<p>i just got my acceptance letter the other day and now I have to choose between clemson and auburn. I have been to both within the past year and liked both a lot. I got inot engineering at both. I also am doing ROTC and whichever one i choose. What are some pros and cons of each.</p>
<p>Academically, Clemson has a much better reputation and is more competitive--specially for engineering. As for ROTC I do not know much about either school. I've heard that Auburn is much more southern than Clemson is. Auburn is also a bigger school.</p>
<p>Here are reviews of both colleges from The Princeton Review, personally I think Clemson is better.</p>
<p>Clemson University</p>
<p>"Clemson University, a tradition-rich Southern school “that focuses on engineering, agriculture, science, and football,” draws students who want to experience “a true community where everyone shares the same passion for education, friendship, kindness, and cheering on the Tigers.” Students here speak lovingly of “the spirit of ‘the Clemson family,’” and “bleeding orange” (if you don’t understand what that means, perhaps Clemson isn’t the right school for you). They’re almost as enthusiastic about their school’s academics, lauding their beloved president’s efforts “to transform Clemson into a top 20 university.” Clemson is already an engineering powerhouse, with “a great program for civil engineering” and “a well-organized and challenging industrial engineering program.” The school’s nursing program, education department, and hard sciences also earn raves from undergrads. The legendary family spirit here pervades student-faculty relations: professors “are very approachable and truly care about their students. If a faculty member is working on a research project and you stop by with a question from class, they will stop what they’re doing and work with you as long as it takes until you understand the subject matter.” Administrators are also “surprisingly helpful and available,” and they make an effort to show that they are people, too: “Even the school president has been seen at the late night ‘Cookie Break’ sponsored by the dining hall, talking with students and getting their opinions on the school,” says one undergrad. For those “who enjoy a cozy life in a rural area,” Clemson offers “a big-university feel on a slightly smaller scale, and a solid education.
"While “the typical student is White, from South Carolina, somewhat religious, and preppy” at Clemson, “there are plenty of students who do not fit that profile” among the school’s nearly 14,000 undergraduates. Students tell us that “Clemson has become more diverse as its reputation has grown. Even in the 2 years since I got here,” says one, “I would say that there are more students of different cultures, ethnicities, and especially religions other than Christianity; many, many more students not from the South; and also plenty of students who are not conservative.” Even so, the student body tends to be “very conservative.” Of course, regardless of students’ political views, football is a unifying force: Almost all undergrads here are “smart but laid-back, and huge football fans.”
"“Clemson football and tailgating are the most amazing experiences of college,” most Clemson undergrads agree, noting that “Saturdays in the fall there is no question where everyone is, and that’s Death Valley [the nickname of the stadium, so dubbed because it’s such a hostile environment for the opposing team]. We don’t just show up, either; everyone is tailgating at least 3 to 4 hours before the game, and I mean everyone.” The city of Clemson, “a town completely devoted to the school,” “comes to a complete stop for games, which is great.” Aside from their intensity for football, “Clemson students approach life ‘Southern style’: We’re pretty laid-back, we like to have a good time, we work hard, and we have pride.” The surrounding area offers plenty in the way of outdoor activity, as “Lake Hartwell borders the campus. We’re about a half hour from great hiking and mountain biking, and the weather is great most of the time, so we spend a lot of time outdoors.” Undergrads tell us that “Clemson is a typical college in that there is definitely a party scene” that often centers on Greek life, “which is very big.” They also point out that “there are abundant activities for those who aren’t into partying. There are movies, sporting events and intramural sports, and plenty of places to eat.” Hometown Clemson is small, but “With Greenville, Anderson, and Atlanta reasonably close by, you can do all of the shopping you need within driving distance.”</p>
<p>Auburn University</p>
<p>"Auburn University, a school that “is about family, traditions, and education,” is the sort of place that inspires “a strong sense of pride in the past and future of [the school].” In fact, Auburn’s “traditions and sense of family continue even after graduation.” These traditions are numerous, beloved, and often involve football. The education isn’t half bad here, either; Auburn numbers among its many academic assets “a good business school, one of the best vet schools, and one of the best architecture schools in the nation.” The school also excels in engineering, education, and communications. Students enrolled in Auburn’s honors program enjoy “priority registration [and] smaller classes” that are almost always taught by professors—not TAs. Speaking of Auburn’s professors, students appreciate that they are “readily available,” “super friendly,” and “always willing to help no matter what size the class.” They are “concerned with each student’s progress,” and “always willing to work with [students] to teach the curriculum and how it applies to [their] life.” Academically, “As with any school, you get out of it what you put into it. You can put in the bare minimum and be happy with your C, or you can go to class every day, study hard, and make an A. No one here is going to baby you. You won’t get reminders not to miss class, and teachers won’t hunt you down for make-ups.”"
"Auburn students share “an incredible sense of pride” that “most who have never been here will never comprehend. Ask any Auburn student or alumn[us], and they’ll generally tell you that Auburn ranks among God, country, family, and the South as things most beloved.” Many students “love how Auburn is deeply Republican when most colleges are quite banal in their liberalism,” and “prides itself in not being politically correct, and this is not due to ignorance.” Not everyone at this large university fits this description—”At a school this large, there are people from all walks of life”—but a significant number of students do, and they set the tone for the campus. While “slightly conservative,” Southern,” “White, Protestant” students may dominate the student body here, there are also “Black, Asian, and also a lot of foreign exchange students [at Auburn].” Whatever their background, Auburn students across the board “are very open-minded, and accept everyone for who they are.”"
"Auburn is “an ideal college town” with “enough bars and such to keep one occupied but small enough to where there is a definite sense of community.” The town also offers “movies, bowling, a park,” and the attractions of Birmingham, which “isn’t that far away.” Auburn might not be a good fit for the sort of big-city types who “lament about how few options we have for entertainment, and how food consists [solely] of pizza, chicken tenders (on every corner), and subs,” but everyone else seems to love it. They also love that the campus is “beautiful” and “life is slow paced—full of sweet tea and Southern food.” Be warned, though: Auburn “is a drinking town with a football problem.” “Football seems to dominate the Fall semester here. It’s a huge deal, and it’s when most big parties and events [take place]. If you hate football, this might not be the place for you.” In the off-season, students take advantage of Auburn’s “very popular” outdoor activities, and when they want to head off-campus, nearby Atlanta is a “great stop for city life and entertainment.”</p>
<p>I've heard Clemson and Auburn are very similar as far as campus, etc...</p>
<p>Where do you live?</p>
<p>Well, Clemson started out as a military school, I believe, so maybe there is a greater military pedigree to Clemson. Clemson has a large adjoining lake (Hartwell). Clemson is only 30 miles from Greenville, which is becoming a "happening" place. Both Auburn and Clemson are 2 hours from Atlanta. A post above mentioned Princeton Review and provided the general descriptions. But if you look at PR's top 20 rankings material, you'll see that Clemson was ranked #1 in Happiest Students and #1 in Jock Schools, and was in the top 10 for Best Quality of Life, Best Career Placement Services, Students Pack the Stadiums, Everyone Plays Intramural Sports, Best Athletic Facilities, and Great Town Relations. Auburn had three rankings in the top 20 -- #9 for Students Study the Least, #13 for Future Rotarians and Daughters of the American Revolution, and #17 for Most Religious Students. While we're on rankings (for what they're worth), U.S. News & World puts Clemson at #61 (#22 among the publics) and Auburn at #96 (#45 among the publics). Kiplinger's Best Value Colleges shows Clemson at #34 and Auburn at #81. The large online StudentReviews website rates Clemson a 7.7 (B+) and Auburn a 6.5 (B-), and says that 26% of the surveyed Clemson students would choose not to return, versus 40% for Auburn students. Tough call on the sports front. Auburn is SEC football, which is huge. (But Auburn was down last year, has a new coach, and I think will struggle against Nick Saban and Alabama for a while.) Clemson has ACC football, and was getting more competitive late in the year under their new coach (Bowden was let go during the season). But Clemson tacks on ACC basketball (against the likes of Duke, Carolina, Wake), which is huge, too. Can't really comment on the engineering schools, except I think both have decent (and comparable) reputations. Good luck.</p>
<p>US News and World Report has Auburn and Clemson in virtual dead heat in engineering</p>