<p>What can people who have done the program say about it? Clemson is a great school but I've heard nothing but bad things about the Bridge Program. </p>
<p>Assuming I don't have a car, how is it getting to classes? How about social activities? Job opportunities? </p>
<p>Is the program worth it? I was thinking about starting at another school and then transferring in. What do you guys think of that idea? </p>
<p>Thanks in advance. </p>
<p>MrPurrfect, what are your other options college wise and what is your major? If you don’t have a car it’s going to be very difficult for you to get to campus often (even with the shuttle). If you have another solid option I would consider that unless you desperately want to go to Clemson.</p>
<p>I think you’re probably right Pierre. I was accepted to College of Charleston and USC (where I got a scholarship and into Capstone) so it looks like I’ll be going elsewhere. Thanks for the help.</p>
<p>Those are two great options! I think the Bridge Program would be good for someone who got into the Bridge Program and didn’t have any other schools they wanted to attend. It certainly seems that you have some solid options.</p>
<p>I have a son who went through the Bridge Program in 2012-2013 and he is now a junior at Clemson. It worked okay for him; however my daughter is there this year and it has been awful. I don’t recommend this program at all. It has been nothing but sub par from the first day of orientation. The academic advising is terrible and actually my daughter was placed into 2 classes that were not even necessary for her major. There seems to be no contact between tri county and Clemson. My husband and I are both alums of Clemson and are greatly disappointed in the bridge program. It is a horrible way to spend a freshman year. You are better off going to another college and then transferring in. Clemson seems to more concerned about their top 20 rating and covering up hazing than about the poor 700 kids who got the short stick with the bridge offer.</p>
<p>@Beachmom2 - I’ve definitely heard mixed reviews about the Bridge Program. My personal opinion, I would not recommend it unless you really really want to attend Clemson (but like you mentioned you can always transfer in which I’m sure isn’t hard if you have great freshman year grades)</p>
<p>I am not in the bridge program, but I am a high school student taking dual enrollment classes and I have a lot of classes with bridge students. The program is okay if you work hard and put in the effort. However, students who are in the bridge are not particularly the most hardworking students out there because if they were, they would have been accepted into clemson instead of Bridge. In my classes, chemistry specifically, there are only 3 a’s and all 3 of us are in high school. A lot of the classes at tri county tech are “weed out” classes so they are actually a lot more work than those at clemson. On the positive note, bridge students have really nice housing options. They stay in Highpoint. They are 4 person apartments, which actual Clemson students are not allowed to stay in. So it’s a sweet deal in that aspect. Plus, it is probably cheaper. Overall, it is definitely a manageable program. But you have to keep decent grades (c+ I believe) which many bridge students fail to do. So it’s kind of a gamble, but if Clemson is your dream school, then you should seriously consider it.</p>
<p>Yeah that’s what I got the impression too that most of the Bridge students weren’t as hard working as people who got into Clemson though. If you are a focused and determined student, go for it. If you’re looking to slack off when you get to college and just party, the Bridge program probably isn’t for you.</p>
My son received the letter yesterday that he was accepted into the Bridge program. He did get accepted into USC, he really wanted to go to Clemson, as his brother is a junior @Clemson. We have family that lives there too. Not sure what to do. Considering filling out the appeal paperwork but probably want change anything. Very concerned with the issue of housing. Not like he can go to a dinning hall to eat 3 meals a day. He would be responsible for going to the grocery store & preparing his meals. To me this is an inconvenience, could become a big issue. It would be something additional that he will have to deal with on top of adjusting to college courses. The fact that they have to drive to class everyday is another concern. Very disappointed that he didn’t get the offer from Clemson. I would appreciate anyone’s input.
concernedmom - Definitely appeal. Pull any strings you can ( for example, if you know anyone who can write letters or make a call on your son’s behalf, especially those who are connected to administration or board of trustees or something like that.) If your appeal is accepted, your son will go into ESP program. That program ended up being a wonderful opportunity for my son.
My daughter did all she could in high school . Senior class president , girls state; 1100 SAT 3.9 GPA ; took AP classes national honor society for Spanish took Spanish 4 years. She appealed to Clemson after getting the bridge letter. Well she didn’t win the appeal, so we signed up to go to bridge and low and behold waitlisted. She is currently number 3 will find out tomorrow . My question is how does all this work for housing, orientation and such for kids on waitlist and having the cut off date Aug. 1; on the website she has missed all the orientations roommate sign up etc… Has anyone else dealt with this. She got accepted into Cof C. She doesn’t want to go which I understand that is 25 mins from our home, she wants to go away. I get that also but this whole waitlist and all the cut off dates for this and that will not be applying to her because the office has said we have to continue to wait. Any help would be greatly appreciated.