If I get a high score on the ACT and SAT, would that prove that I am ready for college course work without taking any AP/IB classes. I take mostly college prep classes though.
Clemson stressed to us that they like to see a rigorous course load. They want to see that you challenged yourself in the areas that are your strengths, and then some. It doesn’t have to be every single AP class but if you are applying to a math or science field, did you take some honors and AP in those areas to stretch.
I didn’t take any AP classes or honors. I take college prep classes for my math and sciences. Also I took Algebra 3 MAG and I am taking pre-calculus next year which is rare at my school.
@Dasin22 You may want to review the bridged, deferral and waitlisted thread to get a realistic look at how Clemson is evaluating students for admission. GPA , test scores, rank and rigor are all heavily weighed and assessed. Typically honors and AP classes are weighed more heavily. This will possibly increase GPA and rank. Clemson is getting extremely competitive for admission and hundreds of highly ranked students with good test scores and lots of APs are being bridged , deterred or waitlisted . They will compare your stats with other applicants .
Thank so much for this info. I will be looking in those threads.
Clemson sounds unlikely if you didn’t take any honors/AP * and * those were available to you.
Does your school offer honors classes? Which AP classes does it offer? Why are you not enrolled in them?
What’s your current GPA?
What’s your psat score?
My school offers honors for almost all classes, but since I was taken college prep, I thought that would be good. But now I am regretting my decision. And my school offers around 12 to 15 AP classes. I didn’t do those because again I thought that college prep would be enough. The only advanced class I take is engineering but I don’t think it will count since the program I am in isn’t associated with college board. And my PSAT scores were pretty low, I got a 1110 and I plan to take the real test this may. And my current GPA is a 3.7. Thank you for responding, any advice would be helpful.
I’m going to be brutal, but it’s better you realize this now rather than later, when it’s too late: You’re not getting into Clemson with this record. Your SAT score is below their 25th percentile and rigor is among their most important criteria as per the CDS.
87% admitted students had a GPA above 3.75 and 73% score 600+ on the math portion of the SAT (60% score 600+ on verbal, too).
Certainly a secondary school with so many AP classes would have advisers advising students about taking them: either your adviser didn’t think you could take them and succeed, or you were advised to take them but chose not to. Either one will hurt you. That’s how colleges like Clemson will see things.
Look for other schools you like, run the NPC to see if they’re affordable.
Once you’re done with all your collegapplications (2 where you’re sure to get in, that you like and can afford + 3-5 you think you can get into and can afford), apply to Clemson “just in case”, but odds aren’t in your favor.
At a match, odds are 50-50 you’ll get in; at a safety, your odds are good, like 70-30 or better. A reach means odds are you won’t get in, and a reachable reach means you have a shot, whereas out of reach means highly unlikely. Clemson is currently out of reach.
Colleges that would be good matches for your academic profile (run the NPC to see if they’re affordable):
MATCHES
Guilford in North Carolina, Winthrop in SC, Presbyterian, USC Aiken, Queens University of Charlotte, UNC Greensboro, East Carolina University, Pfeiffer, St Edward’s University, U Alabama, U Montevallo, Lyon College, Fort Lewis Colorado, University of Tampa, Flagler College, FAU, Lincoln Memorial, University of Louisville, Western KY University, Texas Lutheran, Texas Wesleyan, Centenary of Louisiana, University of Southern Mississippi, Westminster Missouri, Lindenwood, University of New Mexico, Longwood Virginia, Alderson Broadus.
REACHABLE REACHES
College of Charleston would be a possible reachable reach as well as UNC Charlotte, Spelman (if you’re a girl) or Morehouse (if you’re a boy), Transylvania, Loyola New Orleans, Millsaps, St Louis University, Mizzou, West Virginia University.
SAFETIES
Francis Marion, USC Upstate, Coastal Carolina (all in-state), as well as Lynn, Barry, Austin Peay, Midwestern State Texas, Radford Virginia, UVA-Wise, Wheeling Jesuit, Marshall University, Davis&Elkins, would be safeties.
Most are still accepting applications: hurry and send them your app. You’ve got nothing to lose - at worst, you’ll be admitted at several affordable colleges and you’ll have a choice. That’s way better than getting rejected or admitted to unaffordable colleges. Having choices and picking your favorite affordable colleges, including some that give you a scholarship, feels fantastic. 
@MYOS1634 You gave very valuable help here. You should be a high school counselor. A lot (not all) high school counselors are what I consider registrars – just enroll the student in the class, make sure it benefits the school score card, and then move on. My daughter is in a relatively large public school and my husband and I basically have been the actual guidance counselor for her in regards to choosing classes and determining colleges to consider.
Other good options for potential matchables/reachable is to apply to USC-Columbia b/c the have a residential bridge program as well. Also, UT-Knoxville. Good luck @Dasin22 .
@MYOS1634 OP is not a senior. I agree that other options need to be identified , but timing is not as crucial for applying.
@carolinamom2boys: Good catch, thanks.
So, @Dasin22: go visit some of the South Carolina colleges I listed n #7 as well as any college nearby, just to see what type of environment you like: college town, quiet landscapes, big city? Where are students friendly? Where do you feel comfortable and why? Any place that makes you feel “at home” or energized? Always go through the library: is that a place that makes you feel welcome , do you see students, would you feel like coming there (imagining you’re attending college, does the library seem conducive to studying/learning and student lifestyles, do you see yourself studying there before exams for example?)
Register for tours ahead of time and sign at the admissions office so that they can count that as “interest” (each little nudge helps for acceptance).
Then, run the Net Price Calculator (“NPC”) on EVERY college listed in #7. Bring the results for your favorite ones to your parents: what can they afford from their savings and their current income? (NOT from loans)? Ask for a number, or a range (like, “20-24K” or “32-35K”). Then, cross out any college whose NPC’s net price comes above the number provided by your parents. Just like that, your list will shrink.
Come back to update the thread when you have these numbers and a list of affordable colleges, and posters here will tell you more about each college so that you can match them with what you liked best from your campus visits and will also help you decide on a couple affordable “safeties”.
I recently navigated the college search for SC schools. Feel free to PM with specific questions, I may be able to help @Dasin22
Okay I will be sure to come back and do that very soon @MYOS1634 and @carolinamom2boys I will PM you if I have anymore questions!
Thank you too. I need the luck.