How hard is it to get into Clark Atlanta University?

Does anyone know how hard it is to get into Clark Atlanta University?

• I am an upcoming highschool senior and I want to attend CAU fall of 2007. I was wondering if anyone could tell me how early I should start applying, about financial aid, and overall is CAU a difficult school to get in? Oh and what is a good GPA and SAT/ACT to have to get accepted?? Thanks!

• Answer:

  I am an alumnus of CAU. It's not going to be extremely hard to get into CAU (not to mistaken for easy because by no means is it easy). If you seem like the average high school student with some extra curricular activities and a half descent SAT or ACT score, you should be ok. I would aim for a B- (2.66 and above) average and a score in the 960-1050 SAT and 18-22 ACT score range. With that range, I got into CAU, Hampton University, Johnson C. Smith University and Florida A&M University (the only schools I applied to). Do not wait until the last minute to apply to any school. Right now is a great time to collect the applications and know their requirements and which essays you will have to write. The best way to know when to send off the application is to check the cut off date. I would send them off around Thanksgiving and at the latest Christmas so that the second half of your senior year is dedicated to waiting for the letters to roll in instead of stressing over deadlines. You're going to have at least 2 issues with any HBCU's financial aid office (including CAU)- slow and unorganized. Whatever you do, fill out whatever you need early. And if you're having any complications, visit and call often. Make sure they know who you are from 20 paces. But I have to stress that these people are under a lot of pressure and it's best if you're nice but firm with them. They are cursed out almost every semester by students and parents alike. Just go in with an open mind. The most important thing you need to be worried about is if the school is going to nurture your major interest. I fell in love with North Carolina A&T but their Journalism department was a wing of their English department when I visited WAY back in '99. Plus, the school's major focus is toward science and technology. At CAU, their Mass Media Arts department is always one of the top three majors at the University. CAU's interest was my interest and that's why I chose CAU. It's probably the best decision I ever made. That should be your main concern. Everything else will fall into place. Go Panthers!