Thoughts on the University of South Carolina?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's total culture shock. DH is from Columbia, SC. Our nieces went to Wilson and South Carolina. They were popular and involved in athletics and sororities. But they had a major cultural adjustment. One found God (family was not religious) and joined what I perceived as a religious cult where she had to fundraise money. The other was sexually assaulted by a close friend and then became very involved with victims' rights.

Our DS toured South Carolina thinking he would like it. Over a long break, he stayed with a cousin in the dorm for three days. He said it lacked diversity. He hated how everyone dressed alike and acted "polite" but were pretty racist. Not a super academic place. Area around Four Points that the students can hang out is pretty dangerous. Columbia is a college town and they don't have a lot to do outside football games.

It's Five Points, sweetheart, but that's OK.

-- also from Columbia, SC

It is really a dangerous area? Seems like it had a lot of nice restaurants and bars?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's total culture shock. DH is from Columbia, SC. Our nieces went to Wilson and South Carolina. They were popular and involved in athletics and sororities. But they had a major cultural adjustment. One found God (family was not religious) and joined what I perceived as a religious cult where she had to fundraise money. The other was sexually assaulted by a close friend and then became very involved with victims' rights.

Our DS toured South Carolina thinking he would like it. Over a long break, he stayed with a cousin in the dorm for three days. He said it lacked diversity. He hated how everyone dressed alike and acted "polite" but were pretty racist. Not a super academic place. Area around Four Points that the students can hang out is pretty dangerous. Columbia is a college town and they don't have a lot to do outside football games.

It's Five Points, sweetheart, but that's OK.

-- also from Columbia, SC

It is really a dangerous area? Seems like it had a lot of nice restaurants and bars?

+1. Funny coming from someone in Washington, DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent paying for my DCs' colleges, there is no way my money is going to a Trump/Red state school. Personal preference.

Trust me when I say that neither you, nor your money, will be missed.

doctors and academics are going to start leaving these states or not considering them at all

so while you might think people choosing to avoid colleges is silly, get back to me in 5-10 years when the full effects of the draconian laws being passed are actually felt

Have you seen population trends in the sun belt vs New England and the rust belt?

that was pre-Dobbs, but ok

Do you have any data that it has reversed? The only articles on fleeing doctors have focused on rural Idaho which was already dying

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent paying for my DCs' colleges, there is no way my money is going to a Trump/Red state school. Personal preference.

Trust me when I say that neither you, nor your money, will be missed.

doctors and academics are going to start leaving these states or not considering them at all

so while you might think people choosing to avoid colleges is silly, get back to me in 5-10 years when the full effects of the draconian laws being passed are actually felt

Have you seen population trends in the sun belt vs New England and the rust belt?

that was pre-Dobbs, but ok

Do you have any data that it has reversed? The only articles on fleeing doctors have focused on rural Idaho which was already dying

Dobbs was less than a year ago

Some of the worst laws have not taken effect yet

It will take a few years

[Anonymous]

We toured last year with my engineering-focused son. He was offered in-state tuition and we felt we had to look. The engineering department focused on how students could build the box that Cocky (mascot) jumps out of and also the effigy they make to burn for the Clemson game. Just didn't seem as serious/academic as we wanted. I think you can get a good education there though, just not for us.

[Anonymous]

Mine didn’t want any southern schools. It’s too hot 🤣🥵

[Anonymous]

Isn’t college about getting out of the bubble?

Someone quotes actual experience of a dominant culture of non-academic, sexist, racist, homophobic, and anti-semitic attitudes at South Carolina and the best response you can offer is it represents "getting out of the bubble"?

Silly not least because the student in question actually committed to getting out of the bubble -- but not in going decades backward in social attitudes which is what he encountered in Columbia.

If that's honestly the best defense South Carolina's boosters can offer, it's probably a university DMVers should consider twice before sending a non-reactionary to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent paying for my DCs' colleges, there is no way my money is going to a Trump/Red state school. Personal preference.

Trust me when I say that neither you, nor your money, will be missed.

doctors and academics are going to start leaving these states or not considering them at all

so while you might think people choosing to avoid colleges is silly, get back to me in 5-10 years when the full effects of the draconian laws being passed are actually felt

Have you seen population trends in the sun belt vs New England and the rust belt?

that was pre-Dobbs, but ok

Do you have any data that it has reversed? The only articles on fleeing doctors have focused on rural Idaho which was already dying

Dobbs was less than a year ago

Some of the worst laws have not taken effect yet

It will take a few years

You have no idea what you're talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We toured last year with my engineering-focused son. He was offered in-state tuition and we felt we had to look. The engineering department focused on how students could build the box that Cocky (mascot) jumps out of and also the effigy they make to burn for the Clemson game. Just didn't seem as serious/academic as we wanted. I think you can get a good education there though, just not for us.

Would you mind sharing stats that earned him in-state? Curious where he ended up. Good luck to your son and thanks for interesting post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree South Carolina is increasingly popular among DMV students. A friend's son (from Walter Johnson, normal jock-ish white kid) went there with a few friends five years ago. Once he got there as a freshman (and he had visited before applying) he found he really didn't like it. Felt the social customs were very southern in a way he didn't like (wrt to dating, race relations, views toward Jewish students, 'you're a guest here' attitude toward non-Southerners), didn't think the academics were serious, didn't like the setting. He worked hard, got great grades his freshman year, and transferred to a northeastern university for sophomore fall (ironically one of those schools whose winter climate DCUM commenters complain about incessantly....). He had a great three years at the second school and just graduated (on schedule) last spring.

Bottom line: yes, more kids from the DMV are going to South Carolina. Some presumably like it, but not all do. But don't pretend it's "just like here but with balmier weather and easier admissions" because it isn't.

Isn’t college about getting out of the bubble?

escaping bubbles don't mean going backwards/back in time

Isn’t seeing that behavior firsthand of value. Instead of just hearing about it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Isn’t college about getting out of the bubble?

Someone quotes actual experience of a dominant culture of non-academic, sexist, racist, homophobic, and anti-semitic attitudes at South Carolina and the best response you can offer is it represents "getting out of the bubble"?

Silly not least because the student in question actually committed to getting out of the bubble -- but not in going decades backward in social attitudes which is what he encountered in Columbia.

If that's honestly the best defense South Carolina's boosters can offer, it's probably a university DMVers should consider twice before sending a non-reactionary to.

I do think it’s of value to see this 1st hand instead of 1 day lecture at other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's total culture shock. DH is from Columbia, SC. Our nieces went to Wilson and South Carolina. They were popular and involved in athletics and sororities. But they had a major cultural adjustment. One found God (family was not religious) and joined what I perceived as a religious cult where she had to fundraise money. The other was sexually assaulted by a close friend and then became very involved with victims' rights.

Our DS toured South Carolina thinking he would like it. Over a long break, he stayed with a cousin in the dorm for three days. He said it lacked diversity. He hated how everyone dressed alike and acted "polite" but were pretty racist. Not a super academic place. Area around Four Points that the students can hang out is pretty dangerous. Columbia is a college town and they don't have a lot to do outside football games.

It's Five Points, sweetheart, but that's OK.

-- also from Columbia, SC

It is really a dangerous area? Seems like it had a lot of nice restaurants and bars?

+1. Funny coming from someone in Washington, DC.

To be honest…. One of the bar owners who owned 3 bars was arrested for roofy-ing students. Every weekend 20 + people were reporting it to police. 5-points was closed down for 1 year to students.

It seems better now.

[Anonymous]

. Have you seen population trends in the sun belt vs New England and the rust belt?

Not sure what that has to do with a choice of college. South Carolina has the fifth lowest average incomes of any state in the entire country. All five of the poorest US states (GDP per capita) are in the South. None of the Southern states except Texas are in the top half of US states by per capita income. Not sure any of that makes a compelling case for venturing to South Carolina for a college degree.

[Anonymous]

Someone quotes actual experience of a dominant culture of non-academic, sexist, racist, homophobic, and anti-semitic attitudes at South Carolina and the best response you can offer is it represents "getting out of the bubble"?

Silly not least because the student in question actually committed to getting out of the bubble -- but not in going decades backward in social attitudes which is what he encountered in Columbia.

If that's honestly the best defense South Carolina's boosters can offer, it's probably a university DMVers should consider twice before sending a non-reactionary to.

I do think it’s of value to see this 1st hand instead of 1 day lecture at other schools.

The question isn't a diversity of views -- there are all types on most campuses (notwithstanding the people clutching their pearls about so-called woke mobs) -- but what's the dominant culture on a campus, and how comfortable they make others feel. And whether their attitudes generate a pervasive anti-intellectual sentiment on campus that limits learning opportunities. I think it's just defensive sophistry to argue that kids should spend the four years (!) of college surrounded by people whose views they don't share (and in many instances despise) because it will give them 'valuable exposure.' But if you're saying South Carolina should market itself by saying "Come to Columbia and experience the racism and sexism and anti-Semitism you've only heard about in lectures and history books" then at least I give you credit for more honesty than many here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Someone quotes actual experience of a dominant culture of non-academic, sexist, racist, homophobic, and anti-semitic attitudes at South Carolina and the best response you can offer is it represents "getting out of the bubble"?

Silly not least because the student in question actually committed to getting out of the bubble -- but not in going decades backward in social attitudes which is what he encountered in Columbia.

If that's honestly the best defense South Carolina's boosters can offer, it's probably a university DMVers should consider twice before sending a non-reactionary to.

I do think it’s of value to see this 1st hand instead of 1 day lecture at other schools.

The question isn't a diversity of views -- there are all types on most campuses (notwithstanding the people clutching their pearls about so-called woke mobs) -- but what's the dominant culture on a campus, and how comfortable they make others feel. And whether their attitudes generate a pervasive anti-intellectual sentiment on campus that limits learning opportunities. I think it's just defensive sophistry to argue that kids should spend the four years (!) of college surrounded by people whose views they don't share (and in many instances despise) because it will give them 'valuable exposure.' But if you're saying South Carolina should market itself by saying "Come to Columbia and experience the racism and sexism and anti-Semitism you've only heard about in lectures and history books" then at least I give you credit for more honesty than many here.

Isn’t that exactly what you expect conservatives to do in liberal schools?

You realize there are intelligent students there, it’s not anti-intellectual. Also the campus is quite liberal. The president of the school sued the state governor over COVID rules.

Racist were protesting on campus (it’s next to the capitol) and students counter protested.

There is racism but it’s not the school, teachers, administrators. It’s not the culture of the school it’s the culture of the south.

Are you saying the Ivy League schools have no racism? Sexism? Asian hate? Really?

You think there are valuable intelligent non racist conservatives?