University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia, SC, USA

Reviews

University of South Carolina-Columbia

Latifah from Columbia, SC

a current student here
20 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The classes at The University of South Carolina are great. The professors are always there to help you if you have any questions and they really want you to succeed in their classes. Plus, being at Carolina teaches you a lot about who you are and the organizations are designed to help you in your career choice.
Am enjoying being here
I love USC, GO GAMECOCKS!!!!! There is never a dull day at Carolina. There are always events going on and so many organizations to join.There are over 300 student organizations on the Columbia campus ranging from white water rafting club to clubs based on your career choice. My favorite event is Carolina After Dark. It is basically a night filled with food, music, movies and activities that allow you to show your creative side. The University of South Carolina is an exceptional school to attend.The classes are great and there are many great professor on campus. A lot of the classes after your freshman year are smaller than you would think. The teachers really focus on you as an individual and helping you learn the material.. Football season is great!!! There are so many activities to do the day of the game and the school has a shuttle to escort all the students to and from the game.
Bang for the buck
Being at Carolina is really worth the money. You receive a great education and you'll never have a dull day.
Tips for prospective students
Come ready to love the Fighting Gamecocks because there's a lot of school spirit.
Don't be afraid of bigger classes, the teachers are there for you.
Look up financial organizations because there are a lot that students don't know about.
Great for these types of students
Medical Career
Business Career
Football Fans
Social People who like to meet new people!

Stefan from Kennett Square, PA

a current student here
19 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
What took me a full year to half-understand in high school took me only about a semester to fully understand at USC. Plus, I probably learn more from my fellow gamecocks than I do in classes.
Am enjoying being here
There is so much to do on campus, it's probably your own fault if you're bored. The weather is beautiful and the people are so nice and welcoming. No wonder South Carolina claims to have beautiful places and smiling faces.
Bang for the buck
USC really is very generous with their scholarships. I am an out of state student, and I am going to this great school for less than I would have paid to go to a small in-state college. I am learning a lot, and making great connections for later in life (I hope).
Tips for prospective students
Don't be afraid to go talk to the professors. Most of them want you to come talk to them. USC is really a great place. Oh, and embrace your inner gamecock. Yeah, you will probably get made fun in high school for saying Go Cocks! but it's worth it.
Great for these types of students
Business Majors
Sports Fans
Anyone looking to be involved on a college campus
Anybody who likes grits

Amanda from Milton, GA

a current student here
16 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
You can learn a lot, or you can learn very little. It all depends on what you make of the class. Of course there is the occasional professor who doesn't teach very well, but usually information can be found in the textbooks assigned for the class. Even so, talking to professors during their office hours helps as well since the professors are very knowledgeable about their subject areas. However, some classes seem completely pointless, and you will learn a very minimal and basic amount of information even though the class is required.
Am enjoying being here
A lot of what makes an experience great and memorable is the people you get to share it with. There is a wide variety of people at USC with tons of different interests. The campus is beautiful and very well kept. The campus is always hopping with different events and activities to do, and being in a city, there are always parties, clubs, etc to go to. The university does a wonderful job of taking care of its students and helping where it can. The food is great, the people are great, everyone here is friendly, and its warm 85% of the time...even during the winter!
Bang for the buck
The University itself is amazing and is a terrific college to attend. But like most colleges, the out of state rates are not cheap. But USC is great at giving out academic scholarships, even if it just lowers the scholarship to instate tuition. But instate tuition is very reasonably priced.
Tips for prospective students
USC is a great school! But it has a reputation as a party school for a reason (especially on the weekends). However, there are people who don't party that hard and there are tons of things to do on campus that don't involve excessive partying. USC can offer a lot of academic rigor for those who feel like it might not. The South Carolina Honors College offers honors courses that take the course to the next level and offer that next step up that some students are looking for.
Great for these types of students
Business Majors
Nursing Majors
Journalism Majors
Engineering Majors
Students who want to get involved in undergraduate research (lots of opportunities for that)
Students looking for a school that has a lot of warm weather
Students interested in more than one subject area
Football and sports lovers
Students looking to have fun in college and for academic challenges, but not so much that they have excessive amounts of work that keep them studying all night/weekend long

Alana from Greer, SC

a current student here
14 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The academics here are challenging, and although the campus is huge and it may seem like professors do not care about your success, that is not true. I've found by talking with my professors and getting one on one help during their office hours that they really do care about your success in their class and at the university as a whole.
Am enjoying being here
I LOVE the University of SC!! When you are not studying and doing homework there are so many things to do and so many friends to make! The beautiful campus is an added bonus.
Bang for the buck
I never realized until I came to the university how much you get for your money. There is tutoring help and the library is open 24/7. Also included in your tution are visits to the student health center, so there is no excuse not to go when you are sick!! There are always free things to do on campus when you don't have a lot of money to go out. The Russell House theater plays 2 movies Thursday through Sunday. Also, if you get involved in an organization (which you should! there are over 300 organizations to get involved in!) they are always hosting free events for students.
Tips for prospective students
Schedule classes earlier during the day so you will be more than likely to go! I'm not saying to take all 8 o'clock classes, but the sooner in the day you go to class, the sooner you are done. Also, make sure to get a planner! There are so many assignments to keep up with. Labs for certain classes are also scheduled at a different time than lecture, so it can be easy to forget to go.
Great for these types of students
The University is great for all types of students because there is a great deal of diversity here. Also, I was born completely in the middle of nowhere and coming to the city was a big deal for me. Once I got here, I was surprised how quickly I adjusted.

Amber from Ladson, SC

a current student here
14 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
There is a wide range of classes available at the University of South Carolina. From various business classes, to languages, to music class (one about the beatles!), to whatever you want. The University has a wide range of majors, and is ranked number one for its program in International Business. The school has MANY connections for study abroad, and helps you find scholarships to do it. Even though there are 20,000+ students here, the class sizes are small providing for a good relationship with your teacher. My English class has 15 people in it! That is less than my class in High school. There are so many opportunities here, and many pre-professional programs to dig your heels into. With a student success center like ours, with free tutoring and many more resources there's no reason you should fear failing a class!
Am enjoying being here
University of South Carolina has a state of the art fitness center that is extremely nice and includes a 40+ft. rock climbing wall! Even if you don't work out (like me), you can still go hang by the pool on the weekends to study or just spend time with your friends.
There are about 26 dining facilities on campus providing for a wide range of food choices. The food here never gets boring for me! Football is amazing, especially with our recent win over bama and attending this school means free student tickets (GREAT seats).
With so many events in Columbia, for example the state fair, there will never be a dull weekend here. Also, five points is walking distance from the campus to provide for more fun filled weekends!
Bang for the buck
College is expensive, everyone knows that. There are tons of scholarships available here. If you are out-of-state and you receive an academic scholarship (credentials on the school website) you will receive in state tuition. Now you can't tell me that's not a good deal! that provides for a very diverse environment here. There are 300+ student organizations and it is super easy to get involved. Not only is there an on campus bookstore at the Russel House for easy book purchase, there is a cheaper one off campus that is less than a quarter of a mile from the on campus bookstore! Very convenient!
Tips for prospective students
There are a lot of fun things to do here in Columbia, but save it for the weekends! Focus on your studies during the week. Remember the real reason you came to college!
Great for these types of students
EVERYONE. There is literally a place for everyone here, no matter what type of person you are.

Catherine from Summerville, SC

a current student here
11 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I just finished my first semester. At the time, it did not really feel like I was learning a ton but that was because I was used to the high school way of learn it and forget it. I am used to having information jammed down my throat. At USC, there is a greater focus on life long learning. I learned things I know I will never forget and that is way more valuable than memorizing facts for no reason.
Am enjoying being here
I love being at the University of South Carolina. I actually did end up going to my back-up school. This meant that I did not really go to school expecting to like it. Now that I am here, though, I can not imagine myself anywhere else. I love my classes; I love the social scene. There are tons of parties, but I am not really big into partying, so I thought that might be an issue. In truth, though, I still find loads of things to do.
Bang for the buck
I mean college is of course not cheap, but with my scholarships, it is definitely affordable. I feel like I am getting my money's worth from my education because I am not paying for a bunch of classes that I do not want to take. The real rip off is the textbooks because the publishers keep changing the editions so that you can not get them used.
Tips for prospective students
Fill out the Honors College Application, even if you know you do not want to be in the Honors College. There are a lot more scholarships that they will consider you for if you do this. Because USC is a big school, there is also a big party scene. Be wary of frat guys. I know that this is a stereotype, but sometimes stereotypes exist for a reason. This does not mean avoid them. It simply means use caution in the beginning.
Great for these types of students
There are so many clubs and activities that there is something for everyone, and if we do not have a club for you we invite you to create your own. If you are like me and love being able to walk across campus and meet new people or just like being able to get lost in a crowd without everyone knowing everything about you, then USC is the place for you. If you like the city feel without the drawbacks of a big city, then Columbia is the place for you.

Andy from Cayce, SC

a current student here
9 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Learning here is inevitable. The course-load surely is a handful, but eventually you'll learn how to manage your time and work evenly. The work here and materials learned in class are very in depth, a requirement of lots of reading expected. You truly do learn a lot from this University! Once you start your first semester here, you'll learn immediately the difference between the high school education and college education.
Am enjoying being here
I enjoy being on this campus and atmosphere! The campus provides a large variety of organizations, events, and dining. The campus is always peaceful and calm, filled with trees and grass everywhere. The only issue is, there are also plenty of squirrels and birds everywhere on campus, due to the large amount of trees present. But this problem isn't too much of an issue, eventually you'll get used to seeing animals everywhere. The students, staff, and Resident mentors are all friendly and kind. Everyone is nice to one another, and courtesy is always the priority of everyone here at USC.
Bang for the buck
USC offers plenty of opportunities without costs! Lots of events and shows that are no cost to the students and they offer plenty of free merchandising too as well. Great learning atmosphere, peaceful and beautiful campus, along with great professors, USC is definitely one of a kind. Many people here are surprisingly from out of state, and they fit in just well. USC is a great place to live on campus too, maintenance is surely on top of most situations, trying their best to clean up or resolve any issue within the living residential halls. USC is definitely a great place to be!
Tips for prospective students
Once you're in college, first of all, take a deep breath! Yes, it is tremendously overwhelming, but after a week or so, you'll begin to grasp the idea of college and get to used to the system. Do not ever panic about any situations, professors are there to work with you, staff workers are there to help you, and other students are there to advise you. Be lucky, you're at a university like USC, most people here are very kind. Make sure to schedule everything in your calenders or day planners, turn everything in on time, and just ask for advice if you need help. Eventually you'll love it here in college too! The secret to success in college is followed by this formula: Sleep + Social life + School work = Ultimate Success! You must ultimately learn, above all else, to manage your time and balance all aspects of this formula! If you're a procrastinator, do not worry, because many of us are. The timings and the scheduling will help you tremendously down the stretch. Remember, whatever you do, school first! And do not forget to get your sleep!
Great for these types of students
USC is great for students who enjoy the outdoors. The students who love the sunny weathers clear blue skies, as well as the ones who can stand the heat of the south. Students who embrace football should enjoy this school as well!

Isabella from Longs, SC

a current student here
8 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Academic Rigor
My teachers do their job well, and if I don't understand, they're more than willing to help outside of class. They've all been really good with communicating. USC is a big school, so there is tons of classes for you to choose from. You learn a lot here, and you can learn what you want. There's also a large variety of teachers. I have friends that will tell me about how their advisor or teacher aren't very helpful, but I've had the opposite. A great way to get a feel for your semester is http://blog.ratemyprofessors.com/.
Am enjoying being here
USC is a great place to be! The atmosphere is amazing. The people here really emulate Southern Hospitality. We almost always make it a point to be nice and hold the door ope, and if you're lost, the people are nice about helping you. The campus is beautiful here. There are so many gorgeous trees, nice places for you to sit and read a book- in the grass, by the fountain, or most dorms have a nice area outside to relax. And the sporting events. Wow. The atmosphere at games are amazing. Even if you have no idea what's going on, you always have a great time, and feel compelled to cheer along side your fellow Gamecock. If nothing else, we're loyal. Win or Lose, we all love our school.
Bang for the buck
USC is a great all-around school. It has anything you could possibly imagine, and more. Plus, if you think we need something else/new, there's committees you can easily go to to request it. Honestly, it's not cheap going here- but it's worth it if you want the full experience.
Tips for prospective students
Join an organization on campus. They're easy to find out about, and there's something for everyone. It's a great way to feel like a part of something and meet people.
If you have a problem or need help, never hesitate to ask your teacher- that's why they're there, and that's why they have office hours. It might be a little scary to you, but it's always worth.
Also, there is so many different places to get academic help- take advantage of them. If you can't Pass all of your classes, you're probably not putting enough time or effort into it.
Great for these types of students
Everyone and anyone. Trust me, you'll find something you'll like. You just have to look around to find your niche and accept help where it's given and ask for it when it's not. Some people leave because they get homesick, but I think those people didn't try hard enough to find the right group.

Chuck from Charleston, SC

a current student here
8 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The University of South Carolina has one of the best business schools in the southeast, on top of the number one International Business School in the country. The faculty and staff are always willing to help you out and do their best to make sure you know the material.
Am enjoying being here
Columbia is a great place to be. The weather is great (I can wear shorts all the way into December), and there is always something going on. 5 Points goes off pretty much every night, and with around 20% of the student body being Greek, there is never a dull moment.
Bang for the buck
You get a hell of a lot for your money. Not only do you get access to a massive library (7 stories), WiFi all throughout campus and the biggest gym in the nation, but you are only an hour to an hour and a half away from the beach.
Tips for prospective students
Make friends with Thomas Cooper early on, it'll help you keep your grades up. Also take U101.
Great for these types of students
Business majors
International Business majors
Football fans--there is no better conference than the SEC
Those who wish to affiliate with or join a Greek Organization
Those who enjoy going to the beach