candyman92486

ediaz,

I really can't help you make the decision between Lafayette and Connecticut...that is for you to work out yourself. How comfortable were you on each college campus? Forget about that student loan you will eventually have to pay back. Trust me when I say that MANY students at Lafayette are stuck with much larger loans to pay off (I'm talking over $100,000 in loans). Even though Lafayette is ranked higher and has a better overall reputation, Connecticut College is very respectable as well.

Just follow your gut feelings...after all, you will never know what a college is truly like until you are a student there!

There is a 38-foot rock climbing wall inside the Kirby Sports Center. You are required to pass a one hour training session just once before you are allowed to climb it all you want. It is usually open later in the afternoon into the evening hours.

As for your question about buying clothing (specifically winter clothing), it all depends on prices. You can go to the local malls or Walmart and get clothes at very reasonable prices over here. Are there even any places in Ecuador to buy heavier clothes? I am not familiar with the prices in Ecuador, but I do know that the exchange rate from the sucre to the U.S. dollar is about 25,000 sucre to 1 U.S. dollar as of today (4/4/06). Maybe it would be a good idea to buy your winter clothing here! That way, you would not need to pack so much on your trip.

You will also need to bring personal supplies (toothbrush, hairbrush, shampoo, flip-flops for the shower, deodorant, etc., etc., etc.), all of which you could buy here, I guess (Bed, Bath, & Beyond is a great store). Bring your clothing for the summer months (shirts, pants and shorts, shoes of all kinds) and maybe some school supplies (pens, pencils, paper clips, highlighters, etc., etc., etc.). Check out the Lafayette webpage http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~reslife/fys.php for some ideas on what to bring. Also, search past posts on collegeconfidential.com by using the search box option for general threads specifically about what to bring to college.

On the topic of campus jobs, if you are required to take a job as part of your financial aid package ("work-study"), then most of your paycheck will be put toward your tuition. You only keep a very small percentage for yourself which you can cash and use as you wish. If you take a job voluntarily (I am a tour guide, for instance), you get to keep ALL of the money you earn after taxes. I put the money I earn by giving tours into my checking account I set up at Lafayette with the local bank in Easton (Lafayette Ambassador Bank). I will take out $20.00 at a time if I want to eat out, order take-out, do a little shopping at one of the local malls, buy some needed supplies at the college bookstore (which charges WAY too much for everything), etc.

For monthly expenses (NOT taking into consideration the $300-600 for books at the beginning of each semester...that amount depends heavily on your major and the classes you are taking that semester), that amount could vary SO MUCH by student. I'd say, as a VERY rough estimate, I spend about $100-$120 per month on miscellaneous expenses. I do get take-out food a lot, however, and I like to shop at the college bookstore, so you will probably not spend quite that amount.

Good luck with your decision. I wish you the best, and maybe we'll be seeing each other around campus in the fall.

Until then,

J

bluejay

Candyman: Is work study part of your financial package? If so, it seems that Lafayette's work study is very different from other schools. At most schools work study is never a required part of your financial package. If you don't want a job then you don't have to work. BUT that doesn't mean you get that money alotted to you. Also, work study money is not subtracted off the top of the bill. You indeed get paid but you decide how you want to use it.

ediaz

Hey J!
Just wanted you to know that I've made up my mind: I'm a LEOPARD not a CAMEL jaja. I'm going to Lafayette next Fall!

ediaz

(I'll be having tons of questions... I bet you have tons of amswers jaja. thanks)

candyman92486

bluejay,

Please disregard my little rant on the work-study program at Lafayette in that post addressed to ediaz, and allow me to attempt a more accurate description of the whole process.

First off, I was not offered the opportunity of a work-study in my own financial aid package. I, therefore, must ask those who DO have work-study for information on the subject. Let me just say that the reliability of some sources is questionable, at best!

After speaking with many students with work-study as part of their financial aid packages, I think it is safe to come to the conclusion that, if offered the option, one does NOT have to take it. No one is forced to work at Lafayette...that would be crazy!

However, the majority of students given the opportunity take advantage of it because a work-study sure beats loans out of college. They will find a job on campus (see previous posts in this thread for some job examples) and put in a decent amount of hours each week. When it is time to receive a check, some students set up their job so that a certain percentage of each check goes toward paying tuition. I know that, of those I spoke with, most put about 70% toward tuition and about 30% directly into their pockets as spending money. It may not sound too enticing, but remember that a work-study's primary purpose is to assist certain students in paying for college, and NOT to help students pay the Chinese food take-out bills.

If a student were offered a work-study, and decided to take a job solely to earn some extra pocket cash, that would be perfectly fine. Most students, however, are smart enough to know that it so important to pay off as much as possible while still in college...who wants to be left with $100,000+ in outstanding loans which will take YEARS to pay off in full?

I hope that clears up any confusion on the topic.

J

candyman92486

ediaz,

I just wish to congratulate you on making your college decision...take it from me that you made a great choice!

Who in their right mind would EVER want to be a camel, anyway?

Just asking!

Seriously, though, let me assure you that the best is yet to come. I hope you are excited about the whole experience that awaits you in the near future. Make sure to find me on campus next year (Keefe 325 on the Dry Surfers floor). Don't be a stranger!

See you around,

J

Jimmy2588

J, if we did not get enough financial aid, what should we do?

candyman92486

Jimmy2588,

If you did not get the type of financial aid you were looking for, there are so many options left for families other than what the college has to offer (merit-based aid, need-based aid, work-study, loans, etc.)

Look into HELP loans (up to $7,500 per year if qualified), PLUS loans, federal Stafford loans, private loan sources from banking services, etc.

If you are seriously thinking about coming to Lafayette, and think your family's financial situation is preventing you from doing so, I highly encourage you (or one of your parents!) to call up the Financial Aid Office at (610) 330-5055 sometime during the week and have a LONG chat with someone in the office (don't even attempt to email them...they will NOT respond anytime soon). Better yet, if you live anywhere close to campus, see if you can schedule a personal one-on-one meeting with someone in Financial Aid.

You need to get into contact with them right away. Tell them your situation, top to bottom, and see where that takes you. There are so many ways to pay for college that I am not familiar with, and I am sure that someone in Financial Aid will know enough to help you out...it is their job, after all.

Remember: where there's a will, there's a way. Don't count yourself out just yet!

Good luck.

J

ediaz

hey J!

got a new questions: to what airport should i arrive?

thanks.

candyman92486

ediaz,

If you are coming from Quito, Ecuador, I would highly recommend taking a flight into Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey. You will most likely NOT be able to take a direct flight, but that shouldn't be a big deal.

I am sure you could take a flight with some major carrier like Continential Airlines, and it looks as if the trip would take you about 11 hours (on average) to get here. Once you arrive at Newark, you will need to take some type of transportation to get to the campus at Easton, Pennsylvania. You should, of course, schedule this transportation ahead of time. There are taxi services which will go as far as Easton, Pennsylvania (it will be about an hour and a half drive from the airport).

So, just to reiterate, land at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey. There, since it is such a major airport, you will have many options to get to Lafayette College.

More than anything else, have a safe trip. I'll be waiting to see you on campus in the fall.

J

thelogicalchoice

What is Watson hall like?

ridethecliche

As far as the financial aid thing above goes, I didn't get work study either. However, that was due to the fact that i'm a marquis scholar and all of that shindig is in grant money. So wherever i work, i get to keep everything.

I've talked to financial aid offices for other schools who all said that the money from work study goes directly to the student and they decide what to do with it, i don't think it goes straight to the school, might be different for laff. I'd call to make sure.

Ack, i hate college decisions....
Wesleyan, colgate, laff, or psu honors. bahh!

candyman92486

Hey thelogicalchoice,

Watson Hall is pretty nice on the inside. The rooms are a good size, for sure. There is, however, no carpeting/air conditioning in that residence hall. There are lounge and kitchen areas for sections of the building. It is coed by floor, meaning that there are floors of males and floors of females (although I think I remember hearing that certain parts of Watson Hall are divided by sections). It houses approximately 130 men and women students. 64 of those spots are reserved first-year students, and 14 of those 64 spots are part of the "wellness section" (no drugs/alcohol). Watson is a great choice for students majoring in either engineering, biology, or chemistry because it is SO CLOSE to those buildings. It is also very close to the library. However, since it is on one corner of the campus, it is a little far from certain places on campus (Farinon, Pardee Hall).

Watson Hall is a solid choice for first-year students, and I know a lot of friends who chose to live in Watson for another year because they liked it so much.

I hope that helps. Sorry it was a bit late, but I have been recovering from a nasty virus over the past week.

J

thelogicalchoice

Thanks, your "slow" reply was no big deal.....i just got over a virus myself so i know how you feel. I have a follow up question though, I'm an International Affairs major, any ideas on housing for that? Where do IA majors tend to gravitate? What residence hall is close to IA department buildings, or related fields like History and French? Thanks!

candyman92486

thelogicalchoice,

Students do not really choose residence halls based upon their majors. Engineers may wish to live somewhere near the Acopian Engineering Center (AEC), but that is about it! You will NOT find more IA majors in any particular residence hall, and you will most likely NOT be rooming with another prospective IA major. That's just how it works at Lafayette.

As a prospective IA major, you will be taking classes from many departments as you work toward satisfying your major. You will be taking gov/law courses in the Kirby Hall of Civil Rights, economics courses in the Simon Center for Economics and Business, history courses in our newly renovated history building (I do not even know its name, but it will be the old 718 Sullivan Trail building next to the Hall of Civil Rights!), as well as foreign language courses (FRENCH!) in Pardee Hall.

Be sure to check out our online campus map at http://www.lafayette.edu/community/c...ap/campmap.htm to see which residence halls may best fit your needs as an IA major. Since you will most likely have courses all over campus, I really don't think it matters THAT much.

I would recommend either Easton Hall, Ruef Hall, Keefe Hall (tough to get in since there are only 16 "wellness" spots), or South College. Try to avoid McKeen Hall, Gates Hall, Kirby House, Watson Hall, Conway House, Kamine Hall, and PT Farinon House because of their distances from your academic buildings.

I hope that helps.

J

danashu

Justin:

My wife said to tell you that if you aren't better by our visit to campus on April 22d you should let her know and she will ship up some mystical matza(spelling) ball soup which has magical healing powers. Dana's Dad