Print this page.The University has as much to offer off campus as on campus. The campus is in the center of Columbia, a city full of charm and Southern hospitality. Even though there are about 600,000 residents in and around the city, both the campus and Columbia retain a park-like atmosphere.
As the capital of South Carolina, numerous businesses and government offices are headquartered here. You can pick from a myriad of internship opportunities, including corporations such as Citibank and Merrill Lynch, NBC and CBS affiliates, numerous non-profits and the South Carolina Legislature. Several web development firms and advertising agencies, as well as two large hospitals, are also close to campus. A major newspaper, The State, is also located here. Our Career Center on campus will help you find these local opportunities.
There are plenty of recreational opportunities as well. Within ten minutes of campus, you can kayak on one of three rivers, hike through a National Park, or visit a world-class zoo or the Columbia Museum of Art. If you want to travel a little further from Columbia’s central location, you can enjoy either the Appalachian trail or the historic environs of Charleston. A drive of 2.5 hours will get you to either. And at USC, you can have a car as a freshman, making day trips even easier.
Weekends often find USC students exploring one of two main entertainment districts, Five Points and the Vista. Both feature unique boutiques, art galleries, unusual restaurants, and night spots. Dining at Yesterday’s or Groucho’s in Five Points has become a Carolina tradition. A little closer to campus, you can find several coffeehouses, including Cool Beans. This locally-owned coffee shop is right across from the Horseshoe, and has become a late-night study haven for many students. Students often drive a little further away, about 20 minutes, to the Harbison area to shop at the mall and other national retailers.
To see more of what both USC and the city of Columbia have to offer, schedule a visit with our Visitor Center. You can also find out what current students are up to by visiting the USC Blog Team.