Youth Should Never Be A Barrier To Learning.
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The Early Entrance Experience
Testimonials From Those Who Have Lived It
This page contains observations and remarks regarding the
Clarkson School Bridging Year
Comments below are sorted with most recent submissions first.
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I'd have to say that enrolling at the Clarkson Shool was one of the best decisions I ever made. I grew a lot that year as a person - academically and socially. I got to know an outstanding group of students (many are still friends), and the staff was first rate. I would not have been able to subsequently matriculate at the college of my choice had I not had the Clarkson School on my application. The town of Potsdam is small, but it has it's own character. It's definitely cold, but it's like an adventure. We walked backwards a lot in the dead of winter (wind). There's not much to do in town (there was a doughnut shop with a small arcade that was open 24 hours a day), but that was never an issue for my class. When I wasn't taking care of school work, I was having a blast. We never had a problem finding mischief. There were lots of activities; hiking in the Adirondack mountains, trips to Ottowa and Montreal, and a college tour all over New England to name a few. We had all the same privileges as the other college students, a staff dedicated to "Schoolies", and upperclassman dormitories among other perks. I would definitely recommend the Clarkson School. |
- Deane Pinchak, Former Student (Class of 1991) |
| My high school was an oppressive environment filled with students with bad attitudes, so I was very eager to learn about The Clarkson School when its brochure came in the mail. My father drove me there during the summer to visit the campus, and we found the staff very eager to help us learn about the opportunity to attend. I was accepted and decided to move over a thousand miles from home for the experience. We were oriented with the university and acquainted with the other early-entrance students through unique activities. The staff and residential advisors stayed in close contact with us throughout the year, so there was always someone to talk to for any issue. We had monthly dinners and a variety of frequent activies, like trips to Montreal or Burlington (Vermont), personality tests, and workshops on study skills. I found Clarkson's professors to be dedicated and interesting, providing ample personal attention. I was exposed to peers with bright minds, and although I'm not an outgoing person, I made friends that I will remember for the rest of my life. I am grateful for this special life experience that exposed me to interesting people, challenging academics, and a supportive environment. The headmaster Gary Kelly is eager to support the students and impart his wisdom, and the office manager Annette Green is extremely resourceful and willing to help the students with anything they need. Potsdam, New York, is a small town, but Clarkson University has a lot to offer and The Clarkson School can connect you with a lot of interesting people. |
- Adrian Pritchett, Former Student (Class of 1997) |
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The only drawback I found while at Clarkson was the location. There's almost nothing to do off of campus. That being said, if you're like me, there's plenty to do on campus. If you're an ice hockey fan, Clarkson has a division I team, and the home games are always fun. What kept me happily busy most of the time (while I wasn't doing homework of course), was video games. The academics at Clarkson are rigorous, to be sure, but will not run you in to the ground; the workload is similar to many elite high schools. Also, every professor I had while there was very well educated, helpful, and kind. The staff at The Clarkson School are definitely a plus. The staff member I interacted with the most was the guidance counselor of sorts who is on staff to meet with Bridging Year students only to help with applying to other colleges and class selection. Although I did not meet very frequently with the other staff members, they were always kind and happy to help when I did. The part that I most remember about the program was far and away the other students. You will find a group of smart, brave, motivated, and genuinely interesting young adults to live with for 8 months. The community that gets established at the Clarkson School is definitely one of its stronger points. (apologies for the lack of direction - this was thrown together in between a math problem set and some Mandarin Studying) |
- Ben, Former Student (Class of 2002) |
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This page was last modified 21:32 Saturday, January 14, 2006
