From the Director's Chair

May 1st.  Perhaps the most important day in the life of high school seniors who plan to attend college in the fall.  The decision still looms for many--where to go to college?  Which offer will I accept?  This may be the biggest decision many seniors have ever had to make.

But, as stressful and complicated as it may be for you seniors out there, it is just as stressful for us in Admissions. Will they come?  Did we do a good job explaining the virtures of our university?  In this decision, admissions offices are virtually powerless.  We can't make the decision, only the student can (with a little help from mom and dad, perhaps). 

To those of you still undecided, we anxiously await your decision.   I know you will make the best decision for you and your educational goals, which is what us admissions people ultimately want--for you to find your place in the world.  But, we can't deny that we hope you will pick us! 

So decide by May 1, and if you need help deciding, just think Garnet and Black and I'm sure the right answer will appear.

Posted by Scott at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It is no secret that the economy is affecting students and colleges alike.  Just when students need more scholarship assistance, colleges and universities have less of it to give.  We are all feeling the squeeze of a tight economy--students and parents are worried about how to pay for college, and colleges and universities are worried about how students and parents are going to pay for college, too.

What to do?  Well, my advice is first and foremost to apply for financial aid by completing a FAFSA, regardless of your financial circumstances.  Even if you don't think you'll qualify for free or "gift aid", you might be surprised, and if your circumstances change throughout the year, you have started the process to seek aid later. 

Also, you have to do your homework to find outside scholarships.  Sometimes if may feel like finding a needle in a haystack, but there are still organizations out there that are able to award scholarships.   So apply!   These organizations may award smaller awards than last year, but every little bit helps, doesn't it?  Don't make the mistake of counting yourself out by not applying.  There are good websites, like FastWeb.com  and CollegeBoard.com that help you find financial resources. States have non-profit student finacial aid organizations that can help.  Do a web search on google or yahoo.  Browse through your local newspaper.  Check with civic organization.  But be persistent.

For example, are you a South Carolina resident?  Will you be attending college in the fall pursuing a bachelor's degree?  Do you have at least a 2.5 GPA?  Are you responsible and civic-minded, and need help paying for college?  You might qualify for a scholarship from the Strom Thurmond Foundation.  Here is the website where you can find an application to complete:

http://sites.google.com/site/stromthurmondfoundation/

There are many, many organizations out there, you just have to look for them.

Posted by Scott at 02:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This week is a furious week for the admissions office as we are making our final admissions decisions so they will all be in the mail by this Friday March 13.  Nearly 8,000 admissions decisions are being mailed this week, which should be arriving over the next several days.  But, some won't be mailed until Friday afternoon (it takes a long time to print that many letters) so don't be surprised if it takes until early next week to receive your admission decision.   The following decisions are being sent:

1)  Admitted - If you are a high school senior applying for Fall 2009, this is, obviously, what you hope to receive. 

2)  Not Admitted for Fall but there are options- Admission for fall is extremely competitive this year, and we cannot take everyone.  Many students will be offered admission in the spring term, which starts January 2010.  Another option is to attend another USC System campus, or particiate in our Statewide Bridge Program.

3) Your application has been canceled -  Typically an application is canceled when it is incomplete, because we have not received test scores or high school transcripts, or because it was submitted past the application priority date and we are out of space.  Canceled applications can be considered for Spring admission.

So if you haven't heard yet, please be patient, you should hear from us very soon.  

Oh, and next week we will start sending out invitations to be in our Capstone Scholars program! 

Posted by Scott at 03:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The mail man came into the admissions office today, like he does every day, delivering applications, transcripts, letters of recommendation and such.  We trade twice a day: he brings us mail and we give him some back to deliver. 

I like sending mail.  Despite all of today's methods of communication, including telephone, e-mail, text, blogs, websites, social networking, you name it, nothing to me is as satisfying and effective as ink and paper delivered via the good ol' US Mail.  It is tangible, reliable, and comforting.  I must admit that every day when I go home, one of the first things I do is check the mail.  Sadly, most of the mail I get these days is bills or junk mail, but occasionally I get a letter or card from a friend, which really brightens my day....but I digress.

Anyway, today the mailman must hate me, because today we had a little--check that, BIG--surprise waiting for him.  That's right, SCHOLARSHIP LETTERS ARE BEING MAILED TODAY!    He had to go back to the mail truck to get a dolly.  (sorry Mr. Mailman!)

Like all universities around the country, times are tight as we all feel the effects of the economy and budget cuts. At the same time the competition for our top scholarships is increasing, as more and more students are applying to USC.  Unfortunately we are not able to offer as many scholarships as we have in the past,  but we are still offering plenty of scholarships to deserving students, as evidenced by the many mail bins that were waiting for the mail man this morning.  So that is why the mail man may be upset with me today. 

I, on the other hand, am a HUGE fan of the mail man, and wish him fast and safe delivery of these very important letters.  I hope you will soon be a big fan as well!

Oh, one final thought:  take a minute to write a handwritten note to your grandmother, grandfather, aunt or uncle--anybody really--and drop it in the mail.  They will love you for it.

Posted by Scott at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It is a rainy, chilly, Saturday morning in January and I just got back from talking to a group of high school students and their parents who are on campus today learning about the college search process.   As I was giving a brief welcome to at the start of their day of activities, I started thinking about the "American Dream."    What is the American Dream?   James Truslow Adams coined the phrase “The American Dream” in his 1931 book Epic of America:

“The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement….each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.”

Each of us may have our own definition of the American Dream, but for me the American Dream means that no matter who you are, where you come from, or whatever your personal circumstances, you can grow up to be whatever you want to be.    We all have the freedom to pursue our life ambitions, and through hard work we can all achieve success.

Time and time again in our country we see evidence proving the American Dream is in fact a reality. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, S. Truett Cathy (Chick-Fil-A), Oprah Winfrey, Wayne Huizenga (Florida Marlins, Miami Dolphins, Blockbuster), are all people who have risen above their meager beginnings to become successful beyond anyone’s expectations, fulfilling their own American Dream.

 There is no better example today than President Barak Obama, who has put to rest the question can a person of any race become president.  But, just because anybody can live the American Dream, does not mean that everybody will.  Success in life does not happen to you by accident.  It comes from hard work and dedication.    Like all people, Barak Obama was born with certain gifts and talents.  He worked hard to develop those talents, had a vision to become the leader of the free world, and set his mind to the task of becoming President of the United States.

We all have innate abilities, gifts and talents, and we owe it to ourselves and our Creator to make the best use of these as we possibly can.  By making good choices and through hard work, we can use our gifts to achieve what we want in life.   However, there is one critical component to success that none of us are born with, but we can all obtain—and that is an education.  Without an education, our chances of success are greatly diminished.  With an education, our chances of success are greatly improved.

Education is a life-long pursuit.  It does not end with a high school diploma, or even with a college degree.  Obtaining an education does not happen overnight, it is something that constantly occurs over time.  Indeed, we spend our lives “learning something new, every day.”     Education is not something that happens to you.  You can’t just attend class and expect that to do the trick.  You have to be an active participant, seek knowledge, and engage in the process.  Teachers, counselors, professors, and parents all help you on your path, but ultimately only you can educate yourself.

Education builds on itself and requires a strong foundation and preparation for the next phase.  If you want to be a professional golfer, you don’t just walk in to August National on the first day of the Master’s and ask to join the field.  It takes years of instruction, practice, and dedication.  Likewise, if you want to be a doctor, you don’t start the process by going to medical school.  You have to start early, by learning your ABC’s in kindergarten and making the choice to learn and succeed at every stage of education so you can do the same at the next level.  Just as you must crawl, then walk, then run, so must you progress through the educational process—there is no skipping ahead.

Education is the great equalizer in our society—something attainable for all who make the choice.   What do you want to be?  What is your American Dream?  With hard work and by making good choices, I’m willing to be you can get there—but not without a strong education.

Posted by Scott at 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Now that our first round of decision letters have gone out, many people have asked questions that I would like to answer for the benefit of all:

Q:  I received a letter that says my decision is deferred until March.  What does that mean?

A:  Being deferred to our March 15 decision date is very common and nothing to be alarmed about.  There are many reasons one may be deferred, most often because we want to more carefully review your application.    Other reasons include an incomplete file or waiting on SAT or ACT scores from the December test.   No matter the reason, keep in mind that "deferred" DOES NOT mean "denied."    To think otherwise is to draw your own conclusions before we have drawn ours.  The vast majority of our admission decisions for the entire applicant pool are sent on March 15.

Q:  I have been admitted to the university but I have also applied to the Honors College.  When will I find out if I have been accepted?

A:  Honors College admissions applications are being reviewed, and we have just started making these decisions. Honors College decisions are not mailed on a single date like regular admissions decisions, they are mailed in batches as we screen them.   Some honors decisions were mailed out on December 23, and we should have them all mailed by February 15.   If you were not notified in the December 23 group, all that means is that your application has not yet been reviewed.

Q: When will I find out if I will be offered a scholarship?

A:  Most of our scholarship offers will go out in Mid-March after we make all the admissions decisions, Honors College admission decisions, Capstone Scholar invitations, and Carolina & McNair Scholar interviews. 

Posted by Scott at 03:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

forty mail bins of letters lined down the hall outside my office door.  I'll try to get a picture and post it on my blog.  Quite a sight to see, all these "thick envelopes", ready to go.  Monday afternoon the post office will make a special pick up to get all these letters in the mail, so that many students can have a very happy holiday season!

Every student that applied by October 1 AND who had all their credentials and scores in to the Admissions Office will be hearing from us this week with an update on their status.   However not everyone that applied by October 1 will receive a final decision this week.   Some students will find out that we cannot make a decision on their application until March.  This is because we have more applicants that we have space.  For the majority of our applicants, we must wait until after everyone has been carefully reviewed, which will take at least two more months.  Then, after everyone has has a fair and thorough review, we will be able to make our final determinations on who we can admit.

Posted by Scott at 01:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)