How was Scholars Day???

eadad
Tue, 28 Mar 2006 16:44:44 +0000

PA Mom did a great job of summarizing the events. We had an opportunity to spend all day Sunday (after brunch with PA Mom and her DD) exploring Columbia. My biggest surprise since the last visit was literally an in-and-out, was just how nice the area immediately around USC is. Unlike many schools especially those that are more urban, the area around the school is quite charming. The school has two different personalities in that the outer areas like the Strom, Greek Town and the Engineering School are quite urban with very busy streets bisecting the campus. On the other hand, inside the horseshoe and walking anywhere inside the walled/gated areas you have no sense of being in the middle of a city other than the din of traffic that is a sort of background noise that doesn’t bother or interupt you, is not there on weekends, but is ever-present on weekdays.

Immediately around the walled/gated areas that form the central campus are charming Victorian homes that have been restored or are being restored and you couldn’t help but get the feeling that it is a pretty safe place all-in-all. You had to drive a while to get into the more sketchy areas of town which is also quite a change for an urban school.

Also impressive is the fact that Columbia is undergoing a renaissance of sort with new construction everywhere. Near the Vista, across Gervais in fact, is a town center that is under construction with period designed retail shops on the first level and apartments above. There are an abundance of restaurants, shops and clubs that seem to be opening in the Vista area. Anything you could want from a retail or restaurant point of view is available on the northwest side of town near Columbiana Mall (about 5-7 miles NW of town) with new construction everywhere in sight.

PA Mom was correct in her assessment of the day’s events. Everyone there is exceedingly helpful and friendly. Living in Capstone is a great plus for the program. It will now be exclusively honors and Capstone and any upperclassmen living there were told they have to move. It is centrally located for most first year classes and the rooms are far nicer than any others we saw. Columbia dorm was chopped up by the long counter that PA Mom described, leaving the living/sleeping area to be quite small. The sink area were not as nice and the whole place just appeared to be somewhat more dingy. After visiting many schools during both DD and DS college quests I have to admit that USC and Clemson may have the worst dorms I’ve ever seen on the whole. They did say that Capstone Scholars would get preference for living in South Quad as sophomores. It’s far south, actually not far from the Strom but has four singles, two baths a kitchen and living area.

We had lunch in Five Points on Monday after DD attended classes. Great place called Harpers that reminds us very much of a Houston’s for those of you familiar with that group of restaurants.The prof involved her in class discussion and admonished his class that they were being outshone by a high school senior! It was a first year English class (about 20 students) that she probably has tested out of with her AP English exams.

If you have anything more specific, let me know and I will try to answer.