Athletics

Varsity sports are enormous. IM sports are enormous. If you like sports, there’s no better place. In the fall, there are two things you can bet on and never lose: church on Sunday morning and football on Saturday afternoon. College football is an absolute institution here. One of the most impressive experiences of my life was my first Clemson football game. I still get chills before every game. All the sports are pretty much awesome. The baseball team (my love) was number one in the country for awhile, the soccer team is always top 10 (both men’s and women’s), and the basketball team is fun to watch (although we play a really tough schedule). The really nice thing is that as an undergraduate, you’ll get free football and basketball tickets, and all the other sports you just have to show your ID to get in. You can play just about any sport you want through intramurals.

Campus Dining

The dining halls are good in that they have options to choose from. Harcombe is the better dining hall in my opinion. There are several fast food places on campus, but that can get expensive if you are on a meal plan. I only purchased a meal plan freshman year. After that I did my own grocery shopping and ate at food courts occasionally. It ended up being a lot cheaper than buying a meal plan. My favorite, though, were the waffles in Harcombe. Java City, in the library, is a popular spot for coffee, snacks, and hanging out.

Campus Housing

The highrises are where most freshmen live, so they are great place to live. Johnstone is really old and can be kind of dirty, but it is definitely the "party dorm." Lots of out-of-state students live there, and it's the dorm where the residents become the closest. The shoeboxes are quiet and kinda off by themselves. Holmes and McCabe are quiet as well. Lots of honor students live there, so if you are looking for a place you can study, this is the best dorm for you.

Campus Strictness

Most RAs and security officers in the dorms aren't too bad when it comes to underage drinking. As long as you aren't being ridiculous (throwing up/passing out in elevators or yelling profanities at police officers), they will leave you alone. Noise violations are what people usually get in trouble for. But if you draw attention to your party because of noise, that can sometimes lead to underage drinking charges. Be smart about it, and don't draw unnecessary attention to yourselves. Most of the time drinking charges on campus end up as warnings or get dropped altogether. However, area cops are very strict about driving under the influence. Being a college town, they know that people party on the weekends, and they know that drunk people gather at Waffle House and Huddle House at 3 a.m., so look out. Cops are also sticklers about speeding. On Highway 76 toward Anderson, the speed limit changes several times, and cops are always waiting to catch you.

Computers

The thing about Clemson is that most people are aware of maybe 1/3 of the labs available on campus. These well-known labs can often times be busy, but you'll become knowledgable on what times are best for which labs. And if you're willing to walk a bit out of the way, you can find these empty labs. But I'd say, if you have a relatively light computer and aren't planning on printing anything out, go ahead and bring your laptop. Especially if you're just going to play around on Facebook, because that causes a lot of frustration to those waiting for computers in labs with homework assignments to print off.

Diversity

You’ll meet some people who aren’t aware the Civil War is over, and you’ll see a lot of Confederate flags flying in this part of the country. But not everyone is like that, and it doesn’t dominate the school at all. It is just a completely different culture down here. That’s just warning though; it took me a couple of months to realize that in the South, racism and things like that are issues you’ll occasionally have to deal with.

Drug Scene

It all depends on who you hang out with. Drinking is very common. For the most part, pot is the extent of drugs on campus although I have heard of some rare instances with harder drugs.

Facilities

The facilities on campus are decent. There are several computer labs around campus, and the library has plenty of space to study (and socialize). The Hendrix Center is a nicer student center, and there are plans to replace the Union. Right now there is a bowling alley and pool tables in the Union, along with a food court. Hendrix also has a food court and a theater which hosts free movies occasionally. Fike is the gym for students and faculty, but there are also athletic facilities just for athletes.

Greek Life

Greek life is very big, but there is also more than enough for the non-Greeks. I am not Greek, I haven’t regretted it, and I don’t think I have missed out on anything. I have many friends that are Greek, and they love it.

Guys & Girls

The guys at Clemson range from typical frat guys with their Lacoste polo, khakis, Sperry's, and sunglasses hanging around their neck; the computer science guys with T-shirts that say "I'm dressed and awake, what more do you want," and laptop in hand; the rednecks/country boys with their camo and Ducks Unlimited apparel; and the average guy that's a mix of it all. The girls here are a mix of Southern belles, sorority snobs, and the best-all-around women with looks and intelligence.

Local Atmosphere

Clemson is definitely a ‘college town.’ Without the school, there is not much to it. Downtown consists mainly of one street. Outside of Clemson there is not much to do; I can’t name any outrageously cool museums, clubs, or restaurants to go to. The one thing that’s great is gathering a group of friends and going camping, whether you go 20 minutes away or about an hour out to North Carolina. If you’re the type of person who doesn’t let a beautiful day go to waste, you’ll love Clemson’s Bowman Field. Walk out there for some ultimate Frisbee, football, or just relax on a blanket and read a book.

Nightlife

There are many apartment complexes within walking distance of campus that have parties. House parties do not get busted often as long as nothing gets out of control. Downtown is very close to campus and has plenty of bars. Many of the bars have under 21 nights every so often. And most everything is in walking distance -- no cabs, no buses.

Off-Campus Dining

I like the off-campus food a lot. There is the usual assortment of fast food and a couple chain restaurants (like Ruby Tuesday). However, there are also lots of local college hangout restaurants that add character to the town. Restaurants like TD’s, Tiger Town Tavern, Keith Street, and Acropolis (where I work, yippee! It’s a Greek and Italian restaurant).

Off-Campus Housing

Absolutley worth it! You have your own room and bathroom (depending on where you live) and more than likely, you sign an individual, nine-month lease, so you don't have to worry about everyone else's rent, only your own! The apartment complexes are full of Clemson students, they provide extra ammentities, and they are never more than a bus ride away!

Overall Experience

I am definitely glad I picked Clemson, and it’s not just me—people love the school. Clemson (and SC) pride are definitely in the air. People are friendly and happy to be here . . . It’s a little secluded, so it’s kind of our own little world. I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Parking

Everyone will tell you that parking is terrible. I personally don’t think it’s that bad. True, you don’t get to park directly next to where you want to be. I’ve never minded having to walk a little bit, so parking has never been an issue for me. The parking police are strict, they’ll ticket you in a heartbeat, but the best advice is to walk the extra block and play by the rules. [I’ve had] a car here for two and half years so far, and have never gotten a ticket, but I know others who have had significant debts to the parking police. Parking in downtown Clemson is tricky—there aren’t many spaces, so I walk when possible, but if you look hard enough, you’ll eventually find a parking space.

Safety & Security

There are security phones all over campus, along sidewalks, and on the sides of every building. Every path is also lit at night. Each dorm has a security guard or a hired student who sits at the dorm’s front desk and makes sure that no one enters who shouldn’t be allowed.

Transportation

CAT (Clemson Area Transit) buses are free public transportation that runs around campus and to surrounding areas. The routes are pretty good because they hit most of the off-campus student apartments. They also go to Anderson and Seneca, which makes it possible to get around and do shopping if you don't have a car. The bus goes to and from commuter parking lots and the main parts of campus, but they are very crowded around class times and can be inconvenient because of timing.

Weather

Mostly hot. One December before break it was 80 for a week. It will be sporadically warm in winter and maybe snow two inches once a year, which mostly results in at least a day and a half of cancelled classes. But it does get chilly, so jackets are essential. It hardly rains, though. Just bring some suntan lotion and deodorant and you'll be fine.

Academics

Honestly, I haven’t been terribly impressed with my teachers. I went to a parochial high school where it was very easy and common to casually get to know your teachers. They were all approachable, and it was great having a personal relationship with many of my teachers in high school. That is where Clemson differs. Granted, I’m learning a great deal; the professors are definitely ‘teaching’ me the book work. However, in many classes I feel like just another face. I’m sure (or at least I’m hoping) that once I get through the general ed classes, my teachers will become more approachable and eager to get to know my name and more. Aside from the teachers, I do like the classes as a whole and really am learning.