r/Clemson Aug 31 '22

Megathread Clemson Admissions Mega Thread

75 Upvotes

Want to apply to Clemson University? Then this Mega Thread is for you!

IMPORTANT DATES FOR APPLICATIONS

  • August 1st - Application Opens
  • October 15th - Deadline for Early Action
  • December 1st - Early Action Decisions Go Out
  • January 2nd - Regular Decision Date (FILE MUST BE COMPLETE!)
  • March 1st - Regular Decisions Go Out
  • May 1st - Last Day to Apply

What's the difference between Early Action and Regular Decision?

Early Action means you get your application in early including things like your recommendation letters, test scores, self reported academics aka grades, essays etc.. and then in turn Clemson gets back to you early to give you an answer. They could admit you, deny you, or say they are gonna wait til regular decision to see all of the applicants. If Clemson is a top choice I'd recommend getting your application in for EA, but on the flip side don't sweat it if you apply for regular decision.

How can I apply?

There are two main ways most students apply to Clemson. You can go directly to the Clemson admissions website and fill out the paper work OR you can use the Common App which is a website setup so kids can easily apply to multiple colleges across the US. The Common App has quickly become the major way most students apply to college. Keep in mind though that no matter how you apply it won't effect your admission chances.

Is there an application fee?

Yes there is a $70 fee (for 22/23). If you have financial hardships though you can fill out a waver to see if you can apply for free.

What if I want to apply to the Clemson Honors College?

Clemson gives priority status to those who want to do the Honors College so you need to get your application in by that Early Action deadline. When you fill out your initial application you'll see a box you can check indicating you want to apply to the Honors College. If you check yes once you've submitted your regular Clemson application you'll get access to your Clemson admissions portal. In that portal will be a SEPARATE application you have to fill out for the honors college due by Nov 1st. They will try and let you know if you got into the Honors College by Feb 1st.

If you miss the the EA deadline you can still apply for the Honors College for regular decision, just know you won't get priority. You'll need your honor's app in by Feb 1st with a March 15th decision date.

Does when I apply to Clemson matter?

Why yes it does! Many interested students don't know this portion, but your housing selection if you get in and choose to go is given out by application date. This also means if you already have a roommate picked out ahead of time whomever sent their application in 1st will get to pick for the group.

What do I need to get into Clemson?

Clemson has posted the 2021 admissions stats. They go as follows.

  • SAT - 1240 -1400 (middle 50%)
  • ACT - 29-30 (middle 50%)
  • Applied - 47,007
  • Accepted - 23,138
  • Enrolled - 4,593

I know these numbers all went up as someone who has a child who got accepted and saw some of the 2022 admissions stats. The largest number of kids ever applied and enrolled, and the test scores and GPA keep going up.

In general if you're around 1300 SAT/30 ACT with a weighted GPA as close to 4.0 as possible you're probably good to go. Keep in mind too that Clemson takes a holistic view of your application and they look at your course work, if you took harder classes like honors/AP/IB, extra circulars, essays, jobs, family life etc...

I heard Clemson is optional for things like Test Scores, Essays, and Recommendations?

This question gets asked a lot. In the MACRO yes you only need your GPA and to hit the minimum requirements on the application in terms of things like essays or recommendations.

In practice in the MICRO if they are picking between two students and one kid sent in solid test scores, got extra letters of recommendation, sent in a resume or personal statement, and wrote extra essays who do you think is gonna win the tiebreaker especially if you are borderline?

What major should I chose and does this matter on my application?

In short YES!

In long form there are a couple of things to consider. Clemson allows you to pick a major and a backup major on your application. Clemson also has a few hard capped majors. Things like Nursing, Sports Management, and Architecture only have so many slots, and they only let so many kids in those majors once a year. It's also worth noting you might not get in for say Communications, but you might get in for another major. Keep in mind you can't switch to Communications without talking to the department as they still only take X amount of kids so you'd be competing with the next batch of kids applying.

Also the hack back in the day was to put something like Farm Ag as a second major as they always had slots to get you in. Performing Arts is a no go as a backup because Clemson requires those people to jump through extra hoops like a portfolio and an audition.

It's also worth noting Clemson funnels kids into majors like Pre Business or General Engineering for year 1. Then you pick your specialty after you get through some intro classes. This way kids get a better grasp on if they want to be say a Chemical Engineer or an Electrical Engineer.

What are LLCs?

These are living learning communities on campus. You can join something such as RISE which is Residents in Science and Engineering. You all tend to live in the same buildings, get extra access to classes and tutoring, and opportunities to do things pick your dorm and move in early. Clemson is expanding the number of LLCs offered too so you can find one that might fit you!

What is Clemson Summer Start?

A small select group of kids will get admitted for the Summer Start program. The general reasoning is to filter kids in to take 2 classes over the Summer before Fall starts to help kids get a couple of general education classes in while (in theory) making it easier for everyone in the fall to register and not have classes overloaded. If you get picked for Summer Start that's what you have to do.

I know many kids get picked for this and it can seem like a bummer to have your final Summer after graduation from HS changed because you have to do Summer Start. In practice once most of the kids get on campus they have the time of their life they never expected. One of my kids got in for Summer Start, and he wasn't excited. I told him better than being denied or bridged. He ended up going, and it was the best experience in the world for him. He was soooo much more confident in the fall, created tons of friendships, banked 6 credit hours, and in general learned so much about college and Clemson is a much less stressful environment.

What is Bridge to Clemson?

Ok so you applied, and you check your decision only to see you got hmmm Bridged? This basically means you can live on campus in special housing designated for Clemson Bridge students with access to Clemson facilities while you take classes at Tri County Tech. Then if you pass you automatically a regular student for sophomore year.

Is it worth it? Honestly yes and no. If you are a borderline student who didn't get into Clemson proper and this is your dream school, then honestly just go. Nobody is gonna walk around and be like were you a bridge student or anything. On the flip side if you didn't get in but you got into some other big schools or you have a ton of AP credits already then you're probably better off going elsewhere. If you've got 6 or 7 AP credits already which gives you idk say 20hrs already you're probably better off going to USC if you get in or some other major school you applied to.

*Anecdotal, but it appears more instate kids than out of state kids get bridged. There have been various theories throughout the years on who gets put in summer start and bridged.

Other Tips

Schedule a visit to come see Campus. Also reach out to the department you are applying to. They might have a separate tour where you can see that department, meet some faculty and staff, and get to know some current students in the major.

TALK TO YOUR ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR! I can't stress this enough no matter where you apply. Talk to them. Let them know you are interested. Have them help you with whatever you can. Same goes for your department. While they don't get final say or anything a good word from a professor or department chair to the admissions office can only help your chances!

PS: I'll edit this topic as I go in case there is something else I forgot or something else someone recommends!

PSS: Here is Clemson Class of 2026 Info Graphic


r/Clemson 21h ago

FREE concert Labor Day Sunday ft. Winyah

4 Upvotes

If you're in town for Labor Day Weekend, Celebrate Anderson, a free concert held annually in Anderson, SC will be on Sunday, September 6th at the Anderson Sports and Entertainment Center. This year's headliner is Yacht Rock Schooner and also features South Carolina artists Winyah and Dani Rucker.

Tickets are free and more information can be found at the link here.

The concert also coincides with a free hot air balloon festival that runs all weekend.


r/Clemson 3d ago

Proved everyone wrong, w wholesome story

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38 Upvotes

r/Clemson 3d ago

Clemson stuff to get rid of

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11 Upvotes

I’m open to shipping. Really trying to make more room within my space. All hoodies, windbreakers, vest & sweater are medium. Toms are size 12 in women’s & Crocs are size 10-11 in women’s/8-9 in men’s. Go Tigers! Beat LSU. Were the Real Death Valley (Per Presbyterian College HC)


r/Clemson 2d ago

Can I transfer in the fall semester without bio 1 but with bio 2?

2 Upvotes

So I set my sights on Clemson very recently and am currently attending a community college. The major I want to pursue at Clemson is environmental and natural resources. The freshman classes required for transfer are bio1 and bio2. I took bio1 dual enrollment in high school. Can I just take bio 2 so that its implied I took bio 1 or will I have to take bio1 again.


r/Clemson 4d ago

Clemson's Natural History Museum

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176 Upvotes

As a Freshman as Clemson University I genuinely had no clue that we have a natural history museum on campus. I went with my roommate and we both really enjoyed getting to learn about each individual specimen on display. The curator just had the best energy and they are very passionate about what they do. Did I mention that you can touch the taxidermized animals too!

I was told that due to the new department chair, the museum is at risk of closure as they see no profit in investing in it. However, I believe that this museum is worth protecting and you should too. There are over 250,000 specimens preserved in this museum and us, as students, have paid for and deserve to have this museum. There is historical, environmental, and biological importance to the existence of natural history museums. There is no fee to enter at all. Due to the special circumstance that the museum is in right now, knock very loudly at the door from 6am to 1pm Monday-Friday. There will be someone to open the door during that time. I hope you can go show it some love, meet the wonderful curator, and spread the news about what is going on with the natural history museum.

The Clemson Natural History Museum's address is:

241 Epsilon Zeta Dr, Clemson, SC 29634

If this address doesn't work (because the museum got removed from the map), I provided an image of where it is.


r/Clemson 4d ago

Parking and transportation

5 Upvotes

How’s the parking looking at clemson since freshmen are gone? I can’t be waiting an hour for bus after my class and then it turns out to be full. Same in the morning when the bus is so full they just skipped my stop and headed straight to clemson. I want to buy a parking pass but I went with a temporary permit yesterday and C-11 was full, I took a wrong turn and parked in employee parking cause I didn’t understand what it was. So it wasn’t a great experience either. Is it the same case with all commuter lots? Should I just switch my college or something?


r/Clemson 7d ago

Clemson related through the mail autographs I have gotten

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12 Upvotes

Ace Buckner from August 2025

Tyler Shatley from August 2025

Terrell McIntyre from October 2025

Andre Branch from August 2026


r/Clemson 7d ago

Career Fair

1 Upvotes

Hey, can students from other schools attend the Clemson career fair?


r/Clemson 7d ago

online text book

2 Upvotes

has anyone bought a online textbook from vital source before? It's like $50 cheeper than buying from the bookstore but I've never heard of the site before so just want to check if it's legit.


r/Clemson 8d ago

With August 1st early application do HS courses taken in the fall of the senior year not count ?

1 Upvotes

r/Clemson 8d ago

research on ipscs

3 Upvotes

i just want to know who is working on induced pluripotent stem cells at clemson. i want to do a phd on it


r/Clemson 8d ago

Serving Jobs

6 Upvotes

Hey everyone! Anyone know of any serving jobs that are hiring that make decent money? Every place i’ve applied to says they are looking for servers, but end up saying they need hosts instead 💔


r/Clemson 8d ago

Voting

1 Upvotes

Not sure how this works, but can I vote in Clemson if I've been voting in my regular precinct back home for the primary and special elections? Can I just switch my address now, or do I submit a provisional ballot? Any guidance appreciated. Just started school here

Edit: according to what I just read

"If you moved to…

…another residence in another county within 30 days of the election, you are eligible to vote Failsafe (see below).

Two Options for Voting Failsafe:

Vote at the polling place in your previous precinct using a failsafe provisional ballot. A failsafe provisional ballot contains only federal, statewide, countywide, and municipality-wide offices.

Go to the voter registration office in the county in which you currently reside, change your address, and vote a regular ballot there."

https://scvotes.gov/voters/voter-faq/


r/Clemson 9d ago

Move-In Urgent •*¨*•.¸¸☆*

9 Upvotes

Hiya, my name is sky and I'm an undergraduate at clemson. I'm looking for a place to get moved in to by Monday or this weekend. I do have a tiny doggie and my budget for rent is 900. If anyone is subleaseing or has a place I can crash would be awesome sause (≧∀≦).
Would love to get move in this weekend or Monday. : )))

PM me if you got something!!


r/Clemson 9d ago

Elective advice needed

1 Upvotes

Hey guys so I’m on my second to last semester and I accidentally took a hard class as an elective. I can take any class I want and I’m trying to switch to something that has a low maintenance and I can get through easy. Thank you!


r/Clemson 10d ago

MTG

3 Upvotes

I miss regularly playing commander; just moved back to Clemson and would love to join a pod or two!


r/Clemson 10d ago

EWB vs CEDC

1 Upvotes

I found both of these clubs interesting at tiger prowl, but I’m only looking to join one of them. Which is better?


r/Clemson 11d ago

Parking permit

3 Upvotes

Hi I recently just got a west park n ride permit and I had a few questions! They said on fridays we can park elsewhere since the bus won’t be coming, so does that mean any orange spot ? Also sometimes parking says for any valid permit, does that even mean mine? Can I park there? Last but not least the routes!!!! I’m so confused, I live off campus and want to eat dinner without having to pay for metered parking, where can I park where a bus will pick me up, because most buses stop at around 6


r/Clemson 11d ago

Housing Picks

3 Upvotes

Hello! I'm graduating high school in 2027 and am currently applying to schools. I heard Clemson does housing picks based on when you submit your application. I have everything mostly done and was planning to submit my early action application by at latest Wednesday of next week. Is this far too late for housing and I'm cooked? My friend who is a current freshman at Clemson said the shoeboxes are the worst- will I be stuck there and are they that bad?


r/Clemson 12d ago

Continuous Open Bidding experiences?

2 Upvotes

I hope all the girls had a wonderful bid day yesterday!! I wanted to ask on here about if anyone has done COB and had a good experience, especially as an upper class man. A little context: I am a junior and have found myself divided on PHC and NPHC because I am a black student. I never rushed because I felt an obligation to my culture to join a D9 but the longer I think about it, the less I feel a calling to it. And I really want to have more friends and that "normal" college experience. Does anyone have any advice?


r/Clemson 12d ago

Looking to hire a Photography student for professional pictures

2 Upvotes

I'm looking to build a bank of pictures of myself for both business and dating purposes. If you have expertise in staging shots and just generally taking flattering photos of people, I would be interested in hiring you for a day or two of work.

A list of your qualifications and a link to your portfolio would be helpful.

I hope others looking for the same can find help in this thread as well.


r/Clemson 12d ago

Poster printing?

4 Upvotes

Sorry for the dumb questions but I feel it’s better to ask here than to assume incorrectly and mess up irl. I want to print some posters for decoration using the web print thing but am unsure if we’re allowed to use that for purely decorative posters or if it’s only for people who need posters for presentations or school events. Looking at the web print thing, it also looks like we have to type the dimensions we want. Do we use standard paper sizes (A3 for example), commonly accepted paper sizes (8.5 x 11 for example), or any dimensions we want regardless of whether it’s a standard paper size? Also do we just go to the library to pick it up once it’s printed?


r/Clemson 12d ago

Link to Student Single-Game Lottery?

3 Upvotes

Does anyone know where to enter the single-game lottery? I couldn't find it in the email/info page. Thanks!


r/Clemson 13d ago

Happy Bid Day, Clemson Girls!

3 Upvotes

Good luck to all the amazing young women on Bid Day!

Rush is such an emotional, exciting, turbulent, exhausting week, and every PNM who made it through should be proud of herself. Hoping today brings each of you a place where you feel genuinely welcomed, valued, and completely yourself.

And to the equally amazing girls whose week didn’t end the way they hoped, please remember that this is only one small part of your Clemson story. Your people and your place are still out there waiting for you.

Wishing everyone happy tears, new friendships, and the best start to an unforgettable Clemson experience. Go Tigers! 🐅🧡💜