Lafayette Questions: Part II - Page 4

candyman92486 · 06-20-2007, 03:35 PM

want2bIvy,

I'm glad that "old" post sufficed! Please don't take it personally that I didn't respond with an entirely original comment. I get asked the same questions multiple times, so I try to recycle posts whenever possible.

- Justin

oddsmaker90 · 06-20-2007, 09:11 PM

Thank you so much for typing such a thoughtful response. You're a true gentleman =)

want2bIvy · 06-21-2007, 01:06 PM

Oh no, I don't mind at all...I figured that someone had previously asked a similar question, just couldn't find it. The admissions staff @ Lafayette ought to be paying you some sort of salary for your great advice and info!

Basu · 06-23-2007, 01:59 AM

Hey,
I'm a freshman from India, would it be too late to ask for a place in Keefe Hall? I chose wellness on my card, but also chose coed by floor (though wellness was top priority) I also didn't put in a specific request. Is there anyone specific I should talk to? Can I move to Keefe Hall next year and try to be an RA there?
Thanks,

PS. If any Indian students want to talk, email me at my Laf email : basus

candyman92486 · 06-23-2007, 09:32 AM

Basu,

At this point, it is too late to change your housing preference form in any way. Judging from your housing card selections, you indicated one of fourteen spaces in the Wellness (substance-free) section of Watson Hall (campus map building #5: http://www.lafayette.edu/community/campusmap/). There are only sixteen spaces on the Wellness floor of Keefe Hall, all of which will be claimed by those who indicated "Wellness" and "Co-ed by room" on their preference forms.

Assuming you will be assigned to Watson (even though you indicated it on your preference form, there are no guarantees), just know that it is a fine living environment. If you plan on majoring in either Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, or Physics, you will be within a one minute walking distance from all of your classes.

You can always live in Keefe Hall on one of the special-interest floors starting your sophomore year. I wouldn't apply to become an RA just to get into Keefe because, even if you are offered an RA position, you are not guaranteed to be assigned to Keefe by the Office of Residence Life. Only apply to become an RA if you genuinely want to become an RA.

Take care,

- Justin

Basu · 06-24-2007, 02:54 AM

Actually, I think Watson will be the best for me because I'm considering a engineering major. I didn't mean that I wanted to be an RA to get into Keefe, I just wasn't sure if it was possible to be RA in a dorm you haven't lived in before. I intend to join the Dry Surfers group. Can you tell me something about the procedure for joining a living group?

candyman92486 · 06-24-2007, 09:28 AM

Basu,

Yes, Watson Hall is perfect housing for our Engineers!

Thank you for clarifying your previous comment regarding the RA position. In response to your question, you could be assigned to Keefe as an RA without having lived there before. More often than not, the Office of Residence Life assigns new RAs to buildings other than the one lived in the first year.

I was the RA of the Dry Surfers (now: TECH floor) this past year, so I'm glad you are considering joining as a sophomore. The procedure to join a living group is quite simple. In the Spring semester, you'll receive a notice in your campus mailbox about a "living group fair" to be held in the Farinon College Center. There, you'll have an opportunity to meet current members and pick up an application. The application asks for some basic biographical information, and has a short written component.

Final decisions and room assignments will be made by the living group's Executive Board, and you'll be notified by email with the decision. If you are not offered a space (in a double as a sophomore), you'll just have to enter the regular housing lottery like everyone else.

- Justin

haru07 · 06-28-2007, 09:33 AM

Hi, I have somewhat of a problem..

I am required to be immunized for Meningitis (ACYW-135 vaccine) but it is unavailable in Japan. I have contacted the college about this but maybe this could be faster. How should I deal with this?

Thanks

candyman92486 · 06-28-2007, 10:24 AM

haru07,

If you contacted the Bailey Health Center by phone and left a message, they should get back to you soon.

From the Health Services webpage:

<<< Each fall the college offers a program held at the Farinon Student Center to vaccinate those students who were unable to receive the meningitis vaccine before coming to campus. The Health Center also offers the flu shot (Influenza Vaccine) at the same time. >>>

Under the link "Meningitis Information" (located here: http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~bailey/), it says that you can make an appointment with the Health Center upon your arrival to get the shot for $85. Either way, be aware that ALL incoming students MUST receive the meningitis vaccination.

- Justin

Basu · 06-29-2007, 12:42 AM

Could you give us an idea as to when we might get the final bill? will it include any grants/loans that we're given or do we have to do those calculations ourselves?

candyman92486 · 06-29-2007, 11:02 AM

Basu,

Although I can't provide an exact date, expect the bill for the Fall 2007 semester to arrive in the mail by mid-July at the latest. All financial aid awards (grants, loans, work study, etc.) that you accepted will be included on the bill in the form of credits.

Keep in mind that, as you work to calculate the exact billing amount, 50% of federal funds, college grants, and loans are disbursed each semester (if you got the Marquis Scholarship, for instance, $8,000 goes toward the Fall semester and $8,000 goes toward the Spring semester).

All payments are due no later than August 10, 2007 in the form of a check.

For more information, go to http://www.lafayette.edu/community/b...s_affairs.html and click on the link "Student Billing Information" under the heading "Controller's Office". A direct link to Sallie Mae's TuitionPay Plan is also provided on that page for your convenience.

- Justin

lafayette1234 · 07-01-2007, 09:27 PM

Hi, i just have a few questions that hopefully you can answer!
How do we know which books/textbooks are required for the classes that we selected and when do we know if we got into the classes that we chose?
Also how to most people buy their books? We got a flyer in the packet they sent saying that we could set up an account with the college bookstore or something. Do most people buy their books at the college bookstore or do they buy them from like ebay or half.com or amazon or something like that? But mainly i was just wondering how we know which books we must have for each class?
Oh and does the college just decide what times of the day we have our classes or do we get to choose the times that we want? When registering for classes we just said which ones we wanted but there wasn't anything about times.
Thank you!!
M

candyman92486 · 07-02-2007, 09:20 AM

M,

Unfortunately, you will not know what books you'll need until you get to campus and receive the syllabi for your classes. Even though some of the introductory science and math courses rely on the same texts year after year, most students hesitate to order their texts online for fear of purchasing the wrong edition.

I can tell you, though, that you'll definitely need the Seventh Edition of Campbell & Reece's Biology for BIO 101/102. You did say you were thinking of majoring in Biology, right? I wouldn't hesitate to purchase it online (half.com, eBay, etc.)

If you knew for certain that you'd be assigned to a specific professor's lecture, you could always ask them about course texts via email. However, as incoming students, you were not allowed to specify specific sections of the classes you desired, so I guess this really isn't an option for you.

Most students just buy their books at the College Bookstore at exorbitant prices. If you get there quickly enough, you'll find used texts for sale at discounted prices. There is usually no other viable option due to time constraints...oftentimes you need the texts right away.

Assuming the process remains unchanged, you'll find out which classes you are assigned to upon arriving to campus. A printed schedule will be waiting for you in your campus mailbox.

You should definitely set up the account with the College Bookstore. That way, you can purchase items without having to use precious cash. Your Lafayette ID acts just like a credit card...purchases made on your bookstore account are placed on a monthly statement and billed home.

For incoming students, it has become the Registrar's job to create preliminary class schedules (I say "preliminary" because there remains the option of changing classes during the first few weeks of the semester). You will be placed in the classes you indicated if sections remain open and if there are no time conflicts with your other desired classes. This whole online registration process is entirely new this year, and the Registrar thought it would be easier if incoming students just listed the courses they were most interested in. FYI, this is NOT how registration normally works. With Spring registration (which will occur in November), you will be allowed to choose specific course sections and professors.

If I confused you with my comments (I tend to drag on at times), I'd be more than happy to clarify anything.

- Justin

lafayette1234 · 07-02-2007, 11:29 AM

yes, thank you it does help. but so are we just supposed to show up to the first day of classes without the textbooks and then they will tell us which ones we need? that is the only thing that i am confused about!
thanks!!
M

Basu · 07-02-2007, 12:51 PM

I was rather confused about this whole "we'll tell you when you get here" system. Here in India, you can get cheaper editions of a number of books at much lower prices. Is there some way we can find out about bed dimensions? My parents want me to take at least one linen set with my so that I'm not stuck on a bare mattress the first day. How flexible are on-campus job options/hours?