Online Application at http://www.clarkson.edu/tcs/apps/student_app.php

• Personal Essay (150-300 words)
• PSAT, SAT, ACT, or PLAN scores
• High School Transcript
• Secondary School Report Form filled out by high school counselor
• 2 other recommendations from tachers
• Personal interview is highly recommended, but not required.
• $30 Application fee

The Clarkson School (TCS) is a one-year program along the model of high school replacement. This program allows students to earn a year of college credit and then proceed to other major universities. Students typically attend TCS as a way of replacing their senior year of high school with a challenging and interesting introduction to college that will also give them a step up on the road to a college degree.

Most students spend a considerable portion of their time researching other college options and deciding which schools they would like to apply to, however approximately 49% ultimately decide to continue their undergraduate education at Clarkson University.

TCS has its own residence hall and each of the floors has a common area furnished with couches, chairs, and a television, used for socializing, studying, and meetings. Students live in suite style arrangement with four students, in two rooms, sharing one bath. A “house advisor” lives on each floor to accommodate student needs. Staff, students, and house advisors meet together for “family dinners” which provide a regular opportunity for everyone to get together and share in the sense of community. Events and activities are offered in residence halls for weekends and special occasions. Personal, academic and career counseling are available to all students, and in particular, advisors are available to help students with the process of applying to other universities where they might continue their education.

There is no set curriculum for TCS. Students are encouraged to explore a variety of classes and learn about their interests, so that they will be better prepared when selecting a college and a major after TCS. As discussed below in the “Sponsoring University” section, it should be noted that Clarkson University is predominantly an engineering and technical school. While there are classes and majors in humanities, the offerings available may be better suited to the technically inclined. There is the option to enroll at classes in the neighboring universities, recommended for art, music, or language courses. When choosing courses it may be important to select those that will complete outstanding high school graduation requirements, if you wish to obtain your diploma from your home high school. As an alternative, New York State will issue high school equivalence diplomas to any student who completes at least 24 credits (a minimalist full-time year) in any New York college, including Clarkson.

There are no explicit criteria for success or failure in the TCS program. Students are given the opportunity to study and stretch their minds, but they are responsible to make what they will of it. TCS considers itself a bridge to the student’s future. They provide the resources and the opportunity, but there are no special consequences of a good or poor performance, only those that a student carries with him as he hopes to complete his formal education.

“If you take 15 college credit hours, it means you are in class for at least 15 hours each week (no weekend classes), and you must balance the other hours with study time and activities such as clubs, sports, professional organizations, meals, sleep and recreation. Many students also spend time learning about other colleges and universities for the years after The Clarkson School. Students are often involved in community and church activities, and some have jobs. Hours are also spent in discussions with other fellow Clarkson School students ‘solving problems of the world’ or watching cartoons, movies, or MTV in the commons areas.

The living environment and sense of community are as important to The Clarkson School year as the enriching academic experience. ... Family dinners for staff, students, and house advisors provide an opportunity for everyone to get together regularly. Announcements are made, birthdays and special events are celebrated, and occasionally we have guest speakers. Field trips are scheduled regularly for Ottawa, Montreal, Vermont, Lake Placid, and other places of interest including a ski weekend. Special programs are offered in residence halls for weekends and special occasions. ... The year begins with a week-long orientation program and concludes with an end-of-year gathering and commencement.” - (TCS Online FAQ)

Colleges and universities are typically grouped based on the highest degree that they regularly award, which in the case of Clarkson University is the Doctoral degree.

A Virtual Online Tour of Clarkson is available at: http://www.clarkson.edu/clarkson_experience/virtual_visit.html

A form for requesting more information about the university can be found at: http://www.clarkson.edu/getting_into_clarkson/request_more_info.php

For detailed comparison information and college rankings, we recommend America's Best Colleges published by US News & World Reports and available online at a cost of $10.

The above data may be as much as five years old. Number of majors may include 4-year pre-professional programs.

Potsdam is small town (population 10,000) in extreme northern New York State, approximately 15 miles from the Canadian border. From this location it is 100 miles to Montreal, Canada, 85 miles to Ottawa, Canada, or 140 miles to Syracuse, NY.

Clarkson University publishes facts and information about their university at: http://www.clarkson.edu/clarkson_experience/history_facts/

Clarkson University has historically been an engineering and technically oriented college. Until recently they didn’t even offer majors in many of the typical humanities. For the sake of developing well-rounded students many of these courses have been available for a long time, but they have not been the university’s priority. If a student’s primary interest is in the arts and humanities, it may be advisable to choose a different university.

“Clarkson University is an independent, nationally recognized technological university whose faculty of teacher-scholars aspires to offer superior instruction and engage in high-quality research and scholarship in engineering, business, science, health, and liberal arts. Our primary mission is to educate talented and motivated men and women to become successful professionals through quality precollegiate, undergraduate, graduate, and professional continuing education programs, with particular emphasis on the undergraduate experience. Our community and campus settings enhance the quality of student life and afford students access to and interaction with their faculty. We value the diversity of our University community, and we strive to attune ourselves and our programs to our global, pluralistic society. We share the belief that humane economic and social development derive from the expansion, diffusion, and application of knowledge.” - Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog 2001-2002 , p. 5