Undergraduate Admissions FAQs

• Email (admissions@clarkson.edu)
• Ask your admissions counselor.
• Check out our virtual events, or schedule a visit to campus.
• Find us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions is open Monday - Saturday for in-person visits for prospective students and family members on our Potsdam, New York campus. For more information on how to plan your visit, please visit our Undergraduate Admissions Visits, Events and Tours page.

We recognize that many prospective students and families will still be unable to visit campus for a variety of reasons. With that, we encourage you to:

• check out our Virtual Viewbook and Interactive Map to learn more about Clarkson.
• set up a virtual guided tour with one of our Student Ambassadors, chat with an admissions counselor, or meet with faculty and staff through our Undergraduate Admissions Visits, Events and Tours page.
• join our mailing list so that we can notify you of updates to our restrictions and offerings.
• check out our upcoming virtual events.

Clarkson will be working closely with Guidance Departments throughout the summer to ensure that we receive your Final High School transcript. If there are delays, please notify your Admissions Counselor so that we can follow up.

Clarkson’s Deposit Deadline is May 1! However, we understand the challenges that students may face when making a decision. If you feel that you need additional time, please contact your Admissions Counselor.

A great way to ensure that all of your questions are answered is to contact your Admissions Counselor! We want you to make an informed decision about where you will attend Clarkson, and your Admissions Counselor will be the best person to help get all of your questions answered. They will also be happy to connect you with other faculty and staff.

Your Admissions Counselor is truly your “one stop shop” for all of your admissions and financial aid questions! They will be happy to answer any questions that you have regarding the financial aid award that you received, what your next steps are, and anything else you may have questions on! We also recommend reading over the Financing Plan Information Packet that you received with your Financial Aid Award earlier this Spring - this is a great tool that will help you navigate your options in regards to your remaining invoice.

Orientation and Move-In Weekend information can be found on our Orientation webpage. Some students choose to participate in summer programs such as Springboard and Pre-Orientation Experiences, and arrive several days prior for Move-In Day and Orientation. You can also view our semester academic calendar.

Clarkson continues to be test optional. Application materials required will be two letters of recommendation, official transcripts and a personal statement.

Clarkson will accept scores of 4 and 5 on AP tests within our current awarding parameters. IB testing is scheduled, but the IB website indicates that adjustments may be made. No matter how testing takes place, we will not change awarding policy. Missing IB exams will not matter as long as the student meets the IB requirements as IB will still grade on the normal 1-7 scale.

We understand that many schools are using the pass/fail grading system. When reviewing applications, our admissions team is reading your application holistically. We look at course load, course type, letters of recommendation, and all four years of high school to gain a better academic picture of the applicant. Pass/fail will not negatively impact your application to Clarkson!

Our application deadlines are December 1 for Spring entry and July 1 for Fall entry. We review applications on a rolling basis so please reach out if you need an extension on these dates.

We recognize that it may be difficult to submit all required application materials. If you are still unable to access these materials, we will take unofficial transcripts to make an admission decision.

We understand that many schools are using the pass/fail grading system. When reviewing applications, our admissions team is reading your application holistically. We look at course load, course type, letters of recommendation, and all four years of high school to gain a better academic picture of the applicant. Pass/fail will not negatively impact your application to Clarkson!

Yes, please check out our visit page to learn more about our transfer events.

Please reach out to our transfer admissions office at tradmission@clarkson.edu and we will conduct a credit evaluation.

Clarkson will accept scores of 4 and 5 on AP tests within our current awarding parameters. IB testing is scheduled, but the IB website indicates that adjustments may be made. No matter how testing takes place, we will not change awarding policy. Missing IB exams will not matter as long as the student meets the IB requirements as IB will still grade on the normal 1-7 scale. Taking challenging courses is very important however, our admissions team understands that you may not be able to take the final exams. The same principle applies to A-level testing, which will be considered for admission and subsequently for transfer credit.

We understand that some schools are using the pass/fail grading system. When reviewing applications, our admissions team is reading your application holistically. We look at course load, course type, letters of recommendation, and all four years of high school to gain a better academic picture of the applicant. Pass/fail will not negatively impact your application to Clarkson!

Once accepted you will receive an I-20.  We encourage students to begin the visa application process as soon as they receive their I-20s.

If you are currently attending a U.S. school and have F-1 status, you should be able to transfer your visa sponsorship from your current school to Clarkson. If you are currently attending a U.S. school in a status other than F-1, please contact the International Center Office and a member of the staff will help you explore your options.

We will allow enrolled students to defer their entry to start the second semester, which begins in January. Students planning to defer for a term or for the year should email the Senior Director of International Admissions, Colleen Thapalia, cthapali@clarkson.edu, with the request.