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College Prowler

Academics

The professors at Clark are characters. They are all really interested in the subjects they teach, which is great because the students can get more engaged if the professor isn’t droning on. The professors at Clark talk to the students, not at them. It’s really easy to talk with them, and with very few exceptions, they won’t look down on you if you don’t agree with them. Since you get to choose your classes, they all end up being interesting and not a chore. There are the perspectives and intro classes that are boring—like Research Methods—that everyone is required to take, but they don’t take up too much class time and are done soon enough.

Athletics

I don't follow the sports here at Clark, but many of my friends play or have played intramural sports and loved it. I remember that varsity soccer was big at the beginning of the year, and varsity basketball seems to have a pretty large following.

Campus Dining

We only have one dining hall, and it's pretty good compared to most schools. They try really hard to make tasty stuff for the students, while being conscientious about allergies, religious restrictions, and health. Uncle Sam's pizza is down the street from Clark, and it has good, cheap pizza. I order from Domino's and the Ming House once in a while and take the shuttle to Shrewsbury Street for really good food.

Campus Housing

The dorms are nice. They are a little old—1950s to 1970s—except for the newer buildings for older students, which opened in the past couple of years. Wright Hall and Bullock Hall are known for being a bit more party-oriented than others on campus. Dodd Hall, the all-girls hall, is clean and very well kept.

Campus Strictness

It's not strict enough, but that's because I'm a Wellness (substance-free living) guy. Most of the RAs are pretty forgiving when it comes to drinking, they just don't want anyone getting hurt. I've seen mixed reactions to drug possession—some kids have been kicked out or warned, while others have slid by.

Computers

I brought my own computer and printer to school, so I never use the school's computers. However, many of my friends don't have computers, and some find it frustrating not to be able to use the Internet in their dorms. However, having a computer does not always solve that problem because my computer does not connect to the Internet often, and I struggle at least once a day to get wireless connection. But, with an Ethernet cable, there is no problem.

Diversity

We're very white and very Middle Eastern. I have a lot of Muslim friends, and there are very few black students. We have a few Africans and a lot of Asians, mostly Chinese. Clark's whole motto is "We don't categorize people here." The community of students is very safe, and I've never heard about any incidents with race, gender, or sexuality. It's a very liberal school, but there are still some conservatives. Some of my friends are very wealthy, and others are poor with a lot of scholarships, but the majority seems to be middle- or upper-middle class. We have an atheist club, which I'm part of, that is very nice since we tend to be an overlooked demographic. But, as cheesy as it sounds, Clark's motto really works, and nobody sees people in terms of their skin color, religion, or wealth.

Drug Scene

Most people who use illicit substances tend to use marijuana. I am sure there are students who use and abuse other substances, but marijuana tends to be the dominant drug alongside alcohol.

Facilities

The gym is too small for my taste—there between five and eight bikes, ellipticals, and treadmills each and two stair-steppers. I have never used the weights, but it would definitely be nice to have a few more treadmills available. The new library at Clark is really great! The first floor Academic Commons is a fantastic place to hang out with friends, grab a bite to eat, or study all night long for a test. The whole library has been renovated, and it is really a great place to get work done.

Greek Life

What the hell is Greek life? I can’t really say I’ve experienced it, unless you’re making an innuendo. The jocks are too weak a crew at this point, but I guess they’re the best alternative to it.

Guys & Girls

Most guys seem to be either athletic jocks or more free-spirited and down-to-earth people. Actually, so are the girls. A lot of students here are very outgoing and opinionated and seem to hang out with friends all the time on campus. There are certain groups who stick together, mostly the sports teams, and they seem to be the most popular or well-known students.

Local Atmosphere

I know many people are able to get out and about in Worcester, but I have been limited because I don't have my own car, and I do not have a lot of money to spend on cabs. However, there are ways of getting around on the weekends if you take advantage of the opportunities. Personally, I do not get off of campus enough for my own liking, but I am sure that in the years to come I will discover more of Worcester. However, the local atmosphere I have seen is truly amazing! When friends and I go walking during the day to run errands nearby we always end up engaged in a friendly and interesting conversation with someone who lives nearby, and they seem to have a great impression of Clark students.

Nightlife

The parties on campus are not appealing to me. They were better last year. They sometimes have parties at sports houses, which are not fun to me. It's a bunch of drunk people pushing each other around and stepping around in beer. The clubs are pretty nice in Worcester.

Off-Campus Dining

The restaurants are good and numerous if you don't mind a 5- to 15-minute walk. Fantastic Pizza has great falafel. Blue Jeans and Mas Voce are the two best pizza joints in Worcester, and both are within walking distance from Clark. Da Lat has great Vietnamese food, and Thai Cha Da has awesome Thai noodles. There are lots of more upper-end options, too, like Evo, a café next to The Living Earth, the sushi house on Park Avenue, and many others.

Off-Campus Housing

There is a lot of off-campus housing. I never lived off campus, and I probably wouldn’t encourage it. It’s cheaper to live in the dorms, most of the time. With apartments, you often need to sign a lease. With a dorm, I think there’s more of a sense of security and closeness.

Overall Experience

Clark was an awesome place to meet many different people and have opportunities to try different classes and concentrations. I will never forget those whom I’ve befriended and the professors who taught me what I know now. If you’re looking for a school that isn’t too large, and professors who have time to talk with you, then this is the place to be. You just have to get past the fact that Clark sticks out like a sore thumb in the middle of Worcester. Think of it as a rich town in between two not-so-rich towns. For you people who live in the North shore, think of it as driving through Methuen, then you hit Lawrence, then to Andover—a culture shock in 10 minutes driving down Route 110.

Parking

Parking is strange on the Clark University campus. There is a large parking lot across the street from my dorm, but it is technically for commuting students, while the student parking lot is not even on campus! It is very strange. But, people can usually find places to park.

Safety & Security

As of late, a rash of muggings and attempted robberies have occurred on campus and on the periphery of campus. Students are generally very nervous about roaming the grounds late and after hours. To reduce anxiety and prevent further property crimes, the campus has an escort that can accompany students to their residences and sites with a half-mile of campus. Though the escort is handy, the campus community is generally leery about the attempted robberies that continue to occur.

Transportation

I'm spoiled with Boston's MBTA. Worcester has a bus system but not many buses, so they run infrequently. I would never go into Worcester anyway, so I don't use the buses. They're there if you need to get to the train station, though.

Weather

Winter is very, very cold in Massachusetts, especially in Worcester. The city gets a lot of snow, so it would be wise to bring snow boots and heavy jackets. It can also be humid during the warmer months, so you should basically bring every kind of clothing you can think of. The seasons in Massachusetts are pretty blatant.