I read a story of the top 50 Honors programs. There’s really no ranking although U of SC says they’re tops. There’s one article I read doesn’t list them in the top 10 but does Clemson…odd. What i liked that i read is their program is relatively small. At Alabama it’s like 30% of all kids. At U of SC, less than 600 - according to US News.
The odd thing to me is - my daughter got into U of SC - which is clearly a very difficult task. But last night was waitlisted at Pitt’s Honors - which is much bigger. I realize rank wise Pitt is a higher rated university but my thought was U of SC Honors was a school with much more pedigree than U of SC and therefore in line with higher ranked state schools such as UF, UNC, UVA, UMD, etc.
What I’ve learned this past six months about admissions is - no one knows anything at all it’s all a crap shoot.
It’s still not clear to me if they have space in the honors dorm for all 600ish freshmen. My son is still deciding. If they only wanted a $75 housing deposit I would pay it in a heartbeat, as we have for 2 other schools, but not the enrollment deposit too. Does anyone have intelligence on capacity in the honors dorm for freshmen?
I went to an Honors meeting a few weeks ago and I believe they said there are around 530 beds in the Honors residence, so the capacity is somewhere around there.
By paying the entrance fee to then be eligible to pay the housing fee, you’re essentially giving up any leverage/negotiating room for scholarships/merit.
In a public school that’s governed by state funding, is there leverage? I hear some schools like Miami Ohio up the scholarships as you get closer but I imagine most you get what you’ll get. I know U of SC has yet to send official offers but if you look at the guide, it seems like they are ACT/GPA based. I mean, if it impacts the room you’d get, I understand a parent paying. You don’t want to be last and have the worst of the worst.
Just checked my son’s portal… He got update that he did not get in. Was posted today.
Adding 4600 applied and only 600 get in! My son still will want to go as he loves the school and business school is great. Just waiting to see if JMU is going to give him any merit
Just got notice, Denied Honors College. OOS from NE, 4.5 WGPA, seriously surprised and disappointed. More so as we arrived today and touring tomorrow. Doubt she’ll go without honors acceptance but who knows.
U Of SC turned out to be a total disappointment. Daughter has 4.33 GPA, 31 ACT, Honors, AP, Dual Enrollment. Was offered total $40k scholarships over 4 years and turns down for Honors. Every school she applied to included Miami U, Ohio State, Michigan State and other all offered Honors or Scholars admission with decent merit awards. Definitely off the list…
I feel you. My GCSE and predicted A-level grades put my in roughly the top 2 or 3% of all students in England, and I also got a 1420 on the SAT, yet had zilch about merit scholarships in my acceptance letter in December. Was definitely very disappointed.
Test-optional, 4.6 GPA, IB Diploma Candidate, 3 AP’s, National leadership position, Student Body Pres and several other school leadership positions, founder of social justice non-profit, top 10 state swimmer, etc.
I really think they reviewed applications very thoroughly and holistically this year! Very happy because my GPA and rank are not stellar!
A 4.6 is outstanding. If the rank on a 4.6 is not high that is way too much grade inflation. Well there already is. Congrats to you though. Your credentials are impressive and you should be proud.
it’s all a crap shoot.