Honors Experience Day

Event Info

• Honors Experience Day Schedule

  Honors Experience Day is designed so that you can customize your schedule based on your interests, passions, and personal goals.  
  
  Throughout the day, you'll have the opportunity to meet with faculty of your choosing, connect with current and prospective Honors students, and learn about the opportunities that matter most to you!

  You will receive a full schedule at check-in with all the available sessions to choose from and various campus locations. 

  General Schedule

   
  12:30-1:00 p.m. - Check-in (Simons Center Lobby)

   

  1:00-1:50 p.m. - Welcome Session - Students Only (Recital Hall, Simons Center)

  • Welcome Message from Dr. Beth Meyer-Bernstein, Dean of the Honors College
  • Student Panel Q&A: Hear from current Honors students about their CofC experiences 

  *Due to the unprecedented number of students attending the event, this welcome session will only be open to admitted honors students.

   

  1:00-1:50 p.m. - Chat with a Current Honors Student - Parents/Guests Only (Cistern Yard)

  • After you help your students check-in at the Simons Center Lobby, your students will go to the Recital Hall for the welcome.
  • All Parents and guests are welcome to make their way to the Cistern Yard to meet in small groups with one of our current Honors Student Ambassadors.
  • They will answer your questions from a student perspective and walk you around campus if you would like, before returning by 2pm to the Recital hall for the Parent Session.

   

  2:00-2:50 p.m. - Academic Interest Meetings (Locations throughout campus; you choose your meeting!)

  Learn more about the CofC experience from academic deans, department chairs, and faculty. You get to choose the meeting based on your interests and goals.

  • The Honors College First Year Experience
  • Undergraduate Research, Study Abroad, and Nationally Competitive Awards
  • School of the Arts
  • School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics
  • School of Health Sciences
  • School of Natural and Environmental Sciences 

   

  2:00-2:50 p.m. - Parent/Guest Information Session (Recital Hall, Simons Center)

  While students are at their first academic interest meeting, there will be a session for all parents/guests to learn more about campus resources, the Honors College, and get all questions answered.

   

  3:00-3:50 p.m. - Academic Interest Meetings (Locations throughout campus; you choose your meeting!)

  Learn more about the CofC experience from academic deans, department chairs, and faculty. You get to choose the meeting based on your interests and goals.

  • The Honors College First Year Experience
  • Undergraduate Research, Study Abroad, and Nationally Competitive Awards
  • Health Professions Advising Program
  • Entrepreneurship Living-Learning Community (ELLC)
  • School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs 

   

  4:00-4:50 p.m. - Academic Interest Meetings (Locations throughout campus; you choose your meeting!)

  Learn more about the CofC experience from academic deans, department chairs, and faculty. You get to choose the meeting based on your interests and goals.

  • Honors College First Year Experience
  • Health Professions Adivsing Program
  • School of Business
  • School of Education
  • School of Humanities and Social Sciences
  • School of Natural and Environmental Sciences

   

  4:30 - 6:00 p.m. - Reception (Science and Math Building Atrium/Courtyard, weather dependent)
  
  A casual reception to close out Honors Experience Day for all prospective students and all their family members. Meet with other prospective students, chat with deans, college administrators, faculty, staff, and other campus community members, and enjoy a sampling of light refreshments. 

• Event Check-In

  Your Honors Experience Day begins with a check-in between 12:30-1:00 p.m in the Simons Center Lobby. This is the main lobby of the School of the Arts building.

  Once you check in, you'll be provided with a detailed schedule of available events that will guide you through the rest of the day. Your schedule allows you to choose the events you'd like to attend and to customize your experience based on your academic interests and personal goals. No matter what events you choose, you'll get to meet plenty of CofC faculty, staff, and current students, who'll share their various experiences with you.

• Where to Park

  Public parking is available at several city garages located near campus. Check out the College's guide to parking around campus for more details.

• Opening Welcome Session

  We're excited to welcome so many of you to Honors Experience Day. Our opening welcome session will take place from 1:00 - 1:50 p.m. At the opening session you'll meet Honors College leadership, faculty, and staff, and hear directly from a panel of current Honors College students about their experiences.

  If you have more than one family member visiting campus with you, don't worry. There's plenty for them to do around campus and around Charleston (see the parent/guardian schedule below for more details).

• Parent/Guardian Schedule

  The Honors College community isn't just for students. Parents, guardians, and family members are an intergral part of a student's success at the College of Charleston, and we hope all of you will join us for Honors Experience Day. Here's what family members can expect:

  • 1:00-1:50pm - Because of space limitations and the unprecedented number of students attending the event, this welcome session will only be open to your admitted honors students. During this first hour, after you help your students check-in at the Simons Center Lobby, your students will go to the Recital Hall for the welcome. All Parents and guests are welcome to make their way to the Cistern Yard to meet in small groups with one of our current Honors Student Ambassadors. They will answer your questions from a student perspective and walk you around campus if you would like, before returning by 2pm to the Recital hall for the Parent Session.

   

  • 2:00 - 2:50pm - While the visiting students are at their first academic meeting, we will have a parent information session open to all guests.

   

  • 4:30 - 6:00pm - All parents, guardians, and family members are welcome to join us for the reception. Visiting students will join the reception after their final meeting finishes at 4:50pm.

   

  • The academic meetings in between are a chance for the visiting students to explore what CofC has to offer, and we do ask that you allow them space to experience our campus community on their own. (Don't worry; they're in safe hands!)

  While your student is meeting with CofC faculty and students, there'll be plenty for you to check out on your own! Consider visiting some of our campus highlights like the Mace Brown Museum of Natural History or the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art. The Charleston Visitors Bureau also has plenty of recommendations for the area surrounding campus. 

• What to Wear

  Honors Experience Day involves events all over campus, so we recommend that you wear shoes and clothing that are comfortable to walk in. Beyond that, you're welcome and encouraged to wear a wardrobe that allows you to be yourself! Be sure to check the weather as you will be walking from building to building and bring a raincoat just in case.

• Travel and Accommodations

  We're thrilled that many of you are able to join us from locations near and far. These campus maps will help you get the lay of the land. 
  
  If you're traveling by air, Charleston International Airport (CHS) is about ten miles north of downtown Charleston and the College. Options for ground transportation include taxis, ride shares, and the CARTA bus services.
  
  For visitors staying in Historic Downtown Charleston, a rental car is likely not necessary. The Francis Marion Hotel is minutes from campus. Additional accommodation options near campus often offer discounted rates if you say you're attending a College of Charleston event.