My son went to a high school that doesn’t rank (OOS) and he was told in his acceptance letter that he would receive merit. So did others from his high school - but I am sure there is something that they use initially to determine merit!
1 Like
We’re a little down on Clemson.
My S26 was deferred while a kid with identical stats and the same major was admitted. Given Clemson doesn’t consider essays, work experience etc, I bet the admissions folks couldn’t for the life of them explain why one was admitted and the other deferred. The whole college admissions process has a degree of randomness to it but Clemson seems more random than most.
With $18K from UTK, I think that’s the way he’s likely going to go.
1 Like
It could be major. It could be they didn’t have time to review the entirety. It could be rigor. That’s the issue with comparing.
If merit is what you seek - you noted $18K from UTK, then you’re not going to be happy with Clemson anyway because historically they’re not close. And of course, if merit/cost is what you seek, then there are cheaper similar type schools than both.
Best of luck to your student and it’s an annual issue, but students shouldn’t compare - there is a reason one was chosen and one wasn’t.
Finally, just a reminder, a deferral isn’t a rejection. A WaiT List is - for all intents and purposes. But a referral just means their app will be re-read in regular admission. Many will get in.
Good luck.
2 Likes
Mine also was told they had merit, our school doesn’t rank (but if they did she was 10 out of 300). Some send what percentage they are
To be fair, that happens every year at every school. No when ever knows how these decisions are made. It’s a total crapshoot. Tsbna44 is right as well- Clemson generally doesn’t give much merit at all, unfortunately.
1 Like
I understand. I can’t imagine how many applications they see with identical stats and they have to choose. I bet he gets admitted in the next round though! Sadly, 18k in merit is highly unlikely from Clemson. We were happy my son got merit from Clemson, but we are from Tennessee… and UTK would have been a much cheaper option! Where else has your son applied?
Okay didn’t apply EA so doing RD. Looks like her GPA will be around 4.3 or 4.4 weighted after mid year grades and with a 1370, the question is if she submits that SAT or not. I think it’s close to the 75% range with them but not sure it helps her overall.
Cheer captain
Student dance teacher
AP scholar With honors
PT job
solid extracurriculars but also nothing that may set her apart.
I know the whole process is a crapshoot but at least other schools can make a claim that they’re “holistic” because they’re looking at essays, ECs etc. Clemson isn’t. Penn State doesn’t consider that stuff either but then kids with identical stats get ( for the most part) the same decision. I also think he’ll get into Clemson in RD they defer a lot from our state and then admit RD. Which is why this particular data point is so weird the kid who was admitted is not differentiable from 10 who weren’t.
He’s in at PSU and UTK and USC. Florida is the dream. UT would be great.
OOS daughter accepted, with merit scholarship. 4.15W/1500 SAT. So proud of her 
4 Likes
I find this thread very interesting comparing Auburn and Clemson. I wonder if location is a factor on how the schools fill up and provide merit money.
Clemson is within driving distance of more major metropolitan areas along the east coast. Auburn is slightly more accessible by air being closer to ATL, but harder to drive to from big cities. Unless there are east coast airports that fly into Greenville/Spartanburg (LGA, EWR, PHL, DCA), then Clemson is even more geographically desireable. Metro Atlanta is a push for both schools.
Clemson has a tuition around $45k (incl engineering surcharge) while Auburn is around $37k. Auburn is much more generous with merit money, so a kid with a 33-34 ACT will earn $15k; while the same kid at Clemson MIGHT get $7.5k in March. So, most likely scenario is Clemson is $15k more than Auburn.
Our 2025 kid is 19 hours west at UUtah; and our 2027 could be 10 or 14 hours east at Auburn or Clemson, so fun for us logistically.
I would also love to hear if any engineering applicants are also considering Purdue. For D27, Purdue is the best academic fit, but weather and student body have Auburn and Clemson at the top.
1 Like
Well, there are like 18 shuttle buses from Atlanta airport daily to Auburn, and the campus is walkable/bikeable as is the town. It really is a lovely village.
1 Like
Clemson is very accessible via air into GSP, imo. We are out west in Northern Nevada, so it’s a one stop trip regardless. I love GSP, might be my favorite airport- quick and easy to navigate. Our oldest is currently at Clemson, though, not in engineering.
1 Like
I have a graduate from Clemson (24) and a graduate from Purdue (25) with one at Auburn (27) and one TBD (30). My son at Purdue was electrical engineering, but the Clemson and Auburn boys are business so can’t really compare for you. However, feel free to PM me if you have other questions comparing these schools.
1 Like
There could be factors that you aren’t aware of. For example, are both kids from the same state? But in-state or OOS from different states? A SC student will be given priority over an identical OOS state student. Also, an applicant from a state out west will likely get a leg up on a student from North Carolina or New Jersey because Clemson wants to be represented by as many states as possible.
Are both students the same gender? Even within the major - females might get picked over males for STEM majors just like males might receive priority if they are requesting education.
Does the other one have any legacy status (will be considered in a tie-breaker situation). Is the other kid a first time college student in their family? Though Clemson is very heavy on grades, rank, rigor, etc, there are still other factors that are considered?
Just things to consider – it really is unlikely that two students are identical when you really dig in.
1 Like
Last year when my son applied he asked about submitting mid-year grades because his semester was going to end after the Jan 10th deadline and was told that it wasn’t a concern because ‘Clemson doesn’t really consider anything from senior year’.
The 75th percentile per CDS is 1400 but only 55% submitted a test. 1320 is the 50th percentile - so heck yeah on submitting a test. Their profile also shows 1400 but doesn’t note the 55% test submit.
If you did EA and were deferred, they don’t want your fall grades, per their website.
“There is nothing else that you need to do at this point. Your application file is already complete for Regular Decision review.”
If you do RD, they say to check your portal and provide what is requested. Given the message on deferred being now in RD and they don’t want anything, I’d assume the same - that your Fall grades won’t be used. You can always email and ask for guidance, however.
“January 1 is the deadline to submit your application for Regular Decision and scholarship consideration. January 10 is the last date to submit any outstanding items listed on your checklist in your Clemson admissions portal and to switch your preference on having SAT/ACT scores considered in the admissions review for Regular Decision, and for scholarship consideration.”
Same HS, same gender, same major, same rigor, same GPA, same test scores.
Maybe there are marginal differences but Clemson would be hard-pressed to explain why one over the other.
Again, I don’t begrudge Clemson making whatever decision they like. I’m just saying that without considering ECs and essays, I’m not sure how they differentiate between similar kids.
Penn State doesn’t consider those things either so they are formulaic. You have the GPA and/or scores, you’re in.
But we don’t know that Clemson doesn’t consider those things. It’s possible that given two very similar students, they use letters, essays, etc to decide. They are considered.
3 Likes
Acceptance packet arrived in the mail yesterday.
Got ours- what happened to the small paw print flag?? That was cute to add to the acceptance package.
1 Like