<p>Hi - Clark has made it on to my son's short list, and I'd like some feedback from anyone who is familiar with the academics there. It gets pretty good comments on academics from places like College ******* and princeton review. In fact, everything I read says Clark has great academics, and is particularly strong in hard sciences compared to some other small liberal arts schools.</p>
<p>But... when we visited the school last June, our gut instinct (both mine and my son's) didn't match that assessment. The guy the gave the info session wasn't all that articulate or impressive, the student tour guide seemed young and giggly, and when the tour took us through the science building and bragged about the end of year projects the students had done, and showed us some of the posters still left up from those projects, they really looked like something a high schooler could have done without much effort.</p>
<p>So - can someone tell me some firsthand (or second hand!) impressions about the education at Clark, and the overall intellectual feel of the school?</p>
<p>I’ve done some consulting work there (and at many other HBCUs), and I concur with your impressions of Clark. It’s a struggling school that is weak and has major funding and other difficulties. If your son is looking for an HBCU experience, there are many colleges that could offer better opportunities: Howard, FAMU, Hampton, Southern, and Morehouse all come to mind.</p>
<p>Thanks for the quick reply, northstarmom, but I think we got our wires crossed. I’m talking about Clark University in Worcester, MA - you may thinking of Clark Atlanta university? It’s the only Clark I see on a list of historically black colleges & uni’s.</p>
<p>Anyone know anything about Clark University in Worcester, MA? Thanks!</p>
<p>High school junior D1 and I toured Clark at the end of August and got a very different vibe from the info session, the tour guide, and going through the science building. The tour guide was a senior, originally from India, articulate, talking up the research opportunities for all sorts of majors. I was impressed that she could speak about her friends’ science research since she herself was an IR major. D1 was really taken by the opportuity to go with one prof whose research takes him to Antarctica. I was also impressed that the tour guide hardly ever used the word “like”. :)</p>
<p>A family friend is doing her 5th year at Clark, getting her teaching credential. Her mother was rather taken aback that D1 is considering Clark, saying “But D1 is a smart kid”, which was rather disconcerting! Yet I know there are smart academically-able kids at the school. D1 did like the feel of the campus, but I will definitely have her visit again if she ends up applying, being accepted, and then truly considering it. </p>
<p>I’d suggest contacting some different departments in the sciences, and asking them if they can put your S in contact with some upperclassmen and some professors to ask specific questions about the program, about what the students do post-graduation, and so forth.</p>
<p>My son liked Clark and his doctor said since he liked Psychology, it was a good pick. He said for the size, if you’re bright, there is always research opportunities and work you can do with professors. He wishes he had that now, a small school and research, but Clark didn’t give us nearly enough aid. I also read later (this is 3 years ago) they were having some problems with money and I’m sure that impacted their aid.
We visited twice and although some students seemed like they would coast through, there were others that have that passion and drive and he liked the vibe at the time.</p>
<p>we went there 2 years ago and had a similar experience to the op. Seemed a bit too much like high school. We had heard good things about Clark and ended up a little disappointed.
My D was a recruit but we never went back for another visit - she made up her mind after the visit and interview. I guess we were expecting more.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input everyone! I had heard it had good financial aid, and the was helping to keep it on the list. Any more info from folks would be appreciated!</p>
<p>I’m a Clark Alum ('74) and my daughter is applying ED to Clark this year. At the time I was student there Clark had a terrific academic reputation. Student body stats fell off considerably in the 80s and into the 90s. But in the last decade, under the leadership of President John Bassett, it has undergone an impressive transformation, both with the physical plant itself (trememdous development) but more importantly with the quality of admitted students. The school is now back up in the “top 100” based on most reputable lists. Equally of importance, Clark has maintained an environment that has embraced individualism and the challenging of the status quo. This is what attracted me to Clark when I attended. By the way, I was a psychology major at Clark (one of its top great majors, the other being Geography) who is now a physician. So attending Clark didn’t keep me from taking a deep dive into the sciences. </p>
<p>Over the summer, while on the obligatory college tour trip in New England, we stopped at Clark so my daughter could see where I attended school. She had no initial interest in Clark nor intention of applying there. Parenthetically she is a good, not great, student (attends a highly regarded private school which doesnt rank students or give grade point averages, and where 20 percent of the small–under 100–class are Merit scholars of one form or another) who had pretty decent (but again not great) SATs, especialy since she only sat for them once, this fall. We were not going to put her through the pressure cooker of sitting for these exams mutliple times. </p>
<p>To my bemusement, she somehow caught the Clark vibes, and two additional visits later is now applying ED. She is interested in child development and will probably major in psychology. But she has also been very active in theatre arts and music, so I suspect she will be involved there or wherever she ends up attending. What was it about Clark for her? Maybe the wonderfully cozy campus that reminds her of her current school. Perhaps the fact that there are no fraternities and sororities (she hates “cliquey” environments). She liked that one of the tour guides mentioned all of the student bands that were on campus (she’s a wanna-be pop singer). Or maybe the hot guy who smiled and said hello. One never knows about how these decisions really get made.</p>
<p>Anyway, to get back to your original question, I think that Clark is plenty “intellectual.” I know I’m a little biased, and I also know that Clark (as are other schools) is not for everyone. But I’m hoping that the next letter we receive from Clark is one of those thick envelopes. Good luck with your son’s application process.</p>
<p>ClarkAlum - it’s on a list of MA schools we will be visiting for my twin juniors. What is the “Clark Vibe”? It’s sort of unknown to me. How would you describe it?</p>
<p>Ken Kesey said that “you’re either on the bus or off the bus.” That’s how I would describe the Clark Vibe or “Clark Mystique” as we students used to refer to it. A special environment that values individualism. Acceptance of diversity. Inclusiveness. That truly challenges convention. That promotes disruptive innovation. Creativity. I think Clark is one of those places that either gets under your skin or doesn’t. I was surprised at how quickly my daughter “got it.” I guess we’ll find out in a few weeks whether or not the feeling from Clark is mutual.</p>
<p>I also give Clark major points for encouraging social responsibility and kids helping the challenged neighborhood nearby.
LACs which pride themselves on science programs for pre-meds include Muhlenberg; Franklin & Marshal; Juniata; and Ursinus, all with pretty campuses in PA</p>
<p>My son fell in love with Clark because he thought the statue of Freud in the quad was way cool. I think he “gets it”. He’ll be applying RD, and not just because of the statue. He liked the activist nature of the curriculum. His stats may not be up to par, but he’s really a good fit for the culture. </p>
<p>I was impressed with the facilities, the core, the variety of majors and other programs, student engagement, and the friendliness of the admissions office.</p>
<p>I graduated from Clark in 1975 with a degree in psychology. Funny, I wonder if I knew “ClarkAlum” when I was there. At the time the school was a leader in psychology and some of the faculty was doing cutting edge research into return of function in the brainstem after traumatic injury. I was essentially a hippie/war protester and while I feel I got a more than adequate education, very little has stuck with me.</p>
<p>I remember trying to get my economics professor to make a pass at me, and fending off a psychology professor who did. I was on the crew team, the only time I did sports in my entire life. It energized me and gave me focus, though the early morning practices on the Quinsigamond River were brutal.</p>
<p>I am glad to know that Clark has kicked itself in the pants and resurrected its former high standards. I would say that Clark is a perfectly good school and its small size means that you will see a lot of the actual faculty and not get abandoned to the grad students. The campus is pleasant. I don’t miss Worcester much–it was rundown at the time but may have made a turnaround.</p>
<p>I guess I don’t have much to add to what ClarkAlum says. I would happily give Clark a recommendation. It’s non-pretentious and welcoming.</p>