<p>I didn't see a thread yet...so..who's applying? Any app tips? I'm an International student and I think some kids do get in, so I'm just going to apply and hope for the best.</p>
<p>I’m applying. T_T It seems really hard to get into.</p>
<p>Yay! Hopefully some alumni people can give us tips on the app and stuff; the old threads seem very collaborative.</p>
<p>I plan on applying.</p>
<p>I was just reading through the thread for Clark 2012 and…it seems REALLY hard to get into. They accepted like 36 out of 300 people last year. T_T I guess I just have to try really hard not to get my hopes up…at all.</p>
<p>Hi, I’m a 2012 Clark Scholar. </p>
<p>Actually, only 12 of us out of more than 300 applicants were accepted. There were, however, 36 finalists.</p>
<p>Clark Scholars is definitely worth applying to if you are interested in doing some sort of research project (not necessarily in the realm of hard science, although most projects are). As long as you have good credentials and strong essays/teacher recs you have a pretty good chance of being accepted to the program.</p>
<p>Hey potential Clarkies,</p>
<p>Like squirrelbridge and Casimir, I was a 2012 Clark Scholar and had the time of my life. I highly recommend the program to anyone interested in any discipline of research; you basically get full freedom to pursue a topic that interests you.</p>
<p>That being said, I applied to six different highly selective research programs last summer and was rejected from programs that were both more and less selective than Clark. So, make sure you have several back-ups and don’t let the process discourage you.</p>
<p>I’m happy to answer any and all questions you have about the application and the program itself, and I’m sure many of the other past Clarkies will say the same.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>Also, for anyone one looking at this thread that isn’t interested in math or science, I was one of the few last year that did something in the humanities and the research and learning experience was awesome. Don’t get discouraged if your essay doesn’t include a lot about past research and experience. If you show enthusiasm and sincere interest in whatever topic, you have a genuine shot of getting in given you have solid grades and whatnot.</p>
<p>Oh…great…So 12 out of 300+. Even better… I might as well just give up all hope now <em>sighs ever-so dramatically</em></p>
<p>@Sheam13, @squirrelbridge, @Casimir + @cynrma, Do you think you could post the stats that you had at the time of your application? I just want to see if I have the slightest shot. Thank you! :)</p>
<p>Hi. Another 2012 Clark Scholar here. I had a superfantabulous time. The research was enlightening, the people were coolsauce, go Raiders. Here are some words of wisdom.</p>
<p>Apply! 0% acceptance rate for those who don’t apply.</p>
<p>“Stats” of previous Clark Scholars… the average test scores of the 2011 (not 2012) Clark Scholars were: SAT > 2276, PSAT > 223. Don’t worry though, standardized testing is only part of the application. (At time of applying, I had a 2150 SAT, which I didn’t put down, and a 230 PSAT, which I did put down.)</p>
<p>Like Sheam13 stated, apply to backups.</p>
<p>Prior research experience not necessary to being admitted. Over half of us did not have any prior research experience before Clark.</p>
<p>Yooooooooo,
Another 2012 Clark Scholar here. I did not apply to any other summer programs, so I can’t help you there, but I worked in the social psychology department, so if you have any questions about social sciences or just random stuff about the Clark program, I’m more than happy to help. Additionally, I had no prior research experience. If you want to know my stats, I will only divulge them on request.</p>
<p>As the others said, if you’re not sure, apply. Worst-case scenario, you’ll make the people that get in look better. <–that was a joke</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice! :)</p>
<p>I think I have some stuff set up locally, should Clark not work out, so I’m not going to freak over this one app.</p>
<p>Did you guys have any international students/and do you know where they might’ve applied to? I’m Canadian so RSI is out :(</p>
<p>I’ll try looking for Recs/start my app in December since I have a ton of stuff for school due.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if there has been international students before (there wasn’t last year). It is probably still worth it to apply, or at least email Dr. San Francisco (the director) beforehand to check.</p>
<p>Thank you for the advice! I guess the only thing to do now is to work as hard as possible on the application and let what happens happen.</p>
<p>I’m applying to this program. Seems like steep competition though; only twelve kids are taken.</p>
<p>@Casmir, I though I saw on some other threads, Intls getting in, but it’s still a good idea to check!</p>
<p>I was told by a mentor in the program that there are often one or two international students; we just didn’t have any last year. They accept the people they think will fit the program the best and make the most of their opportunity, regardless of where they are from.</p>
<p>I think I’m going to apply but the location is kind of weird and only 11 other people 
Seems like it won’t be that good of a place to get to know others.</p>
<p>It’s actually quite the contrary!</p>
<p>I won’t lie and say Lubbock isn’t weird, because it’s a pretty strange place. There’s not a ton to do within walking distance of campus except eat (there’s actually a lot of good restaurants plus a supermarket) and shop (there are a few decent stores), so we spent most of the summer making our own fun. Because you’re pretty isolated and in such a small group, everyone gets REALLY close. Most of our time outside of the labs/libraries/offices was spent together doing everything from going to the pool (it has a lazy river AND a water slide…definitely a highlight of the Texas Tech campus), playing huge late night games of capture the flag/manhunt, or hanging out in the dorms doing a whole host of crazy things. Because Lubbock is not the most exciting place to explore, the Clark community becomes very close-knit, very fast; I’d say it’s one of the best environments to get to know others.</p>
<p>I agree with Sheam13, with a little creativity there is plenty of fun to be had; our late-night games were clearly a testament to that.</p>
<p>However, I personally considered the community to be much larger than the twelve of us. I was told that there were about 9,000 people on campus, made up of students (taking summer courses), professors (teaching those courses and conducting research), and other teens attending summer programs.</p>
<p>I frequently played basketball in the Rec Center with a couple of other Clark Scholars. We played with and against Texas Tech students as well as members of the community. We became very familiar with the other guys there.</p>
<p>We also played tennis quite often, although I recommend playing during the nighttime when the heat is more bearable. There is also a quality golf course within walking distance which we occasionally utilized. Additionally, there are racquetball courts, a climbing wall, frequent zumba/dance/aerobics classes, exercise equipment, and as Sheam13 mentioned, the best collegiate pool in the nation. </p>
<p>During the first three weeks we were there, the Welch Scholars were staying just down the hall from us. There were only nine of them, but they were also high school kids conducting research so we had lots of good times together. They are all from Texas and are all interested in Chemistry.</p>
<p>Each weekend, there was either a trip to somewhere outside of Lubbock or a fun activity planned locally. We went to lakes (albeit artificial, as Lubbock is super dry), checked out an archaeological site, and played laser tag, to name a few. Dr. San Francisco (the head of the program) and our chaperone (a past Clark) always accompanied us and certainly contributed to the atmosphere.</p>
<p>Also, if there is a scholar from Texas (as in most years), they may bring a car so that you can easily travel further than walking distance. None of us were from Texas, so I am not exactly sure what there is to do in the rest of Lubbock. Regardless, there is plenty to do on and close to campus.</p>
<p>Basically, it is as good of a place to get to know others as you make it. YOU WILL get to know the other eleven scholars very well. Whether you get to know anyone else is entirely up to you.</p>