</p>
<p>We visited campus on a whim last year when visiting other southern schools, and after that tour, USC became one of my daughter’s top choices. Everyone she met was so friendly and welcoming, she said she felt like she was “at home”. After being accepted to the Honors College and guaranteed IB, it remains at the top!</p>
<p>We visited several of the schools on your list. I think Emory may be the closest – without the creek running through campus. Once you are on the main part of the Columbia campus you do not see the private residences, the state capitol complex or other city stuff. The business district (Main Street etc. north of the capitol) does not abut campus. Just off campus is a lively student eating/shopping area called Five Points. Another nicer eating and artsy area is The Vista. There is a full service grocery store in both areas. USC obviously is much larger than Emory - but as the other poster said - smaller than UGA. One of the moms on our tour commented that she was expecting a barer, more urban looking campus and was thrilled with all the trees and landscaping outside of the Horseshoe area. The section of Greene Street which runs in front of the Russell House/Student Union and the library is closed during the weekdays and there are several pedestrian bridges over the busier cross streets. Students can walk safely and quickly nearly the length of the campus without noticing the cars. The stadium is not walkable, but that inconvenience is made up for with fabulous lots for tailgating. Many students organizations host tailgates which are the highlight of many fall weekends. Search “Cockaboose” and read/see what lengths Gamecock fans will go to for pre-game socializing. The campus buildings are a mix of new and old and new designed to fit in with the old – like the new honors residence. The older buildings often have the wooden floors, high ceilings, transoms etc. that just feel collegiate. Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Also the new business school – as well as the music school and the Strom Thurmond fitness center – is on a major thoroughfare, Assembly Street. This area is scheduled for a redo to widen the medians, increase landscaping, and add improvements to make the area more pedestrian friendly and attractive.</p>
<p>My daughter visited USC, Auburn and Georgia. She thought Georgia was too spread out, Auburn too interconnected with the town, and USC was just right. It’s very pretty, and also easy to get around on foot.</p>
<p>Going into business school - make sure you check out info on the new building, which will only enhance the already top reputation the school has - [New</a> Building - Darla Moore School of Business](<a href=“http://mooreschool.sc.edu/aboutmoore/newbuilding.aspx]New”>http://mooreschool.sc.edu/aboutmoore/newbuilding.aspx)
And I think you’ll find better internship opportunities in Columbia with the city being the state capital.</p>
<p>Also, if she is interested in health/fitness, the Strom Thurmond at USC is better than Georgia’s.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the input! I hadn’t thought about looking on YouTube for videos, I just googled for images. I found a few good ones although the one that showed all the students drinking wasn’t so appealing… The comparisons to other campuses are helpful as well - we kind of felt the same way about UGA and Auburn.</p>
<p>^^yea, avoid the youtube videos of massive party at off campus student housing. Just saying, my D is non-drinker who has great group of friends that have a lot of fun without all that.</p>
<p>I’m also a non-drinker and it’s really been a non-issue during my time at Carolina. I came to college prepared with all the tricks of apple juice in a red solo cup and what-not to avoid prodding, but I’ve made a lot of friends who either don’t drink at all or drink very little. It hasn’t been a problem for my social life.</p>
<p>20% of students in my psych 101 class answered a couple of weeks ago that they never drink.</p>
<p>The thing is, USC is such a large school that there are all types of people. I have friends who don’t drink for various reasons. I’ve got both religious and non-religious friends who fall into the category, so I’d say that the partying culture isn’t quite as wide-spread as some would have you think. It’s definitely there if you want it, but it isn’t everything.</p>
<p>As for the campus, there is the Horeshoe, which is the really pretty area of campus. I’ve spent a lot of time walking through there, but there aren’t any classroom buildings in that area, so I’d tend to think most students don’t get over there very often. The Honors dorms, Maxcy, and Thornwell are over there, so those students go there a lot and some of the off-campus apartments shuttles stop there.</p>
<p>You do end up crossing a lot of busy streets because you are in the city. That being said, driving around campus probably isn’t that great of an idea during class time. There’s tons of jay-walking. The campus is kind of spread out, so you basically have to cross the street whenever there’s an opening if you want to get to class on time. There are tons of pedestrian bridges, so it’s totally avoidable. (Even crossing Assembly street, there is an underground tunnel from the law school to the Coliseum). However, that isn’t always practical. The fastest way to get from Russell House to Humanities/Gambrell/Nursing/Business currently is walk across Pickens and Greene instead of walking around and taking the pedestrian bridge. There are TONS of students who go this route and it’s kind of a nightmare for drivers during class change.</p>
<p>I really like the campus because when you’re on campus, it feels like you’re on campus, but you’re really within walking distance to both the Vista and Five Points. It’s a nice fit, in my opinion.</p>
<p>I was looking through the 2010 Master Plan recently and thought it might help you envision what the school looks like now and where it is headed.</p>
<p><a href=“Current Projects - Facilities Department | University of South Carolina”>Current Projects - Facilities Department | University of South Carolina;
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