<p>I'm going to apply to two of these schools as my reach schools. I attend to major in chemistry or another science field. Can you guys help me compare the 3 colleges and/or the selectivity of one of them vs another.</p>
<p>For future reference, use <a href=“https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/[/url]”>https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/</a></p>
<p>In general, similar acceptance rates and scores across the board.</p>
<p>bump…bump…</p>
<p>I strongly suggest you run the Net Price Calculator for each school and apply to the two least expensive for you. Consider transportation costs.</p>
<p>IMO and based on most rankings, all are in the range.</p>
<p>Greek life is more dominant at Lehigh and Lafayette.</p>
<p>Is that still true of Lafayette? I know it was at one time, but I have heard that the number of fraternity houses has been dramatically reduced.</p>
<p>Sorry, to clarify, Lafayette greek life is not as large as it was years ago. Lafayette greek life is larger than Oxy. Oxy only has 10-12% greek.</p>
<p>I’d vote Oxy.</p>
<p>Why would you choose Oxy?</p>
<p>Damn good school, incredible location, Obama went there (before transferring to Columbia), I loved my tour way back in the day, I’ve always felt a little depressed by Lehigh. Subjective, I know :)</p>
<p>^^ Occidental is not in the same league as Leigh or Lafayette…the problem with Leigh and Lafayette is they are over run with frats! if you like that stuff then it is cool I guess???
as some of the other folks have said Lafayette is less fratty then in the past, if that is true then I would move that school up on my chart ( I am just not sure that is correct)</p>
<p>^^^ It is true. When I attended ('78-'82) there were 14 fraternities. Now there are only three or four.</p>
<p>All fine schools and a lot of it is subjective. Lehigh is the most frat-heavy school for sure (Lafayette has been decreasing the frat presence). Lehigh is also the largest school of the three-- it is a small/mid-size university (with grad students) while the other two are LACs. </p>
<p>We didn’t look at Occidental but my D really didn’t like Lehigh (the school was bigger than she wanted, she didn’t like the “vibe”, and she couldn’t wait to leave the tour) but she loved Lafayette and will start there in the fall. However, a reasonable and intelligent person could have a very different reaction to the two schools. Before you make a final decision, I’d try to visit the schools so you can see for yourself.</p>
<p>When I was at Lafayette in the 60s, there were 18 or 21 - the larger number may have included the communal residence halls, like Soles, I don’t remember. </p>
<p>Of course, part of the explanation is that when the school went coed about 1970 or so, it reduced the number of males who were potential fraternity members. A lot of houses didn’t survive that - including mine, which was marginal to begin with, and which closed the doors in the early 70s.</p>
<p>Id pick Lehigh has the best rep out of the three</p>
<p>Lehigh and Lafayette have well established science/engineering reputations. Oxy is a very good school with strong academics as well; its reputation in the sciences may suffer a bit because of the lack of an engineering program on campus, but the program is still quite good.</p>
<p>As far as overall reputations, all three of these schools are regional. Out west comparatively few people will have heard of Lehigh or Lafayette (higher recognition among engineers); conversely, if it wasn’t for the Obama connection I suspect very few people will have heard of Occidental in the northeast. </p>
<p>If you plan on going straight into the work force after graduation then pick the school closest to where you think you want to work. If you’re planning on Med school it doesn’t matter where you go since that’s primarily about GPA and MCAT scores.</p>
<p>All three are great schools. The only marked difference I can think of is that the winter time lows at Oxy can drop to the hellishly cold lower 50’s.</p>
<p>I applied to Lafayette over Lehigh. Lafayette has the Marquis scholarship which appealed to me, and a better fit for my future major. But for sciences both are strong. I also preferred Lafayette’s campus. I think prestige wise- it’s a back and forth between Lehigh and Lafay with Occidental below.</p>
<p>bump…</p>
<p>Apply to all 3 schools</p>
<p>If they are your “reach” schools then you might not get into any of them if you only apply to 2 of them…</p>