<p>My D visited approximately 12 potential colleges last summer and feel in love with the Virgina schools. She was all set to apply to James Madison and UVA as her first choices. Since her dad and I both graduated from USC and our families were Clemson grads we insisted she visit both SC schools. She went to each with doubts and with half hearted enthusiasm. Well she absolutely fell in love with USC and was luke warm to Clemson. She researched USC, grew more enthusiastic and USC became her first choice. Two friends became interested from her description so all three apllied early November 2006. We even visited USC a second time when in Carolina visiting family and she felt the same. Well as luck would have it her two friends received fall acceptances and she was shocked to receive an acceptance for Janurary 2008. D was devastated and cried. S has talked with admissions and has had several e mails from admissions and although she had very good credentials for admission (and even better grades and scores than one of her accepted friends) the winter 2008 admission is her only sure option other than being waitlisted for fall which is not a guarantee of admssion. The USC admissions staff have been wonderful but nothing can be changed. We understand all the facts about record number of applications, higher than usual applicant credentials, a reduction in the number admitted for fall 2007 etc… We just never have heard of Freshman enrolling in the winter and we are very concerned if she starts in the winter she will feel left out. Our D wanted a school with a sense of community, great extracurriculars and school spirit.
She was accepted to several other great schools but she just wants to go to USC. We analyzed all the options and we decided she could accept the Jan admission to USC. Now we have a million questions regarding dorm space in Jan., freshman class availabilty for spring, roomates etc. Our heads are spinning. We will be calling admissions again with our list. In the meantime we are sad she will not be moving into a dorm in August although we understand USC has offered Jan admssion to hundreds. Is anyone else on CC familiar with this Jan option? I would welcome thoughts and suggestions on how to make this an successful experience for her. We are considing her moving to Columbia in August so she could be with her friends and perhaps take a few classes at another college to get started. The whole looking for living arrangements off campus is stressful. We are OOS and about 17 hours drive from USC. Thanks for any thoughts or input as we are not familiar with beginning fresham year an entire semester later than others. I noticed on NAMTAG"s thread USC vs. W&M some of you had heard of others with a Jan 2008 admission or rumors about that… Thanks and sorry this is so long. I need some college parent reassurance.</p>
<p>kitkat,</p>
<p>This is happening more and more all across the country. Funny thing my D, who has Carolina ranked high on her list has been accepted at the “other USC” but also delayed admission for the Spring of 2008. In reading about this it seems a lot of kids who really want to go to a particular school, while disappointed at first, will still commit and take the break as a blessing in disguise. Some want to work to make some extra money, some want to take a trip. It all comes down to is this school the #1 choice and worth waiting for? If not, and there are other options, then it doesn’t matter anymore than not being accepted at all. All I can say is it’s not as bad as being waitlisted - and way better than not being selected at all. As for my D, we are waiting for the FinAid packages from both USCs - and we will be visiting Columbia next week. I would be surprised that USC (LA) would beat USC (Columbia) costwise - and after D sees the dogwoods and azaleas I’m hoping her “roots” win out. But if USC (LA) should make a competitive offer “and” D chooses LA, I wouldn’t object. Afterall, it will only be a four month wait for a school she wants bad enough to wait for.</p>
<p>AFA007 is right - more and more schools are doing this. I’ve heard that Skidmore offers some kids - instead of having them start in September, but not putting them off for spring semester - offers to have them do a semester abroad as their first semester. </p>
<p>If USC is your D’s favorite school, a spring start is definitely an option to consider. Spring has a lot of other kids starting their first semester, as well as transfers who didn’t like their first school.</p>
<p>kitkat,
I have heard a lot about spring admissions lately. I know several people in Greenville whose S or D got a spring admission. USC housing does have a website for off-campus housing, that you might be interested in, since you said your daughter might like to go ahead and move to the Columbia area. Perhaps she could room with some upper-classmen from USC. Here is the link that I found on the USC website. Hope it’s helpful.
<a href=“http://www.sa.sc.edu/offcampus/[/url]”>http://www.sa.sc.edu/offcampus/</a></p>
<p>kitkat
sorry about your D’s situation,its the first I’ve heard of it I don’t recollect hearing about it last Fall when S started.
Can Admissions give you any kind of idea what chance your D might have starting in the Fall, do they expect any attrition at all?Do they give you any idea of the housing situation for the Spring semester? The idea of her moving to Columbia,maybe working and living off campus for a few months sounds ok (there seems to be plenty of off campus housing) but it would be good if she could move into a dorm for the Spring and meet the group of kids living in that dorm.</p>
<p>kitkat,
It seems that since freshmen are required to live on campus, a spring admission would hopefully mean there would be a guaranteed dorm space for her in the spring. Did USC say whether the deferred start is due to lack of dorm space or classroom space? I’m wondering whether your daughter could maybe enter this fall as a commuter student if she lived off-campus? Or would she be able to take USC courses on-line? I’m sure you must have tons of questions to ask admissions. Let us know what you find out.</p>
<p>The State paper has an article on this Winter Admissions. Approximately 1500 students were offered late admissions. 63% of the 1500 were instate students. I think the problem is with housing, because the article mentions that after December Graduation, more space will come available. Enrolling in a sister campus (Aiken, Upstate etc. or a local community college) is an option.</p>
<p>Greenville News has a similar article. They mentioned specifically that USC has a “bridge” program with Midlands Tech. Kitkat, you might want to see if Admissions can give you info on that. I believe that would be a program where USC students take classes at Midlands and then transition right into USC. (Clemson has a similar program and the bridge students have access to campus dining, the fitness center, etc. so the student is actually more a part of campus life.) Perhaps USC’s is similar. Let us know what you and D decide to do!</p>
<p>Thanks for all your replies and for the private emails. My D contacted admissions with some very good questions and USC was quick to respond with answers to all. She does not have the option of being waitlisted for Fall and accepting the Spring Admission too. One or the other. Spring admission is guaranteed so the safer of the two options. Having the information from The State newspaper and from the USC web site about the Spring admission was helpful. Also I learned from CC threads that there are more and more schools offering spring admission…USC California, U Texas, Skidmore, Dickinson and about 10 of the private NE liberal art colleges. I am sure there are others. Some have creative programs for these students and even offer money for those who would like to study abroad in the fall waiting to enroll in the spring for classes. Now that would be nice.
I will let you know what D decides. She is begininng to see this as a real opportunity to take a break from a very rigorous high school program to take a few classes and travel. Midland Tech has online classes also in freshman math, history and English plus she will have college credits from her AP classes. We need to call Midland Tech and USC to make sure which classes transfer. As it looks now she would like to move to Columbia in the fall since she has friends going to USC so she can go to football games etc and also meet freshman on campus. USC plans to have a special orientation in Jan for the spring Freshman. Housing will be available and the spring freshman can use the VIP roommate match. USC also sent a note about soriorty rush being doable for anyone interested the following fall so I guess they must be getting guestions from many parents about alot of issues. D is actually getting excited about this choice. If anyone hears of other parents with this same option I would love to hear form them. Also Ds HS college counselor says she is the first at her high school with this option and when other classmates heard some expressed an interest wishing they had the same opportunity. Many would like to travel abroad or do internships and take a brief break form studying. Gap years are very common in Europe so now my D is thinking she may be special. I am just happy she is feeling less disappointed. Friends gave her a new Carolina hoodie and I noticed it being worn often so that says it all. Now if we can just figure out the housing for fall and exactly what she wants to do that is productive. AFA007 enjoy your visit to USC and I will be eager to hear which USC your daughter chooses. Thanks Greenville for the USC off campus housing link. It has alot of information. Bearbear I appreciate The STATE article. Seems 1500 spring admits is a bit more than the hundreds Admission office told us. That makes us feel better. Keep your thought or ideas coming or any information you Carolina natives may hear about this. Wow I did not know admissions this year would be so complicated. Nothing like my first daughter’s college search in 1998.</p>
<p>kitkat
Im glad you were able to get more information from Admissions to make you feel more comfortable about your D’s status. Im so happy to hear about Spring housing being available,as I feel that would help your D considerably in acclimating to the USC “scene” as all freshman are supposed to be living on campus.
I would just be careful if she takes the off campus option that she doesnt get tied into a year long lease.
If she wasnt so gung ho about getting to Columbia right away I kinda like the idea of some kind of volunteer /travel experience coupled with an online class or two that would be transferable.</p>
<p>We are considering the travel or internship route with some classes online but still not certain. The housing for Fall would be a big issue as we do not want a year lease so that D could live on campus for the spring. The best hope is to find a roommate situation but not sure that is workable. Too many unknowns. Time to put our thinking caps on and try to see if this is a good option. I can understand how this spring admision offer is more acceptable for in state students than OOS.</p>