The Clarkson School is an opportunity for talented secondary school juniors to begin university study a year early. Upon completion of the one-year program students are admitted with advanced standing to Clarkson and other outstanding universities.

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We believe that it is essential to offer a curriculum that emphasizes increased proficiency with relevant technological skills, effective communication of ideas in both the written and spoken word, and the building and refining of analytical reasoning powers. Clarkson School students are encouraged to sample a wide variety of courses as they investigate prospective majors and explore career possibilities throughout their year.

A typical selection of courses would include: one or two laboratory sciences, two interdisciplinary writing courses, a mathematics course based on a placement examination, a computer course, a social science course, and at least one course relevant to the student's educational direction. A course usually meets two or three times per week in lecture and discussion sections. All courses throughout the Bridging Year are taken with Clarkson University students and are taught by Clarkson University faculty.

The average number of credits earned through university study: 31 credit hours. Cumulative grade-point average (GPA) for the past class and the past three classes (05 - 07):

	GPA		2007		2005-2007
	3.75 or better		29%		20%
	3.50 or better		40%		32%
	3.25 or better		57%		49%
	3.00 or better		67%		58%
	2.75 or better		74%		65%
	2.50 or better		79%		73%
	2.25 or better		86%		83%
	2.00 or better		91%		92%

Overall median student average: 3.17

SAT mean for the past three classes (2005-07):

• Verbal mean: 586
• Math mean: 620

Faculty
Students enrolled at The Clarkson School have the privilege of studying with, and being instructed by, Clarkson University faculty. The faculty consist of 168 full-time teachers. Over 98% hold Ph.D. degrees. Faculty working with Clarkson School students are requested to provide written evaluations about each student's attendance, class participation, work habits, and intellectual abilities as evaluated through examinations, writing, and class participation.

Grades
Semester grades are reported in accordance with the following system:

A student who passes a three credit-hour course with an "A" will earn 3 x 4, or 12 quality points. Passing with a "B" grade earns a 3 x 3, or 9 quality points, etc. A semester's grade-point average (GPA) is determined by dividing the total number of earned quality points by the total number of hours taken. There is no entry on a student's record for D+, D, or F grades in courses taken as "pass/no entry."

	Grade/Letter		Equivalent
	4.0		A
	3.5		B+
	3.0		B
	2.5		C+
	2.0		C
	1.5		D+
	1.0		D
	0.0		F
	P		Pass
	I		Incomplete

The Clarkson School is on a semester system. First semester ends in mid-December. Grade reports will be sent to colleges and universities at the end of the first semester. Second semester ends in early May.

The Clarkson School office will send copies of high school and college grade reports, test scores, and letters of reference to each college admission office as students request. Students are advised to have all standardized test scores sent to the admissions office from the testing agency.