Clemson University

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School Says - General Information
Ranked No. 22 among the nation's top public institutions, Clemson University is a science- and engineering-oriented research university that maintains a strong commitment to teaching and student success. Clemson is an inclusive, student-centered community characterized by high academic standards, a culture of collaboration, a competitive drive to excel and a determination to make a difference.

Clemson's enrollment is about 19,000, and the campus population is carefully managed to maintain small classes and a student-to-faculty ratio more common to private colleges. Students can select from approximately 80 undergraduate and 110 graduate degree programs offered by five colleges: Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences; Architecture, Arts and Humanities; Business and Behavioral Science; Engineering and Science; and Health, Education and Human Development.

Research is important at Clemson, and not just with the faculty and graduate students. By their senior year, nearly 80 percent of undergraduate students are involved in a Creative Inquiry or other research project. Another important aspect of Clemson is its dedication to improving the world through public service. Clemson students typically contribute more than 126,000 service hours in a given year, earning the University national recognition as a "Campus with a Conscience."

Clemson is well-known for its prominent NCAA Division I athletic programs and for the spirit of its fans. But athletics hasn't cornered the market on competitive zeal. Students take just as much satisfaction in winning academic and organization challenges with other universities.

Another defining aspect of the school is that Clemson students are very happy here. Clemson has scored No. 1 and No. 2 in the past two years, according to the Princeton Review, as the university with the happiest students. And 91 percent of seniors and freshmen say they would choose Clemson again if given the opportunity to start their college educations over.

With its college-town, lakefront setting against a backdrop of mountains and forests, Clemson is characterized by a strong sense of community, a commitment to service and a love of winning - in academics, in athletics and in life.

Admissions:
864-656-2287
www.clemson.edu/prospective-students

Campus Tours:
864-656-4789
www.clemson.edu/visitors/scheduletour

School Says - Student Body
At Clemson, school spirit is a color - Solid Orange - and it's hard to miss on fall Saturdays in Death Valley when more than 80,000 fans cheer on the Clemson Tigers. Take a walk through campus on any night, and you'll see the campus alive with students playing intramural sports, going to concerts, attending Greek mixers or gathering to meet with any of Clemson's 300+ student organizations.

School Says - Academics
The step from high school to college can be enormous. The standards are different, the work is more demanding, and the personal freedoms are much greater. For students who are making the transition from high school to college, Clemson has developed student success programs to help meet the academic challenges.

The Academic Success Center offers tutoring and supplemental instruction to all students without additional charges. Supplemental instruction allows students enrolled in specific courses to work with student leaders who have already successfully completed the courses and who have been trained to lead study sessions. Student leaders work with the professor of the course, attend class and do homework with their assigned students. They also host study sessions three times a week where they review course content and teach learning and study strategies.

The First Year Experience is a comprehensive program for all first-year students who live on campus. The program assists freshmen in making the transition from the high school and home environment to the Clemson University community.

Living-learning communities offer the chance for students to live and work with others who have similar interests and goals. There are living options for students interested in business, engineering and science, civics and service, honors courses, professional golf management and much more. Recognized as a national model, the communities are designed to help students be more successful by offering on-site advising and academic support, common course assignments, guest speakers, service opportunities and a variety of social activities.

Calhoun Honors College offers honors courses and the opportunity to be actively involved in research. Honors students enjoy priority registration, free tickets for cultural events on campus and honors research grants. Many also live in honors housing.

Communication Across the Curriculum is a program designed to help all students - whether they're studying engineering, biology, history or architecture - become strong communicators. Clemson's mission is not to train students on just the technical aspects of their chosen profession, but rather to prepare them to become leaders in their field. To do that, it's vital that students become good communicators and proficient in the latest communication technology so they can sell their ideas and inspire those they will lead.

Creative Inquiry includes carefully planned research projects that teach by allowing students to apply classroom learning to real-life situations. Led by a special task force of representatives from all academic colleges, these projects include hands-on research opportunities, require several semesters of dedication and give students and teachers a whole new world of learning environments. Some students end up traveling around the state, the country and even abroad to gather and share information. Projects are integrated in each college with the goal of building students' capabilities to find, analyze and evaluate information while applying it in a team-based atmosphere.

Freshman Reading is designed to enrich the intellectual environment of Clemson students, to encourage them to look at things from different perspectives and to be open to new ideas. The summer before their freshman year, students receive a copy of the year's selected book. They read the book and write a paper before arriving on campus in the fall. During Orientation, students come to Littlejohn Coliseum to hear the author speak and break into small groups to discuss what they've read and heard.

School Says - Admissions
Students can apply by visiting www.clemson.edu/prospectivestudents to quickly submit their applications online. Application fees may be processed online using a credit card or an electronic check. Freshman applicants should arrange to have their high school transcripts sent directly from their high schools and SAT or ACT scores sent directly from the testing service.

Students applying for admission must take the SAT or ACT.*

*Writing portion is mandatory.

School Says - Campus Life
Location
Clemson, S.C.
Environment
Clemson is spread out on a 1,400-acre campus along the shores of Hartwell Lake; it's located in the middle of the I-85 corridor between Atlanta, Ga., and Charlotte, N.C. The Blue Ridge Mountains are well within sight, and the climate is as warm as the welcome you'll receive when you make a visit to campus.

School Says - Cost Aid
2010-2011 Academic Year

S.C Resident Full Time
Tuition and Fees $12,346
Room and Board (approximate) $ 7,034
Books and Supplies (approximate) $ 940
Total $20,320

Nonresident Full Time
Tuition and Fees
$27,858
Room and Board (approximate) $7,034
Books and Supplies (approximate) $ 940
Total $35,832

Other Expenses
Estimated Personal Expenses $2,006
One-time computer cost* $1,300
*All students are required to own a laptop computer. For details, go to http://www.clemson.edu/ccit/hardware/purchasing/laptops.htmlAcademic scholarships are available at Clemson, and they're awarded based on academic merit. Financial aid may also be available on the basis of need to supplement the amount students and their families can contribute to college expenses. Clemson offers financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, loans and part-time employment.

Students Say - Academics
Widely known to have one of the most beautiful campuses in the South, Clemson University also boasts a "family atmosphere" that students "fall in love with." Indeed, while most students here heap praise on the "challenging" and "outstanding" academics, "what really sets it apart is the entire campus's commitment to getting involved, bettering the community, and ostentatiously sporting some 'solid orange' Tiger pride." As one undergrad explains, "Clemson is about pride: pride in its athletics, academics, current students, and alumni." (That said, such pride can lead some to comment that the "school spirit [here] is insane.") By and large though, nearly everyone agrees that "Clemson is the whole package" thanks to its "great professors, athletics, cultural events, and student life," all of which is "packed into a small town that supports the school and students 100 percent." The "diverse" curriculum is backed up by "amazing" professors who, besides being "experts in their fields," are "interesting and willing to work with students to make sure the material is understood." This supportive environment extends to the administration as well. "The administrators actually care about the students," says one student, adding that "We're their first and foremost priority." "Like all bureaucracies," dealing with the administration "can be challenging at times," but nearly everyone here appreciates its "transparent" and "accessible" nature. "The administration has always been open and willing to meet with students," notes one undergrad.

Students Say - Campus Life
According to those in know, "A typical day for a Clemson student is never the same." However, you can count on a few certainties: "fun, friends, service, and academics." "The campus is beautiful, the opportunities are amazing, and the people are so friendly," says one undergrad. "There is never a shortage of things to do here." This rings particularly true for sporting types. Many note that nearly all students are "avid sports fans." Clemson is an "intensely athletic- focused school," and students "cheer on the Tigers at every opportunity." But sports aren't just for spectators here as "Clemson students are physically active," and you'll always find them "at the gym or walking around campus." Greek life is also very popular on-campus, and "most people that are of age drink on week- ends" at parties or in bars downtown. The town of Clemson gets mixed reviews with some students finding that "there isn't much to do" while others say it's filled "with neat shops and restaurants." Regardless of your take, there's usually plenty going on, including "rodeos, concerts, plays, and other shows at the Brooks Center." Ultimately, this tight-knit campus "is a place where every- one comes together for a common cause, whether it happens to be academics, community service, sports, or anything else-everyone here contributes."

Students Say - Student Body
The typical student at Clemson is "very Southern," "loves football, goes to class the majority of the time, and is concerned with passing while also taking time out to have fun." "Girls wear pearls and Uggs," while gents "wear collared shirts, slacks, and sunglasses around their necks." "We are a walking advertisement," says one undergrad. "The campus is right out of a postcard, and there is designer everything everywhere you turn-but the students here are also very motivated and very smart." Most agree that "the student body is not very diverse" and that "students are not always understanding of each other because there is so little diversity." That said, there are "numerous atypical students" who "fit in by either hanging out with people like themselves or by creating their own path." Some would like to see the school take steps toward making "the fraternities and sororities less influential on campus." Overall, despite a "conservative" majority of students, most find everyone to be "very friendly" and full of "school spirit."

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