Developed by staff in the offices of the bursar, registrar and financial aid, this FAQ will help USC Columbia staff answer questions from students and parents as we prepare for the fall 2014 semester.

1. prepared 07/30/14 for Columbia campus
Using Self-Service Carolina
How do I change my VIP ID password?
Visit my.sc.edu/vipid and follow the instructions to reset your VIP ID password. If you have lost
or forgotten your VIP ID, call the UTS Help Desk at 803-777-1800.
How do I find a complete list of my usernames and ID numbers?
Go to my.sc.edu and click “View my IDs and manage my passwords” under the “Personal”
heading. Login using your VIP ID and password.
For more help using Self-Service Carolina, check out the tutorials at sc.edu/sschelp.
Registering for classes
I am having trouble enrolling in a course.
There are a number of reasons you may not be able to register for a class. Please check for the
following reasons in Self- Service Carolina.
• Registration Holds: You may have a registration hold. Students can check for holds in
Self- Service Carolina>Student>Student Records>View Holds.
Holds may include the following:
Citizenship – If you have not yet been verified as a US citizen, you may verify
citizenship by completing and submitting the following form to the Office of the
University Registrar: http://registrar.sc.edu/pdf/citizenshipverificationform.pdf
Immunization - You may have an immunization hold. The University of South
Carolina follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the
American College Health Association's (ACHA) recommendations regarding
immunizations for college students. Immunization requirements must be met
and the form on file at Student Health Services before a student can register for

2. prepared 07/30/14 for Columbia campus
classes, move in to her/his residence hall or attend classes. Submit your
immunization form immediately: www.sa.sc.edu/shs/forms/immunization/.
AlcoholEdu - You may have an Alcohol.edu hold. Alcohol.edu is an online alcohol
education assessment that measures student’s perceptions about alcohol use
and abuse prior to arriving on campus and after several weeks on campus. For
instructions on completing AlcoholEdu, visit
http://www.sa.sc.edu/sape/instructions-for-completing-alcoholedu-and-haven/
Haven - You may have a Haven hold. Haven is an online sexual assault education
and training module that presents realistic and interactive skill-building
scenarios. In accordance with federal mandates, this program will serve as one
way students at South Carolina receive education and training on sexual assault
prevention. For instructions on completing Haven, visit
http://www.sa.sc.edu/sape/instructions-for-completing-alcoholedu-and-haven/
• Advisement Holds - You may have an advisement hold. When attempting to register in
Self-Service Carolina (Student>Registration>Add or Drop Classes), you will be alerted if
you still have an advisement hold that is preventing you from registering. To have an
advisement hold released you will need to contact your academic adviser or the office
of undergraduate students in your college.
• Course Restrictions may include the following and can be found in the class schedule.
Oftentimes students are made aware of such course restrictions when they attempt to
register for a course. Below are explanations for such restrictions.
Campus – the course may not be offered on your campus.
Level – The course may be offered at a different level (Graduate, Undergraduate,
Law, Medical, Pharmacy).
Field of Study - The course may only be open to certain majors, minors, and
concentrations.
Honors Courses or Special Approval Required – The course may only be open to
students in the SC Honors College or may require the student to obtain approval
from the department offering the course.

3. prepared 07/30/14 for Columbia campus
Pre-requisites – You may not have the required pre-requisite.
Co-requisites – You may not have the correct co-requisite. If a course requires a
co-requisite, both CRN’s must be entered on the Add Classes Worksheet when
the Submit button is pressed.
Course Capacity – The course may be full.
• Registration Deadlines - You may have missed the deadline for registering for a
course. To determine the last day to add a course, you will need to determine the “part
of term” dates for the course. First, identify the part of term in which the course is being
offered on the master schedule of classes in SSC
(https://ssb.onecarolina.sc.edu/BANP/bwckschd.p_disp_dyn_sched). Second, review
the deadlines for that part of term at:
http://registrar.sc.edu/html/bannerApps/POTDates.aspxg.
I have been dropped from classes for non-payment and need to get back in my courses, but it
is too late for me to add the courses in Self Service Carolina.
To add a class, change sections, or make credit/audit changes after the last day to add the
course, students will need to complete the Current Term Registration Exception Form found at:
http://registrar.sc.edu/pdf/UpdatedAS-199.pdf. Complete the form, have it signed by your
academic dean (or her/his designated representative), instructor for each course, and the
Bursar’s Office. Once the signatures are obtained, submit the form to the Office of the
University Registrar. Students may not be re-registered for courses that are at capacity.
Paying for school
Where should I mail my payment?
Bursar’s Office, University of South Carolina, 516 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29208. Payments
must be postmarked by Aug. 1.
Note: Classes will be canceled for non-payment beginning at 5:01 p.m. Aug. 13. To avoid
cancelation, pay online at my.sc.edu using MasterCard, Discover, American Express or eCheck
(Visa is not accepted because of high transaction fees). Credit Card payments require a 2.5%
convenience fee per transaction.
I need financial aid/additional financial aid. Where do I start?

4. prepared 07/30/14 for Columbia campus
If you have not done so you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA) in order to be considered for at least a Direct Subsidized Loans and/or Direct
Unsubsidized Loans. For additional assistance, you may wish to consider a Direct PLUS Loan or
Private Educational Loan. Learn more at
www.sc.edu/financialaid/types_of_aid/loans/default.html.
How can I set up a payment plan?
Login to Self-Service Carolina>Account Information> Payment Gateway. The Payment Plan
Option is displayed at the top of the screen. If no payment plan option is available contact the
Bursar’s Office at 803-777-4233. Setting up a payment plan requires $75 Payment Plan Fee plus
25% down payment, with three remaining payments.
How will my scholarship or tuition reduction appear on my bill?
A scholarship or tuition reduction will be applied as a payment to the bill.
When will financial aid be paid to my bill?
Financial aid will disburse to the student accounts beginning Aug. 12. Prior to that date you can
view your “authorized aid”--your aid that will be available--and determine if you have a balance
due and for which you must make payment arrangements by 5 p.m. Aug. 13.
What is "authorized" aid?
Authorized aid is aid that will be available to you and will appear on your bill near the start of
the term. To determine if you will owe any payment, simply subtract your authorized aid from
the total of your university charges. Be sure to arrange for payment of any balance by 5 p.m.
Aug. 13.
My financial aid (authorized aid) exceeds my charges. When will I get my refund?
Refunds will be sent by the Bursar's Office beginning on Aug. 15.
What should I do if I don’t see my SC LIFE or SC HOPE Scholarship on my account?
There are several possible considerations for incoming students:
• Check with the Residency Office to make sure you have completed everything needed
to verify your SC residency.
• If you are an incoming freshman, check with your high school to make sure your final
high school transcript was sent to USC Undergraduate Admissions.
• If you are an incoming transfer student, check all previous colleges attended to make
sure that your final transcripts have been sent to USC Undergraduate Admissions.

5. prepared 07/30/14 for Columbia campus
For all, if your State Scholarship does not appear on your bill by the fee payment due
date, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships.
My account says that I have unsatisfied requirements related to financial aid. How can I fix
this?
Log in to Self-Service Carolina>Financial Aid>Eligibility>USC Columbia campus> USC Columbia
2014-15 aid year. View the instructions for each unsatisfied requirement.
When will refunds (overage checks) be disbursed?
Refunds will be disbursed beginning Aug. 15.
Applying for S.C. residency
Why do I need to apply for S.C. residency?
University tuition and fees vary based on whether or not you are a resident of South Carolina.
University fees are listed at http://www.sc.edu/bursar/fees.shtml. All new students who do not
apply for residency will be billed at non-resident rates.
How do I prove I am a resident of South Carolina?
Residents generally have resided in the state of South Carolina for more than 1 year, after
having obtained SC driver’s license or SC identification card, registered their vehicle in SC, and
filed state income taxes for the previous tax year. Other information that may be considered is
full-time employment in SC, retirement in SC, etc.
What documents to I need to provide when I apply for residency or in-state tuition and fees?
First, complete the S.C. Residency Certification at https://my.sc.edu. Your preliminary residency
status will be determined based on the information provided. If additional documents are
required, you will be notified via email and through Self-Service Carolina. Documents may be
requested to verify employment, retirement, permanent address, military deployment, etc.
If I have lived in SC for one year or more, does that make me eligible for in-state tuition?
No, nothing is automatic about residency. Students have to meet the requirements, submit
their certification forms and be approved before any changes are made.
What is the difference in applying for residency as dependent or independent?
If a parent, guardian, or spouse provided more than half of the student’s support for the past
twelve months, the student is considered dependent; and it is the parent, guardian, or spouse

6. prepared 07/30/14 for Columbia campus
that must meet the residency requirements. If the student provided the majority of support,
then the student may be eligible to apply as independent. An independent student must have
his/her own S.C. domicile. Residence hall housing cannot be used as one’s domicile, as it is
temporary in nature.