This year, Lafayette College’s acceptance rate was 28% (similar to schools like Northeastern, NYU, Lehigh, Tulane, and BC), many valedictorians will be members of the incoming class, the students have an unweighted average of about an A- according to the website, and the accepted mid 50 range is 29-33. However, many people seem to think of it as inferior to other institutions with similar acceptance rates, number of valedictorians, and mid 50 ranges. Why is this the case?
“… many people seem to think…” Um, no.
I’m confused what you mean by your response
Are you saying it is or isn’t inferior to these schools? And if you think it’s inferior, can you please say why because I don’t understand how it’d be any easier to get into Lafayette if it’s acceptance rate is the same and lower than the other schools listed?
I think the poster was disagreeing with your unsupported statement “many people seem to think”. I’ve never heard/read it. How could Lafayette be seen as inferior when the student body is virtually the same coming in?
I think Lafayette is (probably) quite good. It’s a highly regarded LAC that offers Engineering and it’s in one of the oldest rivalries in college sports. Pretty cool.
Not sure if acceptance (or rejection rate) is the best way to judge the quality of schools.
You haven’t even started your own experience there yet.Enjoy your time a Lafayette - it sounds like you are having a small case of buyers remorse.
College will be a great adventure.
Lafayette has an excellent reputation. It may be less well known than some other school on your list as it is a smaller LAC but it is no less respected by anyone who matters (employers, grad schools etc.).
It looks like you will be attending in the fall. Have a great experience and take advantage of everything the college has to offer.
Lafayette is a LAC, not a major research university, so it gets less press. It also has the strongest engineering program of any LAC.
^ Well, there’s Harvey Mudd. But being #2 wouldn’t impugn the quality of Lafayette’s program.
@kswimmer0426 - I the perception dilemma you reference is primarily a due to the density of outstanding schools in the Northeast. Lafayette is not a well known as other schools, but is gaining in reputation (IMO) as LAC opportunities regarding class size and contact with professors continue to gain priority as compared to research institutions / large public universities.
I assume the engineering opinion was meant to validate Lafayette’s reputation, but I would suggest engineering (unless you are planning to study engineering) isn’t germane to your question. Besides Harvey Mudd, there are a dozen or so LAC’s that have engineering that compare to Lafayette, including Bucknell and Swarthmore in PA. The challenge with this group is that they all offer different degree options. Some (like Swarthmore and Mudd) offer only general engineering degrees (with most specializing in Grad school), versus formal degree offerings from a school like Lafayette (5 degrees in engineering) and Bucknell (8 degrees).
Unless you are planning to study engineering, I would ignore the issue in considering the perception of a LA degree from Lafayette. Good luck.