<p>I am in love with all three colleges, and have visited. I want to major in business but consider to major in econ for lafayette. I want a school with a lot of spirit. Pennsylvania is ok, but I guess I will deal with it. Help, pros and cons… any students pitch in please.</p>
<p>People … help!</p>
<p>I have visited all 3 of these schools with my boys…they each have very different vibes. Each is an excellent school.
FWIW, my S3, who visited all 3, and found things to like at all 3, ultimately decided on American…he just loved the real campus atmosphere together with the DC energy and unique opportunities for internships.
However, AU is not big on school sports spirit at all. He goes to some games and meets because he is friends with some athletes and likes to support them…a lot of students do that. But if you are looking for a big time sports atmosphere, AU is not the school for you.</p>
<p>Thanks, I mean the sports is not a deal breaker. I am considering playing for womens soccer, and was just wondering. I am going to visit soon, and am very excited to visit. How was Lafayettes and Lehigh’s campus? I am going to visit their soon too.</p>
<p>Concerning sports, all 3 schools are members of the Patriot League, so the sports cultures will be relatively similar and you’ll see the other two as frequent opponents. Lehigh and Lafayette have football, while AU does not. Basketball is bigger at AU, while Lehigh is primarily focused on wrestling and lacrosse, and Lafayette is more focused on football and to a lesser extent basketball. Lafayette and Lehigh are old rivals due to geographic proximity, and their games are always intense, particularly for football. The Patriot League as a conference makes a big deal about balancing academics with athletics and recruiting student-athletes who are representative of their class. Needless to say, none of the three is going to provide the same atmosphere as a large state school or school in a “power conference” (i.e. Big East, ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 12, SEC). That doesn’t mean there will be less spirit, but it will be much less focused on rooting on athletic teams, so it’s just a different focus. Academically, all three are excellent schools, so you really can’t go wrong. Lehigh is big on engineering, Lafayatte on liberal arts, and AU on liberal arts, especially in the context of specialized fields like political science, communications, and business. Lehigh and Lafayette are much more rural while AU is more urban in DC.</p>
<p>Ok thanks. But is Lehigh and Lafayette in a sketchy area? which college has the nicest dorms… pros/cons of the school. Is the food good at any of these colleges?</p>
<p>Jamoboo - have you visited these schools yet? The best way to see dorms, neighborhoods, etc, is to visit. I know lots of people who love Lehigh - my son wouldn’t even apply after he visited. I loved Lafayette - my son thought it was too small. My husband thought Hopkins was in a bad neighborhood - my son and I loved the neighborhood - you really need to visit.</p>