Clemson University Reviews

Safety & Security at Clemson

I have never felt unsafe at any time (night, morning, during the day) on campus.

Good If Your Greek Bad If Your Not

They say only 20% of undergrads are greek but it seems like a lot more than that. The nightlife on weekends is dominated by greeks so gdi guys are left to fend for themselves as all of the girls and greek guys are at greek parties.

Absolutley worth it! You have your...

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!

The guys at Clemson range from...

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.

Clemson has great off-campus...

Clemson has great off-campus housing! It's affordable and within reasonable distance to the campus (an average of five miles or less). Just be careful during football season and school breaks; people tend to rob apartments more during this time because they know college students won't be home.

Definitely live on-campus freshman...

Definitely live on-campus freshman year, but after that, off-campus housing is definitely worth it. There are plenty of off-campus houses in walking distance, and there are lots of apartment complexes that are close, too.

Most RAs and security officers in...

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.

Clemson requires all fresmen to...

Clemson requires all fresmen to purchase a laptop (but don't get it from Clemson, those computers are horrible!). The computer labs are only crowded in between classes when people are trying to print stuff out.

CAT (Clemson Area Transit) buses...

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.

The dining halls are good in that...

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.

The facilities on campus are...

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.

The campus is very diverse...

The campus is very diverse economically, but much less so racially. It is mostly white at CU, with some minorities, but they don't make up a significant part of the population. I had an English class comprised of all white kids last year. Since this is South Carolina, most people are Republicans, and the Democrats are few and far between. There is a pretty even mix of guys and girls, though.

On campus food is pretty good. You...

On campus food is pretty good. You can get Burger King at Hendrix, and Chili's is always good. The dining halls are average; the food is edible, but nothing gourmet. Off-campus food downtown is always better, but worse for your wallet.

Mostly alcohol is the most...

Mostly alcohol is the most prevalent drug used for recreation. Other than that, I would say some marijuana use, but mostly drinking is the drug of choice at parties.

There are many apartment complexes...

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.

At any campus, some people are...

At any campus, some people are going to get caught and some will get away with stuff, but at Clemson, as long as you are not making a scene about something, you can probably get away with it. But if caught, depending on the action, you must deal with the student-run judicial center.

All of the facilities on campus...

All of the facilities on campus are very up-to-date and kept very clean. There are a few different choices for getting food in the library, which is very convienent for studying.

You should definitely bring your...

You should definitely bring your own computer to Clemson. There are enough computer labs all over campus, though, that you can find an open computer with ease. Clemson also offers CCIT for free help with your computers. It's right on campus and really convenient.

Your typical guy and girl at...

Your typical guy and girl at Clemson are attractive and Southern. But everyone here, despite where one is from, loves to have a good time and has a good healthy balance between work and play.

Fike, the workout center, is very...

Fike, the workout center, is very nice with televisions on all the workout machines. The library, too, is nice and offers different places and environments to study. Clemson also has several computer labs and smaller libraries all around campus that are just as nice.

Clemson enforces its policiies...

Clemson enforces its policiies about drinking and drugs very appropriately. They take into consideration that underage drinking does happen, but they still manage to promote regualtions in the best interest of the students.

The highrises are where most...

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.

It all depends on who you hang out...

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.

I definitely would not describe...

I definitely would not describe Clemson as a diverse school. For the most part, it is full of white southern conservative Christians. Economically, many of the students come from families that are well off. Also, Clemson is not very accepting of the gay community.

Generally, its ridiculously hot...

Generally, its ridiculously hot here. Our summers are sweltering to say the least, and our winters are usually very mild. Spring and fall are absolutely gorgeous, especially since we are right next to the mountains. Bring lots of shorts and tank tops.