<p>I think it is a good idea for ALL first-year students to sign up for Career Service's Gateway Program. There is little commitment on the part of the student: one must attend two Career Service events a semester to maintain membership.</p>
<p>For first-year students, the program may help in choosing a major and narrowing down career choices. In subsequent years, a student can get help in creating properly-formatted resumes, with mock interviews, in applying for internships/externships, and with filling out applications to graduate/law/medical school. Each student is assigned a specific Gateway advisor, so there is always someone to answer a student's questions and address any concerns.</p>
<p>I am sure you are asking this question now because you have just received the rather silly brochure in the mail (with the feet on it) and student agreement form. If you wish to gain a little more information on the subject, and about what Career Services has to offer students, please visit the Lafayette website at <a href="http://ww2.lafayette.edu/%7Ecareers/services.php%5B/url%5D">http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~careers/services.php</a>. Feel free to explore!</p>
<p>In response to the question you posed, yes, I am a member of the Gateway Program. I attended a few alumni dinner panels, larger group info sessions on specific careers, and advice sessions on graduate school admissions. I found each program pretty helpful, actually!</p>
<p>Have your daughter sign up. There really is no reason not to!</p>
<p>Thanks J - I forwarded your response to my daughter. One more question - do most students buy their books through the book store or order them via Amazon.com to save money?</p>
<p>Glad I could help you out with that last question!</p>
<p>In response to your question about buying books, please know that the majority of students (I'm talking maybe 90-95%) purchase their books just before classes begin at the college bookstore. It is just too convenient! However, as you might have guessed, the prices are absurd for some of the bigger hardcover textbooks. In addition, most "USED" copies of books, which are only slightly less expensive, fly from the shelves before first-years get a chance to pick them up.</p>
<p>It is difficult to take advantage of the better prices at sites such as amazon.com and half.com because you can really only find out what books you need after consulting the bookstore. Since you are already there, you might as well buy the books.</p>
<p>Some students, however, will buys their books "as they go" during the semester, hoping that some of their classes' required reading selections will become optional. I advise against this practice. There is really no way to avoid shelling out anywhere from $200-$1000 a semester for books (the total really depends on the specific courses you are taking any given semester).</p>
<p>If your daughter can find out some of the books that are required for her introductory courses (these texts remain pretty consistent except for occasional changes in edition number) by emailing department heads or checking departmental websites, that might be a good idea. For courses such as General Biology, General Chemistry, Intro. to Psychology, Calculus, etc., you could find out what texts are used and order those online for cheap.</p>
<p>If you wouldn't mind emailing me your daughter's course choices at <a href="mailto:saydej@lafayette.edu">saydej@lafayette.edu</a>, I might be able to help you find the required texts for a few of her courses.</p>
<p>I visited the bookstore during the time it was closed for inventory. I found the website, but it seems lacking. Are the shirts shown on the webpage the only ones available or are there more available? If so, how would i go about getting one shipped to me? There are few outside sellers (and I would rather have my money benefit the college than some outside corporation, anyway)</p>
<p>The Lafayette online store does not contain HALF of what you can find in the college bookstore. It really is quite an embarrassment! I would not recommend purchasing anything online, as I do not know anyone who completed a transaction through that method. It was unfortunate that the bookstore was closed during your visit to the college. If you were desperate for a shirt, you would really be forced to purchase it either through the online store (with its POOR selection) or through some other online merchant.</p>
<p>If you were to order something, you would have to print and fill out the Order Form and send it to the college with some form of payment.</p>
<p>When you arrive in the fall, you will see how many ways the words "Lafayette" and "College" can be placed on various articles of clothing and other useless items. I would recommend waiting until then before purchasing your Lafayette-themed wardrobe.</p>
<p>I won't be arriving this fall. I'm a rising senior in HS and have to wait another year until I can [hopefully] arrive at lafayette. I really want a shirt though and I'm nowhere near driving distance....grrrr</p>
<p>I understand that I should have asked this before applying to Lafayette or at least after gaining admission, but how is Lafayette related to leopards?</p>
<p>The leopard is our school mascot. He shows up at all of our major athletic events. There really is no historical connection between the college and the leopard...it is just symbolic of our athletic "ferocity". The leopard is a source of school spirit and pride which students and faculty can all relate to.</p>
<p>That's it! Congratulations on becoming a Lafayette Leopard without even knowing it!</p>
<p>Hey, I have a question about IB credit policy. As far as I know, the majority of colleges, Lafayette included, give credits only for Higher Level (HL) examinations. Where can I find a list of courses credits for which are given according to IB examinations? I had English B, Mathematics and Physics as my higher level subjects and got sevens from all of them.</p>
<p>This passage comes directly from the Lafayette website:</p>
<p><<< Lafayette recognizes the International Baccalaureate (IB). The official results of the higher-level examinations of the IB are considered for academic course credits at Lafayette. Acceptable score levels for the IB program are 5 or higher in all subjects except music. Scores of 4 or above in this subject is acceptable for course credit. Each department will determine the specific amount of credit. No credit is given for subsidiary level examinations. The full IB Diploma may qualify the holder for sophomore (second year) standing and additional course credit.</p>
<p>If the candidate has received the full IB diploma with results of 5 or above on all subsidiary level examinations, results of C or above on both the Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay, and his or her scores in three higher level subjects earn academic credit at Lafayette (see previous section), the candidate will receive sophomore standing. The amount of credit will range from 6 to 8 course credits depending upon the subjects taken. In each case where sophomore standing is given the candidate is to receive credit for 2 free elective credits (undesignated or INDS 198); these credits are included in the range of credits noted above. Full diploma holders who receive sophomore standing may not be awarded more than 8 course credits. Reclassified students should note that the First Year Seminar must still be completed as a graduation requirement. Free electives (undesignated for INDS 198) may not be used for major or distribution requirements.</p>
<p>A number of the subjects in the IB program do not have a direct Lafayette course equivalent. Credit for higher-level examination results in these areas is not guaranteed. If no departmental sponsor can be found for the subject, higher level examination results of 5 or higher in these areas may be awarded as free elective course work (undesignated or INDS 198). Course credits for these subjects count toward the requirements for sophomore status as noted in the section above similar to other higher-level subjects.>>></p>
<p>It seems that you will get credit for all of your IB courses, as stated in the first paragraph. As for how much credit you will receive, it seems that each department must first determine how many credits to hand out. I am sure you will receive either one or two credits per exam.</p>
<p>Justin,
Two questions:
1. My son won a mini fridge at his schools project graduation. His is just a refrigerator without a real freezer section and without an attached microwave unit. Apparently Lafayette doesn't allow any separate microwave ovens in the dorm rooms except for the MicroFridge type (i.e. the all in one refrigerator, freezer and microwave unit). Do most students use a microwave in their room? I assume there are microwaves available in the kitchen areas on each floor of the dorms so I'm wondering why he would need one in his room. </p>
<ol>
<li>Along with the information we received on the rental of the microfridge was information on the rental of a personal safe. Do a lot of students actually use these safes and are they really necessary?</li>
</ol>
<p>Most students do not bring personal microwaves since every kitchen area has a community microwave. You are correct that the only way to "legally" have a personal microwave is to rent/purchase a MicroFridge with the attached unit. In response to your question, it is highly unlikely that your son would need his own microwave. That mini fridge he won sounds perfect, even without a freezer section.</p>
<p>I think the safe is a HUGE waste of money. I did not know anyone who rented or bought one. Just tell your son to always lock his door whenever no one is in the room and to NEVER leave valuables out in the open. I am sure a safe is a good idea at certain college/universities where stealing is rampant, but at Lafayette, it really is not necessary.</p>
<p>candyman, i am not going to lafayette but rather lehigh this august but i was curious about the competitive nature between our schools. :) i recently got a facebook, and there are many groups against lafayette (e.g. the infamous 'Layfayette Sucks' as well as 'LUCK FAFAYETTE' <that's so="" clever="">). i was wondering if lafayette students have a similar competitive spirit against us or are we just insane or what? i couldn't find any 'lehigh sucks' groups on facebook (maybe someone should make one...) :P</that's></p>
<p>Both schools (Lafayette and Lehigh) are very competitive when it comes to athletics. Consider it simply a "competitive spirit", and nothing more. However, I have noticed that Lehigh students tend to take the rivalry a step too far sometimes, but not to the point where students become hostile towards one another. Trust me that there are many anti-Lehigh/pro-Lafayette Facebook groups which you do not have access to because you are not an incoming Lafayette student.</p>
<p>Yes, we do have a "Lehigh Sucks" group, but my personal favorite has to be the group called, "Another Reason Why Lafayette Is Better Than Lehigh: LAFAYETTE STUDENTS DO NOT ROB BANKS". You might not understand the meaning behind this group...Google it! The story is really pretty sad, but is entirely true.</p>
<p>On that note....GO 'PARDS!!! I hope to see you at the big rivalry football game in the fall at Lafayette's own Fisher Field. I'll be there, for sure!</p>
<p>That whole story about the bank robbery is just crazy, isn't it? However, the more I learn about the kid's situation, the less I understand his motives for committing such a horrific crime.</p>
<p>Yes, I did hear that the big high school rivalry (P'Burg vs. Easton) will be aired on national television. It must be so exciting for both teams. Interestingly, I was able to locate an old News 12 broadcast story about the rivalry by browsing through my digital cable interactive channels. If you happen to have iO digital cable from Cablevision, or have access to News 12 Interactive (channel 612 on iO), you can find the full TV report about the annual contest by selecting "News", "In Depth", "The Best of News 12", and then by scrolling down to page 6. I believe the story was called "Games of Games".</p>
<p>i know all about that incident. for what its worth there is a facebook group called, 'for lehigh students WHO DON'T ROB BANKS'. isn't there some sort of cross-registering between the schools in the lehigh valley? not sure if i'd be interested in actually doing it, but if you have some more info please spill.</p>
<p>The Lafayette Dean of Studies webpage has some more information on cross-registration for Lafayette students:</p>
<p><<< A full-time student may register at any of the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (LVAIC) member institutions (DeSales, Cedar Crest, Lehigh, Moravian, and Muhlenberg) for courses suitable to Lafayette degree programs. Courses must be ones that cannot be scheduled at Lafayette, are normally limited to no more than two per semester, and may not produce an over-load. Students may not cross-register for January term courses. A student must have the written approval of his/her adviser, the Lafayette Registrar, and appropriate persons at the host institution. >>></p>