Clarkson University is a private research institution in northern New York best known for its rigorous, career-focused education in engineering, business, computer science, and the health sciences. The university sets itself apart by requiring every undergraduate to complete a real-world professional experience—such as an internship, co-op, or research project—which contributes to its exceptionally high graduate placement and return-on-investment rates. On its scenic Potsdam campus near the Adirondack Mountains, student life is defined by hands-on engineering design teams (SPEED), a tight-knit outdoor-oriented community, and a passionate school tradition centered around Division I ice hockey.
Wikipedia:Clarkson University is a private research university with its main campus in Potsdam, New York. Clarkson has additional graduate programs and research facilities in the New York Capital District. It was established in 1896 and enrolled over 4,000 students in 2024. Students pursue bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in each of its schools and institutes: the David D. Reh School of Business, Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Earl R. and Barbara D. Lewis School of Health and Life Sciences, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, and Institute for STEM Education. The university is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".
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Clarkson University accepts the Common Application. All Common App schools require the personal statement essay. Some schools also require supplemental essays — check the school's page on Common App for current prompts and word limits.
See the current Common App essay prompts for the personal statement options.
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