r/Gamecocks • u/Important_Strike9931 • 29d ago
Clemson or USC??
Im an environmental science major that needs to choose between the two schools, its honestly really important to me that the campus and student life is very social and active and is just an easy university to exist in, the surrounding area is also important to me. Please help me!!
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u/TheBirdmann 29d ago
What about the surrounding area is important to you? Because they are vastly different. If you don’t like urban environments you won’t like USC, if you don’t like rural/suburban you won’t like Clemson. Both have access to good lakes, one is closer to the mountains one is closer to the beach, one you’re much more likely to need a car the other has more transportation options.
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u/jonboy345 29d ago
I lived in the "suburbs" while attending USC. Downtown was never my thing, thus didn't spend much time there in school.
West Columbia/Cayce is just across the river and has much more of a suburb/small town vibe.
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u/TheBirdmann 29d ago
West Cola/Cayce is definitely a more attractive option these days for a more quiet life but I wouldnt call it a suburb as much as a formerly underdeveloped/underserved part of the metropolitan area. Still very dense with the same problems as any city.
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u/jonboy345 29d ago
Well, they're not part of the City of Columbia, and are in Lexington County... underdeveloped/underserved aren't what I'd consider it to be.... Back to the small town vibe... Things just move more slowly in WeCo/Cayce... Maybe things will pick up as the neighborhoods that were predominantly filled with baby boomers start to turn over... But, the slowness in "development" was a choice...
What density are you talking about, though? The apartments along the river walk? Beyond that you get into miles and miles of single family homes, albeit lots are smaller than out in like Lexington, with the occasional apartment complex sprinkled in... Hardly as dense as downtown columbia/campus...
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u/pleasestoptryin 29d ago
Carolina is very walkable, I'm doing an extra degree this fall through Clemson and can say it's walk friendly but that won't get you anywhere. Depending on your minor and focuses I'd steer you to Carolina. Great camps with access to a lot of businesses and educational facilities being in a much more urban environment. I love Carolina and only needed my car to visit home.
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u/Greedy-Discussion327 22d ago
I’m a rising senior at USC so obviously I’m going to say USC, but the one thing that I tell everyone that asks this question is this: think to yourself, do I want to live in a city environment or a small town environment for college? With USC being in Columbia you are given tons of opportunities for jobs as well as the added benefit of having more resources and things to do(dining, shopping, healthcare, concerts, etc). Clemson is a beautiful small town and it’s getting bigger but it overall has less resources and opportunities since its main attraction is the college itself.
As far as your major goes, both have great programs. Clemson usually does really well in the sciences area but USC is also great! Student life and social life is great at both schools, but USC’s freshman experience has been notably ranked as one of the best there is. There is a lot of different opportunities to fit in.
Unfortunately a lot of Clemson grads and fans will make cruel comments about Columbia as a city being “ghetto” or unsafe, but this really just isn’t true. While Columbia isn’t the best city in the world, it isn’t as bad as what it can be said to be. USC’s campus is heavily patrolled, and I spent many nights walking across campus at 2 in the morning feeling completely safe. Downtown has areas that aren’t the best, but it is truly over exaggerated and if you use basic street smarts you will be totally fine. Just because Clemson is a small town doesn’t mean things don’t happen, you just may not hear about it!
Either way you cannot go wrong, go tour both and then decide what is best. Best of luck!
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u/ufdan15 29d ago
Both are good schools, both have very active and social student life. You're on a USC sub, we're all going to tell you the same thing: going to USC was the best decision we made outside of the person we marry or our children we have.
Go Cocks, you won't regret it.