Lewis & Clark College Top Questions

The dorms are VERY small. Beware of quads, you won't get any privacy. Avoid Copeland at all costs unless you're into drinking/partying/drug use (and by drug use, I mean weed... in most cases) going on around you practically every night of the week.

The overseas study programs are the most extensive in the country. Nearly everyone who graduates has spent time abroad.

It encapsulates the perfectly odd and eccentric atmosphere of the Northwest area in an expansive campus that continuously promotes the values of internationalism, the breaking down and understanding of cultural values, and the fulfillment of the individual. In essence, Lewis & Clark differentiates itself by merely being different. Although most of it comes superficially, that which breaks through the cracks and prevails into the academic environment is absolutely fantastic. I know now that nowhere else would I have made the friends and gathered the experiences that I have here.

Lewis and Clark is a unique school for many reasons: a lovely campus, nearby camping, hiking, and skiing opportunities, and a broad range of classes and people. They have a wonderful college outdoors program that organizes trips and excursions into the wild providing splendid opportunities for extracurricular activities, and they also have a strong academic offering. They have, in particular, opportunities for undergraduate research which tend to be rare, and I cannot wait to pursue as I progress through the sciences.

Lewis and Clark is an amazingly intelligent community. The professors here are very knowledgeable as well as published and nationally recognized in their fields. This means that the respect and trust that students have for the faculty and staff is built on hard work and experience rather than enforced regulation. Also, the students who attend are passionate about their studies, community, and their future as well as all of our environmental future. Our students are responsible advocates who manage to challenge themselves and have fun while making a significant positive impact on the world they live in.

Lewis and Clark has a required focus on International Affairs, it is one of the things that drew me to the college. I am an Education major with a minor in Psychology currently, but I want to pursue a career abroad and from the internationally diverse community to the rigorous academic education, L&C offers me the best preperation.

One thing that distinguishes my school is the connection to our community. Our community activism includes literally hundreds of thousands of community service hours Lewis & Clark students complete every year, maintaining the adjacent state park, the student bands that play off campus, or our acclaimed and open-to-the-public international, multicultural, and gender studies symposiums.

Lewis & Clark College is a liberal arts college, so it stresses the importance of a well-rounded education. For example, freshman year you are required to take a 2 semester english class, that is really more about discussion and more philosophical than it is an english class. It is an interesting class because it helps you adapt to what your're future classes could be at school.

tiny, very liberal

Urban location with access to wilderness Green campus buildings

Lewis & Clark has a world-renowned International Affairs department, which is what I'm majoring in. The other school I applied to has a very good Political Science department, but I wanted to focus on world issues rather than domestic ones. Also, the campus is much more secluded--L&C is in a forest just outside of Portland, which gives it the advantage of being quiet and beautiful, but still close to a large city.

The school has a beautiful campus. Everyone is really friendly. It is very liberal compared to most schools

It's in Portland- a wonderful city full of music and art.

People here are really devoted to learning. Professors love teaching, and don't put their students second to their research. Many classes are focused on teaching you how to think, as opposed to simply having you memorize things, which will help you where ever you choose to go in your life.

I like that there are no fraternities, just people hunging out and getting to know one another. Its small enough you don't need the greek system. The student body here is pretty amazing, I don't think its normal to have such a such a concentration of creative, kind-hearted, unique individuals in one place. Its pretty unreal.

Lewis and Clark is full of people who are not afraid to be themselves, it is not filled with cliques.

The great thing about LC is that you don't have to pretend to be anyone else. You can be yourself, and people will love you and accept you. Also, hardly any girls wear makeup, which makes it really easy to get up in the morning. People think you're beautiful even if you haven't tried to look beautiful!

I wish I had gotten involved in activities earlier. Take a variety of classes. Sometimes some of the most interesting classes are the ones you take just to fill space in your schedule. Try something different and expand your academic horizons.

I love LC! It has its flaws, but the students and professors are friendly, the campus is beautiful, and living in Portland is never boring.

Have I mentioned how much rape is a problem at L&C?

Mmmmeh...

This school intentially decieved me so I would apply to the college. They gave me every answer I wanted to hear. When I arrived on campus and realized what they told me was false I confronted the college and they told me to deal with it. They did not care about my situation or my point of view. They told me if things did not work out I could attend the college for another year. They did not care about resolving my issues they just wanted to find ways of bringing more money into the college.

Personally, LC was too small of a school for me and not enough variety of people and academics. I am transferring to a bigger school but I think that this is a great school for people who are individually minded and are looking for a small-school atmosphere and a great learning experience.

I love my school!

While campus safety here is really cool and not very threatening, RA's (we call them CLA's) are huge power trippers. It's like they just want to write people up because they are being too loud. RA's are just supposed to be there to support people when they need to get in their room etc but ours just look for people making trouble.

The cafeteria is hit or miss. Some days I think I'm at a restaurant, and some days I think I'm at summer camp. They have a good vegetarian selection and a hand full of food options that you can count on as a fall-back if you don't like the feature items being served.

Though some students transfer because they don't feel like it's the right fit for them, the students who do stick around really like this school, and it shows. Also, the food in the Bon is bland and usually not very good, but it's a bonding experience for most students. Really.

Yeah LC!

Thats really about it.

FUCK THE ADMINISTRATION! but this is the best school in the world. Schools like whitman and Colorado college may look cool, but what city are they in? oh thats right "what city?" we have portland Oregon one of the greatest cities in america. So much to do. the size of the school never gets in the way, cause you have a huge city to escape to.

The shuttle that everyone swears is such a great resource actually sucks. It is sometimes too full to accomodate everyone and it is often late. Any errand you need to run will take at leasat 2 hours and most freshman end up stuck on campus except for a few occasions because they are not allowd to have cars. First and Second year students are forced to live on campus and have a meal plan, which kind ofsucks sometimes.

I really like LC. I was kind of hesitant at first but I've come to love the community and the wonderful people I get to see everyday. It's wonderful.

No that many class choices because the school is so small. I want to take a class in african history.. nothing. Small close-knit community. With alternative students comes a "fight-the-man" attitude which can get old. People are quirky to a fault which is extremely refreshing.

there is some serious diversification of political/religious backgrounds that need to happen. sorry i can't spell.

I actually am transferring because I want more class choices. If you want a lot of choices in classes then you should go to a bigger school. If you know what you want and are comfortable with the choices offered then Lewis and Clark is right for you. You have to be careful with porfessors and ask around so you don't get one that feels that the students aren't worth teaching.

Come if you're: artistic, musical, kind, environmentally conscious, open-minded, intelligent, loving, creative, etc. Otherwise, stay away. This is a community as much as it is a place of learning.

the food! vegetarian and vegan options at every meal. Some meals are really really good, other meals I end up eating cereal.

LC isn't horrible. There are some really great aspects like the small class sizes, gorgeous campus, and open (mostly) atmosphere. However, sometimes some of what makes LC so special to some people seems contrived and hypocritical. It is definitely the perfect fit for many, but not for everyone. If you are going into college with the idea that you can fit in anywhere and that you can make any school work for you, think a little harder about it and visit the school for more than just a day. Realize that you may change or what you thought was right for you might not be. Some of the reasons why I wanted to come to LC ended up being some of the reasons why I am leaving. But I don't regret coming because I have learned so much about myself and about other people. And on the more positive side, living in Portland has been irreplaceable.