Hello!
I am from the North and UofSC is the only school I have applied down south. I have gotten mixed reactions when I tell others UofSS is one of my top choices (I love the IB program, the people and weather). I am an Indian-American woman and a major concern is the issues of racism that are present in the South. I completely understand that this is a stereotype and that the honors college and International Business program by virtue are very diverse, but my parents and I are a bit hesitant considering the current political climate. I would really like an outside perspective on this, especially from parents and students at UofSC. Thank you for any advice!
Hi Hermione … My daughter was actually accepted there as well and is half Latino and Irish-American. She applied to predominately southern colleges/universities and has decided to attend GCSU in Georgia. Are her father and I a little nervous about her being down south? Yes but there is racism, bias, ignorance even in the Northeast where we are from. In my heart, I believe most people are good…sometimes they just need to be exposed to differences. I didn’t really answer your question but I have the same concerns as your parents. My daughter is super excited and already has her roommate thanks to social media. Good luck with your decision!
South Carolina voters elected Nikki Haley as a state representative and later Governor. They were not concerned about her ancestry in India.
@nidaco I completely agree! Thanks for your perspective!
@TomSrOfBoston That is a very good point! Though I am pretty liberal leaning, and I have heard the campus is very conservative. Do you or anyone else know about the political diversity of the campus?
@hermoinegrangerr I think that you will find that most people in the south are very accepting of diversity, especially college students. In addition, even though USC may be more conservative than other campuses, you will find that most college campuses are liberal.
@atlkaw6 Thank you for that insight! I will be sure to pass that on to my parents.
You will have no issues. USC is very diverse. I hate that someone would even question that.
You’re right. This is a stereotypical view of the South and almost racist in itself. I think that USC would be a perfect choice for you so you can expand your horizons and meet people in the South and judge them based on their character and not just the geographical region in which they reside, or what you have heard about them from people in your political bubble.
@brokemomofdd @Tbelle
That is very reassuring to hear, and I agree that it is unfortunate that anyone would question that. I was hoping that hearing viewpoints, such as yours, rather simply those of people in my area, would help put things in perspective, and I very happy to hear such wonderful comments about UofSC. I did not mean any harm and just wanted to quell any doubts about safety (which is my and my parent’s utmost priority). Thank you for the info you have provided! 
I’ve lived in the south for 15 years after living the rest of my life in the North and encountered way more racism in the North. Yes, southerners are more conservative, but very accepting. I don’t think you will run into any problems!!! I also live in a state that elected an Indian-American governor in Bobby Jindal.
Thanks for your question, it’s a honest and legitimate concern. My son will be attending USC this fall and he’s Asian American. He comes from a very diverse high school and honestly I was hesitant as well. We attended the admitted day, walking on campus and in the city, we felt very welcomed and everyone was super friendly and nice, just like any other city. We attended other schools that were more diverse but he didn’t get a good vibe. He loved the campus and think our tour guide won him over to USC.
@HermioneGranger101 Just to add to what many of others have said, over 20% of the class is from the Northeast and a large percentage of students from North Carolina (10%), Virginia (5%), and Georgia (5%) are from Charlotte, Raleigh, the DC suburbs, and Atlanta. Even within South Carolina, 60% of freshmen are from Charleston, Columbia, or Greenville-Spartanburg. Now it’s certainly possible to live in an urban area and not be culturally sensitive, but by numbers alone, about 75% of the class will have been exposed to diversity either in their schools or communities. I’m confident you’ll have a great experience.
I’m from a more northern urban area and travel to the south quite often, probably an average of 20-30 nights per year the last 8 years. There is a huge contrast in how the races are treated between north and south. Typically in the north I find that people pretend to be colorblind. They pretend not to notice what race someone is, yet there is almost no integration. When you go out, Whites go out with Whites, Blacks with Blacks and Hispanics with Hispanics. In the south, people are much more integrated and do not pretend they do not notice your race. They will ask where you are from, and try to get to know you. I’ve traveled south with friends from different countries and had people come up in restaurants and talk to us, sometimes sitting at the table with us for even half an hour. Had one guy even buy us drinks. Had one northern friend comment how “awkward” and “racist” (yes, racist) that was because the person noticed that we looked different, but there was no malice. It was Southern hospitality and I love it. I remember the first time this happened was in Mississippi traveling with my wife. We pulled into a restaurant late at night and were eating catfish. A guy came up and said, “You’re not from around here. Where you from?” Without asking or even giving us time to respond he pulled up a chair and sat with us and we talked for about fifteen minutes while we ate. Turned out he was the owner. We’d never experienced anything like that before, never in the north, but it has happened to me many times in the south. When I go out in the south, especially in Columbia or Raleigh-Durham, I am shocked at how integrated it is compared to the north. People of different races sit, eat and talk with each other. Yes, they do notice and may comment on your skin color, but I’ve never sensed malice and they also spend time with you and talk with you and treat you like a person. Yes, absolutely, there are racist twits everywhere, but I personally find the attitudes in the South toward race much more refreshing than those in the north, at least in the urban areas I’ve visited.