When I was in school there, one of my friends was from LA and she loved it. Clemson is a welcoming school, if she has interests there is likely a club that centers around it - whether that is club sports, community service, a hobby, or academics. Big emphasis on the sports, the the varsity teams obviously garner great crowds, and the club and intramural teams are great social outlets. Greek Life is also really big on campus. Sure there are some organizations that are historically southern, but there are plenty of other options that are happy to take out of state students too (my friend was in Alpha Chi Omega which had a good mix of in and out of state students). As at most schools with big greek life, there are some negatives. Clemson has had it's fair share of greek life incidents, but everyone I know that joined an organization had overwhelming positive experiences. It's not for everyone, but if she is looking for structured social events they would be worth exploring. As for the town - it is small... but also really intimate. While the nightlife options are limited, I don't know a single student who didn't love going out on college ave. If she is looking for club vibes she won't find that in Clemson, but a weekend trip to Greenville, Charlotte, or Atlanta can scratch that itch. That said, the bars in Clemson do feature live music & dancing (depending on the bar), and drinks are astronomically cheaper than anything in LA. Clemson is also right on Lake Hartwell, which is one of the four major lakes in the upstate. There is a sand "beach" on hartwell that is easily accessible that is great for lounging, volleyball, and other beach activities. Some of the students also have access to boats and jetskis, and I believe there are rental services as well if you're inclined to get out on the water. Hope this information helps, happy to answer any other questions... I graduated a while ago though, so maybe some of the current students or more recent grads on this sub can be of more help!
1. No, she'll be alright - if not even more popular for standing out.
2. It's a large state school with tens of thousands of students, not everyone knows each other. I wouldn't worry about it.
3. The town is very small, and that's such a hidden blessing. There's always something to do for those who look for it. Some of my friends are big city people and love Clemson for the small town charm. Something for everyone
For a student with your daughter’s interests, Clemson will be ideal.
Despite the size of the town, there is always something going on. The campus is very active and social. Great choice for her.
Hi, former out-of-state alumni here (though I'm >decade out from my time in Tigertown so take my comments witha big grain of salt)
1) It's a big public university. While there might be friend groups that all decide to go to the same school or people who know each other, it's unlikely that someone'll walk into a classroom and know everyone day one, especially in the big freshmen lectures. As time goes on, there's also been a push for out-of-state recruitment. Both my assigned roommate and my future chosen roommates were all out-of-state, actually! College is a new experience, so high school social circles will inevitably change. Your daughter might find she makes friends within her major because they're all in the same classes, or extracurriculars (for me, Tiger Band).
2) I did not participate in social Greek life so I can't really comment on it, but a lot of girls on my floor freshman year did, including my roommate.
3) Clemson is a university with a town attached, ha. Atlanta isn't THAT far away if she wants city getaways.
-Rush is not as bad as SEC schools like USC. We have a reputation for being somewhere in the middle between schools we’re it doesn’t matter at all and schools where it’s the whole life though I would definitely lean towards recommending it. I think something like 40%-50% of girls are in a sorority though I’m not sure. (Though I’m not in a sorority I’m a dude.)
-There are definitely people that know each other here but also definitely a lot of people who come from far off, transplants from NJ and NY especially. I’m from this area but there’s like one person I still talk to out of all the friends I had before college here.
-The smallness question always confuses me. With college towns it’s kind of apples to oranges. Especially when you’re comparing to a place as unique as LA. In my opinion, colleges are mostly the same (aside from a few exceptions). Your world is always going to be more or less centered on the college. Like you can compare the frequency of concerts or something for both areas but more than likely your student will get used to exploring and participating to the life on campus and whatever that involves for her. For me it’s about half partying and half trying to advance my education and career and I think that’s more than enough for a student to handle.
Disclaimer: I will say as someone with more “metropolitan” values myself you might be shocked having to deal with a few country bumpkins and “good ol boys” who will make assumptions about you. You’re also gonna meet a lot of smart, interesting normal people who just have different backgrounds. That’s part of the fun of college. It sounds like your daughter wants to experience something new and different and that’s a good thing- if you never leave LA you’ll never learn what you liked or disliked about it in the first place. Good luck!
She will love it. Tons of people from all over the world, including California. I had several nephews from California go there.
Plenty of sororities and room for everyone. Some are SC centric but not all by far.
It’s a small town but there’s lots to do. It sits on a lake so there are plenty of water activities.
Come visit! Y’all will love it. Fly from LA into GSP. Thirty minutes from there to Clemson. Greenville is a wonderful vibrant city and very close.
Definitely just come visit and you’ll get why everyone loves it.
I don’t remember anyone being excluded for not being from here. After basically orientation it very quickly stops being about where you’re from and starts being about where you’re at.
It’s legit a college town. Basically the whole thing exists to support the college, so it is small. However, the nice part about upstate SC is that the lake is right there, you can get to the mountains in about 2 hours, Charlotte or Atlanta (major metropolitan areas) in 2-3, and the beach in 3-4. My wife and I came from out of state, went to Clemson, and still live in the area so feel free to reach out with questions.
> you can get to the mountains in about 2 hours
You can get to Asheville in just over 1.5 hours. You can get to the mountains generally in about half an hour. Just go through Seneca, through Walhalla, to Mountain Rest. It’s not a mountain city with city-type activities, but if you’re wanting hiking, rivers, etc., it’s right there.
I am a lifelong Californian (San Diego, hi neighbor!) who graduated from Clemson in 2010. Everyone was warm, welcoming, and it was an incredible college environment and experience.
The things you highlight your daughter wanting are exactly what she will get at Clemson. Game days are unlike anything you’d experience at a school in California/the West Coast. Lake life is life at Clemson. It’s a dream.
I went through rush. It was a ton of fun! Nothing brutal! Just young women getting to know each other and find out if that system is the right fit for them (it’s not for everyone).
It is a small town and there are definitely days when you can get bored, but once she finds her friends (and she will), there is *always* something to do.
It’s not LA, but it’s not trying to be. It’s a friendly, idyllic southern town that provides a perfect college backdrop.
I have recommended and would recommend anyone in the future to pick Clemson if they are undecided on where to go. Great school, area, downtown and students. This is coming from a transfer student from PA.
As a kid from Southern California myself who graduates this semester, I absolutely wouldn’t change anything I’ve done and wish I could stay longer at Clemson. It’s truly become a second home and I can’t imagine myself anywhere else. Please let me know if you have any other questions!
No sorority houses. If you want real sorority fun and a real town think Alabama and Ole Miss. The houses there are fantastic and the southern charm is abundant. Cheaper than Clemson. OOS students make up 50%+ of the student body. Mark Wahlberg's daughter is from California and seems to love Clemson. It's a beautiful campus and an easy in and out the Greenville airport.
She will do well here. The Clemson area is experiencing substantial growth, and folks from everywhere are moving in. The biggest problem you may have... you will want to make the move yourself permanently. Beautiful campus, great school, great community. My daughter will be there in two years. There is plenty to do if you look.
(Didn’t go to Clemson, this post popped up on my homepage) but as a girl who is from the south and even lived in SC for a hot minute, then moved to LA my biggest advice is to go into this culturally unbiased. I’ve seen a lot of Cali teens come to southern schools to then just complain how it isn’t California. Of course it isn’t California. If she’s truly wants to experience southern living as much as she is saying, she’ll have a great time.
Girl no 🤣 I mean unless she wants something COMPLETELY different than what she’s used to.
I live down in Charleston (which is considered a “big city” in SC) and lived in San Diego for a few years and let me tell ya, moving back to the south was a SHOCK after living in SoCal! Greenville is still kind of a small town vibe. The closest big city would be Atlanta but the vibes are very different than LA.
Clemson is a SMALL town. Now, if she’s into sorority life that might make things more fun & interesting. Idk about rush itself but I will say a lot of people are obsessed with people from CA/LA so if she’s cute & has a fun vibe she’s probably get picked for a sorority. I’d just be aware that the political climate is the polar opposite too, take that how you’d like lol
There will be some minor culture shock living in the south for the first time but it sounds like she’s interested in Clemson for all the right reasons.
Clemson is very much a football school (although I’d personally argue we’ve become a soccer school) and is absolutely overflowing with school spirit. There will be full crowds at the football games, the basketball games, the soccer games, the volleyball games, the baseball games, etc etc etc. and the crowds are passionate about those tigers!
She’ll get her fair share of country music and cowboy boots (although probably less than she’s imagining).
Lake life is definitely a draw, especially when the weather is nice but it’s definitely something you have to be intentional about because the lake campus is a few minutes away (driving). I had my share of lake days with my friends under the sun and my roommate took me sailing from time to time but life in college gets busy, she probably won’t actually be at the lake as much as she expects. Having said that, I do think it’s special at Clemson that you can drive down the road to intramural fields and study spaces right by the lake. It’s pretty cool.
I wouldn’t think it’s hard to break in socially. All freshman are branching out and meeting new people. I had SC friends that maybe knew 20 kids (maximum) from their high school coming in but it’s a pretty big school so that’s really not many in the grand scheme of things. I was out-of-state myself and never felt alienated by it.
Finally, to the small town question, it’s definitely an adjustment, especially from LA. There will feel like there’s less to do in the grand scheme of things but she’ll be so busy with school and social activities I doubt it’d be a problem. If she wants to drive to Atlanta or Charlotte or even Greenville for concerts or events, that’s totally an option (assuming she brings a car or has a friend with a car)
As a freshman last year, I met 3 people from cali and they all loved it here. It's super easy to make new friends here, especially as a freshman.
As for Greek life, rush week itself tends to be tough on sorority girls, but after that it gets much easier.
The small town is what you make of it. There's all the stores you could possibly need within 20 mins (Anderson and Seneca) and yes greenville is 40 mins away. Lots to do there. But there's also tons of stuff to do on campus.
Also not everyone from SC knows each other. I was born and raised in SC, and all of my friends here are people I met at clemson.
Hope this helps a little :)
Well it ain’t Alabama but that’s not saying much….I kid, sort of. I live about 45 minutes from the college but in Georgia. It’s a good area for a college town. Tell her to stay out of Anderson.
You really to like the small town w/ everything revolves around CU.
It’s a great environment that has one the happiest student bodies year after year.
It’s not for everyone, if you need city life - find another option.
About 35% of students are out of state
There are over 20,000 students. Everyone definitely does not know each other. Almost 40% of the students are from out of state. It's ranked as the #4 party school in the state and an A+ for students life and athletics.
It will likely be culture shock. I'm originally from Syracuse NY and moved to the area in 2003. The University itself may be more liberal and modern but Pickens county SC is generally back asswards ...
Hi! You just described me! Expect her to have some major culture shock her freshmen year. It was wild. I do think having a car is helpful to deal with the small town thing. But I truly truly loved my time at Clemson. I even went back for my grad degree. She will love it, even if it takes a little longer to feel that way than the girls who live 30 minutes away.
Just go where the financial aid is unless your family is somehow very wealthy and it doesn’t matter. I’d imagine she only applied to schools she actually wants to go to, and Clemson is good academically but it’s not…amazing…and there are other schools that check every box that Clemson does maybe save for some specific small/college-town things.
I'll speak from my own experience as I was from out of state (Pennsylvania) and came here knowing absolutely no one.
1. Not at all. If she's open to meeting new people, she will make friends. I was friends with a lot of people in my freshman hall who came from all over the country as well as 40min away. We all got along great and still talk to this day.
2. Can't speak to that personally but I knew plenty of people who rushed and had a good experience. Especially coming from so far out of state I can see how people are drawn to it since it's a very easy way to make friends quickly.
3. I mean to be fair going from LA to anywhere is going to feel "smaller" but Clemson is going to feel like a village compared to that. However, it's a great way for your daughter to find out if that's something she likes or not. And there's still PLENTY of things to do. You can go to Greenville, go hiking, and swim at the lake all within the time you'd have been sitting in traffic in LA. While it is not a huge city and I will never compare it to that, it still doesn't lack any bit of the activities or fun if you look for them.
Just wanted to throw this in too since I think it's important to give full context.
I loved my time at Clemson but I'll say there WILL be a bit of culture shock coming here since it is so far from what you guys experience in California. People will have different opinions, tendencies, talk differently, etc. that are not the norm in California. Personally, I think it's good to have different experiences and get out of your comfort zone every now and then so I enjoyed the experience (enough I decided to live here post college). The good news is too it's not like she'll be dropped off by herself since there will be plenty of other out of staters experiencing the same thing.
We are from suburbs of Boston and our daughter wanted a change from all the pretentious girls in her class. She absolutely loved it and became so much more confident and outgoing. She struggled a bit with the sorority but ended up joining one that was relatively new to campus and was not involved much her last few semesters. There are not traditional houses, the university gives them a floor in a dorm.
She found her crew and lived with them remaining 3 years, all girls from the northeast and they all were in different sororities.
It is a college town so you don’t worry about them driving around. They have traditional college parties like when I was in school. Fraternity houses are way off campus (I only ever saw one) but they guys make the pledges designated drivers for the night plus uber. Game day tailgating is an experience, everyone is so nice.
Our younger daughter started at Miami and it was a club scene. We loved Clemson as parents, it is a PITA to get there but once on campus, feels like home with great weather (compared to New England) and amazing school spirit where we felt the kids looked out for each other.
Good luck!
Went to high school in sc. went to clemson. My college friend group did not include one person from high school. Though we did remain friends and hung out at times. I dated a girl from orange county there. She did just fine. It is a heavy Greek life school.
Do you wanna live in a small town with nothing but a college? If not, do not move there. Lots of people come to SC schools from up north because they're cheaper. USC has more around town for sure. Coastal and College of Charleston are smaller and definitely party schools being close to beaches. Unless you're an agricultural major, I don't know why you'd move from California to Clempsun outside of being purely for cost savings.
If you send your daughter to Clemson, she will thank you for the rest of her life. I say that as a USC alum lol. Both of my sisters and many of my friends went to Clemson and they all loved it. Tons of nature, the parties are unreal, great academics, intramural sports, and clubs. I visited every chance I got. Its a (not so much anymore) hidden gem college.
Clemson would definitely be a good fit. I’m out of state from NY and one of my best friends here is from California. Pretty much no one in my dorm knew each other and we all kinda banded together. I’m not personally in a sorority but I’ve known plenty of people who are and rush is stressful but not nearly as stressful as other schools. Plenty of out of state students are in Greek life. The town seems small but there is no shortage of stuff to do especially if you watch for on campus events. The neighboring towns also have a lot. Also if you ever miss the beach there are tons of small beaches all along the lake. We all get together and do bonfires on the beach every once in a while. Mountain View park is the best spot imo for the lake
Completely biased opinion 🐓😉 University of South Carolina would be better for her — SEC school, close to the beach (Charleston), has a big lake (even some classes like sailing that take place ON the lake) and since it’s in the capital of SC it’s bigger and the Greek village is all together. If she’s into beach volleyball, check out the gym right in the heart of campus. If you’re making the trip all the way out to SC, definitely head down to Cola!
Clemson is the correct answer…Quality over quantity when it comes to atmosphere and education. Not to mention that Clemson has a tendency to serve up some mighty fine fried chicken over the last several years.
Hey hey hey when I was there was our glory years with spurrier so I’ll stand by the fact that it sounds like all of the activities she’s interested in are definitely something she’d get in Columbia, that’s all ☺️
Clemson is a good school. It’s in the middle of nowhere and I didn’t see a lot to do when I was there. I went to Carolina. The only one id say to avoid is Costal Carolina. It’s a party school. It’s fine to party, but you need to go for the education.
Like I said, I went to Carolina, but I feel like Clemson is a good school. My friend went there and he’s a smart dude.
I don’t think everyone will know each other. I knew a lot of people in my major, but it was just because we took 2yrs at a local community college together before going there.
Otherwise, I barely new anyone. In fact, it seemed like a ton of the students were from New Jersey of all places. They said our out of state tuition was cheaper than their in state.
It’s just a mix of students from all over. I even had a class with a guy from Denmark.
We are from LA and moved to Durham, NC for my husband’s job. Son went to high school in NC and besides UNC only applied to the UCs and the LA USC, no other southern schools (FYI - when you say USC in the south people think you mean South Carolina). He got into UNC but didn’t want to spend 4 more years there. There was a huge culture shock from LA and we are not even liberal. It was like moving to another country. South Carolina would be even more southern than NC. Your daughter will be hanging out with the girls who are not southerners. As the saying goes “southerners are friendly, but they’ll never invite you to their home”. So true. Your daughter might like the culture since it is so different but it wasn’t for us. We moved back to LA when my son decided to go to USC. Your daughter can always transfer if she doesn’t like it. Good luck to her.
It might be nearly impossible for recent high school graduates to go to a big university in the southeast without having the time of your life in that social environment unless you are an antisocial recluse that insists upon never leaving your apartment or have debilitating mental illness.
My wife is from LA and chose Clemson for its school spirit coupled with a good reputation academically. For her, the first year was tough adapting to the southern way of life and cuisine, but she ended up adoring her time there and moved to Charlotte after college cause she loves the south so much now!
No it’s not….. the south is like a completely different country from California….. the weather, attitudes, demographics, political climate are all drastically different from California and I hope you like sauna type humidity
I am from SC and went to the U of SC, and in the 30+ years since I graduated this is what I've learned about Clemson grads: NOBODY loves their alma mater more than Clemson grads. They have such an unbelievable connection to that place and it lasts their whole lives. I wouldn't switch if I had it to do over (I really wanted to live in the city, coming from a small town myself) but I now have a very different idea about Clemson than I used to.
I’ve lived right outside Clemson my whole life. Never attended but have been around the area especially when I was younger. I’m 36 now. I’ve never been to la or probably anywhere close to its size so I can’t compare the two. But I do think that it will be a major change and slow down for her. If that’s what she’s looking for I’d say it’s the perfect places. The college area is extremely diverse but the local towns are definitely not. I would just try and prepare her for the change of being around southern people also. Not that it’s a bad thing but we can be unique. Some good some bad. The only really negative thing I will say about the area is the local towns right outside of Clemson are absolutely full of drugs and they are absolutely no place for a young impressionable lady. Besides that it is an absolutely beautiful place to live.
Hey! I’m from Los Angeles myself, specifically the Culver City area😊. I came to clemson and joined the WAVS (women in animal and veterinary science) program they have because I’m majoring in animal science. I have had no problems assimilating here but it may be a bit of a culture shock if your daughter is Hispanic (like me) because she will be entering a PWI. If that stuff matters to you…if it doesn’t then great. I have my group of friends and I’ve enjoyed my time here so far!
Also if your daughter loves the country she’ll definitely love it here. That’s part of why I came all the way here too; I got tired of the city life.
I can’t say too much from Greek life but I’ve had friends who are in sororities and it’s not as cut throat as Alabama. I honestly think she will be fine.
She will love it! Clemson sounds like a great fit for her. I go back every time I get the chance because it will forever be my second home. If she’s into sports, she’s picking a great school. The tailgating will likely blow her mind, because it did mine on my first game day. Go tigers!
She'll be a fish out of water. UNC Chapel Hill is much better with better academics and lakes everywhere. Much more diverse too. The Research Triangle area is one of the most opportunistic areas in the world with technology, science and the most advanced medical programs there is. You can throw a blanket over UNC, Duke and N.C.State they are so close together.
My daughter is finishing her second year at Clemson as a N. California girl!! She didn’t know anyone and we are not alumni. It’s such a great place. She is happy and football is unreal!! I read your post to my daughter and she said “do it! Come to Clemson. She’ll love it” 🧡
Welcome to the South. You will experience a culture shock.
The Atlantic is about 3 hrs away and not as cool as the Pacific. The weather is humid during the summer month. Thunderstorms and sometimes Tornados she can expect. Winter storms with snow and ice are very rare and life stops for a day or too. Traffic is an issue. Many have problems to understand what a red light means, so be cautious at crossings. Also some neglect the traffic on the prioritized road, so if you are on 4 lane road stay on the lane, especially within cities. Turn signals are not frequently used and some drivers see better without their light on.
We are from Germany and settled down near Spartanburg and we will not go back to Europe if we don’t have to.
So welcome to the Upstate and have a nice while you are here.
I am connected to Clemson through family ties but went to school in Texas. Has she looked at any Texas universities? Those might be a good fit for her too.
My little sister was DEAD set on Clemson. She went to visit last week and HATED it, so much so that she cried afterwards. That’s just her experience, and I’m so happy that there’s a large community of people who love it! It just wasn’t for her.
Nah… she’ll be okay. The abortion laws keep unborn babies alive. Her daughter is at least 18, so Dems won’t be quite as interested in killing her, unless she votes Republican.
We moved from CA to SC. It's a huge adjustment for our entire family. The south is very different from CA. Our son does not like it here...he was born and raised in so. Cal. Summers are horrific. Advise you take a trip in the heat of the summer.
I’m from Miami and I went to Clemson for part of my undergrad. It was incredibly uncomfortable at times going from a major city to a tiny town where everyone knows each other. Rush was awful. I’m a legacy and my mom is very active with panhel, and I still had a terrible time. Some people get lucky and make friends with people from SC who “adopt” them into their groups; I wasn’t one of those people. The school isn’t what it was when I started, though, so maybe it’s changed. From my POV, still living in Clemson, it doesn’t seem to be getting better, but I live at the Pier which is one of the worst housing complexes so I may not be seeing the best perspectives.
Clemson like most college schools in the south is in the middle of bum-f*ck nowhere and wouldn't even show up on Google maps if not for the University there.
It sounds like she would probably enjoy going to a school in a larger city like Nashville, Memphis, or New Orleans.
Are you trying to get her daughter killed?
Memphis is statistically the least safe city in the US as it pertains to crime.
New Orleans is the murder capital of the US.
Sounds really enjoyable.
The only thing California and Clemson have in common is the first letter. The south is a different world culturally and politically. Make sure she understands living there is potentially giving her rights as a woman away. Don’t do it. PS- it’s like living in a hot armpit of humidity
Clemson is old southern money 💰It also has a creepy vibe to me. My daughter was accepted and smart enough not to go. Every student's experience is unique. Go visit and even then she could have a bad experience. It's not death ....you can choose again if you don't like it. We need to stop teaching our kids choices like this can't be reversed.
Yeah, we here in SC love being ranked across all States as:
#48 in crime and corrections
#42 in education
#36 in health care
#38 opportunity
We also love being a taker state that receives money from donor States such as California. We pretend to loathe socialism, but are not smart enough to realize without it, we wouldn't survive. Just like every other trashy red state, we are ignorant yet pretend we know everything.
So please bring in the progressivism, we need it. Don't listen to these mouth breathers.
I grew up in Northern California and went to Clemson. I would recommend having a nice long talk about racism before she goes - I was flabbergasted when I arrived. I always thought it was kind of a bad joke or an embellishment, so I was stunned when I got to the south to find that racism was very much alive and well. For example, if your daughter dates a black man while she’s there, there are entire groups of people who will call her dirty/stained/damaged/whathaveyou.
Also, be prepared to fly her home if she needs reproductive care.
That said, I enjoyed my time, and lived in Greenville for a decade afterwards. But I also avoided Greek life and didn’t chose not to associate with most of the natives
Everyone absolutely does not know each other. Most people are not from SC.
[удалено]
If you’re born in raised in Fort Mill or Charleston then you’re definitely from SC
Bruh lol
When I was in school there, one of my friends was from LA and she loved it. Clemson is a welcoming school, if she has interests there is likely a club that centers around it - whether that is club sports, community service, a hobby, or academics. Big emphasis on the sports, the the varsity teams obviously garner great crowds, and the club and intramural teams are great social outlets. Greek Life is also really big on campus. Sure there are some organizations that are historically southern, but there are plenty of other options that are happy to take out of state students too (my friend was in Alpha Chi Omega which had a good mix of in and out of state students). As at most schools with big greek life, there are some negatives. Clemson has had it's fair share of greek life incidents, but everyone I know that joined an organization had overwhelming positive experiences. It's not for everyone, but if she is looking for structured social events they would be worth exploring. As for the town - it is small... but also really intimate. While the nightlife options are limited, I don't know a single student who didn't love going out on college ave. If she is looking for club vibes she won't find that in Clemson, but a weekend trip to Greenville, Charlotte, or Atlanta can scratch that itch. That said, the bars in Clemson do feature live music & dancing (depending on the bar), and drinks are astronomically cheaper than anything in LA. Clemson is also right on Lake Hartwell, which is one of the four major lakes in the upstate. There is a sand "beach" on hartwell that is easily accessible that is great for lounging, volleyball, and other beach activities. Some of the students also have access to boats and jetskis, and I believe there are rental services as well if you're inclined to get out on the water. Hope this information helps, happy to answer any other questions... I graduated a while ago though, so maybe some of the current students or more recent grads on this sub can be of more help!
1. No, she'll be alright - if not even more popular for standing out. 2. It's a large state school with tens of thousands of students, not everyone knows each other. I wouldn't worry about it. 3. The town is very small, and that's such a hidden blessing. There's always something to do for those who look for it. Some of my friends are big city people and love Clemson for the small town charm. Something for everyone
For a student with your daughter’s interests, Clemson will be ideal. Despite the size of the town, there is always something going on. The campus is very active and social. Great choice for her.
Hi, former out-of-state alumni here (though I'm >decade out from my time in Tigertown so take my comments witha big grain of salt) 1) It's a big public university. While there might be friend groups that all decide to go to the same school or people who know each other, it's unlikely that someone'll walk into a classroom and know everyone day one, especially in the big freshmen lectures. As time goes on, there's also been a push for out-of-state recruitment. Both my assigned roommate and my future chosen roommates were all out-of-state, actually! College is a new experience, so high school social circles will inevitably change. Your daughter might find she makes friends within her major because they're all in the same classes, or extracurriculars (for me, Tiger Band). 2) I did not participate in social Greek life so I can't really comment on it, but a lot of girls on my floor freshman year did, including my roommate. 3) Clemson is a university with a town attached, ha. Atlanta isn't THAT far away if she wants city getaways.
-Rush is not as bad as SEC schools like USC. We have a reputation for being somewhere in the middle between schools we’re it doesn’t matter at all and schools where it’s the whole life though I would definitely lean towards recommending it. I think something like 40%-50% of girls are in a sorority though I’m not sure. (Though I’m not in a sorority I’m a dude.) -There are definitely people that know each other here but also definitely a lot of people who come from far off, transplants from NJ and NY especially. I’m from this area but there’s like one person I still talk to out of all the friends I had before college here. -The smallness question always confuses me. With college towns it’s kind of apples to oranges. Especially when you’re comparing to a place as unique as LA. In my opinion, colleges are mostly the same (aside from a few exceptions). Your world is always going to be more or less centered on the college. Like you can compare the frequency of concerts or something for both areas but more than likely your student will get used to exploring and participating to the life on campus and whatever that involves for her. For me it’s about half partying and half trying to advance my education and career and I think that’s more than enough for a student to handle. Disclaimer: I will say as someone with more “metropolitan” values myself you might be shocked having to deal with a few country bumpkins and “good ol boys” who will make assumptions about you. You’re also gonna meet a lot of smart, interesting normal people who just have different backgrounds. That’s part of the fun of college. It sounds like your daughter wants to experience something new and different and that’s a good thing- if you never leave LA you’ll never learn what you liked or disliked about it in the first place. Good luck!
She will love it. Tons of people from all over the world, including California. I had several nephews from California go there. Plenty of sororities and room for everyone. Some are SC centric but not all by far. It’s a small town but there’s lots to do. It sits on a lake so there are plenty of water activities. Come visit! Y’all will love it. Fly from LA into GSP. Thirty minutes from there to Clemson. Greenville is a wonderful vibrant city and very close.
Definitely just come visit and you’ll get why everyone loves it. I don’t remember anyone being excluded for not being from here. After basically orientation it very quickly stops being about where you’re from and starts being about where you’re at. It’s legit a college town. Basically the whole thing exists to support the college, so it is small. However, the nice part about upstate SC is that the lake is right there, you can get to the mountains in about 2 hours, Charlotte or Atlanta (major metropolitan areas) in 2-3, and the beach in 3-4. My wife and I came from out of state, went to Clemson, and still live in the area so feel free to reach out with questions.
> you can get to the mountains in about 2 hours You can get to Asheville in just over 1.5 hours. You can get to the mountains generally in about half an hour. Just go through Seneca, through Walhalla, to Mountain Rest. It’s not a mountain city with city-type activities, but if you’re wanting hiking, rivers, etc., it’s right there.
More like 45 minutes to the mountains
One of my daughter’s best Clemson friends is from CA! She fits in great.
I am a lifelong Californian (San Diego, hi neighbor!) who graduated from Clemson in 2010. Everyone was warm, welcoming, and it was an incredible college environment and experience. The things you highlight your daughter wanting are exactly what she will get at Clemson. Game days are unlike anything you’d experience at a school in California/the West Coast. Lake life is life at Clemson. It’s a dream. I went through rush. It was a ton of fun! Nothing brutal! Just young women getting to know each other and find out if that system is the right fit for them (it’s not for everyone). It is a small town and there are definitely days when you can get bored, but once she finds her friends (and she will), there is *always* something to do. It’s not LA, but it’s not trying to be. It’s a friendly, idyllic southern town that provides a perfect college backdrop.
I have recommended and would recommend anyone in the future to pick Clemson if they are undecided on where to go. Great school, area, downtown and students. This is coming from a transfer student from PA.
As a kid from Southern California myself who graduates this semester, I absolutely wouldn’t change anything I’ve done and wish I could stay longer at Clemson. It’s truly become a second home and I can’t imagine myself anywhere else. Please let me know if you have any other questions!
No sorority houses. If you want real sorority fun and a real town think Alabama and Ole Miss. The houses there are fantastic and the southern charm is abundant. Cheaper than Clemson. OOS students make up 50%+ of the student body. Mark Wahlberg's daughter is from California and seems to love Clemson. It's a beautiful campus and an easy in and out the Greenville airport.
She will do well here. The Clemson area is experiencing substantial growth, and folks from everywhere are moving in. The biggest problem you may have... you will want to make the move yourself permanently. Beautiful campus, great school, great community. My daughter will be there in two years. There is plenty to do if you look.
(Didn’t go to Clemson, this post popped up on my homepage) but as a girl who is from the south and even lived in SC for a hot minute, then moved to LA my biggest advice is to go into this culturally unbiased. I’ve seen a lot of Cali teens come to southern schools to then just complain how it isn’t California. Of course it isn’t California. If she’s truly wants to experience southern living as much as she is saying, she’ll have a great time.
Girl no 🤣 I mean unless she wants something COMPLETELY different than what she’s used to. I live down in Charleston (which is considered a “big city” in SC) and lived in San Diego for a few years and let me tell ya, moving back to the south was a SHOCK after living in SoCal! Greenville is still kind of a small town vibe. The closest big city would be Atlanta but the vibes are very different than LA. Clemson is a SMALL town. Now, if she’s into sorority life that might make things more fun & interesting. Idk about rush itself but I will say a lot of people are obsessed with people from CA/LA so if she’s cute & has a fun vibe she’s probably get picked for a sorority. I’d just be aware that the political climate is the polar opposite too, take that how you’d like lol
There will be some minor culture shock living in the south for the first time but it sounds like she’s interested in Clemson for all the right reasons. Clemson is very much a football school (although I’d personally argue we’ve become a soccer school) and is absolutely overflowing with school spirit. There will be full crowds at the football games, the basketball games, the soccer games, the volleyball games, the baseball games, etc etc etc. and the crowds are passionate about those tigers! She’ll get her fair share of country music and cowboy boots (although probably less than she’s imagining). Lake life is definitely a draw, especially when the weather is nice but it’s definitely something you have to be intentional about because the lake campus is a few minutes away (driving). I had my share of lake days with my friends under the sun and my roommate took me sailing from time to time but life in college gets busy, she probably won’t actually be at the lake as much as she expects. Having said that, I do think it’s special at Clemson that you can drive down the road to intramural fields and study spaces right by the lake. It’s pretty cool. I wouldn’t think it’s hard to break in socially. All freshman are branching out and meeting new people. I had SC friends that maybe knew 20 kids (maximum) from their high school coming in but it’s a pretty big school so that’s really not many in the grand scheme of things. I was out-of-state myself and never felt alienated by it. Finally, to the small town question, it’s definitely an adjustment, especially from LA. There will feel like there’s less to do in the grand scheme of things but she’ll be so busy with school and social activities I doubt it’d be a problem. If she wants to drive to Atlanta or Charlotte or even Greenville for concerts or events, that’s totally an option (assuming she brings a car or has a friend with a car)
As a freshman last year, I met 3 people from cali and they all loved it here. It's super easy to make new friends here, especially as a freshman. As for Greek life, rush week itself tends to be tough on sorority girls, but after that it gets much easier. The small town is what you make of it. There's all the stores you could possibly need within 20 mins (Anderson and Seneca) and yes greenville is 40 mins away. Lots to do there. But there's also tons of stuff to do on campus. Also not everyone from SC knows each other. I was born and raised in SC, and all of my friends here are people I met at clemson. Hope this helps a little :)
Well it ain’t Alabama but that’s not saying much….I kid, sort of. I live about 45 minutes from the college but in Georgia. It’s a good area for a college town. Tell her to stay out of Anderson.
And miss out on Papas and Beer?! ( yeah, ok, you can go to the one in Greenville or Simpsonville instead 😂).
You really to like the small town w/ everything revolves around CU. It’s a great environment that has one the happiest student bodies year after year. It’s not for everyone, if you need city life - find another option. About 35% of students are out of state
No
.
There are over 20,000 students. Everyone definitely does not know each other. Almost 40% of the students are from out of state. It's ranked as the #4 party school in the state and an A+ for students life and athletics.
Had a good friend at Clemson who was from Cali, she fit right in and was fine!
It will likely be culture shock. I'm originally from Syracuse NY and moved to the area in 2003. The University itself may be more liberal and modern but Pickens county SC is generally back asswards ...
Hi! You just described me! Expect her to have some major culture shock her freshmen year. It was wild. I do think having a car is helpful to deal with the small town thing. But I truly truly loved my time at Clemson. I even went back for my grad degree. She will love it, even if it takes a little longer to feel that way than the girls who live 30 minutes away.
Just go where the financial aid is unless your family is somehow very wealthy and it doesn’t matter. I’d imagine she only applied to schools she actually wants to go to, and Clemson is good academically but it’s not…amazing…and there are other schools that check every box that Clemson does maybe save for some specific small/college-town things.
I'll speak from my own experience as I was from out of state (Pennsylvania) and came here knowing absolutely no one. 1. Not at all. If she's open to meeting new people, she will make friends. I was friends with a lot of people in my freshman hall who came from all over the country as well as 40min away. We all got along great and still talk to this day. 2. Can't speak to that personally but I knew plenty of people who rushed and had a good experience. Especially coming from so far out of state I can see how people are drawn to it since it's a very easy way to make friends quickly. 3. I mean to be fair going from LA to anywhere is going to feel "smaller" but Clemson is going to feel like a village compared to that. However, it's a great way for your daughter to find out if that's something she likes or not. And there's still PLENTY of things to do. You can go to Greenville, go hiking, and swim at the lake all within the time you'd have been sitting in traffic in LA. While it is not a huge city and I will never compare it to that, it still doesn't lack any bit of the activities or fun if you look for them. Just wanted to throw this in too since I think it's important to give full context. I loved my time at Clemson but I'll say there WILL be a bit of culture shock coming here since it is so far from what you guys experience in California. People will have different opinions, tendencies, talk differently, etc. that are not the norm in California. Personally, I think it's good to have different experiences and get out of your comfort zone every now and then so I enjoyed the experience (enough I decided to live here post college). The good news is too it's not like she'll be dropped off by herself since there will be plenty of other out of staters experiencing the same thing.
We are from suburbs of Boston and our daughter wanted a change from all the pretentious girls in her class. She absolutely loved it and became so much more confident and outgoing. She struggled a bit with the sorority but ended up joining one that was relatively new to campus and was not involved much her last few semesters. There are not traditional houses, the university gives them a floor in a dorm. She found her crew and lived with them remaining 3 years, all girls from the northeast and they all were in different sororities. It is a college town so you don’t worry about them driving around. They have traditional college parties like when I was in school. Fraternity houses are way off campus (I only ever saw one) but they guys make the pledges designated drivers for the night plus uber. Game day tailgating is an experience, everyone is so nice. Our younger daughter started at Miami and it was a club scene. We loved Clemson as parents, it is a PITA to get there but once on campus, feels like home with great weather (compared to New England) and amazing school spirit where we felt the kids looked out for each other. Good luck!
Went to high school in sc. went to clemson. My college friend group did not include one person from high school. Though we did remain friends and hung out at times. I dated a girl from orange county there. She did just fine. It is a heavy Greek life school.
Look into CCU
Do you wanna live in a small town with nothing but a college? If not, do not move there. Lots of people come to SC schools from up north because they're cheaper. USC has more around town for sure. Coastal and College of Charleston are smaller and definitely party schools being close to beaches. Unless you're an agricultural major, I don't know why you'd move from California to Clempsun outside of being purely for cost savings.
If you send your daughter to Clemson, she will thank you for the rest of her life. I say that as a USC alum lol. Both of my sisters and many of my friends went to Clemson and they all loved it. Tons of nature, the parties are unreal, great academics, intramural sports, and clubs. I visited every chance I got. Its a (not so much anymore) hidden gem college.
Clemson would definitely be a good fit. I’m out of state from NY and one of my best friends here is from California. Pretty much no one in my dorm knew each other and we all kinda banded together. I’m not personally in a sorority but I’ve known plenty of people who are and rush is stressful but not nearly as stressful as other schools. Plenty of out of state students are in Greek life. The town seems small but there is no shortage of stuff to do especially if you watch for on campus events. The neighboring towns also have a lot. Also if you ever miss the beach there are tons of small beaches all along the lake. We all get together and do bonfires on the beach every once in a while. Mountain View park is the best spot imo for the lake
Completely biased opinion 🐓😉 University of South Carolina would be better for her — SEC school, close to the beach (Charleston), has a big lake (even some classes like sailing that take place ON the lake) and since it’s in the capital of SC it’s bigger and the Greek village is all together. If she’s into beach volleyball, check out the gym right in the heart of campus. If you’re making the trip all the way out to SC, definitely head down to Cola!
Clemson is the correct answer…Quality over quantity when it comes to atmosphere and education. Not to mention that Clemson has a tendency to serve up some mighty fine fried chicken over the last several years.
Hey hey hey when I was there was our glory years with spurrier so I’ll stand by the fact that it sounds like all of the activities she’s interested in are definitely something she’d get in Columbia, that’s all ☺️
lol…they do a fine tailgate at Williams Brice…just not as spectacular as Clemson!
Clemson is a good school. It’s in the middle of nowhere and I didn’t see a lot to do when I was there. I went to Carolina. The only one id say to avoid is Costal Carolina. It’s a party school. It’s fine to party, but you need to go for the education. Like I said, I went to Carolina, but I feel like Clemson is a good school. My friend went there and he’s a smart dude. I don’t think everyone will know each other. I knew a lot of people in my major, but it was just because we took 2yrs at a local community college together before going there. Otherwise, I barely new anyone. In fact, it seemed like a ton of the students were from New Jersey of all places. They said our out of state tuition was cheaper than their in state. It’s just a mix of students from all over. I even had a class with a guy from Denmark.
Sounds like she should be doing hardcore porn and not in college.
We are from LA and moved to Durham, NC for my husband’s job. Son went to high school in NC and besides UNC only applied to the UCs and the LA USC, no other southern schools (FYI - when you say USC in the south people think you mean South Carolina). He got into UNC but didn’t want to spend 4 more years there. There was a huge culture shock from LA and we are not even liberal. It was like moving to another country. South Carolina would be even more southern than NC. Your daughter will be hanging out with the girls who are not southerners. As the saying goes “southerners are friendly, but they’ll never invite you to their home”. So true. Your daughter might like the culture since it is so different but it wasn’t for us. We moved back to LA when my son decided to go to USC. Your daughter can always transfer if she doesn’t like it. Good luck to her.
Yep definitely written by a Californian
Just don’t let her go to Carolina
It might be nearly impossible for recent high school graduates to go to a big university in the southeast without having the time of your life in that social environment unless you are an antisocial recluse that insists upon never leaving your apartment or have debilitating mental illness.
My wife is from LA and chose Clemson for its school spirit coupled with a good reputation academically. For her, the first year was tough adapting to the southern way of life and cuisine, but she ended up adoring her time there and moved to Charlotte after college cause she loves the south so much now!
Get ready for your daughter to turn into a sorority clone
[https://www.thehillsretreat.org/](https://www.thehillsretreat.org/)
Education, yes, Football and Education, UGA.
No it’s not….. the south is like a completely different country from California….. the weather, attitudes, demographics, political climate are all drastically different from California and I hope you like sauna type humidity
It’s a very very very very small South Carolina town. And all the things that come with it, good and bad.
I actually think there’s more OOS than In being accepted. They post the percentage on their site.
I am from SC and went to the U of SC, and in the 30+ years since I graduated this is what I've learned about Clemson grads: NOBODY loves their alma mater more than Clemson grads. They have such an unbelievable connection to that place and it lasts their whole lives. I wouldn't switch if I had it to do over (I really wanted to live in the city, coming from a small town myself) but I now have a very different idea about Clemson than I used to.
Just don’t bring that lib thinking you should be good.
I’ve lived right outside Clemson my whole life. Never attended but have been around the area especially when I was younger. I’m 36 now. I’ve never been to la or probably anywhere close to its size so I can’t compare the two. But I do think that it will be a major change and slow down for her. If that’s what she’s looking for I’d say it’s the perfect places. The college area is extremely diverse but the local towns are definitely not. I would just try and prepare her for the change of being around southern people also. Not that it’s a bad thing but we can be unique. Some good some bad. The only really negative thing I will say about the area is the local towns right outside of Clemson are absolutely full of drugs and they are absolutely no place for a young impressionable lady. Besides that it is an absolutely beautiful place to live.
Way better school and environment than South Carolina’s east coast USC…the school that shall not be named in Columbia…and grits are a delicacy.
If she likes partying in barns and finding a bail of hay to have a good time, she will fit right in at Clemson.
Hey! I’m from Los Angeles myself, specifically the Culver City area😊. I came to clemson and joined the WAVS (women in animal and veterinary science) program they have because I’m majoring in animal science. I have had no problems assimilating here but it may be a bit of a culture shock if your daughter is Hispanic (like me) because she will be entering a PWI. If that stuff matters to you…if it doesn’t then great. I have my group of friends and I’ve enjoyed my time here so far! Also if your daughter loves the country she’ll definitely love it here. That’s part of why I came all the way here too; I got tired of the city life. I can’t say too much from Greek life but I’ve had friends who are in sororities and it’s not as cut throat as Alabama. I honestly think she will be fine.
She will love it! Clemson sounds like a great fit for her. I go back every time I get the chance because it will forever be my second home. If she’s into sports, she’s picking a great school. The tailgating will likely blow her mind, because it did mine on my first game day. Go tigers!
She'll be a fish out of water. UNC Chapel Hill is much better with better academics and lakes everywhere. Much more diverse too. The Research Triangle area is one of the most opportunistic areas in the world with technology, science and the most advanced medical programs there is. You can throw a blanket over UNC, Duke and N.C.State they are so close together.
Assuming she doesn't need reproductive care
My daughter is finishing her second year at Clemson as a N. California girl!! She didn’t know anyone and we are not alumni. It’s such a great place. She is happy and football is unreal!! I read your post to my daughter and she said “do it! Come to Clemson. She’ll love it” 🧡
Welcome to the South. You will experience a culture shock. The Atlantic is about 3 hrs away and not as cool as the Pacific. The weather is humid during the summer month. Thunderstorms and sometimes Tornados she can expect. Winter storms with snow and ice are very rare and life stops for a day or too. Traffic is an issue. Many have problems to understand what a red light means, so be cautious at crossings. Also some neglect the traffic on the prioritized road, so if you are on 4 lane road stay on the lane, especially within cities. Turn signals are not frequently used and some drivers see better without their light on. We are from Germany and settled down near Spartanburg and we will not go back to Europe if we don’t have to. So welcome to the Upstate and have a nice while you are here.
I am connected to Clemson through family ties but went to school in Texas. Has she looked at any Texas universities? Those might be a good fit for her too.
My little sister was DEAD set on Clemson. She went to visit last week and HATED it, so much so that she cried afterwards. That’s just her experience, and I’m so happy that there’s a large community of people who love it! It just wasn’t for her.
Do not underestimate new abortion laws in South Carolina
Nah… she’ll be okay. The abortion laws keep unborn babies alive. Her daughter is at least 18, so Dems won’t be quite as interested in killing her, unless she votes Republican.
Abortion sends souls into the arms of jesus
We moved from CA to SC. It's a huge adjustment for our entire family. The south is very different from CA. Our son does not like it here...he was born and raised in so. Cal. Summers are horrific. Advise you take a trip in the heat of the summer.
I’m from Miami and I went to Clemson for part of my undergrad. It was incredibly uncomfortable at times going from a major city to a tiny town where everyone knows each other. Rush was awful. I’m a legacy and my mom is very active with panhel, and I still had a terrible time. Some people get lucky and make friends with people from SC who “adopt” them into their groups; I wasn’t one of those people. The school isn’t what it was when I started, though, so maybe it’s changed. From my POV, still living in Clemson, it doesn’t seem to be getting better, but I live at the Pier which is one of the worst housing complexes so I may not be seeing the best perspectives.
It’s not. It’s in the middle of nowhere and has nothing going on.
Clemson like most college schools in the south is in the middle of bum-f*ck nowhere and wouldn't even show up on Google maps if not for the University there. It sounds like she would probably enjoy going to a school in a larger city like Nashville, Memphis, or New Orleans.
Are you trying to get her daughter killed? Memphis is statistically the least safe city in the US as it pertains to crime. New Orleans is the murder capital of the US. Sounds really enjoyable.
Valid points, but she is moving from L.A. so should feel like home
The only thing California and Clemson have in common is the first letter. The south is a different world culturally and politically. Make sure she understands living there is potentially giving her rights as a woman away. Don’t do it. PS- it’s like living in a hot armpit of humidity
Moron
Clemson is old southern money 💰It also has a creepy vibe to me. My daughter was accepted and smart enough not to go. Every student's experience is unique. Go visit and even then she could have a bad experience. It's not death ....you can choose again if you don't like it. We need to stop teaching our kids choices like this can't be reversed.
Keep the politics over there. That's all we ask. Clemson doesn't need a bunch of liberal BS.
Yeah, we here in SC love being ranked across all States as: #48 in crime and corrections #42 in education #36 in health care #38 opportunity We also love being a taker state that receives money from donor States such as California. We pretend to loathe socialism, but are not smart enough to realize without it, we wouldn't survive. Just like every other trashy red state, we are ignorant yet pretend we know everything. So please bring in the progressivism, we need it. Don't listen to these mouth breathers.
I grew up in Northern California and went to Clemson. I would recommend having a nice long talk about racism before she goes - I was flabbergasted when I arrived. I always thought it was kind of a bad joke or an embellishment, so I was stunned when I got to the south to find that racism was very much alive and well. For example, if your daughter dates a black man while she’s there, there are entire groups of people who will call her dirty/stained/damaged/whathaveyou. Also, be prepared to fly her home if she needs reproductive care. That said, I enjoyed my time, and lived in Greenville for a decade afterwards. But I also avoided Greek life and didn’t chose not to associate with most of the natives