Clarkson University

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Students Say - Academics
A "demanding," "hands-on," and "absolutely innovative" academic environment is the big draw at tech-heavy Clarkson University in the "frozen wasteland" of northern New York. The hard sciences and business programs "are growing," although Clarkson is still best known as an "engineering school." For engineers, "Clarkson is all about preparing you for the ridiculous amount of work you will get in the real world by giving you an even more ridiculous amount of work." Outstanding programs for business majors include entrepreneurship and supply-chain management. Classroom discussion is generally rare here and the faculty gets wildly mixed reviews, which is pretty normal wherever techies congregate. Some professors are "super friendly" and "willing to meet outside of their office hours." "Others couldn't teach at elementary schools" and are "more interested in their own research than their classes." Opinions concerning the administration also vary. Some students call management "very visible" and "truly concerned about student life," others strongly disagree." "I feel like they market to get students in," vents a senior, "and then really drop the ball." We would be remiss if we did not also add that a few students consider Clarkson's library to be "worthless." Opportunities "for co-ops, internships, and jobs" are a great feature. "Companies love to hire future employees" here.

Students Say - Campus Life
There's nothing to do in "extremely rural" Potsdam. "Don't come here if you like the city," advises a senior. "There is a bittersweet relationship between the students and Clarkson," adds a freshman. The "dreary" campus is full of "atrocious" "concrete buildings," the food is "horrible," the "overcrowded" dorms "could use some updating," and winters are "cold and desolate." On the plus side, the students here are "fairly tight knit." "It's a small campus with small classes in a small town" explains a junior, "so people get a chance to develop meaningful relationships." Also, the Adirondack Mountains are "very close" and "a lot of the students" enjoy the outdoors. If you like ice hockey, it's "the most popular thing on campus." The team here is a Division I powerhouse, and home games "bring the whole school together" "We show so much school spirit it's like the other team's fans aren't there," vaunts a first-year student. Business majors (and others) reportedly have "copious amounts of free time." For the engineers, though, grading can be "merciless," and "downtime is a luxury." It's "very hard to achieve good grades but rewarding when you do." Weekend life at Clarkson ranges from a popular Greek life to students who "just stay in their dorms all day and night" playing videogames.

Students Say - Student Body
Overall, Clarkson students are "something of a nerdy crowd." "The typical student is a nerdy white guy," observes a senior. "It's mostly white males" "looking to get managerial and high-end engineering jobs" here. "There are many athletes" and plenty of business majors with "gelled hair." "The only people I have my nerdy classes with are other nerdy white guys." "Pretty much everyone looks the same from an outsider's view," agrees a sophomore. "Diversity has a different meaning at Clarkson," adds a junior. "What type of a techie are you?" Students describe themselves as "very smart," "hardworking," and "generally ambitious." A large contingent is "friendly" and outgoing. The "socially awkward" "quiet kid in high school" who "doesn't understand hygiene" is also here in spades. Clarkson's "horrible ratio of men to women" makes for a "miserable sausage fest," at least according to many males. Meanwhile, women have their own complaints. "It's hard to find a good looking guy," laments a senior. "There is a saying: 'although the odds are good, the goods are odd.'" "If you take out most of the antisocial engineering boys, the ratio becomes closer to 50:50." Other students claim that the ratio is "improving" and note that "SUNY Potsdam isn't far."

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