Howdy and Welcome from the great state of Texas and the best university in the state, SMU!!!!!
We actually just moved back to God's Country from South Orange County...Laguna Niguel, specifically.
I didn't catch where you are coming from in CA.
We loved the West Coast...particularly the weather, sushi, and the little private school my wife taught at and my sons attended right where Dana Point and Laguna Niguel meet. We miss it, but the in-laws live in San Clemente, so will go back to visit...just the way it should be...living in Texas...visiting CA...
In any case, welcome aboard the board. SMU bares a slight resemblance to SC...institutional similarities include that they are both Methodist-founded, I believe, though SC dispensed with the church oversight, etc. The student culture is pretty similar with the emphasis on Greek life. They are both private schools making their way in comparatively large urban cities. But their size is daunting compare to SMU, and consequently, their alumni base is much bigger. Plus, LA can't seem to keep pro football franchises, so UCLA and SC pretty much run the table for football entertainment in the town. We have to contend with the legendary Dallas (soon to be Arlington) Cowboys.
My oldest son, Carson, (yep...well, what can I say...we are SC fans too) loves SC...it is the only place to date (we shall change that this fall) he has ever seen college football, and it has set the bar for us.
Hope you have fun...and when you get back to CA, look up some of the grads in the state and say hello...hit up the alumni office for some help with this...the network does work out there. Takes a little nudge sometimes, but it is worth your time.
Best Regards...