<p>Hey guys! I'm pretty strongly leaning towards coming to USC at this point, but I don't know a ton about what the students are like (visited in July) and I just wanted to hear anyone's perspective on how I would fit in.</p>
<p>My biggest concern really is that I'm not a huge partier and I don't drink. I know going to bars at Five Points and stuff is a really big thing here. So, as someone who wouldn't have any interest in doing that every day (not more than like 2 nights a week), would I fit in? Also I'm pre-law, and I'm the kind of person who is really focused on classes/working/internships etc. and would choose to stay home and study if I really needed to. </p>
<p>Well, I guess in a nutshell what I would like to know is how is life at USC for someone who's not really into the bar scene? (I also would really like to join a sorority so comments on that would be much appreciated also. Thanks!)</p>
<p>Of course, you can! Carolina is a very large school and there are all kinds of activities besides parties and drinking. You will find your niche and friends by the activities you choose. Join a club, a religious group, a club sport and the pre-law professional group. Even within the stereotype of Greek Life, you will find friends that think like you.</p>
<p>My D doesn’t drink or party and has a great group of friends. She is active in religious group, but also in intramurals, tennis, service group for major, etc. Her roommates are in 3 different sororities and aren’t big partiers and are involved in student gov, ambassadors and service groups. Her group goes out occassionally for shag night to dance (without drinking). You can definitely find all types here.</p>
<p>I don’t drink and had the same concerns as you did.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about it. I managed to find friends pretty easily who also weren’t into that type of thing. While it may be a very big part of the culture of the school, it is not overarching all groups. There are plenty of students here who do not party (whether it be for religious reasons, personal reason, lack of interest, etc it doesn’t really matter).</p>
<p>I’ve heard mixed things about sororities. I know some girls who are very religious and are very active in sororities, but I’ve also heard from other girls that they felt pressured to drink or do other things from their sorority. My guess would be that it probably depends on the particular group of people. </p>
<p>If I were you, I would go through the rush process and feel it out. The USC Rush process for girls is very strict and you are not allowed to go to parties or drink during the entire process, so that will be a really good time for you to feel things out without any added pressures.</p>
<p>I should have added more about sororities. My daughter was greek and, while I don’t pretend that she never drank, I’m confident she wasn’t excessive. She certainly went out and attended the parties etc. but seem to find a group of friends that kept it under control. AUGirl is right; recruitment is tightly controlled and I think you’ll be smart enough to figure the “drinkers” vs. the “not-so-much drinkers”. Greek life has lots of opportunities for philanthrophy events, intermural sports. just getting together for fun that doesn’t involve alcohol. My daughter had a wonderful time. Don’t be sidetracked by stereotypes and keep an open mind. Best of luck!</p>
<p>AUgirl Do you think that if my daughter is in Capstone, that would also help her to find some friends that aren’t into the huge party scene? She has also been a non-drinker throughout high school, however she has a great personality, is very outgoing and enjoys being around people. She’s always been a great student and cares about her grades etc…I will admit that in helping her make her decision as to where to attend the thought of which school is a bigger party scene definitely has entered my mind, although I know you can find that anywhere, even at smaller schools.My older daughter had a tough time freshman year at another college. She ended up with a roommate who was much more on the wild side and it ended up affecting her entire freshman year. Thank God, things are better now…but I really worry about that whole scene. I am hoping that she can quickly find some kids who think similar to her.I’m sure she will want to attend parties, but I’m hoping she doesn’t feel pressured into things.</p>
<p>Honestly, Capstone is seen as one of the party dorms on campus. (Columbia Hall, Capstone, Bates, and Bates West come to mind.) There is the stereotype that Capstone is for all of the smart kids who aren’t as serious about school as the honors students. (Let me be clear that that is just a stereotype.)</p>
<p>In my experience, I have met a lot of Capstone students who are huge into the party scene and I’ve also heard a lot of crazy college stories from Capstone.</p>
<p>With that being said, I also have met several students who live in Capstone who aren’t partiers at all.</p>
<p>So to answer your question, do I think it will help? Not really. I don’t think it’ll hurt, either. Your daughter will be able to find friends who are similarly minded in pretty much any dorm on campus. Capstone is huge. There are something like 17 floors in it. If she lives there, she’ll find like-minded people. Heck, I lived in Maxcy (one of the smallest dorms on campus-only about 180 residents), and I found tons of like-minded people.</p>
<p>The good thing is that if your daughter ends up with a bad roommate, then she can switch pretty easily. I’ve had tons of friends switch housing in the middle of the year.</p>
<p>The most useful thing about Capstone program is that there are planned social events and some core course sections just for capstone students…so there is a chance to get to know students better right at the beginning and more opportunities to feel out a group to hang with. Uusally your first group you get to know are the kids on your hall…in Capstone you’ll be exposed to everyone in program at the start. AU is right, though, there are partiers and nonpartiers in every dorm.</p>
<p>Oh wow…that’s interesting…I really wanted my daughter to apply to the actual honors college, however she was nervous about it because of being in Nursing. I’m very confused about what the right thing for her to do is…she is a serious student and if that’s the case, she may be very unhappy there…she gets really annoyed when kids don’t take school seriously.We are in heavy confusion at this point…she was admitted to 10 other nursing programs (some selective ones)…all of which are Direct-entry programs…USC is literally the only program that is not, but she loves the campus and the location. It just seems crazy to turn down all these other direct-entry programs. I’m worried about her having something happen that she does not get in the Nursing and then looking back and saying why did I turn down all the other programs. I did not think that Capstone would have that rep and she will need to be serious to be admitted to the second division of Nursing there…I know there are partiers everywhere, but I really was hoping that would cut it down somewhat. I’m trying to help her make decisions, but it is so hard and she is as confused as I am…thanks for the insight! I will definitely pass that on.</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, I have a lot of friends who are nursing majors. The ones who really want into upper division do take it seriously and do keep their grades up.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t turn USC down just because of its “party reputation”. Imo, that’s really just not that important when you have a campus of 20,000 undergrads. I have an extremely active social life and a great group of friends. With that being said, I have yet to drink any alcohol or do any drugs. (Those are both things I’m not interested in.) I also have only been to a few “college parties” during my entire time here and I’ve only been to Five Points at night on a weekend 3-4 times during my entire time here. (I didn’t even go to bars. I went to Cook-Out and walked to someone’s house.) I also have maintained a fairly high GPA making President’s or Dean’s List every semester. The party scene doesn’t take over the campus. It’s definitely there if you want it and not if you don’t.</p>
<p>If your daughter isn’t interested in the party scene, then she can avoid it quite easily. In addition to that, she’ll probably meet a lot of other nursing majors in her classes who will have the same philosophy when it comes to school work.</p>
<p>I have several friends who just got accepted to upper division. They’ve worked hard and have taken school seriously.</p>
<p>Thanks for that info…its such a hard call…she worked so hard in high school to get into the direct entry programs, however, I do know that you have to be happy in your surroundings to do well also…as I said, she really loved USC’s campus when she visited last summer. I’m just wondering…did your friends that are in Nursing see a lot of kids not make the upper Division?? and of those who did not, do you think that it was directly related to their study habits. I’m concerned if there are way too many pre-nursing students for the actual slots available. Thanks so much for all of your insight. It is very helpful and I appreciate it!</p>
<p>Why don’t you call someone in nursing to talk about upper division acceptance rates? They’ve been doing this a long time and they must have a pretty good idea of how many lower division students make upper division and what kind of GPA is needed. D has several friends in capston and one is in nursing and just got accepted into upper…but D hasn’t kept up with her enough to know her grades. Someone in Capstone program may know some numbers specifically about success of capstone students. Just opinion, but I think that if you have grades/scores to be in capstone, you are well prepared to get in nursing program.</p>
<p>scmom12…I did call a few weeks ago. They basically tell you it is highly competitive and totally based on GPA…they start at the 4.0 s and work their way down until each spot is full. This year anyone under a 3.4 and I believe some students with a 3.4 did not get in. It all depends on the strength of the students you are up against, so every year the cutoff will be different. I believe she said about 170 students were offered upper level, however I’m pretty sure there were almost 100 or so who were not.To me, that’s a pretty large number not getting in. My daughter has done well in high school and is in top 2 to 3% of her class…so logically, I know I shouldn’t be worried, however I think even she has some anxiety about it…because college is an entire new ballgame. I can’t help but worry about it…but I know its her decision in the end. I’m just trying to figure out if the ones who didn’t get in…really didn’t study enough or are the prerequisites that hard. One bad science teacher could really hurt your GPA. Many of the other schools she was accepted to, only take a very small number instead of weeding people out later…some were very hard to get into…that’s why the decision is so difficult. There’s no right answer…just don’t want her having regrets later.</p>
<p>Just wanted to add…I totally understand why she loves the campus though. I am not confused by that at all…I love the Carolina’s and the people there. I always think I’d fit in there way better then I do in NJ…and would move in a second!! I really don’t want to sound negative at all…its just my anxiety coming through.</p>
<p>Good for you for making this issue a priority! My son is not a drinker either and he has made a group of like-minded friends. He never complains of boredom. Just as those who want to drink will find it and those who partake, you will find those who don’t. I personally think that joining a sorority could land you in the middle of the partying culture but you may find some that downplay it. You can still choose to not drink although you might find the activity to be too much for your liking. I do know someone who joined a sorority and left it after one semester because it was too much for her. </p>
<p>This is an issue on ANY college campus. You can join clubs and find other activities where the mindset is not all about the next party. Your life at SC will be what you make of it, so take charge and don’t let others influence you to do things that go against who you are. You’ll do fine if you just stay true to who you are!</p>
<p>There is at least one Christian sorority at USC and some service oriented groups. Friend of D1 is in christian one and they do many of usual sorority things…dances, trips, etc.</p>
<p>NJmom - hope y’all are getting to attend scholar day this coming weekend. It would be a great time to meet some people and get a good feel for nursing and capstone.</p>
<p>/\ /\ Very frustrated (and so is my D) that we cannot attend this because she leaves for her sr trip later that evening. We both really wanted to attend…It does seem that we would get many questions answered…I’m really upset about it.</p>
Been there, still sometimes do that…</p>