Pillars for Carolina Registration
Posted on: June 12, 2019; Updated on: June 12, 2019
By Skylar Pritchard, pritchsk@mailbox.sc.edu
Incoming first-year and transfer students are encouraged to participate in Pillars for Carolina, an exciting week-long program filled with new friendships and a strong start to life at South Carolina.
During Pillars for Carolina, incoming students live on campus for a week and are mentored by current students, called XMs (eXtended orientation Mentors). Extended orientation mentors (XMs) guide students in family groups as they explore campus and Columbia, meet faculty and staff, learn more about their leadership style and build connections to last beyond their time at South Carolina.
What participants gain:
- A jump-start to navigating life on campus
- A core group of friends before starting the semester in August
- A group of current students to act as mentors and guides
- Stronger connections with South Carolina faculty and staff
- An orientation to the city of Columbia and all that lies outside the historic Horseshoe
New this year, students can choose to take part in Pillars Serves, an immersive service experience where students work with local organizations to assist Columbia community members. Dates and registration information for Pillars for Carolina and Pillars Serves are available on their website.
What people are saying:
“We live out of state and Pillars provided my son the opportunity to meet many students before move in day. He was able to start off with a core group of friends that eased the transition to campus life.” — 2018 Pillars for Carolina parent
“Pillars helped me to make connections with people before coming to UofSC and I feel so much more confident with the social aspect of college.” — 2018 Pillars for Carolina participant
“A great thing about Pillars was that the students had a chance to explore the entire campus, so once our student arrived back on campus for Move-In, she was familiar with the campus layout and didn't feel overwhelmed. This has brought much comfort to us as parents as we watch our student soar!” — 2018 Pillars for Carolina parent
Registration for Pillars for Carolina is available online through July 1. Students and families can learn more about the experience through the Pillars for Carolina Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
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