The University of South Carolina has built a national reputation on its #1 First-Year Experience among public universities, a title that reflects the school’s strong commitment to helping new students thrive.
But what happens after that first year, when students move off campus and begin to navigate college life more independently?
This question inspired the creation of the Carolina Experience, a coordinated effort designed to support sophomores, juniors, seniors and transfer students throughout their college career.
Creating a 4+ year experience
According to Kimberly Dressler, a USC alumna and the program’s assistant director, the Carolina Experience is a cross-coordinating department that helps students gain access to a holistic, well-rounded undergraduate journey.
That collaborative spirit has paid off. During the fall 2025 semester alone, Carolina Experience has hosted more than 60 events, from educational workshops to fun, creative gatherings. Events alternate between in-person and online to accommodate students’ varying schedules.
“We do a tie-dye party every year for Sophomore September,” Dressler added. “We just did a workshop on credit that was well-attended. Also, we partner with Student Health and Well-Being to do a cooking workshop a couple times a semester.”
While many of Carolina Experience’s events are geared toward student engagement, one of its longest-running programs focuses on strengthening relationships with faculty. Mutual Expectations, which predates Carolina Experience by more than a decade, is a partnership with the Center for Teaching Excellence that encourages open communication between students and faculty.
“We bring students and faculty instructors together to talk outside of class, have a meal, and it’s a guided discussion,” Dressler says. “We put them at round tables in groups of six to eight.”
The goal is to help instructors develop a better understanding of the student experience, and vice versa. Dressler adds that building relationships with faculty can benefit students in the long run.
“They are good for mentoring, for writing letters of recommendation, they can help you with networking,” she says. “I think sometimes students can be a little intimidated to talk to faculty one-on-one, and I think this helps to normalize that.”
Peer-to-peer planning
At the center of the Carolina Experience is its Peer Leadership program. Dressler trains and mentors the 16 peer leaders, composed of juniors, seniors and graduate students.
“They go through really intense training, where they learn about our office but also the Office of Student Advocacy, the Career Center, the Student Success Center, all of our partners,” Dressler says. “They learn about policies at USC that they need to know, but also the resources that are available to help students.”
Each peer leader is matched with students based on factors like their major or hometown, and every student beyond their first year can find their assigned peer leader through their Navigate 360 profile.
The peer leaders assist with events, facilitate workshops and act as approachable points of contact for students seeking guidance or connection.
For Maddy Lawson, one of the department’s first peer leaders, the role has been a chance to help students find their place –– and, in turn, rediscover her own passion for campus life.
“It can be challenging for students to find their niche on campus with so many opportunities available,” Lawson says. “I’ve worked with students to explore their interests through student organizations and campus events listed on Garnet Gate.”
Now a graduate student, Lawson says being a peer leader has deepened her appreciation for the campus resources that supported her transition to graduate school.
It has also made me more aware of how helpful these tools could have been earlier in my college journey. This perspective allows me to be transparent with students about lessons I’ve learned and to guide conversations around preparing for graduation, applying to graduate programs and next steps after college.
Another peer leader, Mairead Boland, who also serves as a McCausland College of Arts and Sciences ambassador, says the program is not just about giving advice, but creating a space where students feel supported and seen.
It is really fulfilling to watch students be encouraged to get involved on campus, make friends, and start to feel at home here. I've also loved connecting with other peer leaders and staff — everyone is so passionate about creating a welcoming environment, and that energy is contagious.
Boland recalls one particularly meaningful moment when she helped a student navigate overwhelming stress.
“They were struggling to find their way to balance classes, personal responsibilities, extracurriculars and finding time outside of that to grow academically,” Boland says. “We talked through their schedule and things that cause the most stress, and I helped them grow confidence in advocating for themselves and connecting with mental health support resources. A few weeks later, they emailed me and expressed gratitude and shared how helpful the resources have been to them.”
For Dressler, stories like these are exactly what the Peer Leadership program is about –– building a culture of care and action.
“It’s not just, ‘oh, go make this appointment’. It’s ‘let's do it right now together and then prepare: what do you want to get out of that appointment?’” she says.
Dressler emphasizes that the peer leaders are very intentional with making sure each student still feels supported even after their consultation.
“We’re really trying to make sure students know there are people here who care about their experience and well-being and are following up, and that we really want to help them accomplish their goals,” she says. “After every one-on-one appointment that a student has, within 48 hours, the peer leader will send a follow up email. Later on in the semester, all the peer leaders will send more individual follow-up emails.”
Through both in-person and virtual consultations, the peer leaders embody Carolina Experience’s mission of helping every student find their place, build meaningful relationships and make the most of their time at USC.
Getting involved
In the future, the office plans to grow even further with new initiatives focused on non-traditional students, including adult learners and those returning to college after a break.
Whether through a one-on-one peer consultation, lunches with faculty or a fun campus event, the Carolina Experience Office is redefining what it means to belong at Carolina — one meaningful connection at a time.
Make an appointment with your peer leader on Navigate 360 or check out the upcoming calendar of events to see how you can enhance your Carolina Experience.