I absolutely love the University of South Carolina! As a high school student, I always planned to attend a small private college, but I ultimately ended up at a large public university. I wasn't sure how much I'd enjoy it, or whether I'd be overwhelmed by such a large student body, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it is very easy to make the campus seem "small". Through getting involved in organizations you love, you can easily find a great network of friends and mentors to help you along in your freshman year.
The large size of USC is definitely an asset! You can easily get involved in research, study abroad, and other such opportunities- even in your freshman year! The large size means over 300 student organizations, so there is likely to be at least one that interests you! Also, a large student body means that you will always be able to meet new people, as opposed to a small school where you know everyone by your senior year. USC students are genuinely friendly, whether saying hi to random strangers while walking across campus, or being inclusive the first time you visit an organization.
School pride is SO big here! Everyone loves SEC football. Students frequently dress up for the football games- girls in black dresses and guys in khakis and bowties. There are also plenty of students in Gamecock t-shirts, if dressing up isn't your thing. I am so happy I ended up at a school where football is a great experience, because most of the other colleges I looked at had small teams and significantly less enthusiastic students. Having won the National Championship 2 years in a row, our baseball team also has a big student following.
Of course, no university is perfect. The most frequent complaints students give involve difficulty in finding campus parking, frustration with the meal plan, and frustration with the ticket system for football tickets. Because USC's campus is in the middle of downtown Columbia, parking can be difficult for students who live off campus. However, garage spots, though somewhat expensive, are available, which guarantees you that you'll find a spot. Students also complain about the meal plan, but the dining company generally does a good job in bringing new chains to campus each year. No meal plan is perfect, but USC has a lot of options, which will hopefully keep you from getting sick of campus food! The online ticket request system for football tickets is sometimes a hassle, because it is a lottery system based on attendance points from previous games. However, it is still more efficient than having students camp out at the student union to get tickets each week! Online requesting is so much easier.