<p>My son and I visited this summer. The campus was great, but the tour guide kept talking about the jocks and the frats as separate entities on campus. How dominating are the jocks, frats in the campus culture?</p>
<p>I hear that the Greek life is the predominant social acitivity on campus.</p>
<p>Greek life is alive and well on campus but there are other activities available.</p>
<p>I was very eager to Apply to Lehigh and was extremely excited to possiably go there but then I read on StudentsReviews.com, That if your not an Engineer then Don't go there. NUMEROUS people said that The ONLY thing to do on campus is Get Drunk, they said that if you don't like to get drunk every night then don't go there. They also said stuff like the [text deleted for language-JEM]/Rich/Prep/White/kids that get drunk every night do Manage to get good Grades even with a challenging curriculum. But they said there was literally a party every night and as I said before, the MAIN thing to do is get Drunk,</p>
<p>I guess there's a reason they were like in the top 20 Princeton review schools in Beer and Hard-Liquer. </p>
<p>After reading those opinions, I threw out my information brocheur and will not apply. see for youself if you don't believe me.</p>
<p>Joey....like any generalization, there is a kernel of truth in what you say, but it is gross over-simplification and you do youself and others a diservice by spreading half-truths like this. Having attended both Lehigh and MIT, I would say the frat/alcohol scene at both schools was about the same. Now go rip up your MIT brochure too.</p>
<p>I have no Chance at MIT but after reading my post maybe I was a little too critical. But there were alot of negative Reviews. I'm still not going to apply there but anyone interested in going there can make up their own mind. BUT this site is for Confidential College information hence the name, so I'll just say I'm glad I read the stuff at StudentsReview so I could make a decision with the Positive that the brochue said and the Negative that the current students say. </p>
<p>my point is that I don't want to take that chance that even half of what they say is true so It's easier to just apply to a good college elsewhere.</p>
<p>Joey - don't sell Lehigh short and certainly don't make your decision based solely on what you read on a website.<br>
If you are considering Lehigh, visit the school, see it for yourself. Talk to current students. Do your homework.
I have a son currently attending Lehigh who does not party, studies hard and is thoroughly enjoying his educational experience at Lehigh. It can be done.</p>
<p>It's interesting that some people consider the frat scene a "negative"...as if they are a core requirement for graduation or something. They are just another option that you may or may not participate in. I never joined a frat and enjoyed living in dorms as well as off-campus for a while...but having frats around for the occasional party was, for me, just an extra bonus. I guess people who don't like frats would prefer that they just disappear altogether...and Lehigh would be a better place for it....but I don't agree. They are just another option for the mature student to take on his or her's own terms, and they can certainly be ignored, if that's what is preferred.</p>
<p>Quote-I have a son currently attending Lehigh who does not party, studies hard and is thoroughly enjoying his educational experience at Lehigh. It can be done.-Quote</p>
<p>It can be done BUT, It's also easier just to Pass up that school and look at a different school that is Guarenteed to have Diversity and a place for you to Fit In. That is why I will probably end up going to either a Bigger School OR a school that isn't even Remotely MENTIONED as being a school Just for rich-partiers. </p>
<p>All I'm saying is that I only choose a College once and I have to narrow down the list of 361 down to only 4 or 5, and it's alot easier to Pass up a college that I have doubts About. I'm 90some % sure I won't reget it.</p>
<p>Good luck on your search for the "perfect" school. Let me know if you find it. </p>
<p>Nothing worthwhile is "easy" and if you are going to pass on a certain school without doing any research other than what a website says, that is your prerogative.</p>
<p>Best wishes in your search.</p>
<p>So much depends on the personality of the student. I think that frats can be a fun addition to the college experience. I know of people who made lifelong friends at frats. I am not implying that frats are a bad thing. They may be wonderful for some students. Some students can balance frat life with their academics.But I 'm not sure if it would be good for my son. My son will always be able to find a party wherever he goes. I'm afraid that he will party too much and it will affect his grades. That is why I rather steer him toward schools that don't have a big frat culture. He is going to party anyway, but I think he might party more in a schhol that is very frat dominated. I also don't like at at Lehigh you pledge the 2nd semester of freshman year. I think he might not really be acclimated by then to make that choice.</p>
<p>Joey, you seem to know what you want, so go for it!</p>
<p>laxmom, your son seems like a mature young man that is able to balance fun and work. I''m glad he is enjoying Lehigh. It is really a spectacular campus and enjoys a great reputation. Good luck to him.</p>
<p>My son just started Lehigh this year, and he is an engineering student. He turned down JHU and BC for Lehigh. The minute he stepped foot on the campus in April after acceptance, he was hooked. Lehigh was a safety school for him. Yes, people have said he is nuts for passing up JHU, but I believe that you have to have a connection with whatever school you go to.
Since he is an engineering major, his coursework is very difficult, but so far, he is doing very well. And, most importantly, he loves Lehigh. From the moment he started with his pre-orientation, it has been a whirlwind of fun. Am I worried about him partying too much? No. You know why? Because he is a mature and reasonable kid. He is balancing both his social life and his academic life. And he is having the time of his life.</p>
<p>He has been experiencing the different frats, and has done his research. By the time spring rolls around, he will know which frat he wants to pledge to. And guess what. I know from experience that Lehigh frat guys stick together through the years. Nothing better than a strong network once you get out of school. The upperclassman have embraced the freshman instead of ostracizing them, or making them feel unwanted. </p>
<p>The funny thing is that all along he wanted to go to Princeton, where he was recruited as an athlete. But, in his sport, there aren't alot of slots and hence, he wasn't accepted. We both were very disappointed. But, I honestly don't think he would be having as good a life as he is having at Lehigh. Would Princeton open more doors for him? Yes, it would have, but Lehigh will also open doors too. And, in the grand scheme of things, it's the person's integrity and drive which will boost them throughout their careers. </p>
<p>And, I don't mean to sound cocky, but some of these Ivy league schools really do admit weird kids. They are so into diversity (and I am not talking racial), I mean, like different walks of life diversity. On the few visits we took to Princeton last year, I never found a group of kids that I thought my son would fit in with. At Lehigh, yea, they are preppy and from well-to-do suburbs....but they are NORMAL, smart, athletic, funny and SOCIAL kids, who wear A&F and Izod.</p>
<p>So.....yes.....Lehigh does seem to be a party school. But if you are mature, and can manage the course load (and engineering is tough), and can set deadlines and priorities, then you should have a good time. Plus, since most of the kids at Lehigh are from the CT, NY, PA & NJ suburbs, I could only imagine that most parents, like me, are paying the full $42,000 a year. And, I'm sure these parents remind the kids that all the time.....hence.....it's not like these kids are freeloading at the school and don't care what they get out of it......I'm sure they want their $42,000 worth of education every year.</p>
<p>A proud Lehigh Mom.</p>
<p>Great post MommyPain. Having attended MIT (and having taught undergrads as a teaching assistant) I can say with confidence that Lehigh's education in engineering is second-to-none..especially at the undergraduate level.</p>
<p>It was a good post, however, what does being from PA have to do with paying full tuition?(As I am from PA and will have to rely on fin. aid</p>
<p>I just meant to say that, and please don't take this the wrong way, but I would imagine that most parents of kids from PA, NJ, NY and CT are going to get hit paying the full $42,000.....since we are considered the metropolitan area and are considered "very well off". Yea, that is a joke. Just because we make X amount of money, doesn't mean we are well off. The cost of living is so much higher here, yet FAFSA doesn't take that into consideration.
FAFSA also takes the price of our house into consideration as an asset. So, if you are living in a $500,000 in New Jersey, it is probably just a nice ordinary house. If you live in a $500,000 house in most other parts of the country (with exceptions, of course) it would probably look like a palatial mansion. Just because we have equity in our house doesn't mean it doesn't hurt us to not get any financial aid. What are we supposed to do? Sell our homes to pay tuition and then live in a tent? </p>
<p>I was addicted to the Princeton boards last year while my son was applying. It was amazing how many kids are going to Princeton and not paying a dime. Do you know why? Princeton takes kids from all over the country, where someone's parents might make $50,000 combined. To FAFSA and Princeton, that kid qualifies for $$$. Living in this area (and I will admit I don't know much about PA, except that alot of people who work for big companies in NJ commute to PA), anyway, living in this area $50,000 a year would be great if my family only ate food every other day, and we rented out our house say, two months out of the year....and of course, we will live in our tent for those two months.....and collected additional $. OK, so I am going crazy here, but I hope you can understand the point I am trying (I think lol) to make.</p>
<p>heh nice long post :)</p>