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Lehigh University Visit Report by Whistle Pig

Visit to Lehigh University in April 2007 by Whistle Pig
(Parent of Student, HS Class of 2009)
(Member since May 25 2006 with 2670 posts)
 
8 of 10 people found this visit report helpful

Visit Activities:


Information Session: Yes

Campus Tour: Yes - Amazingly poorly thought out. Being in a group of 20 or so and toward the pack's back, we heard little of what the guide really wanted us to know about his alma mater.

Classroom Visit: Yes - This was supposed to be a psych class ... ended up being a class on frogs and evolutionary biology. It was sort of laughed off as "oh well, that happens." Poor organization.

Campus:


Friendliness/Courtesy of Students:
2 - Fair
2 - Fair
Definitely not warm and fuzzy. East Coast "chic."


Friendliness/Courtesy of Staff:
3 - Good
3 - Good
The admissions briefing was excellent in its information and presentation.


Appearance of Campus:
1 - Poor
1 - Poor
Disappointing. Poorly kept. In need of lots of maintenance and sprucing.


Building/Facilities Maintenance/Cleanliness:
1 - Poor
1 - Poor
Noted earlier. Not sharp, clean. Messy and worn in some areas. Library was one of nicest we've seen. Rec facilities nice too. Cool Hall of Fame funded by Roger Penske, "5?.


Dormitories:
1 - Poor
1 - Poor
A dump. Tiny room we were shown. No AC. Very difficult to access by car. 1 compensation -pres blackmailed frat boys to unload all belongings and carry them up to the 5th floor rooms absent .elevator


Security/Safety:
3 - Good
3 - Good



Overall Campus Impression:
1 - Poor
1 - Poor
Several fantastic facilities in the midst of a most strange, disappointing, poorly maintained campus.

Off-Campus:


Area Immediately Around Campus:
1 - Poor
1 - Poor



City/Town/Community:
2 - Fair
2 - Fair
Not great, worn out industrial village, trying to make it more bohemian/cosmopolitan/boutiquie. Just hard making a silk purse from a sow's ear.

Campus Visit Notes for Lehigh University


Visit Description:

In a nutshell, disappointing. We really anticipated much more in knowing about Lehigh's reputation and cost.

We found the campus to be very "awkward" in its steep, difficult hillside location, some very nice but eclectic buildings, haphazard maintenance (it just was not sharp, clean, well kept ... Clearly they need a new maintenance director and work ethic.). There's a road which crosses through the middle of campus and is heavily driven by students in their SUVs with booming music fighting with pedestrian students for right of ways.

Where they had the briefing ... a 3rd floor room with challenging access in a beautiful building (from the outside) and worn and unclean on the inside. The message seemed to be ... "Hey we're Lehigh and you ought to be honored and awed to be here and oh, by the way did you know it's $53K next year?"

The library is spectacular and unique. Arts building magnificent. The dorm we were shown was a modest dump with no AC. Nice athletic, recreational facilities. One really felt like she was on an East Coast campus here.

This is one of those places too pervasive in the East and sorely living on its reputation and even more sorely in need of some revolutionary leadership. Not a great value, imo. They do have a great wrestling and engineering tradition though.