| In response to your questions...
1. I got a 1600 on the "old" SAT and had a 4.0 GPA. I graduated as Salutatorian of my class.
2. There are so many things to do in Easton. Right down the "hill", there is a movie theater, so many places to eat, cool small shops, the Crayola factory...pretty much your typical small town fare. It is currently being revitalized, and many students go down into Easton on weekends with friends just to hang out and walk around. We also have the L-CATS transportation service which is free to students that runs on a typical bus schedule and goes to places a few miles from campus (Wal-Mart, Regal Cinemas, various malls/shopping centers/supermarkets). I take advantage of this service on weekends to stock up on junk food, mostly!
3. Quite the ladies man, are we? To be totally honest, the girls on campus are pretty damn smokin'. Surprising for a school in PA, but I do not kid you! Not quite up to the standards of a school like USC or University of Florida from what I have heard from friends, but not bad at all.
4. This is a great question...I have yet to really become involved in the date scene here at Lafayette myself (I am looking, though!), but my friends have had no problem "hooking up". Dates usually involve going to see a movie (either on campus or off), going to some party together, going out to one of the many Italian restaurants just off campus, or just hanging out in either his or her dorm room.
5. It is true...freshman and sophomores are currently not allowed cars on campus (there is just no room!). But as we speak, they are building a parking garage on campus that will hold an additional 360? spots, so I think they might allow sophomores in the near future to have cars. To tell you the truth, you really don't need a car. L-CATS service is great (and free!) and most things you need are either on campus or just off it! If you really need to get somewhere and L-CATS doesn't stop there, make friends with an upperclassman who has a car (it works!)
6. From what I know, maybe half of all juniors and seniors have cars. The other half either don't have cars or don't feel the need to have one (or don't feel like fighting for a space!) Take my advice: don't set your sights on bringing a car because it ends up being more of a pain than anything else.
7. I have no interest in joining a frat myself, but my social life does not suffer in the least. I have many friends who are involved in Greek life, and they are some really cool people. The Greek system is very involved in the social life of ALL students, and really integrates itself into campus life. Honestly, I was initially a bit intimidated by the 6 frats and 5 sororities on campus, but you learn to really appreciate their influence on Lafayette. Rest assured there is MUCH to do on weekends with friends that doesn't involve the Greek system, which you will soon discover...
8. Workload differs by major...I didn't feel overly stressed at any point, but others (especially the engineers) might disagree. It all depends on what classes you are taking a given semester and your professors. You take a lot of intro courses during your first year (I took Intro to Art History I, Intro to Psych., Literary Questions (first English course for the major), and First-Year Seminar: Monuments (a FYS is a requirement for graduation). Overall, Lafayette professors expect a lot from their students but are always willing to help students achieve their full potential. The enviroment is not uber-competitive, especially when compared to most high schools (my h.s. was terribly competitive). I know that some colleges, especially the Ivies, are grossly competitive. Lafayette is just not like that.
9. Can't you tell??!! I can't wait to get back in a week for the spring semester because I'm taking some really cool classes. It really is amazing how such a small college can have such a great selection of classes.
Well, that's all for now...I am very impressed by your interest in Lafayette, and wish you the best of luck during the college admissions process. Remember, I'm always here if you have any further questions.
Later,
J
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