Clemson University Top Questions

the majority of the school is white, it is a public university so money is just like any other university, it is a small college town but there are students from all over the nation. we are not redneck

For the most part both of these stereotypes are completely false. There are so many people at Clemson that you see every type of person. Of course there are some country folk walking around but than you also have your goths, ghetto people, and every other mix you would find on any campus. There are alot of wealthy people at Clemson but that means nothing. Both these stereotypes are not accurate.

Absolutely not! Just like any other school, we have people who value all different kinds of things, and we all know how to have a great time. From crazy football games to the Botanical gardens to musical productions in the Brooks Center, Clemson is full of great things to do, and fantastic people to do them with.

Not necessarily, and if it is true, nothing bad has come of it. In comparing the student body of Clemson to the school I transferred from (University of Tennessee) I would say overall they are more ambitious, knowledgeable, helpful, and, most importantly, more cultured. Clemson alums are all over the world and its obvious they would rather their children graduate from Clemson more than anywhere else. As far as it being a "good-ole-boy school", I would have to agree with that. Fraternity life can't go unnoticed at Clemson and there are students enrolling every year fulfilling their time on campus as to adhere to their lineage. Being a Clemson alum in the south is a godsend, I know I've at least gotten a summer job as a result of being a student. Yes, it's true there isn't much as far as commercial life is concerned, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I've learned a lot about myself and people in general as a direct result of the rural surroundings. Almost everyone is involved in some sort of charity, or volunteer work and it their attitudes show it in class and around campus, even on football games. Yes, it's a football school, football is the predominant subject on everyone's mind around the Clemson area, but there's nothing wrong with that. I didn't know a thing about college football going into my undergrad, and I guarantee telling that to anyone who has known me since then would surprise them. Tying back into the "Being a Clemson student is a Godsend" comment, people in the south love college football, and as soon as they see you attend a football school you instantly stand out from your surroundings and a long conversation is inevitable. This is especially helpful for interviews. On top of volunteering, pretty much everybody plays at least one intramural sport, Clemson students are focused on keeping a balanced mind and body (spirit, too, as evidenced by the church attendance and particularly restaurants on a Sunday afternoon).

Not at all. Clemson and it students are a diverse collection of intellectually stimulating and driven individuals as you would expect from one of the top public universities in the country.

These stereotypes aren't correct. There is plenty to do if you look for it and the students here come from all over the world.

The idea that Clemson is a big party school isn't really accurate - it's big into the Greek system, like most southern schools are, and if you're in a frat there's always something to do, but it's expensive. Outside of frats, there's really not too much to do. Most kids that go to Clemson live in SC or GA and a lot go home on weekends, especially spring semester when it's not football season. Clemson is a big redneck school. I'm from out of state, and most of my friends are from out of state too. The southern kids really try to separate themselves from kids that aren't from the South - it can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you look at it. Clemson is a big sports school - if you love football and baseball. Basketball isn't too big. Home football games are huge and the whole weekend surround a home football game is insane - fall semester overall is a lot of fun. Spring semester is more laid back, like I said a lot of kids go home more, but baseball games are a good time.

All of these stereotype are pretty accurate for a lot of the student body, but if you don't fit into any of these, no problem. There will be a lot of other different kinds of people too.

No

Yes.

Clemson is the Agriculture school of South Carolina. However, that doesn't mean that we're farming hicks. Clemson is known for parties, as well. Of course these are optional, but I haven't heard complaints from those people that have attended.

Yes

No, this is not accurate, I know many people from the north and the south, and I haven't met any rednecks yet, although there probably are a few. Also, there is plenty to do.

Football...YES, ABSOLUTELY. On game days, people start getting there at the crack of dawn and tailgate all day long both before and after the game. You're whole Saturday will be consumed by the game on game days. Clemson is really big into Engineering, but it offers just about all other majors as well. Clemson is definitley known for it's Engineering, but it definitely has a lot to offer to non-Engineering majors.

The football stereo type is pretty accurate. The population of Clemson, SC swells by about 80,000 people every home game. It's pretty intense. Personally, I'm not a huge sports fan. My freshman year I somehow managed to avoid going to a single game which, in retrospect, was a poor decision. The drinking stereotype is really only accurate around said foot ball game times. Then the streets runneth with streams of alcohol (and I mean that literally). The girls being attractive is, to put it quite plainly, true.

no but there are some rednecks.

most people on campus go to at least one game a year, you can be involved with greek life if you want OR you can totally avoid it easily, there are a lot of these majors but there are equaly as many liberal arts majors or many types and so on

In some light, yes. We do drive alot of trucks and SUV's at Clemson. Everyone that visits Clemson notices this aspect. We are definitely smarter than people stereotype us to be because we aren't "dumb country folk". Our cow pastures are not an attraction that people who truly experience Clemson will remember.

The part about white, redneck and agricultural is somewhat accurate. Some students do fit this stereotype, but the overwhelming majority does not fit this stereotype. Clemson students are intelligent overall, in part due to the rigorous curriculum.

We definately are not. We have a large variety of people on campus. We do have country people but we also have a lot of people from up north. We have liberals, democrats, repubs, and everything in between or outside! The diversity at Clemson is wonderful. One of my best friends is from Australia!!! How awesome is that? We have students from all over the world.