Clark Atlanta University — Attraction in Atlanta

As a current graduate student, I have to say my experience navigating basic support systems at Clark Atlanta University has been incredibly frustrating. What should have been a straightforward process turned into a nearly three-week ordeal just trying to get my financial aid disbursed for a summer term.

I’ve been given the runaround between departments — one person tells me one thing, then someone else says the complete opposite. Student Accounts and Financial Aid are especially hard to reach, with long wait times, phones going straight to hold or voicemail, and no option for a callback, even during stated business hours. It's exhausting and leaves students feeling ignored.

There seems to be a serious lack of urgency and professionalism, not just in student-facing offices but sometimes in faculty communication as well. It's disheartening to feel like you're chasing down the help you're entitled to, especially when you're actively trying to stay on top of your academic and financial responsibilities.

Clark Atlanta has a vibrant community and strong legacy, but the disorganization and communication breakdowns seriously take away from the experience. If the university wants to uphold the excellence it promotes, these internal systems need major improvement — starting with hiring more staff, better phone/email responsiveness, and consistency in guidance across departments.

The good vibes that initially drew me to the school are being completely overshadowed by the stress and lack of support. Also for the price im paying you would figure there would be a plethora of assistance to help make sure everything is in line for...

I really wanted to have the HBCU exerience and had my heart set on Clark, unfortunately I ended up runnng for the hills. The school is so unorganized. I turned in my application in Sept , didn't hear back from the school until January ( every other school had admission advisers calling to keep me informed) by than I already went with another school but Clark emailed me to say I was missing my resume in my application ( I double check, and nope my resume was attached), I resend my resume anyways. I hear nothing for a month then they sent a email now saying Oh, they never got any of my letter of recommendations ( I check with my undergrad professors and they all have sent it in and have the proof they sent it in) I email admissions to tell them this and all of a sudden I get a email saying, basically that they do have my letters of recommendations but not my autobiography .... I took it as a sign from God not to switch schools. Also, when I would call admissions I could never get through and the lines would cut you off if you stayed on wait longer than 10 minutes. I ended up calling the main number and would get a woman with a less than pleasant attitude who transferred me to someone in admissions who seemed to NEVER be at their desk no matter when I called ( mornings, afternoons, before lunch, after...etc) I tried calling the school to speak to someone for 3weeks before I gave up. I really wanted to give this school a chance but if I can't trust them even helping me to basically give them $21,000 a year, how can I trust them with...

I graduated from Clark Atlanta University in 2003 and didn't really realize the impact it has had on who I am now until recently. Attending Clark Atlanta really does change you and the experience will teach you a lot about life. Its mottos "culture for service" and "Find a way or make one" have been two of my personal mottos for the past decade...especially "Find a way or make one". I wish that, when I was enrolled, I appreciated the experience more. I have reflected on my experience there a lot since I have completed my J.D. and am now preparing to take the Bar exam. I have encountered few professors who are as learned and caring as the ones I met at Clark and the experience definitely instilled a sense of culture and pride in me. I worked with high school students for a while after I graduated and have been on several college tours and visited many HBCUs during that time...few compare to Clark Atlanta University.

If you are considering attending this institution, I think you will come out of it with a great experience being a better person with a deeper sense of self...even if you may not realize that that's what happened until...