@dhizzy, I was very disappointed by the CAS candidates day yesterday, too. I felt that the first two speeches were entirely inappropriate for the audience and miffed by the faculty chosen to represent the school in the morning, Arts Center programs. I would think that a school like Lehigh would want to attract candidates, not repel them. I don’t know how helpful the student Q&A was since I am a parent and sat in on the parent Q&A. My son got a lot out of the student session and did mention that he heard something about candidates who were flown in by the school for a program promoting diversity. Maybe that is the reason that Africana studies was being promoted? More time should have been spent on Q&A and a more representative group of faculty and students should have been available. Did you get much out of the information tables and presentations from the fair in STEPS? The students currently attending Lehigh certainly all seemed happy and enthusiastic about the school, but I was definitely left with doubts about the school after the morning programs in the Arts Center.
That’s disappointing to read that the visit left both of you feeling that way. My son first visited Lehigh when he was narrowing down the schools he wanted to apply to which was during a high school break at a time when the students were on spring break. He didn’t see anyone or talk with anyone, but he explored the campus independently and was taken in by the natural beauty of the campus and proximity to NY, Philadelphia, etc. We spent a lot of money visiting schools and then going to accepted student days, lots and lots of money in flights, hotels, rental cars, etc. He started to get cold feet during the accepted students events, but we didn’t go with him for that, so I don’t know firsthand how it was that year.
The diversity weekend, from what I gather, brings in all sorts of under-represented segments of the population–geographical, racial, financial, etc. My son has never said anything about the Africana studies programs, so I don’t know if the topics range from year-to-year, or what. There’s so many fantastic and exciting things going on at Lehigh, so I find it disappointing to hear that both of you left without your specific questions answered.
His private college counselor (and his gut feeling along the way) helped him choose the perfect match for him. He had some hesitations about every school he was accepted to, and the accepted students events at all of them left him feeling pretty much like both of you feel at the moment. The accepted students events at every school didn’t do much, ultimately, to sway him either way. Luckily, he chose the perfect match for him, which was Lehigh.
Hoping someone on this thread can help you with their personal experiences in your intended major(s).
I too am sorry the meeting didn’t address what interested you. I can tell you I did go to every Parent’s Weekend when my son was a student. Each college had there own parent’s meeting. My son was in the College of Engineering. They had a general talk about Engineering and then each area of study met in a room with 3 professors that talked. After the meeting I talked to one of the professors about my son being shy about approaching a professor about participating in a research lab. That professor emailed my son- which my son didn’t reply to. But, for Sophomore summer he helped my son find a research position that interested him with a different professor! So please don’t judge Lehigh that negatively over that one meeting. Congratulations of your acceptance to Lehigh!
Thanks kikkydee and marky95 for your kind words. I remain worried about this school but have heard many positive things about it. The problem for me was that the interim president of the school spoke for a half hour about himself and a bit about the school. He stumbled over his words and misspoke many times throughout the speech. I don’t know if he just didn’t practice or what. He was sooo incredibly boring and a horrible speaker with no charisma. I would think if a school wanted to attract students they would get someone who could actually relate to a room full of 18 year olds. This person did not. The other speakers were equally as boring except for one professor who seemed like she would be absolutely amazing to have as a teacher. I just question the judgment of people working for a school who choose horrible speakers to convince students to go to their school. It makes me think that if something as simple as this is so bad, what else is bad about the school?
It’s making me cringe some reading about that. It’s sad, too, because the people your child will be encountering during college and afterwards, are pretty amazing from what we’ve seen the three years my son has been at Lehigh. He has sooooo many friends, such a broad range of friends, several good professors, and already spoken with alumni that have the strongest allegiance to their alma mater and fellow graduates. The president of the colleges he’s visited, I didn’t pay too close attention to. If I had seen the president speak, and if it was a speech like you described, I’d feel exactly the way that you do today.
Maybe since my kids attended private prep schools since pre-K, I’ve seen so many heads of schools, whether headmasters or presidents or chairmen of the board or head of lower school, etc, I’ve come to expect a lot of the people in those positions to use those positions as a spring board to move up and away. I don’t know much about the interim president at Lehigh, so I’m not saying that about him directly, it’s just that what I’ve experienced in my kids’ educational institutions has always been more fluid than I expected. There have been so many over the years since my kids started having headmasters during pre-K, there’s no telling how many moves they’ve all made over the years. The people would be there for around 3 years, then the whole process would start all over again. Along the way, I started building relationships and paying attention to the people lower on the totem pole that did have a direct and lasting impact on my kids. That’s where I’ve gotten a better predictor of the future for my kids at any particular institution.
One aspect that made a huge difference for me was the tremendous alumni support at Lehigh that I’ve witnessed. It goes far beyond what I personally got from my alma mater, Tulane, for what it’s worth. We don’t live close to Lehigh, so my son’s flights are somewhat complicated getting home, and almost every trip home, he arrives with business cards from people he met on the flights. When they find out he’s a current student at Lehigh, they either went there or work with someone that went there, and they want their graduates.
Since there were different sessions for students and parents, how did he leave feeling about the school as far as envisioning being on campus day-to-day? Wish it wasn’t so expensive and time-consuming to really get a good feel for the individual colleges outside of speeches and information tables and admission packets. Without knowing more about your son, it’s hard to know if it would be a good match or not. It’s hard as a parent to watch them decide upon a college. Hoping he’s happy wherever he matriculates, and that you’re happy with his decision, too.
Does anyone know how to set up the lehigh email?
ymfs123,
If you are already that critical of Lehigh then maybe Lehigh is not the school for you. The kids that do really well at Lehigh are very passionate about their love of the school. There are over 1,000 kids on the waitlist. Many of those kids had Lehigh as their number one choice. Some are even considering waiting until January and trying to get in. If Lehigh does not grab you I would recommend you consider finding a school that does. There are many students that would LOVE to take your place. You need to go someplace that you are excited to attend. Best of luck, Kikkydee
@dhizzy and @ymfs123 I have to tell you, I had just the opposite experience at the College of Business and Economics sessions with my S. I happened to have graduated Lehigh with interim President Kevin Clayton ('84), and he was our class president as well. He may not be overly dynamic, but he is a nice guy, very accomplished, and Lehigh through and through. He even retired from his job as a Wall Street investment banker to take the helm as President during this past year while they searched for a replacement for Alice Gast, who moved on to become president of Imperial College London, one of the top universities in the world. I believe the part where he “spoke about himself” was to give a sense of just how precious Lehigh is to him and his family, nearly every member of which has attended Lehigh. I actually found his “top ten list of reasons to attend Lehigh” to be right on point. Lehigh is a very special place, and I think the number of alumni who send their children to attend (I have a S who is currently a sophomore, and S2 who is incoming) is testament to that fact. If you asked around, you would have found MANY Lehigh grads who were there as parents. I have seen the presidents of other colleges and universities speak, and frankly, I don’t know any of them would be particularly appealing to 17 and 18 year olds in the audience Their main functions are to press flesh and schmooze wealthy donors, attend functions, give speeches, and perform administrative duties. Clayton’s appearance was mostly to show the importance of their accomplishment, not to answer questions or explain the programs. He also needed to give the same speech at least three separate times that morning, perhaps explaining at least some of his stumbling over the words (or just being tired).
The CBE professors on our panel were quite entertaining and impressive. As a matter of fact, our sessions ran pretty long because some of them wouldn’t sit down. They joked and kidded with the audience, and were very effective in presenting their specific disciplines and the potential job outcomes of CBE students. In short, the presentation was excellent, and I overheard many parents saying so afterwards. I experienced this two years ago with my first S, and I can tell you that Lehigh blew away the Candidates Day presentations of other schools he was accepted to, including Bucknell and Boston College. But everyone is looking for something different, I guess.
I’m sorry you did not have the same or a better experience. Please don’t let the presentation be your deciding factor - there is so much more to Lehigh. However, I do understand those brief glimpses and impressions of the schools you visit stick with you. Sometimes you have to go with your gut. Ultimately, if doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Good luck with your decision!
Yocco1, very glad to read that your son has decided to matriculate to Lehigh, just like his brother and father. I can see why! I wish I could go back in time and apply there instead of the school that I chose, every single time I hear about Lehigh from my son. It’s an amazing school.
The more I thought about it, the more I began to feel like it probably isn’t the best match if the speech by the interim president is that easily a deal breaker. There are plenty of kids on the waitlist that really do want to go there as their first choice, just like kikkydee wrote.
Good luck with the college that you choose.
Thanks for all the insights. Actually, Lehigh is my son’s first choice. (I’m the parent.) He LOVED the school! I am the one with the hesitations, which I have not voiced to my son. I am letting him choose for himself. I am heartened to hear all of the positive things you all have written.
I have to agree, the Business presentation was phenomenal. It made me want to have class with each of the professors.
Hi everyone, sorry for the slow response. I’ve been taking a break from CC for a week. I loved Lehigh when I first visited and I got to talk to their History department back then and it seemed fine and nice. It is my first choice out of the schools I was admitted too, but I still have to weigh my options financially and Lehigh is rather expensive. That’s why the info session made me uncomfortable. Was the high price worth it? was what I was thinking. I’ve since spoken to some family friends who are attending and they said it was just a poor attempt by them to market themselves. They vouched for the strength of the poli sci, econ, and history programs and cleared my doubts. Also, the new president coming in seems to be very highly regarded so no issues with the administration from my parents end of things. I’m visiting Penn State this monday and after that I will make my final decision. I think Lehigh will be the school I choose.