University of South Carolina-Columbia Top Questions

What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

Katie

I wish I knew how much work I would have ahead of me. I also wish I knew about all of the great things that I would go on to do as a music major, researcher, and a leader.

Samantha

I wish that I had been better prepared for the way that some classes are set up.

Sierra

Out of all the frustrations and problems I have come across, I would say that I wish I had known about the Palmetto Fellows scholarship enhancement before I signed up for classes; I wish I had known about more scholarship and financial aid opportunities; and I just wish I had the experience to know how to pay for everything I am being constantly billed for (and I wish someone would explain how to avoid certain charges before I had accidentally incurred them).

Obinna

I wish I had known about all the opportunites I had in high school to shorten the time I will have to spend in college such as more AP classes than I was already enrolled in.

Kimberly

I wish I had known how popular Greek life was and how much of an influence it has on the nightlife. I was told that 20{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the student body was Greek but I honestly feel like it's much more than that. I think that rushing a sorority in the Fall would have helped me make more friends faster and be in the know about nightlife events. Especially because I am shy, I think a sorority would have helped me be more outgoing. Had I known this, I probably would have rushed this year.

alexandra

How sports influenced everyone is.

Miranda

I wish I had known how big the campus was. Additionally, I would have like to known about when I should have taken classes.

Zoe

I wish I had known what an easy transition it would be coming into college so that I wouldn't have worried so much. There are so many resoruces avaiale to help students with anything they need and so many easy ways to get involved and meet new people, it is almost effortless. I was a bit unprepared for how hot it was and how much walking I would be doing, but I got used to it quickly. All the walking definitely paid off once I discovered the delicious buffet on the bottom floor of my residence hall.

Samantha

that it isnt the only time girls can rush sororities. I was told that if i ever wanted to join a sorority, I had to rush the beginning of my first semester. I wish that someone had told me different so i would have had the chance to get used to living on my own and being in college without the extra obligations a sorority brings

james

That you should carry a campus map or you will get lost easily.

Mario

That I would be able to enjoy my first year, but to not let my academics suffer. I struggled a little bit handling both my academics and other activities and couldn't really find a balance between the two until my second semester. You will be able to have fun all your four years, but make sure academics don't suffer. That is why you're going to college.

Rachel

How diverse it is, and how accomplished many of these students are. In my home community I thought I had done so much and done so many major things for a person my age. But many of these students have done things such as traveled the world doing community service, became pilots or captains, and so much more!

Janese

I can't really think of anything I wish I had known before I came to this school... I pretty much found out everything before I decided to attend.

Joseph

I was well informed of the school before I attended and toured it several times to get used to it and the layout of the college. The only thing that I wish I would have known, was the all the degrees that were offered by the University so I could beter choose.

Michael

I wish I would've known just how easy it is to feel apart of this University. I'm alive with the Gamecock Spirit. I also wish someone would've conveyed how much extracurricular activities there were and opportunities to the "out of the classroom" education as well.

Cayla

I wish I had known just how dedicated to making us learn everything we can and do our best on everything our professors would be, because then I would have come in working a lot harder and putting in more study hours. I also wish I had've studied the campus map a little longer so I wouldn't have been late to my first class the first day, haha.

Emily

I really like my school. I think it fits me well and I find it very enjoyable. But if I had to choose what I wish I would have known before coming was just how spread out the campus was. You can obviously tell from a map that it is vastly spread among the city, but sometimes you just do not know how difficult getting to class can be until you have to walk a long distance in under 15 minutes just to barely make it on time. It can be slightly difficult at times.

Lindsay

The weather is crazy, and that's not always a bad thing. It gets in the 70's in January but the next day will drop into the 40's, it rains but it doesn't really snow. Southern hospitality really does exist. I'm from Pennsylvania and there are definitely some culture differences ranging from sweet tea to saying "Yes, sir(mam)" "No, sir(mam)". Northerner's may feel rude the first couple of months. It's easiest just to accept the fact that people come here from all around the world, and there are bound to be differences.

Greg

I wish I would have known how different it would be than high school was. High school was an intirely different environment in that there were cliques and groups that everyone tried to fit in to be popular. But here at college, there are no popularity groups that people strive to be a part of. Because of that, it is qutie nice and I enjoy that there is no "trying to fit in."

Tameka

The most important information that I could have obtained before attending the university is that developing proper and balanced study habits would be critical in determining my overall success. Upon initial enrollment I had some difficulty with adjusting to the size of the lecture halls, the methods of the professors, and the easy access of food and sleep, all of which affected my studying habits. Often times it is not "fun" to study, however, developing a method for retaining important notes and texts will allow for getting things done in a timely and thorough manner.

Meagan

I am an out of state student so i would have wanted to know any transportation they offered to the surrounding airports.

Wendy

That there wasn't as much financial aid.

Courtney

More financial aid opportunities.

Brittany

I wish that I had know that parking was going to be such a hassle.. USC does not have a very good parking system. If you buy a parking pass they tell you that it does not guarantee you a spot, it guarantees you the right to LOOK for a spot. Some times they don't even let you look!

Devan

I wish I would have known more on how to focus on assignments, but through the help the school offers I have found that I can focus more easily.

Benjamin

I wish I had a better idea of the kind of people that would be living in my dorm room.

Dana

The only thing I wish I had known was a better approach on saving my money.

Michelle

I wish I would have known about how important it is to come from a wealthy family to fit in. Also, I wish I knew how hard it would be to work while being a full-time student.

Jessica

That I had a lot of options for majors and degrees.

Ronessa

I didn't know that there are also Asian students here.

Chelsea

About the different scholarships that are offered

Laura

I wish I would have known how crowded the school would have been.

Judd

How bad the parking was.

Stephanie

Greek life, although only around 15{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} or the population, is a large part of the school, and there is little overlap between greek and non-greek life on campus

Stephanie

How the career center is limited to mostly the Southeast Region.

Andrew

I wish I knew what kind of work load I have been put through so I could be more prepared.

Yolanda

Yes I did.

Kimberly

I wish that I had known how bad the traffic was in the town.

Jessica

I wish I would have known a little more about how much everything cost. It feels like almost nothing is really covered under tuition. There are still things like housing, food, books, parking, and many other little things that add up.

Jessica

How to budget.

Ryan

Nothing

alison

columbia is HOT

Mandy

I wish that I would have looked into how much money it was going to cost to go to an out of state college, I got accepted and they wanted a huge amount of money it was very hard to find a loan right off the bat but I was very lucky to get one and now attend the school of my dreams!

Michelle

Nothing. I did all the research and early regestration and visit before making a decsion.

Max

There really wasn't anything that surprised me when Igot here. I have had older friends come here and they pretty much told me everything I needed to know.

Cori

I wish I had known that being in a sorority or fraternity really is a huge part of life here. I am not in a sorority, and sometimes, I don't have anything to do because of it.

Urso

I had to ride a bus to get to class

Jonathan

I do not that that anyone could have told me anything to change my mind about coming to the Univesitiy of South Carolina, because this school is by far the best school for me and I truly believe this is where I am suppose to be.

Elizabeth

I wish I had known how difficult and costly it was to park before coming here.

Tyra

How to properly study and eat healthier