Students and parents always return from visiting the C of C with rave reviews. This way “beyond a college town” offers top dining, unique as well as popular shopping, colonial and early American cultural and historic sights, and a relaxing waterfront walkway featuring a pineapple-shaped fountain! Mid-sized C of C is located in the heart of it all.
I knew there were 60 majors, small classes with an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, and an Honors College providing advanced coursework for high-achievers. What about the strength of C of C’s academic programs and career opportunities?
The Biology department is strong, and the marine biology program offers specialty courses, research opportunities, and fieldwork to study local ecosystems.
The innovative Arts Management program combines business with art/art history to prepare students for careers in arts administration and museum management/operations. An allied program is Historic Preservation and Community Planning, which utilizes the city as a living classroom for preserving cultural resources. Studying business, sustainability, history, and art allows students who love the arts an opportunity to build solid careers.
The AACSB-accredited School of Business has two programs of special note: Supply Chain and Information Management, which prepare students for logistics roles.
These are a few companies that recruit C of C Students:
Blackbaud: This top international cloud software company located in Charleston hires C of C students for tech, operations, and sales positions.
MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina): Biology, chemistry, and allied health field students go on to careers or further education at Charleston’s medical school, which is nationally ranked second in adult and sixth in pediatric specialties, and rated high-performing in 4 adult specialties and 13 procedures and conditions.
Despite its recent troubles, Boeing remains an aerospace giant that recruits engineering, supply chain, business, and other majors for internships/jobs at its Charleston-area facilities.
EY (Ernst & Young), PwC, Deloitte recruit C of C accounting and finance grads.
The South Carolina-based hybrid technology distributor ScanSource and New Zealand-based Sims Distributing are major employers of C of C supply chain and business majors.
After three days in Charleston, I absolutely know why the College of Charleston has become a top destination for so many students. I encourage everyone to visit–and stay long enough to sample some shrimp and grits, hush puppies, and coconut cake for dessert.
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The University of South Carolina
I was reminded of UGA as we walked around the wide green known as the Horseshoe, admiring the many National Historic Register buildings. The campus is a major draw, as is the city, which offers some cool shopping and restaurants in a few areas in different directions from the school (we liked coffee and shoe shopping in 5 Points). Flags touted USouth Carolina’s prominent International Relations, Honors College, and Best Value Public University status. The South Carolina State House abuts the campus as well. And the southern staple mentioned in the headline was amazing, as were the truffle fries!
Applications are rising. Out of state applicants face a new challenge: USC committed to accepting the top 10% of all South Carolina high school graduating classes starting in the fall 2024 admissions cycle. Popular programs like the Darla Moore School of Business and International Business and Studies are no longer a predictable admit for a B+/A- student. Students range from conservative to alternative, and everyone looked happy. Our senior tour guide is headed off to Emory for her PA degree.
Coastal Carolina University
Mid-sized Coastal Carolina University, about an hour northwest of Myrtle Beach, has 10,600 students, with 58% coming from out of state. The beautiful, classically southern campus with ponds and bridges features new dorms and guaranteed housing for two years. Recreation and Sports Management students, in the new College of Health and Human Performance, have internships with the many local professional teams, and the Health Sciences Program prepares students to enter all allied health fields and get hands-on experience at the Conway Medical Center. Big news: the college is introducing a direct admit test-optional nursing program (test scores required for applicants with a <3.5 GPA). Coastal’s ABET-certified engineering program is an easier admit than many. Lots of students enjoying sunshine on the green!
Next week…a full post on the College of Charleston. I'll be posting trip photos on the college pages under Notes.
