<p>Caroyln: over the years I have appreciated the knowledge and expertise that you have shared on this site. This is why I directed the thread to you. Our D has received the highest scholarship offer at Lafayette College in Easton, PA. We are impressed with many aspects of the college which includes their endowment and willingness to share it with students! The biggest drawback at this point surrounds the heavy emphasis and participation in Greek life and the somewhat typical, affluent student body. Can you offer any insight into the "climate" on the campus? Thanks so much for what you and anyone else can share.</p>
<p>Bluejay, Please turn on either your email or PM and PM me or email me. I have a good contact for you, and some comments, but would prefer to share both privately.</p>
<p>bluejay - have you visited Lafayette? I have no real experience with it other than for a visit with DS, but here are some impressions from that. </p>
<p>DS didn't want a "heavy Greek" campus, and we didn't feel the school came across as dominated by the Greek scene. However, the % of guys in frats is significantly lower than the % of girls in sororities. I know that it is largely a middle- to upper-middle class student body, but it was equally laid back fashion wise as any school we visited (heavy on tee shirts and shorts/jeans).</p>
<p>My D is a freshmen at Lafayette and is having a great experience. We are from the SF Bay area and my D grew up with a very diverse group of friends from different ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds and seems to find no problem with finding a good mix of friends at Lafayette.</p>
<p>Diversity - Lafayette is very active in Posse program and is making efforts to increase diversity through Posse, need-based aid and international students. Large endowment helps these efforts.</p>
<p>Greek life - most students do not go Greek and no rushing until sophomore year, therefore first friendships are made outside Greek system. My impression is that Greek life is there for those who want it and plenty to do for those who do not go Greek.</p>
<p>Affluence - Most student at LACs whether at "liberal" tagged schools like Oberlin or Lafayette are from affluent families, just a fact of $40K a year costs. In all my visits to Lafayette I never felt students were dressing in expensive clothes with designer bags. Interestingly, I have felt this way when touring several of our local UCs (i.e. UCSB and Cal Poly). </p>
<p>Student body - many from suburban and rural areas in Northeast. Children of professionals. Engineering school tends in draw in more males than typical LAC.</p>
<p>Conservative/Liberal - D is a Bay Area liberal and hasn't seemed to suffer yet. She has however met young Republicans for first time in her life which is her personal diversity experience.</p>
<p>Be happy to share more if you have questions.</p>
<p>Our family (the parents included) loved Lafayette. It didn't have the major for DS and DD's grades and SAT scores were not quite up to the level they typically accept. Otherwise, one of our kids would have applied there. DD, in particular, loved their engineering program. Easton is a charming little town. The school is an integral part of the community even though it is "up on hill". If this is one of your daughter's choices, it's a good one.</p>
<p>My D also just received word of the Marquis Scholarship at Lafayette. When we visited the campus we were impressed with how happy the students seemed to be with many telling my D to come there she will love it. We met with a history prof. who shared some interesting insights on why from a professor's standpoint Lafayette was a great place to work and that the professional staff got along famously with the administration.</p>
<p>We had lunch with a CC poster who is a soph at Lafayette and he told us that more than 50% of kids not greek and that he has friends who are and are not frat members.</p>
<p>We are going up for Marquis scholars visitors day April 2d and you may want to do that to get some insight.</p>
<p>So now my D awaits the results of her other 6 lac RD decisions safe in the knowledge that she has been accepted at a wonderful school that she likes alot.</p>
<p>Dana's Dad</p>
<p>Just a datapoint: Lafayette stats on sorority membership: 45% of women are in sororities. 25% or men are in fraternities. Source: US News & World Report. </p>
<p>That said, I think Lafayette is a great school, and it's important to remember that while every campus has its own culture, in reality every student body is made up of individuals, not drones who are all exactly the same. </p>
<p>But, it's also important to keep in mind that some kids need a certain critical mass of kids "like me" to be happy; others don't. Each prospective student has to decide which they are, and which campus matches what they're looking for, both academically and socially.</p>