Auburn vs. Clemson vs. College of Charleston: any thoughts or experiences to share

[Anonymous]

Have a rising senior and of course working with her on building a list. These 3 schools have all of a sudden appeared on the radar, whether through mailings, emails or discussions with other peers. She is a URM from a DMV county public school. Not a great test taker so will apply test optional, plenty of extra curriculars with some leadership/officer positions, has a 3.75 / 4.4 GPA, with about 6 APs. Wants school spirit with football and basketball, not so much sorority membership but opportunities for parties, no small town atmosphere, cross between city and suburb. Merit would be great but true financial aid will not happen. Any thoughts? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I can't speak about auburn, but CofC and Clemson are very different schools. CofC is downtown and has spirit around basketball. Clemson is a typical large southern university with all of the good and bad that entails.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak about auburn, but CofC and Clemson are very different schools. CofC is downtown and has spirit around basketball. Clemson is a typical large southern university with all of the good and bad that entails.

Can you please explain the good and bad that a "southern university" entails vs. other universities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak about auburn, but CofC and Clemson are very different schools. CofC is downtown and has spirit around basketball. Clemson is a typical large southern university with all of the good and bad that entails.

Can you please explain the good and bad that a "southern university" entails vs. other universities?

Fraternity and sorority life at Clemson or any other large southern university are going to be very different than almost any different region. Saturdays in the fall are also tons of fun that dont require the kind of masochism as going to a November game in South Bend or Madison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak about auburn, but CofC and Clemson are very different schools. CofC is downtown and has spirit around basketball. Clemson is a typical large southern university with all of the good and bad that entails.

Can you please explain the good and bad that a "southern university" entails vs. other universities?

Fraternity and sorority life at Clemson or any other large southern university are going to be very different than almost any different region. Saturdays in the fall are also tons of fun that dont require the kind of masochism as going to a November game in South Bend or Madison.

DP-So I read that the Greek life is a negative? No one requires that one join a Greek organization. To the OP... as PP said CofC is very different from both Clemson and Auburn. Clemson and Auburn are very similar, big state schools that dominate small towns and have all the big sports. CofC is a great school in an amazing city, but much smaller. If your kid is into the water and outdoors Charleston has it all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak about auburn, but CofC and Clemson are very different schools. CofC is downtown and has spirit around basketball. Clemson is a typical large southern university with all of the good and bad that entails.

Can you please explain the good and bad that a "southern university" entails vs. other universities?

Fraternity and sorority life at Clemson or any other large southern university are going to be very different than almost any different region. Saturdays in the fall are also tons of fun that dont require the kind of masochism as going to a November game in South Bend or Madison.

DP-So I read that the Greek life is a negative? No one requires that one join a Greek organization. To the OP... as PP said CofC is very different from both Clemson and Auburn. Clemson and Auburn are very similar, big state schools that dominate small towns and have all the big sports. CofC is a great school in an amazing city, but much smaller. If your kid is into the water and outdoors Charleston has it all.

PP here, negative or positive depending on the kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak about auburn, but CofC and Clemson are very different schools. CofC is downtown and has spirit around basketball. Clemson is a typical large southern university with all of the good and bad that entails.

Can you please explain the good and bad that a "southern university" entails vs. other universities?

Fraternity and sorority life at Clemson or any other large southern university are going to be very different than almost any different region. Saturdays in the fall are also tons of fun that dont require the kind of masochism as going to a November game in South Bend or Madison.

DP-So I read that the Greek life is a negative? No one requires that one join a Greek organization. To the OP... as PP said CofC is very different from both Clemson and Auburn. Clemson and Auburn are very similar, big state schools that dominate small towns and have all the big sports. CofC is a great school in an amazing city, but much smaller. If your kid is into the water and outdoors Charleston has it all.

PP here, negative or positive depending on the kid.

Agree, but as a choice at a large school I would say not a real factor.

[Anonymous]

Apply to all three and see if one emerges as a favorite by the end of senior year.

[Anonymous]

No harm in applying widely. UofSC may be worth considering as a combination of the city of CofC with the spirit of Clemson. Visit and see which emerges to the top.

[Anonymous]

Clemson and Auburn are small town atmosphere. Rural. Try University of South Carolina - more small city feel.

[Anonymous]

Does she know what she wants to major in? At Clemson you apply to specific school within and it’s very difficult if you want to change course.

[Anonymous]

Auburn and Clemson are in small college towns.

College of Charleston might give her merit - her stats are high for them.

Does she want warm? Because Wisconsin sounds like a good fit of she’s ok with cold weather.

[Anonymous]

Clemson was stingy with merit in our case. DC ‘s offer was instate tuition instead of out of state. But they got full tuition at Auburn. Choose Auburn because free wins for undergrad.

[Anonymous]

Clemson's greek life is not like most southern schools. They have the greek quad vs houses. Big school spirit school but also a place for everyone. College of Charleston is spread out a bit and some of the student off campus housing should be considered hazardous. Most schools have that but I have never seen anything like it.

Can't speak about Auburn but our friends kids love it. You can't go wrong with either one

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Clemson's greek life is not like most southern schools. They have the greek quad vs houses. Big school spirit school but also a place for everyone. College of Charleston is spread out a bit and some of the student off campus housing should be considered hazardous. Most schools have that but I have never seen anything like it.

Can't speak about Auburn but our friends kids love it. You can't go wrong with either one

How does “Greek quad” vs. “houses” make Greek experience different? Not familiar w Greek system at all.