I am starting to apply to UofSC and I am really excited! I believe I have the credentials to hopefully be a Top Scholar and in the Honors College, but I honestly believe the Capstone Scholar program is a better fit for what I want for my college experience and I’d rather be in Capstone than the Honors College. The Top Scholar scholarships would help greatly, but my parents and I have decided that Capstone is worth attending with a lesser scholarship. I don’t want to fill out the Honors College and Top Scholar application if I will have to be in the Honors College if I get a Top Scholar Scholarship and I don’t want to potentially take someone else’s spot. Can you be a Top Scholar and in Capstone or do you have to be in the Honors College if you are a Top Scholar? Thanks!
My suggestion is to apply for the Honors College. Should you be invited to Top Scholars weekend, contact the Honors College immediately to ask your question. Then you can decide whether to attend the weekend.
It’s nice that you are concerned about taking someone else’s spot, but it’s a very competitive process and nothing to worry about until you actually make it to the finalist stage.
You have to be in the HC to be a TS. I would suggest you visit and discuss the different programs with their representatives.
Will applying for the HC affect my chances of getting into Capstone though?
I am not sure my understanding is accurate, but I think many Capstone students are kids who applied but didn’t get accepted into the HC. I think others are top students who didn’t apply to the HC.
I am unclear as to why you have a strong preference for Capstone over the HC. I recommend you contact admissions and ask them your questions bc otherwise it might be possible to miss out on both opportunities. They are best source of answers.
I get what you’re asking. My daughter felt very similarly last year–really felt that Capstone was going to be a better fit for her both socially and academically and was afraid if she applied for HC that she’d get in there and didn’t think she could say “thanks, but actually, I’d rather be in Capstone”. We knew she was on the lower end of HC stats, but she decided to apply to HC just to see what would happen and decided if she got in, it would really be too prestigious to turn down, and that she’d likely find like-minded kids in the program. She did not get in HC, so she ended up in Capstone, where she wanted to be all along. I think it’ll be a good fit for her. There is definitely something to be said for getting into the #1 HC in the country, so if you think you have a good shot at that, I’d think about doing it. But if you truly feel that you won’t be happy in the HC and in those classes, etc., then maybe don’t apply. If your stats are super high, you should be eligible for really good scholarships, regardless.
I would call admissions and ask about the 2 programs.
Do you happen to know the acceptance rate for the honors college? My D applied regular, but then because of her ACT (33 - one and done) they encouraged her to apply to the honors college.
Do you know if they look at superscores also? I have a 33 regular but a 34 ACT superscored.
I don’t believe USC superscores anything.
They superscore the SAT, at least did when D applied