Undergraduate Admissions
Our Admissions Process
As you think about whether Clark is right for you, it will help to understand what Clark's Admissions Committee is looking for when they read your application. We want to work with you to find out if Clark is a place where you can thrive over the next four years—so we strive to make our admissions process transparent. If you have questions about Clark during your application process, we strongly encourage you to contact our Admissions Office at admissions@clarku.edu or 1-800-GO CLARK ((800) 462-5275).
What the Admissions Committee looks for
Clark is looking for individuals who can champion new ideas, accept differences and successfully become part of our growing community. That means our Admissions Committee strives to get a complete and holistic picture of you. The Committee considers:
The whole person. We look at more than grades and scores on a sheet of paper. The Committee reviews recommendations, essays and interviews, extracurricular activities and high school course selection in addition to grades and exam scores.
Academic commitment. Clarkies care deeply about their studies, and the Clark experience is so much more than just learning in a traditional classroom. It also encompasses hands-on research, fieldwork and study abroad experiences. To be able to take advantage of the myriad academic opportunities at Clark - both inside and outside the classroom - you should have a strong A/B average. If you have shown a steady improvement in your grades from early in your high school career to your senior year, you are also an ideal candidate. In fact, you could be among some of the most successful students at Clark.
Course Load. As an indication of your academic commitment and preparedness for college-level academics, the Committee recommends the following secondary school course load:
- A strong senior year course load (at least four, preferably five, solid academic courses).
- At least four or five academic courses all four years of high school. While valuing and understanding the diversity and differences in some high school curricula, we want to make sure you have taken:
- Four years of English
- Three years of mathematics
- Three years of science
- Two years of social science
- Two years of a foreign language
- Other credit electives (including the arts) recognized in the curriculum.
