In the meantime, go on YouTube and watch some videos—find one filmed on a nice day!
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Interesting - see Enrollment management on the bottom of the student portal. DS applied RD. Any chance they will send out acceptances earlier than March? Any one have any insight to USC’s process here this year?
I went to college in upstate NY on the shores of Lake Ontario. In the winter, feet of snow is measured in the double digits and the wind makes the snow fall horizontally. If I had toured in the winter, I never would have set foot on the campus. My parents were smart and took me in April 
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Was it Oswego by any chance?? that’s where I went to college!!
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For those who have toured - can you recommend hotels and restaurants? We are making the trip early next month. Thanks!
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@ashley41 last year we used Hilton points to stay at the Hampton Inn -downtown historic district. We found a few good restaurants within walking distance.
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We toured in mid-January and stayed at the Tru by Hilton Columbia Greystone. It’s across the river, about 10 minutes from campus. It was very reasonably priced and staff was friendly. The hotel was clean and they were taking covid precautions. We got take out from a couple of places in Five Points while we were there, and brought the food back to the hotel room to limit our exposure.
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We went last weekend for our visit and Cola’s is a nice evening dinner restaurant that we went to. You need reservations there. And Pawley’s Front Porch was a great bar/restaurant for lunch… was on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives!
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Yes! Class of 1989 
Hampton Inn Columbia Downtown and SpringHill Suites are both in the Vista section which has a lot of restaurants in walking distance. About a 15 minute walk from campus. Also the Courtyard Inn Columbia borders on campus on Assembly Street. Can also walk to Vista from there.
Restaurants: Pearlz Oyster Bar, 1801 Grille, Blue Marlin, Di Vino Rosso.
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I have stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott and what is now The Graduate. Both are across the street from campus buildings. Courtyard is by science/engineering/b-school/athletic center and The Graduate is near visitors center/Horseshoe end of campus.
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I’m seconding the recommendation for The Graduate. It’s an adorable hotel, unique decor all themed for U of SC, and right across the street from the Horseshoe. Extremely convenient. We went to Pawley’s Front Porch for dinner and had a great meal. I also highly recommend Kaminsky’s Dessert Cafe. I got the best brownie sundae I’ve ever had. The place was amazing!
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I was class of 1990
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My son and I are planning a visit for the last week of Feb. We have yet to tour the campus, and coming from NH, no easy task during COVID. I would love any recommendations of must sees for the area besides the campus. UoSC is one of my son’s top three schools. Was thinking of staying at the Sheraton Columbia Downtown but did notice the Courtyard near campus. Pros/Cons for each location? He has a campus tour in the morning and the Engineering tour in the afternoon so we will have time for lunch in between so great place near campus would be a welcome suggestion. Any other recommendations while we are there to help make his decision clearer are welcome as well. Thanks all!
We are headed down in two weeks. Staying at the Tru (glad to read someone else stayed there). My son was EA and was admitted into honors. We were told at least in state tuition and more. Have top scholar award nominations gone out yet??
We stayed at the Courtyard. Our room had views of some of the science buildings and is only a couple blocks from Swearingen. We enjoyed our stay. Not sure if you are flying or driving, but warning the parking deck clearance is only 6 ft. but there’s a back entrance where you can park without roof. We ate at California Dreaming, which is next to Swearingen, so would be convenient. Food was good although there are even better options in Columbia.
Other end of campus has The Graduate hotel near visitor center but decor isn’t for everyone. It’s also close to Five Points which is the area students go to off campus. There’s another area called Vista which is more upscale and where kids go with their parents.
We haven’t explored much beyond campus beyond same thing we do all places which is find the close basic shopping needs and then the main shopping centers.
According to some posts on here, some Top Scholars were notified yesterday, and it seems that they are notifying students in waves, and not all at once.
Do you know if you are allowed to eat/get take out from the dining hall or food court? I like that option for a campus tour to get a feel for what campus food will be like.
Please post your thoughts about campus and engineering tour after your visit. My D applied Physics but now more interested in Engineering.
We stayed at The Graduate Columbia in October. Our room was clean and comfortable, reasonably priced, and the hotel had solid COVID precautions in place. Also walking distance to The Horseshoe and the building where campus tours start. Agree with another poster that the decor was very bold. I thought it was hilariously tacky. And I would definitely stay there again. Parking was easy. It’s a historic building with hardwood floors downstairs and a big front porch where you can hang out.
Given COVID we were looking for outdoor activities. We visited the Congaree National Park and enjoyed a walk along the boardwalk. Afterward we had lunch at Pearlz Oyster Bar which we really enjoyed. The seafood is much fresher than we get in our location and they had lots of outdoor seating.
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Does anyone know potential dates for Family Weekend in the Fall?