Gamecock Gateway students enjoy great benefits while working to meet USC's admissions requirements. Students will live on campus at USC-Columbia while completing their first year of courses at Midlands Technical College (Airport and/or Beltline Campuses). Gamecock Gateway students:
- will have student ID cards for both USC and Midlands Technical College
- will have access to campus facilities
- can participate in many programs and activities at both colleges
- will live in a USC residence hall
- can play USC intramural sports and use USC's state-of-the-art fitness center
- can enjoy library privileges at USC
- can obtain free tickets to many USC athletic events, attend concerts and cultural events, and much more!
To successfully complete the program, students must earn 30 transferrable credit hours at Midlands Technical College and earn at least a 2.25 GPA within the designated time frame. Some majors may have additional GPA requirements. Students are required to live on campus at USC so that they benefit fully from the program.
Gamecock Gateway students will primarily take their courses at the Midlands Technical College Airport and/or Beltline Campuses. Students’ majors will largely determine their campus assignment. Each student will have an academic advisor at Midlands Technical College who will work closely with University of South Carolina academic personnel to ensure the transferability of coursework.
Gamecock Gateway students will live together in the Bates House residential communities on the University of South Carolina-Columbia campus. Bates House is a traditional residence hall that includes wireless internet access, micro fridge, 24-hour computer lab, newly renovated study lounge, the Student Success Center satellite office, and the Bates Diner, an all-you-can-eat dining facility. Laundry and kitchen facilities are located in each residence hall for your convenience. The Gamecock Gateway Program is both an academic and residential program, so participation in the residential component is necessary and required.
USC will provide shuttle service between the Midlands Technical College Airport/Beltline Campuses and the USC campus at regularly scheduled intervals. Gamecock Gateway students are allowed to purchase USC parking passes to park their vehicles on the USC campus. Bates House has its own parking lot that can accommodate most residents’ vehicles. Free vehicle registration is required at Midlands Technical College, but no parking pass is required. (Note: Engineering students may have to take coursework at the MTC Northeast campus, in which case individual transportation must be arranged.)
Students will benefit from a variety of support programs and student services offered by each institution, including access to both Midlands Technical College’s Academic Success Center and the University of South Carolina’s Student Success Center. Students also will have access to many University of South Carolina campus activities, including most clubs and organizations, intramural sports and sport clubs, and non-ticketed athletic events. Upon successful completion of the Gamecock Gateway program, which includes meeting transfer admission requirements for their intended majors, students will be eligible to fully matriculate to the University of South Carolina.
Gamecock Gateway students cannot join social fraternities or sororities; hold office in a club or organization; participate in intercollegiate athletics; or take part in activities that require USC course enrollment, including ROTC. Gamecock Gateway students are eligible to participate in the marching band and are exempt from the marching band course. Students interested in the marching band should reach out to the marching band office directly.
Students will be eligible to attend the University of South Carolina after meeting three key requirements: (1) earning at least 30 transferrable credits at Midlands Technical College while in Gamecock Gateway; (2) achieving a minimum 2.25 transferable GPA or higher (some majors require a higher GPA and/or course requirements for admission consideration); and (3) remaining in good conduct and financial standing at both institutions. Some majors also require completion of specific courses.
*Please note that grades of "F" or "WF" during the Gateway year do not count towards earned hours but do count in the transfer admissions GPA.
Click here for comprehensive information about transfer requirements for all majors.
Gamecock Gateway is a one-year academic program designed to help students transfer into the University of South Carolina. It is expected that students will earn 30 transferable credit hours at Midlands Technical College and be eligible for transfer admission consideration by the end of the spring semester. Students who do not meet USC transfer admission requirements after participating in Gamecock Gateway may continue to be enrolled at Midlands Technical College if otherwise eligible.
Gamecock Gateway students must commit to participate in the program for the full academic year, including both fall and spring semesters. Students are expected to be enrolled full time and complete 30 hours of transferable credit at Midlands Technical College in order to enroll at USC the following fall semester.
Students enrolled in Gamecock Gateway will have their financial aid administered by Student Financial Services at Midlands Technical College. Gamecock Gateway students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 15. Please note the code for Midlands Technical College: 003993. Visit the Midlands Technical College website for additional information about student financial assistance.
Yes, students who qualify for any state aid program, including the SC LIFE Scholarship and Lottery Tuition Assistance or SC need-based grants, are eligible for the award as a Gamecock Gateway student. Please consult the Commission on Higher Education's website for specific rules outlining state financial aid program requirements. Please note: South Carolina state scholarships are open only to South Carolina residents.
Gamecock Gateway students will pay the Athletic Event Fee as part of their program fee beginning Fall 2017. Students will be eligible to request tickets to football, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball games through the online student ticketing website. For other Gamecock athletic events, admission is granted by showing your Carolina Card. This fee confirms a student’s eligibility and provides access to the online ticketing system. It does not guarantee a student a ticket.
Gamecock Gateway students are required to purchase a Carolina Gold meal plan at USC. This cost is included in the total semester fees students pay through their Midlands Technical College MyMTC account. A variety of meal plan options at Carolina provide both cost-savings and convenience. The cost for the required meal plan minimum is approximately $1,597 per semester.