Clark University
Responses from the Student Interview
From a student who identifies as Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Minor: Computer Science
Student Self Identifies as: Indian Heterosexual Female
Summary
I [have a leadership position] in the South Asian Student Association and I’m part of the International Student Association.
Background
Gender Identity: Female
Race/Ethnicity: Indian
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
High School Experience: Private school in New Delhi, India with a graduating class of about 400 students. There was a culture of going to
First-Generation College Student: No
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Minor: Computer Science
Extracurricular Activities: I [have a leadership position] in the South Asian Student Association and I’m part of the International Student Association.
Did any of your extracurricular activities have a particularly big impact on your experience?
Being part of cultural clubs has made me feel closer to home because I’m so far away from home. Also, being on the executive board of a club makes you understand how the decision-making process works, how to organize events, and work as a team.
Academic Experience
Can you describe your weekly coursework for your major?
For every science class we have labs. Last semester I was in four STEM classes and they all had labs, so it was a busy schedule. For my science classes, they’re mainly problem sets and exams. We have monthly exams, midterms, and a final exam. At Clark, you have to take Perspective courses, and those are more essay and reading oriented.
Is there anything you feel your major’s department does especially well or poorly?
We have an entire building dedicated to just bioscience because it’s one of the most popular majors here. They promote connecting current students to alumni, so a lot of the time the internships that we get are jobs with alumni. Last semester, I shadowed an alum who is in biostatistics for a week. It’s not just a Biology thing, but something that’s available at Clark. [About 6% of undergraduates are Biology majors.]
How would you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s particularly competitive or collaborative?
It depends from class to class. As you get into your major, the classes get more difficult and they get smaller, so the professor focuses on you more which is nice. [It is never competitive between people; the work is just difficult.]
How accessible are your professors?
I’ve gone to more office hours for my other classes instead of my science classes because in the science classes you get a grade while the other classes are [more subjective]. The non-science professors are more receptive to helping you, hearing what you have to say, and figuring out how you can do better than the science professors.
Why did you pick your major? Are you happy with your choice?
I want to go to medical school and I’ve always been interested in biology. I knew I always wanted to do it.
How was transitioning academically from your high school in India to Clark? Were there any resources or systems in place that helped you adapt?
It’s very different in India because it is really focused on memorization. At first, it was difficult for me to get out of that habit and learn how to learn. Our professors helped me transition and if I had a problem understanding something conceptually, they would take their time to help me understand.
Reasons to Attend
1) It’s a small school so all the classes are really small. Most are 16 or 17 students except for the big introductory classes. It gives you the chance to interact with your professors, which is important if you’re going to graduate school because you need good letters of recommendation. [The average class size is 21 students.]
2) The networking opportunities are good and the career office is good at helping you with the internship project.
3) It’s a tight-knit community, so you get a chance to not be lost in the crowd and really form a community and get to know people.
Reasons Not to Attend
1) If you’re looking for a big sports school, we are not big on that. We have sporting events, but not a lot of people go to them.
Around Campus
Where have you lived on campus?
Freshman: Hughes Hall in a double. Hughes Hall is a mixed class hall and doesn’t have just freshmen.
Sophomore: Johnson Sanford Center with one roommate in a double.
How was transitioning from New Delhi to Worcester, MA?
New Delhi is a bigger city than Worcester, so that was kind of difficult because there are fewer things to do over here. But, as you live here more and try to explore things, you find that there are things to do off-campus and you’re not just restricted to being on campus.
Can you describe the level of safety you’ve experienced on and around campus?
It’s been pretty safe. I go on night walks off-campus and personally haven’t experienced anything. Also, we rarely hear about anything serious happening. It’s pretty safe in my opinion.
Social Opportunities
What kind of nightlife or weekend activities do you like to participate in at Clark?
Clark is not a big party school. Most of the people I know who are over 21 go to clubs and bars in downtown Worcester. My friends and I like to eat out and go bowling or ice skating. We do that on Fridays and Saturdays because I have assignments to work on every other day of the week.
How happy are you with the weekend options? Is there anything you would change if you could?
We need more options for things to do. There’s bowling, ice skating, and going to the mall, so there are not a lot of things to do. But, I don’t think that’s something that can be changed. I’m not much of a party person, so what we have is fine.
Campus Culture
How did you meet your closest friends?
I met most of them during orientation week. I also met people through classes. Our classes are so small that you have to interact other people.
How would you describe the overall social scene at Clark?
There is a lot to do in terms of getting involved in clubs and outside of campus, and I think that is the best way to socialize here. Since it’s a small school, you get to know everyone which is a pro and a con. It’s nice that you have a community but also it can be a bit suffocating.
How would you describe the student body?
It feels very high school-ish. You can see who the athletes are and make out who is who without knowing. I’ve always found it interesting that you can tell who is an athlete, a science lab rat, and artsy person and so forth.
To what extent do you feel people of different races and sexual orientations mix socially?
Clark is a pretty accepting place. I have friends who have different sexual orientations and races. People are so involved in the community here so that you meet lots of different people and it makes you want to get different perspectives, so they mix.
To what extent do domestic students and international students mix socially?
A lot of my friends are domestic students, but I know people who like to stick with people from their own country or their own region just because it’s more comfortable.
How would you describe the South Asian or Indian community on campus? How strong is it?
We know of each other. It’s strong to the point where you know they’ll be there when you need them, but it’s not like we’re all best friends with each other. We have different sets of friends, so it’s not like all the Indian people hang out together.
Were there any parts of Clark or American University overall that surprised you when you arrived on campus?
Not really. I knew what I was getting into when I chose a small school. I think the most surprising thing was that people are really happy here. Clark wasn’t my first option and I came here because I got good financial aid, but most people that I’ve interacted with love it here and are really happy with their choice.
Do you think people are generally happy with their choice of Clark? Do you think people leave loving Clark?
It seems that people who come here are really happy. But, a lot of the seniors seem like they’re ready to get out of here because you see so many familiar faces and have been on a small campus for so long that it feels like you need to go to a different place in order to grow.
Careers
Has the alumni network helped you find internships or jobs?
Yes, there is ClarkConnect which connects you to alumni. They have monthly workshops where alumni come in and you can network. There is an emphasis on networking, which is good.
To what extent have you used the career office? How helpful were they?
I used them to find internships and they’ve been useful because they make a point to keep in touch with you, it’s not like you an appointment, leave, and it’s over.
Have you learned any computer programs or languages through your coursework that will be helpful to you professionally?
I just started taking Computer Science classes last semester. We learned Java last semester in the intro course and now we’re learning data structures.