Life as a Gamecock

The USC student experience offers myriad routes to the perfect path

Posted on: August 19, 2025; Updated on: August 19, 2025
By Megan Sexton, msexton@mailbox.sc.edu, 803-777-1421

As the fall semester begins, University of South Carolina students come to campus ready for full class schedules and active social calendars. Here, they join a supportive Gamecock family that will help them succeed — inside the classroom and out. Through study abroad trips and undergraduate research, student organizations and SEC sports, Carolina students have myriad opportunities for finding their life’s passion. And they’re sure to have more than a little bit of fun along the way.

Here is just a glimpse into what students can experience at USC.

University 101

University 101, the class that helps students navigate and thrive during their first semester of college, is the international leader in freshman seminars. The classes — more than 335 sections will be taught this fall — allow students to successfully transition academically and personally to USC, while helping them learn all about the campus, Columbia and Gamecock traditions. About 87 percent of freshmen take U101, which plays a leading role in USC’s ranking as the top student experience nationally among public universities. Added bonus: Some of the class sessions meet outdoors on the historic Horseshoe.

students sitting in a circle with professor in middle at class on the Horseshoe

First Night Carolina

New students at USC learn about Gamecock traditions early — the night before fall semester classes begin. First Night Carolina is a pep rally of sorts that starts on the historic Horseshoe with the USC band and Gamecocks coaches and concludes with live music and fireworks on Greene Street over the Russell House. Students will be hearing Sandstorm in their dreams.

Get involved

Whether a student is interested in sailing or service, engineering or advocacy, there’s an organization for that. USC is home to more than 600 student organizations, and more are added every year. At the start of the fall and spring semester, students can stroll through an organization fair, giving them an opportunity to learn about what's available, talk to members and get involved.

female and male student on Greene Street at org fair

Study abroad

Columbia, South Carolina may be the ideal home for college students, but there’s a big world out there for Gamecocks. The university offers more than 350 different overseas programs in everything from biology to public relations to political science. Students looking to travel to Australia or Spain or the Galapagos Islands – or anywhere in between – can find a semester-long, summer or Maymester study abroad program to fit their schedule through the university’s Education Abroad office.

two female students reaching across a huge tree to hold hands

Big-time sports

The Southeastern Conference is the top sports conference in the land — and USC is right in the thick of it. Whether it’s the football team lining up against the nation’s top programs or the women’s basketball team winning another SEC title on the way to the Final Four, sports bring Gamecocks together to fill the student section, wave their towels to Sandstorm and cheer on their team. Some students may even get the chance to celebrate a championship with a dip in the Thomas Cooper Library fountain.

students celebrating in the library fountain

The road to research

It’s never too soon for students to start building their research portfolio, and USC offers opportunities for undergraduates to get inside the lab and into the field as they figure out the next steps on their academic and professional journeys. Each spring, Discover USC features presentations by hundreds of students, showcasing research, scholarship, leadership and creative projects.

a female student stands in front of her poster at discover USC

Rivalry week

Gamecock students learn about pretty quickly about the rivalry with that school in the Upstate, and Carolina-Clemson prep brings activities from a blood drive to the torching of a 30-foot tiger constructed by engineering students. Tigerburn brings students out on a chilly fall night to dance, cheer and watch the wood-and-paper tiger go up in flames. It’s all part of getting ready for the Palmetto Bowl, a football game traditionally held each year on Thanksgiving weekend, with a year’s worth of bragging rights up for grabs.

Career jump-start

The University of South Carolina prepares students for their lives after graduation, offering multiple ways to get a taste of the working world while they are still undergraduates. Internships are available in all sorts of fields, allowing students the chance to connect classroom learning with real-world opportunities. The South Carolina Internship Program provides financial supplements for students who take internships in high-demand industries in the Palmetto State, while the Career Center offers help with resumes and career exploration — including job fairs with employers looking to hire new Gamecocks.

Flick on the field

Williams-Brice Stadium isn’t just for football. Each spring, students are invited to grab their pillows, blankets and popcorn and make their way to the gridiron to watch a movie on the huge scoreboard. Flick on the Field is a giant movie night and a great way to end the semester with hundreds of friends.

six students sitting on field at stadium watching movie

Living-learning communities

Research indicates that university students who are part of living-learning communities are happier, make better grades, have higher graduation rates and experience a sense of belonging. And USC’s living-learning communities are some of the nation’s best — ranked No. 10 overall and No. 4 among public universities. From art to health sciences to leadership, the seven faculty-led communities around campus offer the chance to live alongside peers with similar interests. The communities offer inside and outside the classroom opportunities. You might even get to float down the river on a late-summer day with your neighbors.

female student floating in yellow tube on the river with other students in background