College Preparation
It’s never too early to start preparing for your college experience. At Clemson, we recognize the hard work and achievements that have brought you this far, and we are excited about the many opportunities that lie ahead.
Review our guidance for your journey to college and see how you can craft a path through high school that prepares you for a successful experience in higher education.
What you can do now to prepare for college
What you can do to prepare for Clemson
Clemson Tigers are hungry for academic challenges.
One of the clearest indicators of your fit at Clemson is your academic performance in high school. We examine your GPA, class rank and the rigor of the classes you took to gauge your ability to rise to academic challenges.
Most of our applicants have competitive GPAs and present transcripts with college preparatory, honors and AP coursework based on what is offered by their high school.
All applicants for first-year admission should have completed the following courses:
Recommended High School Curriculum
| Course Type | Credits |
|---|---|
| English | 4 credits |
| Mathematics | 3 credits |
| Laboratory Science | 3 credits |
| Foreign Language | 3 credits* |
| Social Sciences | 3 credits |
| Other | 2 credits |
| Physical Education/ROTC | 1 credit |
| Fine Arts | 1 credit |
*Students who have completed fewer than three credits of the same foreign language are encouraged to apply. Select majors may have additional requirements.
Does Clemson have a preference for AP, IB or dual-enrollment courses?
AP, IB and dual-enrollment offerings vary widely from school to school, so we look at your coursework in the context of what was offered at your high school. Future Clemson Tigers shine by accepting the challenge when AP, IB or dual-enrollment classes are offered in high school. Visit Transfer Course Equivalency to gauge how many of your AP, IB and dual-enrollment courses translate to Clemson credit, or view the IB Credit Chart and AP Credit Chart to learn more.
How does Clemson evaluate standardized test scores (SAT or ACT)?
Clemson has adopted a test-optional policy. Applicants are not required to submit a standardized test score to be considered for admission to Clemson.
If a student chooses that test scores should be used, the scores must be submitted electronically by the respective testing agency. We will automatically update your application file with any new test scores we receive by our application deadlines. Clemson does not require the SAT or ACT essay.
Clemson University super-scores both the SAT and the ACT. For the SAT, this means that the overall total SAT score will then be derived by taking the highest of the evidence-based reading and writing/math scores.
For the ACT, this means we consider a student’s highest subject section scores in English, Reading and Math regardless of test date. Although the Science subject section score can still be submitted, it will not be factored into the super-score calculation, as it is now an optional section of the ACT. If you submit the Science subject Score, we will have it available for supplemental review.
What role does your choice of major play?
Choice of major and residency play an important part in the evaluation process. Because some majors attract large numbers of applicants or have limited classroom space, admission requirements may vary. In addition, as a public institution, we give South Carolina residents priority in the evaluation process.
Students are encouraged to select two different intended majors. If you are not admissible in your first choice, we automatically consider your second. Selecting the same major twice is not recommended.
Special Major Considerations
An audition is required for students interested in pursuing music or theatre concentrations. For more information, visit the Department of Performing Arts.
