<p>I am very surprised that your tour guide didn’t give a very positive response concerning football, as I would say that is one of the huge things that connects USC students. They are very supportive of their team and the football games are an event! I am not sure about the general student body and tailgating, but the fraternities and sororities do a huge tailgating set-up. I have had people tell me that it rivals any school they’ve been to - including Penn State.
My daughter has been to some great lectures and concerts, as well as plays, since she has been in Columbia. Chinese Acrobats would not be the highlight LOL .
Dance Marathon is a big event on campus, and there is the freshman reading experience as well. ( they all read the same book and break into groups to discuss, as well as meet the author or other related figure).</p>
<p>I am not sure how these compare to other schools that you are considering, but I will say that my daughter has not had a lack of things to keep her busy - in fact she usually has trouble fitting it all in!!</p>
<p>I’d like to add my quick input on this topic. I went to USC undergrad and grad (many, many years ago), but still have family in Columbia and currently have season tix to the football games (my husband also went to USC). Tailgating is always absolutely jammed with students - in fact, we’re going to “paid parking spots” for this coming season because of the huge crowds. I wouldn’t trade a Saturday night at Williams-Brice stadium for anything! Lots of tailgating, lots of students, lots of fun, and a big, big part of campus life. Also, in warm weather the horseshoe is packed - lots of dogs, frisbees going, girls laying out on blankets in the sun, kids studying, etc… You need to try to visit on a semi-warm day (which most days are in South Carolina) to get a better picture of the campus and student life).</p>
<p>Wow, I’m amazed and sorry that you didn’t get to see more. My daughter is a Freshman at USC and absoloutely loves the college and its atmosphere. We are from PA and many of her friends attend PSU. About 30% of her friends who are attending PSU are transferring…a few to USC, a few to U of Delaware and several more to private colleges b/c they are “lost” at Penn State. PSU may advertise football and the “chant” to bond them, however, not many students get football tickets. Seems like if you are not Greek at PSU, you could easily get lost. USC has football, the horseshoe and the best, in my opinion, is the University 101 course – a great opportunity to meet people and read a common novel. You also meet a professor in U101 who is looking out for you. Never once has my daughter complained about a lack of thingsto do in Columbia. Also, I see less homeless people in Columbia than I do at University of Pittsburgh. No doubt about it, you need to exercise caution while in Columbia. (I’d also encourage you to read PSU’s Daily Collegian for their campus thefts and assaults). I did not observe a dimly lit campus at all, however, I certainly encourage that anyone and everyone adhere to the buddy system while walking on campus at night. Maryland is a nice school, but the surrounding area was quite a negative to us. Overall, I think your daughter must sense a pull toward a certain school; I know that happened with my daughter. Most importantly, USC gave her the impression that they truly care (and they do) and that was more important to her than “we are…” , nose rubs, thons or other traditions that the other colleges emphasized at campus visits. Again, it’s all about her instincts and needs. Good luck with your decision and keep us posted!!</p>
<p>Fiveofus…I chip in by saying that when we toured there (two years ago) the guide was absolutely the VERY best one on any of the college tours we attended (and between two kids…it was 28 different tours…yikes). The fellow was well spoken, could answer any question asked of him and completely sold the school. He was the main reason DD applied to the school…he was terrific. </p>
<p>Holiday weekend, threat (and that was it) of snow definitely has an impact on folks in SC (and NC for that matter). We visited the first time in the summer…even with the heat, there were a bunch of students outdoors.</p>
<p>I agree with it being a holiday weekend- a lot of people were out of town. Then you had the smart kids (like me) who were hiding in bed under the covers till it warmed up.
Like everyone else has said, tailgating is huge and football is even bigger. A lot of clubs and Greek organizations sponsor tailgates, and then there are all the alumni and student tailgates.<br>
If you want to see something unifying the campus, stand anywhere on the Horseshoe and yell “Game” really loudly. Chances are, multiple people will answer back to finish off the mascot
Intramural sports are pretty popular, and many dorms have teams for multiple sports. I know my dorm has had co-ed flag football, men’s flag football, soccer, ultimate frisbee, and volleyball. We’re not very good, but they’re there and accessible.
There are some pretty good concerts and things for free, and good ones in the area for money. In April, Colbie Caillat is coming and that’s a free one. Maroon 5 was here last semester, plus everyone who comes to the state fair, Dierks Bently, and some others have been within walking distance. Other exciting people on campus this year have included Jim Gaffigan, Bill Nye the Science Guy, Stephen Colbert, basically every political candidate running for president, and Lance Bass.
In warmer weather, the Horseshoe is packed. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten caught in the middle of a frisbee, football, soccer, or baseball game while walking to class. In the afternoon and early evenings there are usually a bunch of students out reading under the trees and sleeping. </p>
<p>I, like the others feel sorry that your trip was on a holiday weekend that also had cold/nasty weather because you really didn’t get a feel for the school.</p>
<p>I was recently (before the LSU/OSU game) listening to a discussion on ESPN radio about the differences in football game day experiences among the big time football conferences. One of the commentators was Kirk Herbstreit who is a former starting quarterback at Ohio State.</p>
<p>He was the first to say that the game day experience at ANY Southeast Conference school made all the other conferences pale by comparison…every stadium with its 80,000 plus very vocal fans etc. He cited USC because of the ALL DAY tailgating that begins in the morning for a 7:30 PM game/kick-off and the fact that football is so ingrained in the culture at USC and is such an event that there are not only “reserved” tail gating spots but also those with covered parking and flat screen TVs. </p>
<p>I’ve been to football games at Ohio State, Notre Dame, Texas and UNC and my daughter has been to two UGA games. I can tell you for a fact that compared to the tail gate scene at USC, the others are lightweights! And then the tradition of the fraternity guys dressed in their shirts and ties and the sorority girls in their dresses and pearls…to watch a football game…you sure don’t see that in the midwest.</p>
<p>As betterdays mentioned about shouting “game” anywhere on campus getting the appropriate response that CC will not let me type (LOL) without it appearing as ***** …well you should hear what it sounds like with 88,000 shouting it from opposite sides of the stadium.</p>
<p>To the OP, I hope that you and your D will take into consideration the real world experiences that we and our kids have experienced at USC. I can’t tell you how many times I have wished for a “do-over.”</p>
<p>Big Thanks to everyone for your replies, especially you betterdays- thats what I wanted, a students-eye view! !! As I said,my daughter really liked usc and didnt feel the disconnect I ‘thought’ I sensed-- she chalked it all up to simply the tour guide ( to be fair, she wasnt bad, she probably just had different interests than perhaps my daughter and the weather really was bad!) and I really couldnt believe that students at a school with this number of amenites werent having the time of their lives! - which I must admit is important to me because frankly, I remember my college days so fondly and I think kids today are under such extreme academic pressure (far more than I ever was… even when I went to law school!) I want her to enjoy these years - work and life can wait 4 years --of course I also want her to do very well and graduate in 4 years!! LOL-- but i would like for her to have fun along the way–
Also, can someone tell me what is the koger center, i saw it, but wasnt sure if it was a museum or what–do they have events there?? is it part of USC or just nearby? also when we were at the student center we saw the barnes and noble and the food court and the movie theater but what else in in there? what is downstairs?
thanks everyone for your input- Much appreciated!!</p>
<p>Russell House, the students’ center, has the bookstore, the fast food court, the downstairs food court, movie theater, meeting rooms, post office, game room, ballroom, things like that.
The Koger Center is affiliated with the school; it’s the performance hall/auditorium. Most of the big acts that the school brings in perform there. For example, tonight, Obama is have a rally there. Cathymee’s son and I were going to go, but someone (and it wasn’t me) claimed he needed a nap.</p>
<p>betterdays…well go wake him up ,that lazy boy!!
seriously you should tell all these people what you two did earlier in the evening
in terms of volunteering/democratic politics!!
anyway did anyones children run into politicians these past two weeks?they’ve been swarming all over campus…Bill Clinton was spotted in the Starbucks late last night in the Russell House, Obama was in Capstone dorm today as well as being at the Koger tonight.</p>