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Summer Pathways

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First-year students who receive a Summer admission decision are required to complete one of the offered summer programs to continue at Clemson the following Fall term. Eligibility requirements are different for each program. Students should visit their Clemson admissions portal for a tailored list of options.

Students walk on a sidewalk in front of the glass facade of an academic building.
Two female students greet each other in passing while walking on a sidewalk on campus.

Summer Start

Summer Start provides an opportunity for students to earn 6-7 credit hours toward their degree while building connections with peers, getting familiar with Clemson’s campus and building relationships with faculty mentors. This program ensures a smooth transition to college life and sets participants up for success over the next four years. Participants experience smaller class sizes, personalized academic and social resources, and early access to campus facilities — all before the Fall semester begins.

Summer Start students live on campus in residence halls with the option to join the Summer Start Program Housing Community. Students who join this housing community have the added benefit of staying in the same housing assignment for the academic year.

Summer Start
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A female student wearing a purple long-sleeved T-shirt holds a pencil and sits at a desk.

PEER & WISE Experience

PEER WISE Experience (PWE) offers a free summer program to support students pursuing an engineering degree in the College of Engineering, Computing, and Applied Sciences (CECAS) degree. The program begins with a week of online learning before participants move to campus after July 4. Students live on campus and earn three credit hours through introductory STEM topics, such as general engineering, calculus, physics and chemistry. In addition to academic preparation, participants engage in career-focused company tours and interactive summer activities to build connections.

Students participating in the PEER & WISE Experience will live together on campus during the program.

PEER & WISE Experience

Global Start

Global Start offers a head start on college life with the added adventure of an international experience. This program combines a week on Clemson’s campus with over a week abroad, allowing students to adjust to college, settle into Tigertown before the Fall semester begins, connect with peers and professors in a small cohort, and kick-start their personal growth and academic exploration through a study abroad experience. Participants satisfy a graduation requirement by earning 3 credit hours in a Global Challenges course and exploring one of five destinations: Italy, Puerto Rico, Germany, Scotland or Greece.

Housing is provided both on campus and overseas, and program costs vary by location.

Global Start
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Two male students and two female students sit in front of open binders at a table in a library.

Summer CUSP

Summer CUSP provides a supportive and individualized summer experience for students who identify as neurodivergent in relation to ADHD, autism, dyslexia or other diagnosis. Students will earn 7 credit hours from three courses: Public Speaking, Career Exploration, and Introduction to College. This program provides services beyond standard accommodations, and provides structure for new students as they establish campus connections, adapt to the demands of college life and build academic, social and professional independence.

Housing is provided on campus. Students must register with Student Accessibility Services as part of the application process.

Student Accessibility Services