candyman92486

M,

You can show up to your classes the first day without any texts. Many students wait to purchase their books until after they receive the syllabus for a given course to see which texts are required and which may be recommended.

You can, however, go to the College Bookstore before classes begin (time is set aside during Orientation to purchase books). The bookshelves are labeled with tags so that you know which books are for which classes/sections.

Either way, be sure to have all of your books purchased by the end of the first week.

- Justin

candyman92486

Basu,

Unfortunately, you really can't take advantage of the lower book prices in India. There is no way for you to know what texts are required for any given class until you arrive in August. Sorry about that!

The Residence Life web page states that, "All beds on campus are twin extra-long and measure 36 inches x 80 inches." It's definitely a good idea to bring some sheets to campus, even though I believe international students are given an opportunity to shop at the local Linens n' Things before Orientation.

The International Students Association website has some great information for incoming students such as yourself. A fairly comprehensive list of jobs on campus is located here: http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~isa/NewStudents.htm. As you can see, there are many options for students.

Work study jobs require students to work 8-10 hours per week, and one can earn anywhere from $1,000-$1,750 toward tuition over the course of an academic year. Jobs voluntarily taken on by students are very flexible...it all depends on how much a student is willing to work!

- Justin

girl10

I recently sent in the sheet permitting the bookstore to set aside my textbooks in advance. Can I pick my books up the first day of orientation when I arrive on campus or do I have to wait until the second day of orientation when everyone is given time to buy their books?

candyman92486

girl10,

I think it was a fine idea to take advantage of the College Bookstore's textbook reservation service.

According to the textbook reservation form you sent in, you may pick up your textbooks as soon as you get your photo I.D.. You can get your I.D. photo taken in Farinon the moment you step on campus. Be aware that the books are only held until that Friday!

Come to think of it, even though the textbook reservation form says you need your Lafayette I.D., that might not be the case this year. You see, in previous years, many students arrived on campus with their I.D.'s waiting in their mailboxes. They would have already taken their I.D. photos during the June Academic Advising day that no longer exists.

If I were you, I'd stop by the Bookstore in Farinon the moment you get to campus. I have a feeling that any other form of photo I.D. will suffice, since most students will not have the required Lafayette I.D. card for a few days.

- Justin

shail619

like you said Justin..If I wish to wait for some classes to figure out exactly which books are required ..then I presume it's not necessary to fill out that book reservation form right?

And do I need to open a new college store account right away by filling up the form put up at the Class of 2011 homepage? (The form has august 17 as the deadline).... What is it used for exactly?

shail619

What would the possible consequences if I were not to send either of the college store account form as well as the book reservation forms right now? ( The thing is I want to "wait and see")

candyman92486

shail619,

Even though you can not be certain as to which classes you will be assigned to until you check your campus mailbox in August, if you complete the textbook reservation form, the books will be paid for and waiting for you when you arrive. If you think there is a possibility you may wish to change around your classes when you receive your preliminary course schedule, then I would advise against reserving your textbooks.

Truthfully, there really is no need to reserve your books ahead of time. There are always enough books for everyone, and as I mentioned previously, time is set aside during Orientation to purchase them.

Everyone should definitely set up an account with the College Bookstore. That way, you can purchase items without having to use dollar bills. Your Lafayette ID will act just like a credit card. Purchases made on your Bookstore account will be placed on a monthly statement and billed to your home address. If you choose never to use your Bookstore account after opening it, that's fine as well.

Just to summarize, there is no need to reserve your textbooks. Just go to the bookshelves and purchase your books like everyone else when you are given the opportunity during Orientation. However, you should definitely open up a Bookstore account soon. Whether or not you plan to use it often, it's still a good idea to have the payment method as an option when you need a tube of toothpaste from the Bookstore but don't have any cash on you!

- Justin

shail619

thanks a lot...OK I will fax that college store form but not the book reservation one...

Basu

Just let me get one thing clear: Even if I sign up for an account, I can choose to buy my books with cash and pay right then, is this correct?
Second, I've been looking the ECE site and though we have to take Eng 110, it seems as if that can be waived. Could you tell us what we need to do if we want it waived?
3. Since I'm coming all the way from India, I'll be bringing 2 big suitcases full of stuff. Will the rooms have enough space to store them comfortably or is there some special storage location where we can keep our suitcases till the holidays?
Thanks,

candyman92486

Basu,

Even if you open an account, you may still purchase items in the Bookstore with cash whenever you like. You are not forced to use your account...it's only there if you need it! Feel free to purchase your books for the semester with cash on the spot.

You can be exempted from ENG 110 with AP/IB credit. If you perform well in your First Year Seminar in the Fall semester, you can also be recommended for an exemption by your FYS professor. Either way, you'll receive a letter in your campus mailbox before the registration period in November informing you of any possible exemption.

There are areas in certain residence halls designated for storage of items such as empty boxes, suitcases, etc. When you get to campus, ask your Resident Advisor (RA) for access to a storage room. You will, of course, be given an opportunity to procure any stored items at the end of the semester.

- Justin

Basu

Could you tell us anything about summer/interim session courses/classes? Is there any additional fee if someone wants to take them? Can credit on these courses be used towards a major? Is there any special requirement for people who want to enroll in one of these courses? Is there a minimum/maximum to the number of courses one can take?
Thanks again,

PS I hope I'm not getting overly irritating, I seem to be coming up with things to find out on a regular basis.

candyman92486

Basu,

Oh, you're not bothering me! It's great to see that you're so interested in learning more about the academic opportunities available to Lafayette students.

As you're well aware, Lafayette does extend a few course offerings to all those interested over the Interim in January as well as over the summer.

In response to your questions, there is an additional fee for enrolling in one of these "extra" courses (about $1,750 for the course and about $225 to reside on campus). Credit earned from these courses can definitely count toward a major. To enroll, you must have completed at least one semester of college-level work. You may only enroll in one Interim/summer course during any given period. A slightly outdated (yet still informative) webpage contains useful information on the topic: http://www.lafayette.edu/academics/i...campus_05.html.

Also be aware that Lafayette offers study abroad programs during both the Interim and summer periods. For more information on our "Interim Abroad" programs, please check out: http://www.lafayette.edu/academics/i...abroad_07.html.

- Justin

college2012

This question sounds kind of random but is there good skiing around lafayette?

candyman92486

college2012,

That's not as random a question as you may be imagining. While I am not a winter sports person myself, I have many friends who spend their winter weekends on the slopes. They're always asking me to come along, but I actually treasure my life!

With that said, I honestly know very little about the skiing options for Lafayette students. However, I was able to locate an article written a few years back for our campus newspaper, The Lafayette, on the topic:

<<< Spring might be teasing us with a taste of warm weather but winter is not quite over. The ski season still has a few more weeks.

Winter weather provides the perfect atmosphere to enjoy the nearby ski areas that offer special student rates and a fun place to try something new, or perfect your ski or snowboard skills. If you have ever wondered what mountains are nearby and how each of them measures up, here's the deal.

There are four ski areas within a hour's drive of campus. Blue Mountain and Jack Frost/Big Boulder are the two where I have spent the most time, although Camelback Ski Area and Shawnee Mountain Ski Area are each also about 50 minutes away from campus.

Blue Mountain is the closest ski resort to Lafayette. It is about a half-hour drive and midweek lift tickets for students presenting a valid college ID are as low as $16. The resort hosts a lot of attractive features that students will appreciate, including 27 trails of varied difficulty and seven lifts.

The trails at Blue Mountain are challenging for intermediate and expert skiers and riders. They offer a wide range of blue, black diamond, and double black diamond trails that have a surprising amount of depth for a Pennsylvania mountain. Blue Mountain also offers green trails for beginners.

From my experience the mountain is always well groomed, and the base is not as thin as one would expect with the recent warm weather.

Probably the most beneficial aspect of Blue Mountain is night skiing, which fits easily into the student schedule. At night, the mountain is well-lit, however, there are a lot of young children that skiers have to keep an eye out for and dodge while making their way down the mountain.

Blue Mountain is a great Pennsylvania mountain, regardless of whether you are an avid skier or if you have never tried the sport before. For more information, visit their webpage at www.skibluemt.com.

Another nearby ski area is Big Boulder/Jack Frost located about 50 minutes from Lafayette. The lift tickets for students at Big Boulder and Jack Frost, which include two mountains for the price of one (both part of the same resort) are $30 for student for a midweek ticket or for a weekend.

This mountain also offers a nice range of trails, from the challenging double black diamonds to beginners' slopes. The conditions have been relatively mushy every time I have been there. However, the trails are mostly well kept and groomed. Big Boulder, the tamer of the two mountains, has seven chairlifts and 14 trails, while Jack Frost offers seven lifts and 25 trails. Jack Frost's trails are geared more for the intermediate and expert skiers.

Big Boulder and Jack Frost also offer night skiing, which again, is a nice option for students. The night price is $5 cheaper than the day pass for a student price of $25. Check out the webpage for more information at www.jfbb.com. >>>

FYI, the College also has a ski/snowboarding "club sport" (compete against other nearby colleges) that you might considering joining if you decide on Lafayette.

- Justin

joinville

Basu - You will probably find that you have plenty of room in your dorm room even for large suitcases. For example, if you don't loft your bed there is room underneath since they sit higher off the ground than regular beds. That way you can keep out of season clothes in your suitcases in order to free up space in your dresser drawers and closet shelves.

Just a note of caution to students when using your bookstore account. If the billing goes to your parents be aware that they will receive a detailed account of your purchases. We had a rather interesting conversation with our freshman son when the bill showed a charge for a Lafayette Pards shot glass.