Clarkson University

Date: May 04 2007
Major: Business - Management and Administration (This Major's Salary over time)
I am in the class of 2008, and am a chemical engineering major.

First things first lets go with the student body. There are a lot of friendly people and most are easily aproachable. No one is going to hold your hand and help you make friends, that's your job. I remember my freshmen year was very esay to meet people. Doors were always open. also clubs are a great way to meet people. CUOC and pep band are rather popular clubs, with cuoc doing trips weekly, i've led a few but am not an actual memeber. You can always travel to suny potsdam to join one of their clubs as well.

I personally am never at a lost for things to do. My club, CUB, puts on comedians, concerts, and holds a weekly open mic night in the on campus bar. During the weekends I generally am Hiking in the ADKS, Skiing in the ADKS, hanging out with friends, working (in college you do have to do work on the weekends), or enjoying our party scene(small town alcoholism). But you're in Potsdam, NY. If you've visited you know there is not too much to do, but i have friends in Large cities who also say there is not much to do. You have to make your own fun and sad to say most of our generation seems to have lost its imagination.

My friend once called Clarkson the place where the over achieving- under achievers go. Most of us are the kids who did no work in high school and got easy A's. And in turn many of them suffer first semester freshmen year. This leads to an ego trip among most people with a typical quote of

if i went to a state school my grades would be…

And that sort of grinds down on my nerves.

The campus, it's small. There are few buildings and many buildings are unslightly. The lay out is pretty horrid, especially with the New Dorms. However, Clarkson has some top notch facilities, CAMP, Snell Hall and even the science center. Most of the stuff you won't see,much less use, unless you take the initiative and jump in on undergraduate research. I use on a daily basis the Atomic Force Microscope, and have for two years.

The dorms may leave some to be desired, but I didn't have any problems with them. They are a decent size and location isn't awful unless you are stuck in the pit.

The classes in freshmen year were easy, sophmore year started to get harder and junior year was tough. Welcome to college tho.

The professors are fun and extremely easy to talk to. Some can't teach large groups but in small groups are amazing. Most are willing to help and in terms of the Chem E department are knowldegable and laid back. Almost any prof is open to take in students for undergraduate research and you will have the option to do things that could potentially have an impact on society.

Most people gripe about the food(not awful for college), the dorms(visit st bonaventure if you wanna see crappy),and the library which is 90% online and with tons of references, physically it sucks, but its a nice place to do work.

all in all i recomend the university. you get a large amount of aid(most of us) and only a few of my friends have lost it. if you like the outdoors, we are 1.30 minutes from cascade and porter and 90 miles from the garden parking lot in the high peaks.