Admissions

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

Make friends with Thomas Cooper early on, it'll help you keep your grades up. Also take U101.