<p>As a whole, how interested are the students in ACTUALLY learning instead of just studying and memorizing?</p>
<p>Are well read individuals respected? Do students take an interest in discussing what they're thinking, reading, and watching?</p>
<p>Maybe the most revealing question to answer about campus atmosphere: Are there frequent intellectual or philosophical conversations outside of class? Is the social environment outside of the classroom often an extension of discussions and learning experiences from inside the classroom?</p>
<p>Thanks, all.</p>
<p>ACTUALLY learning? Yes, although there are exceptions, of course. Lawrence students don’t really respect those who don’t take the life of the mind seriously.</p>
<p>Well-read respected? Definitely, although so many are well-read that it might not be obvious.</p>
<p>Outside of class? Yes, yes, yes. In academic clubs, over the dining tables, and during evening conversations. Students also often meet, in groups of two or three, in faculty member offices just to hang out and talk about things discussed, or left undiscussed, in the classroom. (LU tends to attract the sort of faculty make such students feel welcome.)</p>
<p>There is a serious intellectual atmosphere at LU. That doesn’t mean it’s all work and no play. Some of the “play” is serious, enjoyable, intellectual play, but, thankfully, some is just plan play.</p>
<p>I agree with Watchthis. I graduated from Lawrence in 2008 and went on to graduate school. The intellectual climate at Lawrence was intense enough that I found graduate school (at a well-know and prestigious institution) to be deeply disappointed because of the lack of intellectual stimulation. </p>
<p>There are always exceptions of course, but in general those people are obvious and easy to avoid. Gasmasque, if you mention things you specifically like to talk about and more about “intellectual” means to you, I can perhaps offer some specifics.</p>
<p>cool, thanks you guys!</p>
<p>shostyscholar - generally philosophy, media theory, good films from directors like Hitchcock and Kubrick, books, social hegemony and cultural constructs, etc. I feel kind of terrible saying these things because I think that maybe I’m trying to look pretentious, but these are things that pop up in discussions I like to have with friends from time to time. do people generally talk about these at all?</p>