<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>I'm stuck between applying to Clemson's Calhoun Honors College (and potentially the National Scholars Program), and applying early to Duke University. Can an Honors College or NSP student please let me know what you think of the program benefits, and how you will weigh against Ivy graduates in competitive admissions to law, med or graduate school?</p>
<p>Also...how hard is it to win the NSP? What is the biggest factor that is considered...ex. rank, SAT/ACT, GPA or essays?</p>
<p>If it still operates like it has in the past, you will automatically be considered for National Scholars Program if you apply before December 1. There is no separate application. There is no early decision or early acceptance program at Clemson. So, just apply to Clemson regular decision before December 1st and then you can apply Early Decision to Duke or an Ivy.</p>
<p>Clemson is pretty good when it comes to placing people in law, med or grad school - I don’t know the exact statistics but I have heard overall good stories from . who have chosen to go that route (then again that could be the case at many schools of Clemson’s level - who knows). I don’t think I’m exactly qualified to answer this question haha</p>
<p>This is what it says on the National Scholars Program webpage: “between 2000 and 2012, the nearly 500 finalists invited to compete for an invitation to the NSP have presented an average SAT of 1500 (verbal/critical reading and math) or an average ACT of 34, and a class rank in the top 1% (51% were ranked #1 in their high school class);”</p>
<p>Duke is the better university and there is no early decision program at Clemson. Apply ED to Duke and also apply to the Calhoun Honors College before December 1st and
you can see what happens. If you get into Duke, congrats! If not, we’d love to have you at Clemson :)</p>
<p>As a Clemson NSP you will be the smartest kid in all your classes and should be able to graduate with a 4.0 with half your brain tied behind your back. At an Ivy or Duke all the kids in all your classes will be as smart as you are. You will have to work harder to make good grades and you will be pushed.<br>
Do grad. schools want a 4.0 student from a state school or a 3.5 student from an Ivy???
Who knows?</p>
<p>Depends what your major is - say for engineering (my major), you have to be accredited by ABET - is the material at Duke and Clemson different? No, they are required to teach the same stuff to be accredited. Duke may make it harder but a high GPA at either college shows mastery of the material</p>