<p>I just finished up my first year at SC and going into orientation, I wish there were some things that I’d known beforehand. </p>
<p>First of all, it’s true that they leave some spaces open for registering freshmen but keep this in mind: when everyone at orientation is gunning for the same however many spots, they fill up quickly. If there’s a class you really want (namely GEs or classes that are just really popular), don’t spend your time trying to make the perfect schedule before you hit “Commit Changes”. It’s a waste of time and by the time you go to save it, the course you want will probably be full already. </p>
<p>Second, to those of you contemplating skipping orientation, I would discourage you from doing so unless it’s a huge financial issue. To be honest, I didn’t make the most of my orientation session (I was coming down with a bad cold and I ended up skipping most of the afternoon after I registered for courses in order to sleep in my mom’s hotel) and I kind of regret it now. It is really nice to have friends made going into the fall semester and you might even meet people who end up in your classes. Not to mention the courses you’ll be able to choose from when you finally do get to register will legit suck. Chem at 8, MWF, anyone? No thanks. </p>
<p>Oh, and also: SC is all about the school spirit. If you think the rally is tacky, football season may be a bit of a shock to you.</p>