Dexter

Lafayette is basically an extension of high school with people you don't know. It really doesn't feel like college at all. When I tell people in my town that I go to Lafayette, they usually respond with, "O, that sucks". I agree with them. This school is way too small, but it's size isn't completely what makes it so boring. The town it's above, Easton, is nothing much of a town at all. I would change a lot about Lafayette, but I don't feel the need to go into detail about it all. I don't really have an opinion on Lafayette's administration except that they should put the morning newspapers in front of the student center again. Because of the supposedly decreasing school budget, they don't have enough money to pay for newspapers. How much do newspapers cost? Not a big deal really, but something I've missed. There aren't really controversies on campus. Students here complain a lot about how boring this place is. Take my advice and don't come here. You'll regret it.

The academics here are probably the best thing about it. I liked all of the classes I took and found a new appreciation for hard work. There are definitely your fair share of really smart people here. All professors know your name. Because of its size, you won't get many large classes and even in these, the teachers will know your name. I know a lot of Posse students, people from the inner city. This is Lafayette's way of creating some diversity on campus, because frankly, there isn't any. I have most of my intellectual conversations with these people and some of my good friends are part of this group. I am actually going on a retreat with them next weekend and am mad excited for it. However, this excitement about being on campus is a rare thing. I don't know my major yet and you don't have to decide until the second half of sophomore year, which gives you some nice time. Students aren't really competitive; they help each other with homework and assignments. This atmosphere is pretty nice. I think the education at Lafayette is geared towards learning. That's probably the best thing about it. Some teachers here are really really cool. Take Basic Social Questions with George Panichas. Definitely one of the best teachers on campus. Believe me you will love that class. Really good discussions on abortion, gay rights, and the such. David Sunderlin is also an interesting guy. He really loves geology and teaches Dinosaurs, Darwin, and Deep Time, so if you're interested in an introductory geology class, take that one. You can see that he's really passionate about the subject, and it makes the class worthwhile. Basically, many people come here for academics and realize that even though the academics are good, it doesn't make the whole college experience.

White, upper class. Not snobby though. I like most of the people here. But, students who want to have a ton of fun and go to football games and have a lot to do should NOT come to Lafayette. I repeat, DO NOT COME HERE if you want to have fun. Also, there is absolutely no school spirit. There also isn't a community; or to put it in other words, you don't feel like you are a part of anything at Lafayette. There is no common thing that everyone connects to. People wear anything to class. Some get dressed up, others wear pajamas and don't give a damn. I love going to the library at night and wearing my pajamas, all homeless looking, to see what looks I get. It's this kind of stuff that I have to resort to to keep myself sane at this place. Most students are from Pennsylvania or New Jersey. There is no diversity. 85% white. Four tables at the dining hall include a lacrosse table, a soccer table, a group of friends from a dorm, and then another group of friends. There are TONS of varsity athletes at the school, it is Division I, and they are somewhat segregated from the rest of the school i.e. sit at the same table, go to the same parties, and the like. So, there isn't much interaction between them and the rest of the student body outside of class and during the day. It's not that they are arrogant or anything, I think that's just how it happens everywhere.

I am involved in the Prison Outreach Program which is the coolest thing I have done here at Lafayette. We went to a local prison and read The Things They Carried with a group of prisoners and it was a mind-numbing experience that put my stress in perspective. This program really helped get me through the first semester. Some students leave their doors open and others don't. I think people do it more at the beginning of the year to try and be "open", but as the year goes on, less and less doors are open. Athletic events, guest speakers, and theater all depend on the event to determine how many people show up. The only athletic event that students care about is Lafayette/Lehigh weekend, which, to be quite honest, was a huge disappointment. It is just used as an opportunity to get drunk; no one cared if we won or not. The crowds at my high school were louder than the ones here. There are some crowded theater events and some ones where barely 50 people show up. People party but the parties are just not fun. You can find many Fridays and Saturdays where there is NOTHING FUN TO DO. Either you go to a frat, or you are on a sports team. Drinking in the dorm is usually what happens first semester, and then you have to worry about getting written up by RA's, so there isn't anything crazy going on. The first two months, as a freshman guy, do not expect to go to any good parties. Do not expect to feel at home within the first month. Expect to be bored out of your mind and longing for another place. I met my closest friends in my dorm and then through them, I met other people. There are actually quite a few people dating here, more than at other schools. On a Tuesday at 2 A.M., I am either reading, or going to sleep. You can go into Easton to some restaurants or to a bar called Drinkys, but you need ID and it really isn't a thing people do on a regular basis. The best weekend here was when a frat sponsored a trip to Oceans, another bar in Easton. A ton of people went and I think it actually resembled fun. But plan on something like this happening once, at most twice, a semester. At other schools, this big event where everyone is sharing an experience is a much more common thing.

That they are all white and rich and that there is no diversity. I also heard that the parties were lame.

Yes, they are all true.