How do I apply?
Visit our Applying to CarolinaLIFE page for more information on how and when to apply. Applications for Fall 2027 are LIVE as of June 1, 2026 and it is to your advantage to apply early. We cannot guarantee that we will review your application after October 23rd.
What kind of candidates are you looking for?
We look for students who are motivated and enthusiastic about attending college for their own personal goal-attainment. Students must be able to navigate a college campus and city landscape with minimal support, use time management strategies to attend class and work reliably, actively engage with peers, communicate wants, desires, and needs, demonstrate basic safety skills, exhibit basic reading and math skills, and abide by the University’s Code of Conduct. Please see the Applying to CarolinaLIFE page for the full list of admissions criteria.
How many students do you accept per year?
The maximum number of students that CarolinaLIFE can accept in any yearly cohort is 10. The actual number of admitted students varies yearly based on qualified applicants and program capacity.
Do you accept new students in the spring?
No, we only begin cohorts in the fall.
Do you offer a summer program?
During the Summer of 2026, CarolinaLIFE is piloting a 2.5 day summer experience, SPURS UP (Strengthening Postsecondary Understanding, Readiness and Success: University Prep). The applications for that experience are closed at this time. Future offerings of the summer program will be determined in subsequent years.
Can I be enrolled in my high school transition program while attending CarolinaLIFE?
No, CarolinaLIFE accepts students who have exited or are scheduled to exit high school before enrollment. Dual enrollment is not offered at this time.
What type of credential will I exit CarolinaLIFE with?
All students who complete an individualized program of study will earn a CarolinaLIFE certificate of completion, while also pursuing any relevant micro or industry-specific credentials that would contribute to their job readiness and candidacy.
Can I transfer my credits to a degree-seeking program?
CarolinaLIFE students take university coursework in an audit capacity, therefore no credits will transfer.
Do CarolinaLIFE students live on campus?
Yes! CarolinaLIFE students are required to live on-campus for their first year. Housing cannot be guaranteed after the first year, and students are encouraged to look for off-campus apartments nearby to the University.
Do students live together or with program staff?
CarolinaLIFE freshmen have the option to live with a roommate who is also a CarolinaLIFE student, or with a traditional USC student. Students live in a suite-style dorm, which means sharing a room with a roommate in a traditional dorm style space. A bathroom is shared with another pair of students (4 students per bathroom).
When students move to off-campus housing, they can choose to live with other students from the program, or choose to be paired with a random roommate. CarolinaLIFE does not have any involvement in the process of finding or securing off-campus housing or roommates, outside of helping to facilitate conversations between students if requested.
CarolinaLIFE staff do not live with students in either setting. In the residence hall, students rely on the natural supports of the dorm Resident Assistants. CarolinaLIFE does not have any support available in off-campus apartment settings.
Will I get work experience while attending the program?
Yes, all CarolinaLIFE students have employment expectations, including job shadowing, internships, and/or paid employment while enrolled.
- Freshmen: Students participate in job shadowing in a career field of interest for 10 total hours during the spring semester. Students can choose to have additional work experience (e.g. a paid job), but it is not an expectation of the program.
- Sophomores: Expected to have 5-10 hours/week of internship or paid work experience
- Juniors: Expected to have 10-15 hours/week of internship or paid work experience
- Seniors: Expected to have 15-20 hours/week of internship or paid work experience
Do students have a curfew?
Typical of college, students do not have a curfew. When students have sessions with their personal development coach or social engagement coach, they can discuss and learn about how to make good and healthy decisions, but ultimately, students are responsible for their general well-being and safety.
Do students get tickets to sporting events?
Yes, CarolinaLIFE students are considered full-time students at the University and therefore are allowed to attend and participate in all student activities, including sporting events.