Clarkson University

Date: Nov 14 2006
Major: Mechanical Engineering (This Major's Salary over time)
This school is NOT worth the $21 grand I pay after aid. I don't even go to classes and I pass the exams. The academics thus far are disappointing and unhelpful.

As a member of the class of 2010, I've had to sit through the monstrosity known as the Clarkson seminar. I may as well have just set my money on fire; at least then it would have kept me warm. The expected level of performance in that class are nil; I've written essays drunk in 15 minutes and gotten A's.

The First Year Seminar is also a tremendous waste; It's 9 weeks of being told that drugs are bad, use a condom, etc. Again: could have set the money on fire for warmth.

The quads and "new dorms" are appalling: their condition is sub par, and the architecture/aesthetic is similar to a prison: block walls and monotone color schemes.

Most of the buildings on campus resemble bunkers or prisons as far as aesthetics are concerned: concrete and white or grey paint dominate. Cheel is alright, but it has to be, since it's the public face of the campus.

Activities are all but non-existent, and no one goes to them. The various clubs tend to peter out after a month or so, and the few that remain seem to do little ut a monthly activity and consume beer.

The town sucks: there is absolutely nothing to do, only one or two interesting shops, no civilization for miles in any direction. The Greek houses are all scumholes, floating in cheap beer and low quality furniture. Potsdam screams "Hick town!" at the top of its lungs.

The weather is despressing: if it isn't cloudy, there are clouds on the horizon. It's always wet, the sun sets at 4 in the afternoon, and the lighting in the dorms does not adequately offset the darkness.

While the students here are a farily nice group, by and large, don't come here expecting much cultural or ethnic diversity. This school is populated by kids that listen to pop radio and shop at American Eagle. There is no variety of subcultures, nor great exchange of ideas.

As for social life: not really. The ratio is a big issue for most people, and the friends you make here are fair weather at best. There are no clubs, good theatres or anything like that. The weekend activity is the hockey game (if there is one), then finding somewhere to drink, whereupon you stagger back to your room and fall asleep.

I'm transfering out of this school, and consider the year I've spent here to be by and large a waste of my money and time.