<p>Mattastic: what is it like being gay at Haverford? A good friend of mine (male) is gay and applied to Haverford, and although I am straight it is really important for me to go to a college that accepts everyone... thanks.</p>
<p>Hmmm...lab hours are what separate science majors from humanities and social science majors. For bio majors, freshman year entails a intro to chemistry course. I'm taking a second semester, consolidated and accelerated chem course (full year course stuffed into one semester), so I've fortunately gone a semester without a lab science. Basically, you meet for class 3 days a week (1 hour) and a have a 3 hour lab (that can go over or under the scheduled time) once a week also. Sophomore year ramps things up, because Bio majors take both full-year courses in Biology and Organic Chemistry concurrently....giving you 6 hours of labs in addition to the pre-lab work and lab reports due later (btw, I'd suggest taking math courses freshman year). Coupled with the fact that there is a lot of memorization that goes along with organic chemistry (basically formula memorization) in addition to problem sets that usually go along with it, sophomore year can be quite busy for bio majors. Outside of that, bio majors don't have frequent 10 page papers or nearly the amount of reading that a humanities or social science class would assign. However, there is a lot more time spent in and out of class on lab...it's one of the reasons science courses are considered a lot more intense at Haverford. But, for the most part, like everything at Haverford...it's just a matter of time management and workoad design---not overpowering yourself with intensely difficult courses and a number of other activities (Students Council, Honor Council, sports, clubs, arts, you name it). It's pretty much the case at any college...science majors usually have a lot of work. But, hey, it's worth it. ;)</p>
<p>Haverford has a relatively small gay population. Haverford is a very liberal college...I think we were recently pinned as one of only 5 colleges in the nation without a registered Republican on our faculty :) . In terms of alternative sexualities (meaning anything along the Kinsey scale), the majority of Haverford students are VERY accepting of non-straight students. Haverford is generally considered a relatively sexually repressed campus...I don't think alternative sexualities are necessarily embraced here. However, coupled with the mentality of most students and the Honor Code, there really aren't many other places in the country that can claim to be as comfortable a place to be gay as Haverford is. In terms of dating scene, that's another realm. Not sure if you'd be interested in that, but you can hit me up on AIM: whzup444 if you are.
BTW, Good luck to you Haverford pre-frosh with the application process.</p>
<p>Thanks so much again for a detailed response Matt!</p>
<p>Hey, I'm a freshman at Haverford too, and I'm thinking about being a Chemistry major. I opted to take General Chemistry first and second semesters over the Accelerated Chemistry class that Matt is taking, so I can talk a little about lab. Chemistry lab first semester took place once a week from 1-4 PM. At first I thought a 3 hour lab period seemed a little daunting...and long. But I found that I tended to get out of lab, on average, around 3-3:30 each week. I think I've gotten out as early as 2:30 one week and I only remember staying until 4 once during the semester. Of course, how quickly you can get out of lab depends on how efficient you are and how well you prepared (i.e. going over the lab manual so you know the procedures pretty well before hand). And like Matt said, sophomore Orgo/Bio lab can be killer, but probably nothing that's too impossible w/ a little preparation and efficiency in the lab. So yeah, lab hours aren't as insane as they sound. I'm not sure if I've answered your question or not...but if you have any others, feel free to post them or IM me at Lakergirl3484.<br>
~Candice</p>
<p>hi candice! thanks so much, that was very nice of you :) i am thinking of majoring in bio or chem at the moment so both yours and matt's responses were very helpful.</p>
<p>orgo/bio as a soph is beat.</p>
<p>Hey, sorry for not getting back to you sooner (whichever one of you asked me about the spec weekend) - i didn't have internet access for two weeks cause i was here at haverford living in someone else's room for basketball.</p>