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Top Scholar Benefits
A Top Scholar’s experience at USC is full of holistic advising, a full slate of scholar events, leadership opportunities, peer support and so much more.
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Top Scholar Awards
At USC, there are different types of Top Scholars - Stamps, Carolina, McNair, 1801 and Horseshoe – all funded by our generous donors committed to helping our students change the world.
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Top Scholar Community
From our student-led scholar organization Scholars United, to student-run Last Lecture series groups and more, the Top Scholar community is one where lifelong friendships are made, students challenge each other to be their best and every student finds a sense of belonging.
Who are Top Scholars?
Top Scholars are a small cohort within our top-ranked South Carolina Honors College and the university’s most distinguished merit award recipients based on their outstanding academic talent, exemplary character and remarkable leadership skills. Currently, Top Scholars represent 36 cities in South Carolina and 16 states, with more than 1,500 Top Scholar alumni engaging with our scholars.
Our Scholars have diverse intellectual pursuits, and the University of South Carolina is prepared to support those many interests. Mentored by award-winning faculty, Scholars are at the forefront of undergraduate research in their respective academic fields. It is not uncommon to find a Top Scholar working in the USC Neurolinguistics Laboratory, exploring sustainable energy initiatives with ExxonMobil, or interning with the Washington Post.
Scholars also have access to specialized programming through the National Fellowships and Scholar Programs office. As a result, Top Scholars lead the way at South Carolina as national fellowship recipients. They have and continue to earn such prestigious awards as Marshall, Udall, Truman, Fulbright, NOAA Hollings and Goldwater Scholars.
Moved by the needs of communities abroad, our Scholars have immersed themselves in many cultural and physical landscapes. Their curiosity has led them to visit Chile, Turkey, Spain and Italy. They’ve experienced the sunrise in Uganda, England and Australia. And they’ve practiced language skills in Argentina, China, France, Japan and Germany. Scholars have access to study abroad programs through the university and the South Carolina Honors College. Travel grants and scholarships are also available to make trips more affordable.
Many of our scholars serve as University Ambassadors, club presidents, humanitarians, musicians, entrepreneurs and intramural sports champions. Others choose to dedicate time outside the classroom volunteering at soup kitchens and sustainability projects, encouraging interest in medical professions through organizations like MedElem and helping children understand the importance of literacy through Cocky’s Reading Express. Top Scholars also have their own organization called Scholars United, which organizes social events, service projects and professional activities throughout the year.
Our scholars are an important part of the South Carolina Honors College, and as Honors students, have access to the many academic and extracurricular enrichment opportunities provided by the nation's top-ranked public honors college.
This includes personalized advisement, where Scholars meet individually with advisors who can help them navigate their varied interests, discover their true passions, select meaningful extracurricular opportunities to pursue and more.
As an integral part of the Carolina family, our Scholars are also athletes, members of the student government, campus radio personalities and columnists for The Daily Gamecock. They attend sporting and cultural events together and can often be found studying on the Horseshoe, organizing a concert for Carolina Productions, participating in Dance Marathon or simply enjoying the Soda City market on Saturday afternoon with other Gamecocks.