<p>Thanks so much for being available to ask questions to. My son is interested in Mech Engineering. We have mostly looked at larger schools but still under 15K undergrad students that offer doctorate degrees so their rankings for engineering are different than schools like Lafayette which focuses on undergrad degrees.</p>
<p>I wondered about whether it feels like the school is overly small since it has less than 3K students?</p>
<p>Hi Lakemom,</p>
<p>Good question…I imagine there are many others with the same one. Lafayette definitely does not feel “too small” to me. One of the many reasons I chose Lafayette was due to its small size. The small size makes it so that it’s easy for students to get to know a good percentage of the other people on campus. That is what facilitates the tight-knit community between the students themselves and with the professors. </p>
<p>Also, the fact that Lafayette is a strictly undergraduate institution is a big plus. I have heard from others that at many universities, graduate students take priority over the undergrads, making the undergrads almost like “second class” citizens in regards to who gets resources/research opportunities. I am not particularly interested in doing research, but undergrads here are known to have many research opportunities working with their professors—the opportunities usually given to grad students elsewhere.</p>
<p>Of course, while a small school is perfect for me, it’s not for everyone. Classes are small, which is great for asking questions and getting to know your professors well. However, with smaller class sizes, students have a greater obligation to participate in class more. In my opinion, by being more obligated to participate, it makes you more likely to learn the material better, but some people I know prefer the anonymity. It depends on your son’s personality.</p>
<p>Overall, I think if you asked other students at Lafayette, the majority of them would cite Lafayette’s size as one of the reasons why they chose to come here.</p>
<p>Hope that answers your question!</p>
<p>Taylor</p>
<p>Thanks Taylor. Lafayette is going to visit my son’s hs this month for one of those college info visits. I will have him attend and then we can decide about a visit. You have been very helpful!</p>
<p>Lakemom,</p>
<p>Great! Assuming Lafayette fits your son’s academic requirements, I strongly recommend visiting. Many schools can look alike on paper, and they can all rattle off lists of statistics. However, to really know what a school is like, it’s best to visit it.</p>
<p>Happy college hunting!</p>
<p>Taylor</p>
<p>I absolutely agree. I am the researcher in my family and then my husband takes my son to go see the actual schools. There is only so much one can gather from the web. Good luck to you in your schooling!</p>
<p>Hey mrb3,</p>
<p>Sorry I haven’t gotten back to you about the frats yet. I’ve been swamped with schoolwork this past week. Rest assured, I haven’t forgotten. I’ll obtain the info for you as soon as I can.</p>
<p>Thanks for understanding.</p>
<p>Taylor</p>
<p>totally understand - no problem at all - thanks for your help</p>
<p>Hi captainclueless,</p>
<p>I’m a 17 year old male from NY who actually just visited Lafayette today and thoroughly enjoyed it. I would love to apply ED here, but my family is limited financially and therefore needs to retain the ability to review different aid packages. Is there a way I can still register my interest with the college without applying ED? Who should I contact? Thank you in advance.</p>
<p>Hey TheThrill0109,</p>
<p>First off, it’s good to hear you enjoyed your visit at Lafayette today. I imagine not many people were on campus since it is currently fall break…</p>
<p>Anyway, to show your interest in the school and ask about financial aid, I think your best bet is to call the financial aid office. From what I understand, Lafayette keeps track of prospective students’ contacts with the college, and these contacts can definitely work in your favor when they are reviewing your application. The fact that you took the time to call the school tells them that you are seriously considering attending. Additionally, make sure that YOU call (not your parents) as it shows more responsibility and initiative on your part.</p>
<p>Lafayette’s tuition and room+board together total about $54,000, but Lafayette is also known for being quite generous with financial aid so it is definitely worth asking them about the specifics. Be sure to fill out the FAFSA form if you have not already. </p>
<p>Lastly, in order to show your interest in the other schools you are interested in, I suggest you see if they have an Early Action application, which is like Early Decision, but is nonbinding if you are accepted.</p>
<p>The Lafayette financial aid office information is posted below. Good luck!</p>
<hr>
<p>Lafayette College
107 Markle Hall
Easton, PA 18042-1777</p>
<p>(610) 330-5055
Fax: (610) 330-5758
<a href=“mailto:financialaid@lafayette.edu”>financialaid@lafayette.edu</a></p>
<hr>
<p>Taylor</p>
<p>FYI, there is no Early Action at Lafayette, only ED. From what I hear if your family’s financial needs are not met , you can get out of an ED commitment, but you should definitely check with admissions.</p>
<p>Yes, Happy1 is correct. I didn’t say it outright in my previous post, but Lafayette has no early action, only early decision. Like I said though, for the OTHER schools you are interested in I would look to see if there is any early action application.</p>
<p>Taylor</p>
<p>Hi Taylor. I am a potential neuroscience/pre-med major as well and I am strongly considering applying ED to Lafayette. Just curious what the workload is like and how the premed advising is (ex. does someone help you select your first semester classes etc.). Thanks.</p>
<p>Hi dlcor1026,</p>
<p>Workload…this can be a rather subjective question. It depends on how much work you are used to getting in high school. The more work you have in high school, the less difficult college will seem. In terms of actual in-class time, there is much less class at Lafayette than in high school. However, there is a substantial amount of work outside of class, with the general rule of thumb being “2 hours of work for every 1 hour of class.” I don’t think anyone would call the workload “light” but like I said, it’s hard to say how heavy you will find it to be. One thing about the workload that I’ve noticed is that (for me) there is much less busywork in college than in high school. The homework usually helps you to learn the material. Overall, I personally find the workload to be substantial, but not horrible. I took 5 AP classes last year, so my workload last year was actually greater than this year. Lafayette isn’t an “easy peasy” school, but the workload is definitely maneagable. Just manage your time well and you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>Premed advising…When you choose your classes for the first semester of freshman year, you will not have any physical person helping you with your course selection. Course selections are intially requested in June online(see my previous post made on October 2 for more detail), so students aren’t even on campus yet by the time they choose their classes. A course registration website is given to you to aid you in the process, and I found it useful enough to choose my classes appropriately. If you would like to see what it looks like, the following link will take you to the site that the class of 2015 used. –<a href=“http://fyreg.lafayette.edu/--”>http://fyreg.lafayette.edu/--</a> Once you get to campus, there is plenty of advising for premeds. There is a health professions program, as well as a club. There are advisors which will be more than happy to aid you in course selection. The health professions program also has a webpage that you can look at for information–<a href=“http://healthprofessions.lafayette.edu/plan-your-studies/--”>http://healthprofessions.lafayette.edu/plan-your-studies/--</a> In addition, all students (not just premeds) are assigned an academic advisor who you will meet with periodically to discuss future course selections and career goals. They will make sure that you are on the right track for whatever you are pursuing (in your case medical school).</p>
<p>Hope that answers your question!</p>
<p>Taylor</p>
<p>I’m a parent of a recent Lafayette grad and would like to say that the experience my daughter had there was phenomenal. She was able to be involved in so many activities and was afforded many opportunities in addition to receiving a wonderful education. She participated in club sports, greek life, campus jobs, research with professors, and other volunteer opportunities. The Jan. study abroad programs were terrific. The career center is an excellent resource and I encourage even freshman students to get involved there right away. Mock interviews, internship opportunities, resume help…all excellent. You will be able to have an active alumna/e life also if you choose. No regrets, Lafayette was worth every cent! </p>
<p>To the poster that was afraid to do ED due to financial concerns, if you’re limited don’t be afraid to apply regular decision and take every opportunity to attend Lafayette events to demonstrate interest. Fill out the FAFSA and then keep your finger’s crossed that some decent financial aid will swing your way. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for your input lafmarq! I’m sure it will be useful for many, myself included.</p>
<p>Taylor</p>
<p>Hey mrb3,</p>
<p>I don’t know all that much about the characteristics of each fraternity, but this is what I have been told by others–</p>
<p>There are currently 4 active fraternities at Lafayette. They are Phi Kappa Psi, Kappa Delta Rho, Delta Upsilon, Delta Kappa Epsilon and Zeta Psi (you can look up these frats as a whole online). Often times, the fraternities that guys end up in are the ones where they have a connection (ie if you have a friend in X fraternity, there’s a good chance that’s the one you’ll end up in).</p>
<p>There is a rumor (it’s hard to say if it’s true) that the administration is trying to put a damper on Greek life in attempt to decrease the amount of underage drinking on campus. In 1995, there were 19 active frats, whereas now there are 4…definitely something that might raise eyebrows. However, at the same time the adminstration has faculty devoted to supporting Greek life, so Lafayette’s support of the frats is a gray area.</p>
<p>Despite the rumor, most frat guys I’ve spoken to are very happy to be involved in Greek life, and say that it is thriving even though it’s not as large as it used to be. I’ve been told the parties they throw are awesome.</p>
<p>Most upperclassmen have just told me not to concern myself with Greek life until next year, so I’ll probably know alot more in the future. For now, all I have is a rough idea of it as I stated above and in previous posts. Hopefully that gives you a rough idea as well.</p>
<p>If anyone has any more knowledge to add (or correct) regarding Greek life, please do so.</p>
<p>Taylor</p>
<p>Hi Captainclueless, I’ll take you up on your offer (and share a few minor corrections):</p>
<p>Both my husband and I graduated from Lafayette in 1984. My husband was in a fraternity, but I was not in a sorority.</p>
<p>My son graduated from Lafayette last May (2011) and very much enjoyed both Lafayette and his fraternity. He came to Lafayette with zero intention of pledging, but after a friend from his freshman year pledged he decided to give it a try and ended up loving it.</p>
<p>That said, the current administration at Lafayette has not shown any interest in keeping the Greek system alive. In 1984 there were 16 fraternities on campus. Now there are 4, with one more attempting to re-colonize. My son’s experience was that the staff that is “devoted to supporting Greek life” was anything but supportive, and the fraternities that are still around have survived in spite of the administration. </p>
<p>I’ll be the first to say that not all fraternities are quality organizations, and that the atmosphere on campus when there were 16 fraternities and 75% of guys pledged was a good deal less “academic” than it is today when maybe 1/3 of guys pledge. But those remaining fraternities who are making a sincere effort at brotherhood and philanthropy get very little recognition from the administration for their efforts. There are both positives and negatives to the Greek system, but the positives seem to be overlooked while the negatives are emphasized. </p>
<p>Lafayette has a long history of a strong Greek presence, but IMHO that history is becoming more distant by the day. I love Lafayette, but if you have a strong interest in being part of a Greek system I can’t say this is definitely the school for you. As long as the current administration stays around, I’d say the odds of the Greek system continuing are only so-so. (On the other hand, my son’s frat just got a pledge class with nearly twice as many pledges as they normally get, so maybe there is enough interest to keep the system alive.)</p>
<p>KDR had its charter revoked last year. The remaining active frats are Phi Kappa Psi, Delta Kappa Epsilon, Delta Upsilon, and Zeta Psi. Chi Phi is attempting to recolonize, after being removed from campus 5 years ago.</p>
<p>Thanks for your insight Lafalum84! Much appreciated! </p>
<p>Taylor</p>
<p>Hey guys,
My name is Catey and I am sophomore here at Lafayette! I am from Fairfield, CT and am extremely happy with my choice to attend Lafayette College. I am a double major in Psychology and A&S. I am also a member of the ski team, the sorority Pi Beta Phi, a member of Lafayette Activities Forum, as well as a tour guide and overnight host.
So just to clear up the Greek Life questions, all parties open at 12am no matter if they are a sports party, fraternity party, or a club party. A lot of times, freshman don’t know this rule until later in the semester which is why it feels like there isn’t much going on. All though these parties do open at 12, I would reccommend as a freshman to get involved with club or intramural sports or other clubs, like BOL. These are great ways to get to know upperclassmen as well as your fellow freshman. I know its hard when the all of Greek Life seems to be having a party every night and you feel left out but I promise if you get involved you will have an amazing freshman year. I joined ski team my freshman year and it was an amazing experience and something I look forward to every winter. Also, there are open parties on the weekends, frats will have them in order to meet the freshmen and of course have a good time! Sports teams also have open parties so there is definitely things to do on campus all the time! Also, treat freshman year as a time to make friends in your grade - you don’t need to be at parties to do this. Hangout in your dorm, watch movies, make popcorn in the lounge (just don’t burn it!), play board games. Stuff like that is always really fun and you don’t need to get dressed up for it!
Hope this helps in your decision. Lafayette is a GREAT school and I love it here!
<p>@Captainclueless: Apologies for hacking your thread</p>
<p>I’m a sophomore at Lafayette, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. I think the engineering program here is very, very good! The small class sizes help a lot and the professors are amazing. I get so much more out-of-class. The best part, imo, is that you get to know your professors well, and it works out amazing. And there is the EXCEL summer research program. Your first summer, you get to do research with professors. Professors are very easy to approach, classes are fun (all the classes I have taken in my major have been really good). The classes are hard, and they require a good amount of work, but you can get help very easily. Overall, Lafayette Engineering is awesome and I love life at Laf.</p>
<p>P.S. I’m an international student and the people here have been amazing. </p>
<p>Rijan Maharjan '14</p>