<p>D and I will have one afternoon (a Friday) in Pennsylvania during a whirlwind east coast tour. The original reason for putting the area on our itinerary was to visit Lafayette. And one reason the area has stayed on the itinerary is an amazing air fare into ABE (with truly awful routing). So, we will arive at noon on Friday after a convoluted red-eye.
I'm starting to think Lehigh warrants as much consideration as Lafayette. I'm interested in comments on each so we can decide which to visit. Neither has Saturday tours/info sessions the weekend we will be there. It might be possible to visit both on Friday afternoon if we skip the information session at one or both.
I am interested in comments on the math programs, IR-like programs, and orchestra (strings) at each. Is there anything that makes one more attractive than the other in any of these areas?
I am concerned about the social scene at Lehigh-- are students who don't go Greek and aren't interested in heavy drinking outsiders?</p>
<p>Just got back from a Lehigh visit today, so I can answer some questions ^. (We didn't visit Lafayette, because my D felt it was too small - my friends D just graduated and had a wonderful 4 years).</p>
<p>Lehigh has a great IR program and a program called Global Citizenship which is open to all majors. Beginning in Freshman year students go abroad (over break) and study global issues. It called itself a liberal arts college within a small university since it encourages students to take courses in different colleges (business, LA, and engineering). Don't know about the math program. It had a nice arts center (being renovated this summer). I am not a big Greek fan, so I didn't like that about 33% of students are part of Greek life. The flip side is that most students are NOT Greek. But at the info session, we were told that the percentage is shrinking and the school closed 2 houses this year for lack of students. But of course whether this is good or bad is your own opinion.</p>
<p>Beautiful campus.</p>
<p>Tough choice. Hope this helped</p>
<p>Both are great schools but Lehigh seems to have a bigger buzz about it these days.(Err, not talking about it's party rep:) )</p>
<p>Both schools are going to have a drinking/frat atmosphere, but both are very well regarded here.</p>
<p>We did both in a one-day whirlwind, too. Here are some highly subjective reactions: D was so turned off by Easton that she didn't even give Lafayette a chance. (It might be worth a drive by to be sure that your D doesn't have the same reaction.)</p>
<p>We did the tour/info session at Lehigh, but it fell from grace because so much of the tour and info session were geared to students interested in science/engineering. Even the humanities section of the info session stressed ties to the sciences. D is interested in IR, too, but Lehigh didn't seem to have strengths that matched her areas of interest development/human rights and Africa.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone.</p>
<p>Both these schools are better known for their science/engineering, though Lafyette is less so than Lehigh.
Both very strong reputations in PA/Mid-Atlantic.</p>
<p>Both are OK schools overall, your son or daughter will probably need to start drinking to fit in since Greek Life is huge.</p>
<p>Strong academics at both. Lehigh's civil and environmental engineering is one of the best in the nation (for grad) and its business college attracts strong students as well. Polisci department is also strong, a few great professors with a national rep.</p>
<p>Lehigh has a better reputation than Lafayette</p>
<p>Agree with MightyNick. They used to be neck-and-neck but Lehigh has pulled away from the pack.</p>
<p>I agree that they are both more known for sciences/engineering...in fact, seeing these two schools mentioned together automatically made me assume the poster was interested in a small school with strong engineering, since these are two of very few colleges that fit that description (with others, such as Harvey Mudd, Rice, Caltech, being much more selective and in very different geographic regions.)</p>
<p>That's not to say that they are bad for your Ds interest, just that your pairing of schools immediately made me think of a specific type of student, and that might indicate something.</p>
<p>I third the motion that Lehigh has a higher reputation.</p>
<p>Pinnipotto-- I linked the schools because of geography, and not because of programs. That said, strong engineering often correlates with strong math (but maybe not with a fun orchestra), and I am encouraging interest in Harvey Mudd and Rice. I don't think Harvey Mudd will make it to her list because it would be hard to find time for some non-science electives. So, a smallish to medium-sized college or university strong in math but strengths not limited to engineering.</p>