Congratulations! Being accepted into Clemson University means being welcomed into our family. Our goal as an institution is to help you grow as a student, as a leader and as a person. Get ready for an exciting adventure!
Important Information for Accepted Freshmen and Transfer Students
Admission Deposit for Undergraduate Students
All accepted candidates for August admission are required to pay a nonrefundable admission deposit of $100. To submit the deposit, please return the admission deposit card along with your payment or make the payment online by going to www.clemson.edu/admissiondep/. A check or money order for $100 should be made payable to Clemson University. The deposit will be applied toward the cost of tuition and fees for students who enroll for the fall semester. Please do not include any other University fees with the admission deposit.
Be sure to pay the deposit by the date indicated in your acceptance letter. Your acceptance will be canceled if you fail to remit the deposit by that date. Reacceptance at a later date may be possible but cannot be guaranteed.
If you have questions, please call the Office of Admissions at (864) 656-2287.
On-Campus Housing
When students are formally accepted to the University, the housing office automatically sends a brochure to each student and a letter to his or her parents or guardian. The standard way to apply for housing is via the Web. All freshman housing applications are due by May 1.
Freshmen are guaranteed housing and are required to live in University housing. Please visit the University Housing Web site for advie on freshman housing. Current students and incoming freshmen have priority for assignment to University housing. Transfer students are offered on-campus housing as space permits.
Housing assignments are made based upon the date your admission application was received. Roommate requests are processed for assignments according to the later of the two dates. You will receive your fall housing assignment in late July. Students enrolling for the spring semester receive housing assignments in late December.
If you have not received any correspondence from University Housing within two weeks of receiving your acceptance letter, please contact the housing office at (864) 656-2295.
Freshman and new students can start moving in the Saturday before classes begin (8 a.m.). All continuing students can start moving in the following Sunday (8 a.m.). In general, our staff is preparing buildings up to the last minute, so moving in earlier is not an option.
Financial Aid
All admission applicants are mailed a financial aid brochure beginning in January. Financial aid procedures and deadlines are at www.clemson.edu/finaid. Financial aid applicants typically are notified of their awards beginning in April. Please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid at (864) 656-2280 or by email for additional information. See Special Financial Aid Note for Transfer Students here.
Payment of Tuition and Fees
Bills are available online in mid-July. A Tuition Payment Plan is available. (To help you determine the amount of family resources available toward paying your college costs, use these financial aid worksheets.) For information on charges or the installment payment plan, please call the bursar’s office at (864) 656-5592.
In-State Residency
Your eligibility to pay in-state tuition and fees is determined by S.C. law. If you are unsure of your status concerning payment of in-state tuition and fees, you are responsible for securing a ruling from the University by providing all relevant information on the residency application. These forms and a copy of the S.C. law are available from the admissions office. Complete and return the application at least two weeks before registration for the semester for which you wish in-state tuition to apply. Details are available at www.clemson.edu/finaid.
Laptop Requirements
All Clemson students are required to own a laptop computer. While you may bring any laptop that meets the minimum specifications, the University recommends specific laptops each year. When purchased through the University, the recommended models include wireless capabilities, Windows XP software, Office XP software, a three-year warranty and three years of insurance. Students who use the recommended laptops receive both software and hardware support. For more information, visit laptop.clemson.edu.
New Student Orientation
Each summer, the University holds a series of Orientation sessions to acquaint entering freshmen, transfer students and parents with the University. At Orientation, you will learn more about Clemson and the requirements for a major. In consultation with your faculty adviser, you will complete registration for the fall semester. An Orientation session is also held in January for the spring semester. You will receive more information about Orientation in the mail by the second week in April. We highly recommend that you attend an Orientation session to begin your Clemson experience.
Academic Advising
During summer Orientation or early in your first semester, you will be assigned a faculty adviser in your major. Your adviser will provide information on curriculum requirements, approve each semester’s class schedule, interpret academic regulations and suggest adjustments for making satisfactory progress toward graduation
Major Course Choice
As indicated in your acceptance letter, you have been accepted for a major course of study in which you expressed an interest. If you decide that your talents and interests lie in another discipline, changing majors may be a possibility. Clemson has a variety of majors from which to choose. However, all of these majors may not be available to you. The option to change your major will be subject to your qualifications and the availability of space in your new choice of major. Please contact the Office of Admissions at the earliest date possible if you want to request a change in your major course of study.
Advanced Placement (AP Credit)
If you took Advanced Placement (AP) exams, we encourage you to have your test results sent directly to Clemson. This is the principal method by which you can earn credit by examination. Last year, almost 50 percent of our freshmen submitted AP grades, and more than half earned college credit. Credit is awarded if you earn a grade of 3, 4 or 5 on an AP examination.
Specific information can be found in the Undergraduate Announcements catalog, which you received in a separate mailing. You will be notified in late July of any course credit that you will receive through the AP program.
International Baccalaureate
Clemson recognizes the academic challenge inherent in the IB program. Students scoring 5, 6 or 7 on the Higher Level IB examinations are, in most cases, eligible for college credit. Specific information can be found at International Baccalaureate Credit Policy or in the Undergraduate Announcements which you received in a separate mailing. You will be notified in August of any course credit that you will receive through the IB program.
English Placement Policy
All students will take English 103 as their only first-year requirement. Exceptions to this policy will be those students with the following AP and IB credit. The policy can be viewed at www.clemson.edu/caah/english. Information about Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate credit can be found online in the Undergraduate Announcements.
Math Placement Policy
All accepted students, both freshman and transfer, must complete the Clemson Mathematics Placement Test (CMPT) in order to register for the first mathematics course required by their major (refer to the Undergraduate Announcements to identify the course). Prerequisites for initial math courses can be satisfied either with a sufficient score on the CMPT or with transfer credit for the appropriate math courses. Transfer credit can be obtained by successfully completing college-level courses at Clemson or elsewhere, through College Board Advanced Placement examinations or through the International Baccalaureate program.
Students who do not achieve a satisfactory score on the CMPT, or those who do not take the test, may be required to take a preparatory math course prior to starting the initial math course required for their major.
A low score on the CMPT does not prevent you from using transfer credit to satisfy course prerequisites. However, if your CMPT score is lower than the minimum required for enrollment in these courses, we recommend that you consult with your academic adviser before accepting transfer credit. Your score may suggest that you will have difficulty in subsequent courses. Information regarding the CMPT will be mailed to you at a later date. See the Clemson Mathematics Placement Test Web site for additional information.
Foreign Language Placement
If your intended major requires a foreign language and you plan to take French, German or Spanish to meet that requirement, you must take the Clemson Foreign Language Placement Test (FLPT) before registering for a foreign language course during summer Orientation. Even if you have taken an AP or IB exam or the SAT II test, you are still required to take the FLPT. You do not have to take the FLPT if you wish to begin a new language in which you have no background. Transfer students who have received college credit for a foreign language and who plan to continue with the same foreign language at Clemson are not required to take the FLPT.
The FLPT takes approximately one hour to complete. Preregistration is not required. For more information, including the test schedule, please visit the Department of Languages or call (864) 656-3393.
Summer School at Clemson
Any applicant who is accepted for entrance in August is also accepted for the summer sessions. If you wish to attend a summer session, advise the Office of Admissions of your desired entry date. No additional application is necessary. Because a final high school transcript must be received at Clemson before an applicant can be cleared for registration, students completing high school this year can enroll only in Summer Session II beginning in July. (See Academic Calendar.)
Additional Mailings
Between now and the time you enroll at Clemson, different offices and organizations will send you information that will answer questions you may have about campus life. These materials are distributed without regard to specific requests, so don’t be concerned if you receive mail from offices or groups in which you have not expressed an interest.