supplemental essay clemson

Clemson University Supplemental Essays 2022-23

Clemson Essay Prompts 2022-23

Most of the top colleges and universities in the country require applicants to complete additional essays beyond the regular Common Application or Coalition Application essay. Clemson University , located in the Northwest corner of South Carolina, is no exception. The Clemson essay prompts help the admissions committee get to know applicants better. And, of course, they can see their writing ability firsthand. Furthermore, the admissions committee uses the Clemson essays to determine placement for their honors college. This makes those Clemson supplemental essays even more important!

In this guide, we will examine the Clemson supplemental essays, including the Clemson optional essay and the Clemson honors essays. Both essays are required for admission to the Clemson honors college. We’ll go over each of the Clemson essay prompts in detail. And, we’ll show you how to craft the best possible response to each one! In addition, we’ll provide some general tips for writing college essays that will help strengthen any application you submit, not just your Clemson application.

Clemson Essays: Quick Facts

• Clemson Acceptance Rate: 49%— U.S. News rates Clemson as a “more selective” school according to its 2022-2023 rankings.
• Common or Coalition Application Essay (Optional)
• Honors College Supplemental Essays (2 Required, 1 Optional) 
• Clemson University Application: Students can apply to Clemson via the Common Application , Coalition Application , or the Clemson Application . Students should have all materials ready before the application deadline. This includes Clemson supplemental essays and optional SAT/ACT scores.
• Early Action Deadline: October 15th
• Regular Decision Deadline: January 2nd
• Clemson University Essay Tip: The Clemson essay prompts require sustained time and attention. So, it’s important to start working on your Clemson supplemental essays early! Also, starting early will give you time to have your Clemson essays reviewed by your counselors, advisors, or other trusted editors.

Does Clemson require the Coalition essay?

No, it’s not technically required. One of the ways students can apply to Clemson is through the Coalition Application. However, there are no required Clemson supplemental essays when applying through the Coalition Application. 

Students can find the Clemson optional essay prompts on the Coalition Application website. In order to access the essay prompts, students must first create an account, then add Clemson to their college list . Even though the Clemson application does not require any Clemson essays, we recommend that students complete the Clemson optional essay anyway. A Clemson application that includes a well-written essay can stand out from the rest of the pool. In addition, students can use their Coalition essay prompt on their Clemson honors college application as one of their Clemson honors essays.

Does Clemson have supplemental essays?

Yes, Clemson does have supplemental essays. However, they are not required. In fact, the Clemson application does not require any Clemson supplemental essays. That being said, Clemson is a more selective school. Students should take advantage of the Clemson optional essays as part of either their Coalition or Common Application. Although not required, students can gain an advantage over other applicants by completing this Clemson optional essay.

The Clemson honors college application, however, does require students to complete two Clemson supplemental essays. Plus, students have the choice to share any additional details with the admissions committee in a Clemson optional essay. These Clemson supplemental essays help distinguish candidates for the Clemson honors college from other applicants. Even if you are not intending to apply for the Clemson honors college, it still helps to answer the Clemson essay prompts in order to help your application stand out . 

Clemson Honors College Essay Prompts

This next section will cover the specific Clemson essay prompts for the Clemson honors college. The first prompt is unique to Clemson. The second prompt asks students to complete one of the Common Application essay prompts. These questions are designed to help the admissions committee evaluate applicants for the Clemson honors college. So, it’s important to put your best foot forward when writing these Clemson supplemental essays. Let’s take a deeper look at each of the Clemson essay prompts and talk about how to write each one

Clemson Honors College Essay #1

Tell us about your academic interests and professional goals (to the extent that you have identified them at this point). what inspired these interests and goals what experiences, talents, accomplishments, identities, and/or personal qualities can you see influencing your college career and beyond.

The first of the Clemson honors college essays asks students to reflect on their academic interests and personal goals. In addition, the prompt asks students what inspired those goals and how those goals might influence their college experience and future career. Although these Clemson supplemental essays have lengthy prompts, the question often boils down to a very simple premise: What do you want to achieve with your education and why do you think this school is the place to achieve those goals?

In other words, this first prompt wants students to identify their goals and connect those goals to both their past experiences and their desires for their college education. For example, an aspiring engineer might talk about their time in their high school robotics club . Or, an aspiring journalist might describe writing a powerful story in their high school newspaper. 

No matter what your future goals are, articulate them clearly and show how you have already taken steps toward achieving them. Your Clemson honors college application is your opportunity to show the admissions committee what you have achieved and how those achievements will affect your future.

The second part of this Clemson honors college application essay gives students the opportunity to explain how being a part of the Clemson community will help them achieve the dreams they mentioned earlier in the essay. Strong Clemson supplemental essays will show evidence of research into the college. Naming specific majors, programs, study abroad trips, or internships in your Clemson honors essays shows the admissions committee that you have researched the school. This, in turn, illustrates why you would be a good fit for Clemson and why Clemson would be a good fit for you!

Clemson Honors College Essay #2

The second essay is based on your response to one of the common application essay prompts . if you have already written a response to one of these prompts in your common application, that response is considered your second honors application essay. if one is not on file, you are required to submit a response to one of the seven prompts..

The second of the Clemson essay prompts is not unique to the Clemson honors college application. Students have the choice to submit a response to any of the seven essay prompts from the Common Application. Although these are not specific Clemson essay prompts, they do help the admissions committee get to know you better. That means that your response should be well thought out, carefully edited, and full of reasons why you would be a good fit for Clemson. 

If you have used the Common Application to apply to other schools, you may already have an essay written that would fulfill the Clemson honors college requirements. However, it is important that you choose a prompt for the Clemson honors college essay that highlights your best qualities and achievements. You may even need to edit your existing essay to make sure it showcases your qualifications for the Clemson honors college.

Choosing a topic

When selecting a topic for your Clemson supplemental essays, there are many options. Each of the Clemson essay prompts asks about different aspects of a student’s academic or personal life. And, none of the prompts are given any more weight than the others. Therefore, you should choose the topic that you resonate with the most. Before sitting down to actually write this essay, narrow down the list of topics. Do this by identifying the ones that you can tie to your interests and experiences. Then, once you have narrowed down your list, create outlines of a few different Clemson essay prompts. Finally, decide which one you feel best about.

The most important aspect of your Clemson essays, and your overall Clemson application, is that they showcase you as an individual. Your Clemson essays should include specific details about your life and experiences. Avoid vague statements, like “I always strive to do my best in class” or “My work in the community means a lot to me.”  Instead, use more specific sentences that could only have been written by you. There is no single formula for writing perfect Clemson supplemental essays. The best thing that you can do is showcase your individual strengths.

This section of the Clemson essays is so closely related to the Common Application personal essay. Therefore, you may benefit from additional resources related to the Common Application personal statement. Our blog has several example personal statements that can give you inspiration for writing your own. In addition, you can check out our essay guides for more tips on writing any college essay, including the Clemson supplemental essays.

Optional Clemson Essay Prompt

Please use this space to share any special circumstances affecting your application that warrant consideration by the selection committee..

The Clemson honors college application also includes a Clemson optional essay. The prompt for this Clemson optional essay is vaguer than the other two required prompts. It asks students to share any special circumstances or life experiences that have affected you or your Clemson application. There are many possibilities for what to write about relating to this topic. But, it should be used to talk about something new rather than something you have already discussed. 

Not every student will need to complete this Clemson optional essay. But, if you have any extenuating circumstances that might benefit from some context or explanation, this may be the place to give it. For example, you may not have many extracurricular activities because you spend your time after school caring for younger siblings. This would be the place to explain how that responsibility has impacted your life and your application. Or maybe you moved schools in the middle of your junior year and that transition affected your grades in a negative way. This Clemson optional essay can be used to explain that dip in grades. Whatever your circumstances, use this essay to show why you still make a strong applicant.

How hard is it to get into Clemson Honors College?

The Clemson honors college, otherwise known as the Calhoun Honors College, only accepts a select group of applicants each year. A total of 4,588 students enrolled in the first-year class at Clemson this past year. However, Clemson honors college only accepts around 400 students each year. This means that while the regular Clemson acceptance rate is around 49% , the Clemson acceptance rate for the honors college is less than 10% . 

U.S. News does not assign a specific Calhoun Honors College ranking. However, Clemson overall received a top-20 ranking for its co-op and internship opportunities, many of which are exclusive to honors college students. In addition, among public universities with honors colleges , the Calhoun Honors College ranking was third highest. It only ranked behind Purdue’s (#53) and the University of Maryland’s (#58) honors colleges.

Priority admissions deadline

Applications to the Clemson honors college must be submitted by November 1st in order to be considered for priority admission. Additionally, students must submit their regular Clemson application by the Early Action date of October 15th. That’s more than two months ahead of the Regular Decision Clemson application deadline. Along with the two required Clemson supplemental essays and the Clemson optional essay, students must also include two letters of recommendation with their Clemson honors college application.

Although admission to the Clemson honors college is extremely competitive, the benefits are great. Students in the Clemson honors college have access to special courses that other students don’t. In addition, honors students have access to special facilities and research opportunities both inside and outside their major. Students interested in applying to the honors college should start their applications early to complete all required materials by the deadline. See our resources on application deadlines for assistance on how to manage these tight timelines!

5 Tips on How to Write the Clemson Essays

Tops tips on writing the clemson essays, 1. start early and make a plan.

Students who begin their Clemson supplemental essays early have a much easier time completing them than those who start later on in the process. The Common Application opens on August 1st. So, students can get started with the Clemson essay prompts as early as then. Once the application opens, create a calendar so you can set aside time to work on your Clemson supplemental essays. Writing the essay gradually over several weeks helps prevent burnout and gives you a chance to refine your ideas.  Make sure you leave enough time to revise your Clemson essays after you draft them.

2. Brainstorm ideas before you start writing

It’s tempting to start writing the essay as soon as you see the Clemson essay prompts. But, brainstorming can really help improve your Clemson essays in the long run. A good place to start with any of the Clemson essay prompts is to write down a short list of adjectives that you want the Clemson admissions committee to associate with you! After that, you can write down events or accomplishments in your life where you have demonstrated these qualities and look for common themes that align with one or more of the potential essay topics. Then, when you’re ready to sit down and write your Clemson essays, you already have a bank of ideas ready to incorporate into your writing.

3. Make it about you

Many students find it uncomfortable to brag about or even write about their own accomplishments. However, the purpose of the Clemson essay prompts is for the admissions committee to get to know you. They can’t do that if you spend your essay talking about what other people have done. This doesn’t mean you can’t mention others’ names in your Clemson essays or that you should inflate your own accomplishments. Just try to use as many “I” statements as possible and focus the narrative on what you have done or experienced.

4. Use specific examples wherever possible

Good answers to the Clemson essay prompts will be full of specific details that can transport the reader into the writer’s life and mindset. You want your essay to contain information that allows the reader to get to know you personally. Instead of simply describing the events of an important game you played for your basketball team, let the reader know how it felt to score that game-winning basket and receive the MVP award. Instead of just describing yourself as a lover of community service, show the reader your devotion by sharing moments when you volunteered at your local homeless shelter. Your essay should not read like it could have been written by anybody. It should celebrate your unique experiences and passions.

5. Get help from trusted sources

Even though the primary voice of your essay should be your own, you can, and should, still get help with your Clemson application and Clemson essays from others. Trusted family members, teachers, counselors, and friends can help you develop your essay’s central ideas and make sure you are staying on topic. Try to find two or three editors that you trust and share your Clemson supplemental essays with them early on in the writing process to allow for multiple drafts and rewrites. Plus, if you sign up for CollegeAdvisor.com, you’ll get personalized essay suggestions from your advisor and our Essay Editing team to make sure you write as strong of a response to the Clemson essay prompts as you can.

Clemson supplemental essays and the admissions process

Writing the Clemson supplemental essays is just one part of the larger Clemson application process. Clemson reviews applications using a holistic process. This means there are a wide variety of factors the admissions committee looks for when reviewing each application. 

While your academic record, test scores, and grades are important data points in your application, the Clemson admissions committee knows that each applicant is more than just numbers on a page. In fact, the Clemson admissions website states , “We want to hear your story.” The Clemson essay prompts, therefore, give students the chance to provide context for the other parts of their application. Any additional information you provide gives the admissions committee more insight into who you are as a person.

Colleges like Clemson use essays to get to know candidates for admission beyond what they see in other parts of the application. For this reason, you should not use the Clemson essay prompts or the Clemson honors essays to restate your academic accomplishments or extracurricular involvement. Those already have a place in other parts of your Clemson application. 

Tell your story

Instead, use the Clemson essay prompts to tell a story about yourself that the rest of your application can’t tell! This is particularly important if you have potential red flags on your application, like a semester of poor grades in an otherwise good transcript. The Clemson essays give you a chance to tell the story behind the numbers and explain why you should be admitted to the school.

Because these essays are such an important part of any college application, it is important to take the time to do them well. Even with optional essays, like the Clemson supplemental essays, you should plan to work on and revise your essays over the space of several weeks or even months. You also want to tailor your essays to suit each college’s prompts. This will require taking the time to research each school to see what they are looking for in their applicants. 

Clemson Essay Prompts – Final Thoughts

As we have seen, the answer to the question, “Does Clemson have supplemental essays?” is “Yes!” However, unless you’re applying to the Clemson honors college, you do have the option to avoid the Clemson essay prompts. But, if you’re looking to make your application stand out amid the competitive Clemson acceptance rate, you’ll want to write those essays! Thoughtful responses to the Clemson essay prompts make a difference. Well-written essays improve your admissions chances, which is important given the competitive Clemson acceptance rate. Additionally, impressive Clemson essays could open the door to scholarship opportunities.

Therefore, regardless of whether you intend to apply to the Clemson honors college, we recommend that you include the optional Common Application personal statement along with your Clemson application. And if your GPA is high enough and you have a strong slate of extracurricular activities, make sure you complete the Clemson honors college application as well!

Writing top-notch college essays can be intimidating. We get it! If you need a little extra support with writing your Clemson essays, we’re here to help. Sign up for a CollegeAdvisor.com account to access personalized one-on-one advising with our experts. They can help you with your Clemson supplemental essays every step of the way. Plus, gain access to our vast library of webinars, essay guides, and additional resources whenever you want! Register here to get started!

Senior advisor, Alex Baggott-Rowe wrote this article . Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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Clemson University’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Academic interest and goals essay.

Tell us about your academic interests and professional goals (to the extent that you have identified them at this point). What inspired these interests and goals? What experiences, talents, accomplishments, identities, and/or personal qualities can you see influencing your college career and beyond?

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

Clemson Admission Requirements 2023

Clemson University is a public research university in South Carolina that offers 80 undergraduate majors across seven colleges. The football team, a pillar of the social life for many Clemson students, recently broke into the top 25 programs in the country. But you don’t need to be a football-fanatic to find attractive qualities in Clemson. Maybe you’re interested in their popular Engineering or Business programs, or you’re taken with the world-renowned research of their faculty, like Professor Laine Mears ’ work in smart manufacturing. With an acceptance rate of 43%, it’s a selective school, but within a reasonable reach for many applicants. In this guide, we will explain the Clemson admission requirements, deadlines, and tips to help you craft a strong application.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

How hard is it to get into clemson, clemson acceptance rate, clemson early decision, early action, regular decision, and transfer acceptance rate, clemson gpa requirements, clemson sat requirements, clemson act requirements, what does clemson look for in students, clemson application deadlines, clemson supplemental essay prompts.

It is moderately difficult to get accepted to Clemson University. The grade point average of people who get accepted to Clemson are in the top half of their class. Clemson University admits just under half of its applicants. However, this does not mean that getting into Clemson is easy. People who successfully get into Clemson also tend to have impressive test scores, and a well-rounded profile that showcases your talents, interests, and goals. According to the Clemson admissions statistics , just over half of the students that enrolled for the 2022-2023 school year were in the top 10% of their class. 

The Clemson University acceptance rate is 43%, making it a moderately competitive school. This means that in 2022, out of 52,819 applicants, 22,704 were accepted and 4,588 enrolled. Acceptance rate is an indication of how competitive a school is, but it is also an indication of how popular a school is. To get into a school like Clemson, you will need to perform well in some areas of your college application. 

Though Clemson doesn’t offer an Early Decision admissions option, it does offer Early Action admissions. Clemson doesn’t release data on whether students who submit by the Early Action deadline are accepted at a higher rate, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to apply early. The Application deadline for Early Action is October 15. Early action is a non-binding option that doesn’t commit you to attending a school if you are admitted. As we said above, Clemson University’s acceptance rate is 43% because it received 52,819 applications and accepted 22,704 students. Clemson is a widely popular school to apply to, and is getting more popular with each passing year.

Clemson’s transfer acceptance rate is 58% because it received 4,2343 applications and accepted 2,466 students .

Clemson does not have a minimum GPA requirement for admission, but it does consider your academic rigor and performance in high school. The average weighted GPA of admitted students was 4.38 , which means that most students took challenging courses such as honors, AP, or IB and earned mostly A’s.

You will need a very high GPA and will likely be graduating at the top half of your class in order to get into Clemson. If your GPA is lower than suggested at the time you apply, you may have to perform above average on your standardized tests. If your grades aren’t as high as they could have been due to life experiences or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section .

Clemson Unweighted GPA Requirements

Clemson does not report the average unweighted GPA of admitted students, but based on the weighted GPA and the typical grading scale, it’s fair to estimate that the average unweighted GPA of admitted students is around 3.8 or higher . This means that you will need to have mostly A’s and some B’s in your transcript to be competitive. 

Clemson University Unweighted GPA Distribution:

What GPA is required for Clemson?

Applicants’ GPA when applying to Clemson should be between 3.55 and 3.9 to be strong candidates. Having less than this will require compensating by having outstanding extracurricular activities or personal statement.

The SAT requirements for Clemson University are a 1230 to 1390 composite score, combining the reading and writing, and math sections together. You will need a moderately high SAT score in order to get into Clemson University. If your SAT is lower than suggested at the time you apply, you may have to perform above average on your other standardized tests or have spectacular extracurricular activities to compensate. If your grades aren’t as high as they could have been due to life experiences or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section .

What SAT score is required for Clemson?

Applicants should score between 1230 to 1390 on their SAT to be strong candidates for admission to this school. Having less than this will require compensating by using a substitute ACT score or having an above-average GPA. Either an SAT or ACT score is required for application to this school.

The average SAT score of admitted students was 1310, which is above the national average of 1059. The middle 50% of admitted students scored between 1230 and 1390 on the SAT , which means that 25% scored below 1230 and 25% scored above 1390. To be competitive, you should aim to score within or above this range.

Clemson has a superscore policy for the SAT , which means that it will combine your highest scores from different test dates to create your best possible score. This can benefit you if you take the SAT more than once and improve your score on some sections.

Clemson does not require the SAT writing section, but you can still submit it if you think it will strengthen your application.

The ACT requirements for Clemson University are a 30 composite score combining all English, mathematics, reading, and science sections. You will need a very high ACT score in order to get into Clemson University. If your ACT is not what you’d hoped by the time you apply, you may have to make it up by getting above-average scores on the SAT and having an above-average grade point average. If your ACT wasn’t as high as you’d like because of difficulties or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section.

Clemson Average ACT: 30

What ACT score is required for Clemson?

Applicants should score between 28 and 32 on their ACT to be strong candidates for admission to this school. Having less than this will require compensating by using a substitute SAT score or having an above-average GPA. Either an SAT or ACT score is required for application to this school.

Clemson does not have a minimum ACT requirement for admission, but it does consider your test scores as part of your academic profile. The average ACT score of admitted students was 30, which is above the national average of 21.

The middle 50% of admitted students scored between 28 and 32 on the ACT, which means that 25% scored below 28 and 25% scored above 32. To be competitive, you should aim to score within or above this range.

Clemson has a superscore policy for the ACT, which means that it will combine your highest scores from different test dates to create your best possible score. This can benefit you if you take the ACT more than once and improve your score on some sections.

Clemson does not require the ACT writing section1, but you can still submit it if you think it will strengthen your application.

Clemson has stated themselves that the following factors are the most important when considering an applicant’s admission: rigor of secondary school record, class rank, academic GPA, standardized test scores, and state residency. Still, though they don’t seem to hold quite as much weight as these (mostly) academic components, they also consider a variety of other factors, including your application essay. You can use your essay, coupled with other parts of your application, to argue why you’re a perfect fit for Clemson. 

So how do you know if you’re a perfect fit? Well, first you should probably look inward to your own values, aspirations, and interests (we have some guidance on that). In doing that sort of reflection, you’ll get a sense of the sort of things you want in a college that maybe can’t be encapsulated in a course catalog. But maybe you’ll find glimmers of it in a school’s mission statement. Let’s take a look at Clemson’s (it’s a doozy):

Clemson University was established to fulfill our founder's vision of "a high seminary of learning" to develop "the material resources of the State" for the people of South Carolina. Nurtured by an abiding land grant commitment, Clemson has emerged as a research university with a global vision. Our primary purpose is educating undergraduate and graduate students to think deeply about and engage in the social, scientific, economic, and professional challenges of our times. The foundation of this mission is the generation, preservation, communication, and application of knowledge. The University also is committed to the personal growth of the individual and promotes an environment of good decision making, healthy and ethical lifestyles, and tolerance and respect for others . Our distinctive character is shaped by a legacy of service, collaboration, and fellowship forged from and renewed by the spirit of Thomas Green Clemson's covenant (bold added). — — —

We’ve bolded a few words and phrases that jump out to us as particularly important in this mission statement. Taken together, they shine a light on certain patterns that point to the values of Clemson: growth, service, knowledge. If you’re asking yourself “what does Clemson look for in students?” these big-picture ideas serve as a very strong starting point for your research. 

How else can you demonstrate that you and Clemson fit together? Think about your answers to these questions:

How have you collaborated with others in the past, and how can you help Clemson admissions readers see that? 

Where have you taken initiative in your education, and how will you continue to do so? 

Where have you taken risks and learned resilience (because Clemson knows you’re going to fail a lot in life—how you use and work through failure is what’s important)? 

Where and how have you explored your creativity? 

How and why do you value community? 

And where do you find balance in life?

Clemson has two application deadlines for first-year students: early action and regular decision. Here are the dates and details for each option1:

The Clemson University application deadline for regular decision is January 2.  

The application deadline for Clemson University’s early action and early decision is October 15.  

Clemson also has a rolling admission deadline for transfer students: December 1 for spring enrollment and July 1 for fall enrollment.

Below is a table showing the deadlines for each of the steps of the Clemson admissions process.

Clemson does not require a personal statement for the standard application, but you can still submit one. Though it’s optional, it’s almost always a good idea to do this (and if you’re applying to other schools, you likely already have a personal statement ready to go).

While the standard application to Clemson University does not have applicants write supplemental essays, the Honors College does. If you are applying to the Honors College, you will need to write two supplemental essays of up to 500 words each. Here are the prompts for the Honors College essays:

Prompt 1: The Honors College values academic achievement, community engagement, and campus leadership. Please provide specific examples of how you have demonstrated these characteristics during high school.

Prompt 2: The Honors College strives to create an intellectually stimulating environment where students can pursue their passions and interests. Please describe an academic topic or question that intrigues you and why.

Clemson Essay Tips

Let’s think about Prompt 1 first. The good news is that this is essentially a “ Community ” essay, in which they want to know not only about a community you’re a part of, but importantly how you’ve contributed to that community. We’ll encourage you to take a broad understanding of what “community” can mean here. Yes, it can be a community tied together by a physical place, but it can also be a group of people bound by common actions, interests, or circumstances. 

Prompt 2 is essentially a “ Why Major? ” essay. Though you don’t need to write your essay specifically about a topic related to your intended major, the approach you can take here will be similar to the one we advise in our guide for this kind of essay.  The main difference between this prompt and a more traditional “Why Major?” essay is that you don’t necessarily need to spend any time talking about why you’re interested in pursuing this topic at Clemson. Instead, you can focus your story more on experiences you’ve had in your past that inform this interest of yours.

Special thanks to Nick for writing this blog post.

Nick Muccio

Rather than candy, Nick (he/him) went searching for people’s vacuum cleaners when trick or treating. He’s since found other ways to help people clean, usually involving their essays (though he has great ideas on carpet maintenance, too). He earned a degree in Psychology from Bates College, where he rowed boats and acted in plays. Teaching high schoolers English for seven years taught him about the importance of presence and knitting sweaters. He sweats a lot, usually on purpose, and usually involving running shoes, a bike, or a rock climbing harness. His greatest fear? Heights. His greatest joys? Numerous, though shared laughter is up there.

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Important Dates for Fall 2024 Admission Cycle

Early action vs. regular decision deadlines.

The Honors College offers  Early Action and Regular Decision deadlines  for potential students.

Applicants are eligible for consideration for the  National Scholars Program  and  Breakthrough Scholars Program  if they complete all three of these steps:

• Choose Early Action on their  Clemson undergraduate application .
• Meet Early Action Clemson undergraduate application deadlines.
• Meet Honors Early action deadlines.

Honors decisions will be released only to students who have received an admission decision from Clemson Undergraduate Admissions . Honors College Early Action applicants who receive a deferred Early Action decision from Undergraduate Admissions will not receive an Honors decision until March 15.

Potential students who start an Honors College Early Action application but are not able to complete it before the Early Action deadline will be considered a Regular Decision applicant if Regular Decision deadlines (as well as Clemson undergraduate application Early or Regular Decision deadlines) are met.

Applications completed between January 11 and April 1 are considered late and may be reviewed on a space available basis. However, we cannot guarantee that such applications will receive consideration.

Late Honors applicants will be updated about their Honors status on or before April 15. The incoming first-year student application will close on April 1.

2024 First-Year Admission Process

Why clemson honors.

The Honors College provides many opportunities and experiences to help you thrive during and beyond your time at Clemson – enhancing your undergraduate experience and strengthening your academic, personal, and professional development.

As an Honors student, you have exclusive access to Honors courses and seminars, as well as expanded research and program opportunities that aren't necessarily related to your major – broadening your perspectives in ways that many of our students say create their most valuable Honors experiences. 

In addition to individualized access to Honors facilities, faculty, and courses, you become part of a community that intentionally nurtures friendship, support, and success through options that range from mentorship by peers and leading Clemson faculty to incredible experiential learning opportunities.

How to Apply

Admission to the Honors College is highly selective. Through their high school activities, application essays, and other application materials, successful applicants will show clear evidence of intellectual engagement and vision as well as community engagement and leadership. The Clemson University Honors College selects the best candidates through a holistic review of Honors applications.

Your application to the Clemson University Honors College is separate from (and in addition to) your undergraduate application.

After you submit your first-year undergraduate application , you will receive access to the Honors College application in your Clemson admissions portal if you selected “Honors Interest” while completing your undergraduate application.

You can also scroll to the bottom of your Clemson admissions portal to find the section that asks if you have interest in applying to the Honors College.

Before you apply, you are welcome (but not required) to sign up for a visit to the Honors Center , where you will meet Honors staff, tour our facility, and meet current Honors students.

Review Before You Submit

Please take great care in reviewing your Honors application before submitting.

We are not able to edit your application after submission. The only changes you can make after submission are to upload additional, optional supplemental materials or to withdraw your application.

We're Here to Help!

If you have any questions after reading this guide to the application process, please email [email protected] .

The Honors College application consists of:

• Two required essays
• An involvement and activities section
• An awards section
• Two letters of recommendation (submitted as required materials in Step 2)

The Honors application is available to students applying through the Common app starting August 15. After that date, you will be able to access your Honors application within 24 hours via your Clemson admissions portal.

To be considered, please take great care in producing a thoughtful and well-written application. 

Write well-developed essay responses (650 words maximum each) for the required essay prompts. Essays constitute a critical part of your Honors College application. Thoughtful and original responses will provide the application reviewers with key insights into your accomplishments, intellectual curiosity, and vision.

Be genuine in your essay responses, highlighting personal insights and experiences, rather than merely listing your accomplishments. Use these essays as an opportunity to separate yourself from the competition - what makes you an ideal candidate for the Honors College?

Involvement and Activities

Describe up to seven of the most significant leadership, service, work, learning, and/or enrichment activities (e.g., independent research or study, clubs, studies abroad, internships, employment experience, family or childcare, athletics, hobbies) in which you have participated in your high school career.

For each activity, you will be asked to provide:

• An overview of the activity
• Your time commitment
• Your leadership
• The impacts you have made

Describe up to five awards or recognitions you have received during your high school career that you regard as significant.

All required materials need to be uploaded directly to your admissions portal . Please make note of the following:

Standardized Test Scores

Clemson is test optional. Applicants are not required to submit a standardized test score to be considered for admission for the 2024-25 academic year. If a student elects to have test scores included in the review of their application to Clemson, that will apply to the Honors College as well.

Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR)

Upload your SRAR through your Clemson  admissions portal . 

Honors Recommendation Letters

Two letters of recommendation are required for your Honors College application to be considered complete. We strongly suggest one letter from a school counselor and one from a teacher.

If you applied to Clemson University via the Common Application, please use the Common Application recommendation system to send your recommendation letters to Clemson University.

If you applied to Clemson University via the Clemson University or Coalition applications, you can upload your recommendation letters to the Upload Materials section of the Clemson University admissions portal. You or your counselor can also submit recommendations via your school’s system such as Naviance or SCOIR.

Your Clemson admissions portal will continue to accept support materials through the end of the application cycle; however, these additional materials may not be considered once your application status is Awaiting Decision.

Other Supporting Materials

You have the option to upload up to two additional supporting materials (e.g., resume, writing sample, etc.) when you complete your Honors application. After your Honors application has been submitted you cannot make changes to it; however, you can add up to three additional supporting documents.

Fall 2024 essay prompts are in your Clemson Honors application. 

Essay 1 (650 word limit, Required)

Tell us about your academic interests and professional goals (to the extent that you have identified them at this point). What experiences, talents, accomplishments, and/or characteristics inspired and contributed to these goals? What avenues have you explored to learn more about this or to gain experience in this area to date? [ Note: This is your opportunity to tell us who you are as a thinker. Please focus your essay on you, your experiences, and your ideas, not on what the Honors College or Clemson offers. ]

Essay 2 (650 word limit, Required)

The second essay is based on your response to one of the  Common Application essay prompts .

If you have already written a response to one of these prompts in your Common Application, that response is considered your second Honors application essay. If one is not on file, you are required to submit a response to one of the seven prompts.

Essay 3 (650 word limit, Optional)

Please use this space to share any special circumstances affecting your application that warrant consideration by the selection committee.

You can verify receipt of ALL of your Honors application materials by reviewing your Clemson admissions portal . This information is available to you immediately upon submission of your Honors application.

Remember to keep track of your username and password and to watch your Clemson admissions portal for your decision notification!

First-year enrollment in the Honors College is limited to approximately 350-400 students, less than ten percent of the first-year class.

A link to the Honors admission appeal form will be provided to you in your Clemson admissions portal . 

Students who receive an Honors admission decision in mid-January can submit their appeal by:

• March 1 for an April 1 decision notification
• April 1 for an April 15 decision notification

Students who receive an Honors admission decision on March 1 can submit their appeal by April 1 for a decision notification on April 15.

Being proactive and prepared will help ensure that your application is complete and ready for review. Other tips include: 

• Submit your Clemson undergraduate application early to give yourself time to also complete your Honors application. 
• Before the end of the undergraduate application, you will be asked if you are interested in applying to the Honors College. If you are, select "yes" in order to gain access to the Honors application after you submit your undergraduate application. 
• Ask for recommenders early! We recommend you submit your recommenders' contact information as soon as you access the Honors College application. 
• Pre-write your essays, involvement, and awards sections in advance using a word processing application. Proofread your essays many times, use spell check, and have others review them as well. 

Above all, please take great care in reviewing your application before you press submit. Neither you nor Honors College staff can make changes to your application once it is submitted. The only option is to upload additional, optional supporting materials.

Although many members of the Clemson University Honors College receive scholarships and/or financial aid from Clemson University, there are only a very limited number of scholarships specifically associated with membership in the College.

Moreover, the awarding of an academic merit scholarship from any source does not carry with it automatic admission to the Honors College.

For scholarship and financial aid questions, please contact Clemson's Financial Aid Office .

“ “Clemson’s culture, especially in the Honors College, promotes a well-rounded environment of research and socialization. Both of those were important to me from the beginning, so when I learned I could get them here, it was an easy decision for me.” Terryn Witherspoon Biological Sciences Major ('23)

Talk to one of our advisors about the Clemson Honors experience! Learn about program and class options, opportunities to work with world-class faculty, how we build an Honors community, living on Clemson campus – and most importantly, how our faculty and staff encourage our students to excel and reach their fullest potential.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Write the Clemson University Essays 2020-2021

Academics and activism combine at Clemson, one of South Carolina’s top universities. Founded in 1889, Clemson University is passionate about building a robust student body that’s dedicated to serving the larger community. Students have the opportunity to work with volunteer organizations like the Women’s Leadership Council and the Giving Tree Project. And with 80 undergraduate majors and hundreds of student clubs and organizations, there’s plenty to do both in and out of the classroom. As a bonus, more than 92% of Clemson seniors say they would choose this school all over again. 

Clemson, which is ranked #70 by US News , has a general acceptance rate of 47%. Its Calhoun Honors College accepts just under 10% of applicants. The Honors College offers its students specialized coursework with Clemson’s top professors, opportunities for independent research, exciting study abroad programs, access to the Honors Academic Activities Center, and much more! 

Want to know your chances at Clemson? Calculate your chances for free right now.

Want to learn what Clemson will actually cost you based on your income? And how long your application to the school should take? Here’s what every student considering Clemson and the Calhoun Honors College needs to know.

Calhoun Honors College Supplemental Essay Prompts

While the standard application to Clemson University does not have applicants write supplemental essays, the Honors College does. The Honors College application is separate from Common App. Let’s take a look at the essay prompts.

The essays constitute a critical part of your Honors College application. Thoughtfully and originally responding to the following essays will provide the selection committee key insights into your accomplishments, intellectual curiosity, and vision.

Prompt 1: Tell us ─ as best you can at this point ─ about your academic and professional goals. What experiences, talents, accomplishments, and/or personal qualities make you think you’d be happy and successful in the Honors College and in your future career? (500 words or fewer)

Prompt 2: What is something you thought you knew that you turned out to be wrong about? Why was this realization important? (500 words or fewer)

Prompt 3: Please use this space to share any special circumstances affecting your application that warrant consideration by the selection committee. (250 words or fewer)

Honors Applicants, Prompt 1 (required)

Tell us ─ as best you can at this point ─ about your academic and professional goals. what experiences, talents, accomplishments, and/or personal qualities make you think you’d be happy and successful in the honors college and in your future career (500 words or fewer).

This prompt is asking you about your life direction so far and how the Honors College could fit into it. You’ll want to approach the essay as a classic “ Why This Major? ” essay while focusing more heavily on explaining your future career goals. 

For your first paragraph, tell the story of how you came to develop the academic and professional goals you have today while linking the two together. For example, if your academic goal is to study marine biology and your professional one is to break into the aquaculture industry to make it more eco-friendly, you could introduce your essay with a personal anecdote. The start of such an essay could look like this:

“I first became interested in fish while watching tiny fries swim around in a small pond right outside the school playground. It was a ritual for my friends and I to visit the ‘PokéPond,’ observe how the fish were growing, and try feeding them on occasion. That all changed when the school groundskeepers accidentally tipped over a bag of fertilizer into the pond, and the fish were no more. 

After seeing the effects of pollution on the puddle, I became interested in the fish I had nostalgia for in a more scientific way. I read books on ichthyology and asked myself how I could recreate the PokéPond and its fries. I learned that aquaculture was the solution, and eventually came to dream of starting a sustainable and efficient aquafarm as my future career. 

To make my idea a reality, I will need to develop an in-depth understanding of osmosis and fish gills to take care of practical matters such as sanitizing fish tanks. That is where the Calhoun Honors College, with its innovative learning and individualized research opportunities, comes in.”

Start the second paragraph with a sentence that ties your academic and professional goals to the Honors College ─ something akin to the following statement would do the trick: 

“The Calhoun Honors College offers unparalleled resources, such as the EUREKA! 2.0 research program and Educational Enrichment Travel Grants, which would allow me to explore my passion for marine biology in new depth and take my aquaculture career to new heights.”

Continue down this vein to fully explain how the Honors College is the right fit for you. Specific details are crucial ─ take a look at the Honors College website and find programs and opportunities that would enhance your existing talents, accomplishments, personal qualities. Explain how you know that these programs are ideal for you because of your previous life experiences, e.g. studying fish in the puddle with your own microscope taught you the value of experiential learning, a goal which the Calhoun Honors College also holds dear. Avoid making this paragraph a laundry list ─ after you mention any resource at the Honors College, show how it would benefit you personally more than an equivalent resource at another university. 

Remember the wording of the prompt as you write ─ Clemson wants to know how you would be happy and successful at the Honors College and the future career it can open up to you. A good way to wrap up the essay would be to write a third paragraph about what success and happiness mean to you, and how the Honors College could help you achieve both. Start off this part with your definitions, and be sure to define success and happiness as something larger than yourself. For example, success could mean reducing pollution from aquafarms, while happiness could mean satiating your intellectual curiosity in an environment of diverse individuals. Explain how the Honors College, with its shared values of X and unique educational opportunities of Y, would allow you to achieve your version of happiness and success.

Honors Applicants, Prompt 2 (required)

What is something you thought you knew that you turned out to be wrong about why was this realization important (500 words or fewer).

This essay is all about telling a story and taking the admissions readers through your thoughts. A quirky or unique and serious subject that has a philosophical lesson would be ideal ─ for example, the story of how you thought you knew that you could dig to the center of the Earth as a child, but quickly hit rock as you were digging and realized the importance of learning by doing. 

Begin the essay by explaining how you came to know your chosen piece of knowledge. Why were you confident that it was correct? In a new paragraph, explain how you realized that you were wrong and what feelings the realization came with. If you felt embarrassed or defensive, doubling down on your original ideas as you were proven wrong, describe how you finally gained the courage and humility to admit to your mistake. Though other people may have been instrumental in helping you see things in a different way, focus mostly on your internal thoughts and feelings rather than heated debates. 

Conclude with the realization of how being wrong was important not only for yourself, but for humanity. Ask yourself what lesson your story could teach others. For example, a student entrepreneur who started a single wheel skateboard company could write the following essay about learning the value of making bold change:

At that moment, as I walked out of the office, I threw my hands in the air. I had realized that I was wrong ─ not rocking the boat is not the way to live life ─ and I had raised my first round of angel investment for OneBlades as a result. My realization was so much bigger than myself. My example proved not only myself wrong, but all of the doubters in my life and all of the people in my shoes who doubt themselves everyday. I can now say that we must rock the boat, and rock it until it capsizes. Only then can we build something bigger.

Honors Applicants, Prompt 3 (optional)

Please use this space to share any special circumstances affecting your application that warrant consideration by the selection committee. (250 words or fewer).

Unlike for the other essays, we recommend answering this question directly and matter-of-factly rather than with an anecdote. Be sure to explain your circumstance in as much detail as needed, plus the subtle and obvious ways in which it affected you. Unlike other essays, there’s no need to take up the entire word count if not necessary.

This essay is truly optional in that not answering it will not show a lack of motivation on your part ─ the prompt exists for explaining circumstances outside of your control that affected your personal, academic, and professional development. Some of the circumstances that would fall into this category would be the following:

• Since both of your parents had to work, you spent much of your time outside the classroom caring for your younger siblings instead of doing extracurricular activities
• One of your family members had a long battle with cancer, and you spent lots of mental energy worrying about them
• Your mental health suffered after a traumatic experience, and that caused your grades to fall
• You were diagnosed with ADHD at 16
• As a low-income student, preparing for the SAT was a challenge

If you did not have an unavoidable experience that came crashing into your life during your high school career, it would be best to not answer this prompt. You can provide additional details about your academics and extracurricular activities in other sections of the Calhoun Honors College application, as the application gives ample room to describe them. 

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Clemson University Application Essay Examples

National honor society application essay examples.

Being accepted into the National honors society is not only and honor, but most importantly a privilege. This means that I have achieved many academic goals, such as my 3.86 GPA, and success in many of my other clubs as well. I have taken multiple honors classes throughout high school and excelled in them. They have taught me a strong positive work ethic and gave me the criticism that I need to better myself. Also, I have been given the responsibility as Captain of my golf team. My job is to instill confidence and inspiration to my teammates ensuring them that they can accomplish the highest of goals on the golf course. Not to mention that is only one of my leadership rolls at Middletown High School South.

Beta Club Application Essay Examples

Throughout my high school career I have participated in many activities and been awarded many great honors. As a member of my high school color guard, I have led as co-captian and captain for four years, traveling across the country to compete. Beta Club has given me the opportunity to serve my local community and create a service project to reach the globe. I was asked to lead the volunteers at my church for the early service in the children's ministry area my sophomore year and I continue to serve in this position. During my junior year I was acknowledged as a junior marshal, a Wofford Scholar, and a Presbyterian College Scholar.

Clark Atlanta University Application Essay

I aspire to attend the Clark Atlanta University because it is a symbol for past and future generations of educational and operational excellence. Clark Atlanta University is the hub of African American leadership and educational expansion, and with the constant policing of the community and poaching of black culture in today’s society, it is significant that I achieve an education that represents myself and the world with which I am familiar and intend to change for the better.

Florida State University Application Essay Sample

I was born in Victoria, Texas. Being raised in South Florida, I’ve been around a variety of cultures and diverse people all my life. I am mu-lingual (English / Spanish) and I am conversational in Italian. Attending Somerset Academy Charter since kindergarten is one of the reasons I am who I am today. Somerset Academy is a school that makes each student feel important, valued and part of a school community. I have always had the opportunity to speak up and reach out to my peers for any help and advice needed. The Somerset Academy community has shaped me into being a dedicated student and has allowed me to build mentoring relationships with many of my professors. Another reason I am the person I am today is because of my parents and the empowerment afforded to me. I come from a family that has instilled in me the significance of an education and a strong work ethic. They have also taught me the importance of freedom of choice and accountability for those choices. My parents have always stressed that an education is paramount to attain a

Texas A & M University Application Essay Sample

Despite my enrollment on Blinn TEAM, I took advantage of many opportunities that otherwise only those who are fully enrolled at Texas A&M would take. I am a member of the Corps of Cadets, a New Student Conference Orientation Leader, and a student worker on the Texas A&M campus. All of these experiences have exposed me to lessons, hardships, and joys that I do not regret going through for a single second.

Early College Application Essay Sample

I am writing to express my interest in the biology teaching position at Bard High School Early College (BHSEC). I am currently holding a New York City initial certification in adolescent biology education as well as a Master degree in Biology. I have experience teaching at a high school as well as a college level. I believe that my experience and qualification is a great fit for this position.

Liberty University Application Essay Sample

Since I was fifteen I have always been drawn to answering important questions, engaging in meaningful discussions, and touching lives in intentional and personal ways. My favourite thing to do is disciple; engage in authentic conversations about life, relationships, and Jesus through a mixture of counseling, mentoring, and teaching. I have been intrigued by philosophy and theology since high school. Since then I did my undergraduate degree at Summit Pacific College, close to where I live so that I could help my family build our new house, while preparing to impact my world for Christ. At Summit, I earned a BA in Religion, with a major in Biblical Theology. In this major I took exegetical coursework, first year Hebrew and Greek, and was prepared for Graduate studies with a thesis course.

I realize that there have been many things that have influenced my growth as an individual. However, because I am so often drawn to ideas in math and science, I’d have to conclude that these two fields of study pose the most compelling as far as personal development. My interest in these fields have impacted who I am today. As a younger student I did not really care much about school. In fact, my second grade teacher pronounced me a failure, but my parents believed in my strengths, and gradually school turned a corner for me. By the end of my sophomore year I had begun watching lectures of theoretical physics, and deep space astronomy from the World Science Festival. I went into my Junior year very ambitious and self motivated! My cumulative GPA within

I believe that I am an independent, well-rounded individual. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to tell you about my life and accomplishments. I have shown service to our school and community in many ways throughout my life. At school, I have sang the National Anthem for the Boys' Basketball and Girls' Volleyball games. I also am on the Twister Leadership Team, where we organize many events that benefit both our school and community.

Ap English Language Application Essay Examples

In many moments of my life I have felt small. Even within my brazen fantasies of changing the world I would often snicker and ask myself, "Who are you to be able to do such things? You are only one little person!" It was with this feeling of doubt that I headed to Girls State in the summer after my junior year.

Examples Of Common Application Essay

As I stated in my Common Application essay, “Life will give me hundreds of reasons why I can’t do something, but I always find that one reason why I can.” I have learned to make the best of any situation and have learned that some things are out of my control. At some point, I needed to work on bettering myself and it started this year. Thus, I am applying to Cornell to better myself. In addition, Cornell has played a prevalent role within my family. My uncle, Brian Reeves, who is on numerous committees at Cornell and President of NYS Vegetable Growers Association, owns and operates Reeves Farms in Baldwinsville. On the farm, he works closely with my grandfather, Andrew Reeves and other uncle, Tim Reeves, who is a graduate of Cornell. Whenever I would visit with them, they would tell me the latest news about the farm and update me on the newest projects, conferences or organizations they had recently attended or helped create at Cornell. Needless to say, everyone in my family are huge supporters of Cornell University. Cornell is a prevalent part of my growth for the future and I cannot wait to

Personal Narrative: My Application To Georgia State University

When I started my applications, Georgia State University was not part of my projects. Why? For the simple reason that it was too expensive for a middle family like mine. With three other sisters and my niece, I could not think about this type of prestigious school because my sister was about to graduate from High School. And one day I heard about a “partnership’’ that existed between GSU and my previous school. I always wanted to come to this school so I asked. The people from the office “Studied’’ my file and told me that I was eligible for the scholarship. I was so happy, that on the same day, I applied to GSU.

Achieving A Scholarship

I, Ladaisha Samone Ballard, am a sophomore at East Mississippi Community College. I am 19 years old and I plan to attend The University of West Alabama in the fall. With this being said, I am beyond honored to know that I will have the Grade Point Average that will stand out. I feel that I should be awarded this Scholarship because I have overcome every obstacle that has come my way. Hard work, determination and motivation made me stand where I am today. I must say it has not always been easy trying to keep my grade up. As I completed each semester through school, I have realized failure comes with trying to succeed. I am the only person in my mother’s household that attends college, so this is pushing me to higher my education. I come from

My Hope and Dreams

I have really high expectations for myself and what I am capable of this fall at Mount Olive College. I have very high goals for myself and have revised what I believe to be a well guided plan to achieve them. I feel eager and excited to unleash my mind, thoughts and the power of my determination. I know that it’s going to be a lot of hard work and its going to take a lot of time. Also, with that comes the bittersweet of sacrifice, of parts of my life that I am going to have to change in order to succeed. But my grandfather has always told me “anything worth having is worth working hard for.” I am my biggest critic and supporter all in one. I know that the only person that can stop me from doing what I came to do is me. No one else has the

Examples Of Application Essay

I am writing to apply for the position of Lecturer in Writing Studies, as advertised on the University of Sydney website. I am currently working as a Research Assistant and PhD Candidate at Macquarie University and recently completed a PhD thesis in Linguistics, which is now going through the submission and examination process. I am extremely interested in obtaining a lecturing position at the University of Sydney, for its focus on interdisciplinary, collaborative research and its ‘above world standard’ disciplines.

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How to Get into Clemson University

Clemson University is a public land grant research University in South Carolina. It is the second largest university by enrollment in South Carolina. In the fall 2019 semester, the university enrolled more than 20,000 undergraduate students, making the ratio of students to professors 18 to 1. 

What is Clemson University? 

Clemson University, formerly known as Clemson Agricultural is the second largest university in South Carolina. It is one of the oldest universities in the South, too, as it was founded in 1899. The campus borders Lake Hartwell and Clemson Experimental Forest, where ground-breaking research takes place. The university is home to seven colleges including agriculture, life sciences, and forestry.

Testing Scores for Admission

According to the college, the average SAT score ranges from 1240 to 1400, while the average ACT score is between 29 and 30. The average weighted GPA of acceptance is around 4.4 with 75% of accepted students having above a 4.0, which means that GPA is just as important as the main two standardized tests. 

Acceptance & Graduation Rate

To get into Clemson, a student’s standardized test scores and high school GPA have to be slightly above average. This is reflected in the acceptance rate as it is 49%, meaning that almost half of these students that apply get in. However, this doesn’t mean it is an easy school because the graduation rate is 83%. This may have to do with the fact that many of Clemson’s top programs are difficult. 

How Are Applicants Rated? 

The Clemson admissions committee ranks five main factors as being “very important” to their selection process: being the rigor of high school, course load, class rank, GPA, and standardized test scores. “Considered” factors are: the application essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, talent/ability, and legacy status.   

Tips to Get Into Clemson 

• Recruited athletes enjoy a huge advantage in getting accepted to Clemson, as it has 19 NCAA Division 1 sports teams. Within the class of 2025 alone, there are almost 100 student athletes. 
• The acceptance rate for in-state and out-of-state students was near the identical for the class of 2024, so out-of-state students should definitely apply if interested. 
• As mentioned before, legacy status is considered when reading applicants so being a son or a daughter of a Clemson alumni can boost your chances.
• Clemson University does not require applicants to submit a supplemental essay, unless applying for the honors program, so take extra time and care completing the common application. 

How Does Clemson Compare to Other Top Universities? 

Clemson yield rate — the percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted — was only 20% last year. This figure is significantly lower than other Southern powerhouse state universities like UGA (41%), UVA (40%), and UNC-Chapel Hill (43%). Clemson ranked number 25 among national public universities for graduation and retention rate. Clemson’s alumni also made the top 10 for giving and donation rate, ranking at number 6.

Are you or will you be attending Clemson University?

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Clemson University

One of the most productive public research universities in the nation, Clemson University attracts and powerfully unites students and faculty whose greatest desire is to make a difference in the lives of others. Ranked among the best national public universities in U.S. News & World Report for 12 consecutive years, Clemson is dedicated to teaching, research and service. The return on investment a Clemson degree affords has led to the University’s consistent rank as a best-value school by publications including  The Princeton Review ,  U.S. News & World Report ,  Kiplinger  and  Forbes .  Read more Accepts first-year applications South Public Rural Large (15,000+) Co-Ed No personal essay required - First Year No letter of recommendation required - First Year Test Optional/Flexible - First Year No letter of recommendation required - Transfer Virtual Tour Academic Programs

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Find out about requirements, fees, and deadlines

• October 15 - application submitted
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• $70 application fee or application fee waiver

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105 Sikes Hall Clemson , SC 29634 , United States of America

[email protected]

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864-656-2287

For first-year students

Admissions website.

www.clemson.edu/admissions/undergraduate/index.html

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www.clemson.edu/financial-aid/

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Home — Application Essay — University — Clemson University

Clemson University Admission Essays

Music: a social commentary: college admission essay sample.

Recently, Baz Luhrmann produced a remake of The Great Gatsby, a film that attempted to put the excitement of the Jazz Age into context by featuring modern hip-hop in different scenes during the course of the movie. However, I think that the authentic music from…

Figure It Out: College Admission Essay Sample

“Click. Click. Click. Click.” sounded the metal balls as they ricocheted off one another. I had just begun to play with my “Newton’s Cradle”, a gift that my father had given to me moments prior. A bug-eyed, eight-year-old version of myself thought, “This is amazing….

A Counselor’s Camper: College Admission Essay Sample

As I drove up to Maine, I knew exactly where I was going, but I did not know what to expect. I was to spend my eighth summer at Wyonegonic Camps, but for the first time as an Assistant Counselor (AC). I had first arrived…

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201 Sikes Hall, Clemson, SC 29634

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