<p>So what’s it like at Clarkson? I am applying to transfer for Fall 2011 and I just can’t get a good grasp on what it would be like there. I can’t afford to visit until later in the Spring. </p>
<p>I understand it’s rural but when I think rural I think corn fields and grazing cows, is that what it’s like? Also, is it well equipped? For some reason when I think rural I also think old fashioned. Is Clarkson up to date with their programs and facilities? The rural aspect is one of the reasons I chose to apply at Clarkson. I think it would help me really focus on academics, I just want to make sure it doesn’t actually detract from academics. </p>
<p>Lastly, I have some concerns about the quality of the school. In reading one of those websites where students review their college, I found Clarkson had tons of bad reviews and very few good ones. I don’t know if that was one or two disgruntled students who went crazy posting reviews(it did seem a little excessive) or if it was legit. Is Clarkson a good school? Is it worth going across the country for? I think I read somewhere that only 30% of students are out of state.</p>
<p>answers please (: ive applied to clarkson fall 2011 too, and have the exact same questions.</p>
<p>I’m an executive recruiter, many years out of college, and didn’t go to Clarkson.</p>
<p>One question I can answer for you is whether the school is good or not. I deal with candidates well after they get out of college (usually at least 15 years after college), so I can see what they have achieved in the years after college.</p>
<p>Clarkson produces some very accomplished people, and has a good solid reputation.</p>
<p>I can’t tell you whether it is worth going across the country for - that’s ultimately up to you - but the end product I’ve seen coming from Clarkson is good.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input! It’s helpful to have a deeper insight especially from a nonstudent point of view.</p>
<p>I emailed admissions with some questions several days ago and have yet to hear back.</p>
<p>I am a current Clarkson student majoring in Mechanical Engineering. As a freshman I am new to the school but so far I have experienced very much of what it has to offer. The academics here are excellent and you will have to work very hard if you are an engineer. There are many extra curricular activities that really get you involved in the school. If you are an engineering major I would suggest you join on of its project based teams (SPEED) because they are a great way to meet upperclassmen who can teach you a lot.<br>
As for the town, Potsdam is mostly rural when you leave the downtown area but it has very much to offer around the school. There are many fast food chains e.g McDonalds, BK, Arbys etc. along with all of the small shops in the downtown area. SUNY Potsdam is right across the river and St. Lawrence is right up the road.<br>
The campus itself is set up nicely with many new buildings such as a new Student Center with has very much to offer. You are able to get Wi-fi almost anywhere on campus and there are also many lab computers set up across campus if you do not have one of your own.<br>
If you have any other specific questions I would be happy to answer them.</p>
<p>Thanks for responding callen! </p>
<p>Is it like John Deere, hillbilly, farming rural or like mountains, forests, lakes rural? Or some other kind of rural? 
I know it sounds weird. I have lived and/or visited many extremely rural places… the only thing is that they were all in the midwest and a little bit now in Florida. I don’t know what it looks like in New York state.</p>
<p>Do people seem happy with their decision to go to Clarkson? Those bad reviews on that college review site bother me a little. Are you happy with your decision to go to Clarkson?</p>
<p>Is it really heavily guys over girls there? I have read something like 70% guys/30% girls. That is interesting. I’m a girl, and I’ve always gotten along better with guys than girls so that might be ok actually. As long it isn’t some kind of prejudice or bias that is causing the low female enrollment. </p>
<p>The other day I was looking at the page where you search and register for classes. I don’t remember which class it was but I was looking at math classes. There were 3 options. Two of them had 120 student capacity each but then the 3rd had a 30 student limit. Is there a reason you could choose the big class or little class? Is that normal or did I just stumble on a fluke thing?</p>
<p>I really appreciate your input. Until/If I can afford to go visit Clarkson it’s really nice to get a better picture of what kind of school it really is.</p>
<p>Potsdam is right outside the Adirondack Park which is home to the 46 high peaks of NY. Most of Potsdam you will see as a student at Clarkson would not be the farm type rural. The only time you really see these parts are when you are arriving or leaving the town. It is rural in parts but the area surrounding Clarkson is not desolate farm land. </p>
<p>Overall I believe most people here are very happy with their decision. As long as you do not just sit in your room and do nothing all day you will be very busy and enjoy it here. I am extremely happy I chose Clarkson I have had fun since I started and at the same time being prepared for a great future career. I believe the only people who post on those sites are the ones who are unhappy because they don’t look for opportunity and instead go and bash the school online. You will see that at any school and Clarkson is no exception.</p>
<p>The “Clarkson Ratio” was 70/30 but it is improving each year. Someone told me that my current freshman class is close to 50/50. Since Clarkson is a very engineering oriented school and a majority of engineers are men it causes the ratio to shift to one direction. If you are not considering engineering the Arts and Sciences and Business schools are very well respected so don’t let my engineering bias turn you off.</p>
<p>The class you’re describing sounds like maybe a class similar to Calc 1. That class was taught in two different ways. One was a large lecture hall and the other was in a 20-30 seat classroom. Both cover the same material and most of the time it is the same teacher teaching the class. For most introductory classes you will have lecture on 3/5 days of the week and a recitation once that week. The 120 vs 30 situation does not occur very often I do not think.
If you can think of anything else I remember I was in the same situation last year so I will be glad to help.</p>
<p>I’m going to be an engineering major, Computer Engineering so all the engineering stuff is good.</p>
<p>You really are helpful, you should work for the admissions department! I have had spotty contact with them… on their part. They seem to be hit or miss. Despite this Clarkson is growing on me. I kind of like the idea of the location. I do enjoy rural areas in moderation. I could do it for a few years but ultimately I would like to end up in a city. </p>
<p>Do you happen to know anything about job placement? I know you are a freshman but do you know anything about where grads get jobs? or even go on to grad school? I am still not sure if I want to go to grad school directly after undergrad or not. Do you feel the Clarkson degree will allow you to get jobs throughout the northeast or is it pretty local?</p>
<p>Ooh, one more question! Sorry to have so many but I can barely find information about Clarkson around here! Do you know anything about the Financial Aid at clarkson? Is it good? Bad? </p>
<p>Thank you again for all your time! It’s really nice of you to come back and answer all these questions.</p>
<p>Job placement is very good at Clarkson. It was one of the reasons I chose to come here. They advertise it at 98% which is one of the best I have ever seen. I attended the fall career fair this year and 103 companies attended and we are expecting to get about that many for the spring again. The career center is very helpful, I have been recently working with them to acquire a summer internship and they assure me that if I follow the steps they laid out to me there is no doubt I will have one even as a freshman. Employers respect Clarkson very much. Most of the employers who attend the career fair are former Clarkson grads and continue to come back each year looking to hire Clarkson students. </p>
<p>Financial Aid is quite generous here. In high school I wasn’t the best student and they still gave me much more money in scholarships that most other schools. I remember seeing that the average amount is about 15000 don’t know what that figure consists of but still pretty high. You will see that most students here do not have very much trouble affording school because of the large amount of aid given.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the wonderful responses. Clarkson is definitely in the running for me. I guess all that is left is to visit and see for myself. You’ve been such a help, you should work for admissions! :D</p>
<p>I’ve recently been getting calls from Clarkson about the Clarkson School (a program for juniors who want to attend college early, iirc). Could someone explain the program to me and rate how good it is?</p>
<p>My daughter went to the Clarkson School (instead of completing her senior year of high school); she took a couple courses during her freshman year that counted as college credit and also high school credit so she received her high school diploma after her first year of college. Then she was admitted to the honors program in her sophomore year. (There is now a fast path into the honors program for Clarkson School students.) She does not regret leaving high school early.</p>
<p>There are very few programs like the Clarkson School. All of the ‘schoolies’ live in the same dorm. You are part of a group, but you are also a freshman in college. You take classes with other freshmen.</p>
<p>My daughter had lots of interviewing opportunities (and job offers) in the fall of her senior year. There are not too many girls in engineering, but there are groups (WISE - Women in Science and Engineering and SWE - Society of Engineers) worth joining.</p>
<p>Clarkson is small (and so is Potsdam), but it’s a very good school. Just depends on what you are looking for. The environment is collaborative; it is definitely not cutthroat competitive. </p>
<p>Someone asked about jobs and grad school. Many students go on to graduate school, but there are plenty of job opportunities for undergrads. Many of the companies that recruit on campus are global, but most of their opportunities are in the northeast. However, you can tell them you are interested in other areas.</p>
<p>You really need to talk to someone in admissions. Ask to talk to students, too. I could go on and on, but I will say that we are very pleased with the Clarkson experience.</p>
<p>Does anyone know if there is a Clarkson admitted student page?</p>
<p>Not that I know of. Im a transfer though and it might be different for freshman.</p>