“When I first arrived at the University of South Carolina, my impression was that of a crowded university jammed into a city I had yet to understand. Within my first few days, however, I quickly began to learn my way around and feel alive in the exciting city atmosphere. I was gradually immersed into a welcoming learning community with over 200 years of history and tradition. The experiences I have had on campus since my arrival have opened my eyes to a world of opportunity. Now, I can’t imagine attending any other university. I am proud to be a Gamecock and I, like all USC students, wear my school colors proudly.” - Alexandria Cherry


The University of South Carolina, in the heart of downtown Columbia, South Carolina, was founded in 1801 as South Carolina College. Since its 19th century creation, the university has expanded to include seven additional campuses across the Palmetto state, serving a combined 43,000 students of all levels with more than 300 programs of study. The central campus in Columbia originated with just 11 buildings that now form the historic Horseshoe, a U-shaped green recognized on the National Register of Historic Places that is the center of student activity. The Columbia campus has become home to over 28,000 students, both national and international.

Twenty-four residence halls and 15 colleges comprise this urban university in South Carolina’s thriving capital city. Any building on campus can be reached within a 15-minute walk or a short bike ride. The university provides bus transportation for students with six continuously running routes for day transportation as well as an evening shuttle loop. Outside of on-campus events, students can enjoy the surrounding downtown nightlife. To the west of campus, students partake in fine dining, sports restaurants, and dance clubs in the popular Vista neighborhood. To the east, students crowd similar venues in an area of town known as Five Points. While these areas offer eclectic boutique shopping and small niche stores for the individual during the day, they become the prime hot spots for large groups of students in search of a fun night of concerts and dancing.

On campus, the university offers a variety of sports clubs and extra-curricular activities. More than 300 registered organizations open a plethora of options from debate groups to dance appreciation, foreign language study to sports and recreation.  For the more athletically devoted, the university’s Solomon Blatt Physical Education Center and Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center are open for individual and group workouts as well as team sports.  Carolina offers team ice hockey, fencing, scuba, table tennis, and even Jiu Jitsu and Seidokan Aikido defense training, along with more traditional sports such as volleyball, basketball, and football. Students participate in the collegiate media as part of SGTV, WUSC radio station, Garnet and Black Magazine, or The Daily Gamecock newspaper. 

Academically, South Carolina offers more than 70 majors for undergraduate students, with multiple options from the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering and Computing, Environment, Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management, Mass Communication and Information Studies, Music, Nursing, Public Health, and Social Work. The university is also home to the South Carolina Honors College as well as the Capstone program, both of which aim to enhance the learning experience of exceptional students. On average, the Columbia campus has a ratio of 18 students per instructor. When it comes to academic success and national rankings, USC’s International Business track has been named the number one program in the United States for the past 13 years. Traditional degrees in the areas of law, medicine, and pharmacy can also be pursued at the university. 

In order to ensure students’ enjoyment of classes as well as intellectual stimulation, the university has taken great strides to employ an exceptional faculty in all areas of research study. For example, Don Fowler, a USC political science professor, is a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Similarly, the dean of the university’s journalism school, Charles Bierbauer, served as a correspondent for multiple major American television networks such as CNN and ABC. The university also aims to ensure students’ mental health. Student Services offers counseling and advising for all of Carolina students. With a student population that represented 97 foreign countries in the fall of 2009, the Columbia campus’ International Student Services offers immigration and visa information as well as employment assistance.

The University of South Carolina has aimed for over 200 years to provide students with everything they need to be academically successful and well-rounded individuals. Walk the brick pathways of the Horseshoe or relax on the patio of the student center and experience a research university unlike any other.

Alexandria Cherry has just completed her freshman year at the University of South Carolina. She is majoring in visual communications in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, and she is a member of the Carolina Marching Band color guard.  This summer, she plans on studying abroad in Europe before returning home to Spartanburg, SC to spend time with her family.

 

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