COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – The University of South Carolina is bracing for a record-breaking number of first-year students ahead of move-in day.

Courtney Buzan, USC’s Associate Director for Campus Programs, indicated there would be about 8,000 first-year students. She mentioned that her team is preparing for the move.

“It takes a village to bring USC back to life every year,” Buzan stated. “We will be … celebrating, just having even more Gamecocks on campus to truly embark on the student experience here.”

Buzan added they made improvements while students were away.

“First and foremost, our different residence halls. Several of them are undergoing significant improvements and construction,” Buzan noted. “Once the students departed in May … we needed to just elevate them to newer standards and to a better quality of living for our students.”

To handle the rush, she said one thing students can do is use reusable bags instead of cardboard boxes to limit trash.

“I mean, you think that those things sound minor, but when you’re doing them to the volume of nearly 8,000 incoming students, plus upperclassmen living on campus, it’s really just a lot of logistics,” Buzan expressed.

Ainsley McConnell moved in early for sorority recruitment and she said the biggest advice she has for people moving in is to trust the staff.

“They know the system, and if you just follow their guideline, everything is going to go as smoothly as possible,” McConnell remarked.

Buzan added after move in there is a lot to look forward to.

“Then we’ll be preparing for the start of classes on Tuesday, August 19, and the kickoff of our Carolina Welcome Celebration, which offers constant activities for students to get them reenergized at the beginning of the school year.”

Buzan said the Russell House, which is the school’s student union, will be open for students to get what they need for the first day of class.