<p>To the poster who asked about the area surrounding JHU.</p>
<p>Believe it or not, we have not visited JHU.....We were going to, but we were at Lehigh last Friday and up in Boston this past weekend. We are going to Lehigh all day next Monday. If it turns out that my son is still interested in Lehigh, then we will forgo a trip to JHU.</p>
<p>I have read many negative things about the area surrounding JHU, and in particular the two unsolved student murders in the last year. Kind of gives me the creeps.</p>
<p>Also, my son is very interested in who could hire him when he gets out, but he is looking to have a good time in college (and by that I don't mean drinking). Three of his best buddies are all going to UDel, and I know he will miss them. One is going to Muhlenberg, and another up to Rhode Island. Most of them were all football players, and a lot of fun. (note: my son doesn't play football). So, when we walked around on campus the other day, he saw people that he could relate to, and I think that made the both of us feel better.</p>
<p>we just want back again to Lehigh yesterday, for Invited Student's Day, or whatever it was called. Breakfast at the Presidents house, followed by two visits to classrooms (Global Money....ugh!!!!!!) and something else. It was hard to get from one building (Rouch) to another (Moehler) in the 10 minutes alloted. </p>
<p>anyway, we just loved it. The campus is very difficult to navigate if you are not in shape. The students who live in the frat houses have to drive down to campus to attend class (becasue they would never make it back up). They are going to build a parking deck in the Admisssions building parking lot, so that should alleviate some of the parking problems. They are going to renovate an old building in the middle of the campus and make it into a non-alcoholic pub. It should be completed by January. </p>
<p>We took the trolly over the entire campus (it is gorgeous!) and into Bethlehem which was a wonderful suprise. It is a small town in the middle of a rennasaince from the bad old days of the 70s and 80s (OK, I had the best time of my life in that period, but the town of
Bethlehim suffered).</p>
<p>My son is in the IBE program, and he is looking forward to the challenge. I think the whole campus expereince there is going to be great. I give it a 99% thumbs up. (I am an upper 40's Mom)</p>
<p>I thought you might warm up to Bethlehem if you looked a little closer. There's a great pub/restaurant on the north side near Moravian. I think it's called Bethlehem Beer Works, something like that. Yummy specialty beers, food was good (try the coconut chicken) and it's connected to an indoor mall with a lot of cool shops. They do a big Christmas thing in the area. </p>
<p>Walking around the campus is more exercise than I am used to but it doesn't seem to phase the students, plus there is the shuttle. I was happy to hear about the new 24 hour eating place as my son is always looking for something to eat at like 11 pm. Unlike some kids, he's hoping for the freshman 15. </p>
<p>Did you see the old library? Very cool. </p>
<p>Good luck to your son at Lehigh, if that is the final decision. I've heard nothing but good things about the IBE program.</p>
<p>Ok, I haven't read all the posts but I'm replying to those who are considering Lehigh. I go to Lehigh and I knew in my first semester that I wanted to transfer. There are SO many reasons, I can't go into all of them here. But my worst points? Bethlehem is the worst town ever. It's not beautiful, it's full of drunk old men and very poor people. You just have to read our school paper to see how many burglaries and attacks there are every single semester. I hardly leave the campus at night because I just don't feel safe (I've seen the "police" in action- beyond useless). For the amount you're paying, it's not even worth it. Lehigh costs more than most Ivies and the education? Please. We're not even top in engineering anymore, the math department is known to be the worst department in the entire university, no-one I know has a decent TA, and there are hardly ANY options for classes in the Spring semester (no idea why). If you are dying to be an immature frat brother or super-rich sorority girl and the only social life you'll have is the greek system then Lehigh is the school for you. I really don't have anything nice to say about this place, even the Administration runs the school like a business. Seriously, read our school paper and you'll get stuff the Admin will Never tell you. Sometimes they even take away the paper during tour time.</p>
<p>To mcdeb1958: I wouldn't get too excited about the 24-hour diner. I've seen the menu and it is the same food they serve in the canteens. I guess that's perfect for your son who wants to gain the Freshman 15 though! Also, as of August 2005 the "old library", Lindermann, will be out of use. They are "renovating" it by putting in a loud, messy cafe! So the only other library we have on campus is Fairmart and I've never once used it. I actually had to go to NYC to get some information I needed for a research paper.</p>
<p>I don't know if you're questions have already been answered but I go to Lehigh so I might be able to help a bit more. </p>
<p>I think the non-white ratio is about 13% but everyone "of color" (as Lehigh puts it) really stick together. Many live in UMOJA (the house on the Hill for "students of color"- I can't believe Lehigh describes it like that). It's sad, as I was hoping for a lot of diversity that would actually intermingle but unless you're a football player or basketball player, blacks and whites basically stick together, I'm sorry to say.</p>
<p>Haha, YES the drinking starts on Thursday and finishes Sunday morning. I'm 21 and I still hate it. There's one club called University Productions that holds student events that are great but because students here are SO apathetic, lazy and involved with drinking the turnout isn't always that great. But the UP holds comedy, music and movie events. Philly is an hour away by bus, NYC 2 hours by bus. MANY students leave at the weekend, either to go home (cos they all live in NJ, PA, NY) or just get out of Bethlehem.</p>
<p>Freshmen aren't allowed cars, and now sophmores have to live on campus too (although if you've seen the off-campus "housing" you'd want to stay on campus). Yes, the campus is crazy-hilly and in the summer you get so hot and in the rain the hills turn into floods! BUT...that is the one good thing as I haven't gained any weight and I'm sure my calves are stronger. </p>
<p>I am wondering why, if you wanted to transfer out of Lehigh during your first semester, did you stay? You say you are 21 years old, so I would think that you must be either a junior or a senior. Just curious.....since you are from England....what made you continue.</p>
<p>Also, you mention that it gets hot in summer. Most of the kids are from NY, NJ and PA, so they were born and raised with that type of weather.</p>
<p>I am hoping against hope that Lehigh turns out better than Boston College or Johns Hopkins, because those are the schools my son turned down.</p>
<p>I didn't want to transfer mid-year and most colleges want transfers to have completed a full year of college before they transfer. I'm 21 but I took 2 years of after high school because I was ill and then to work and make money for college. But the age thing definitely isn't a reason for me transferring, although I can relate to people my own age more. I know the age thing will follow me wherever I go so that wasn't it! So I'm a freshman, and as for being English...I'm a dual citizen and I've lived in both countries, and have families in both countries. I'm looking to transfer to schools in NYC (I've been accepted to NYU)</p>
<p>The weather is actually something I love. Where I live in England, we have mild summers and mild winters, and it's often grey! Here we get a TON of snow (the campus is pretty then) and I have a chance of getting some sun.</p>
<p>I am only one person with my own view. Obviously there are people who don't transfer from Lehigh, and I'm guessing they really like it. I am trying to be honest but of course I am biased. If you have any particular questions though, I will definitely try to answer them positively.</p>
<p>I have to ask though, why did your son turn down Johns Hopkins?</p>
<p>My daughter ended up choosing TCNJ over Lehigh. A major factor was the financial situation as we could not justify the 4-year, $40K premium that Lehigh would cost versus TCNJ.</p>
<p>A not-so-insignificant decision criterion was the "alcohol" factor. My daughter had the feeling that the frat-boy, binge-drinking culture still permeated the campus despite the best efforts of the administration. She experiences that now in high school, and is seeking to avoid it as much as possible in college.</p>
<p>My daughter had read about the sofas being set up on the lawns of the frat properties, and the drinking that started early afternoon. Of course, that was the stuff of legends ~~ that is, until our visit on Candidates Day a couple of weeks ago. Voila, there were the sofas lined up and the parties were well underway.</p>
<p>Culture does not change overnight, and might require a generation or more. It appears that at least 10 years or more after the Jeanne Clery tragedy, the party atmosphere continued unabated, before the administration stepped in.</p>
<p>JerzyJim: You are right. I went to a few parties in my first semester (I'm 21 and I still drink less than all underage people here) but it gets old fast. Even people in the Greek system say the same old parties every week get boring fast. As for the administration? Well, all they would have to do is tell the Lehigh police to go into any frat on a weekend and bust them for giving alcohol to minors. However, the reason this doesn't happen (on a regular basis) is because many, many students apply to Lehigh either to join the Greek system or because of the party reputation. Lehigh knows this and is not willing to cut these prospective checks out straight away. Give it 10 years and maybe things will change. But President Farrington only has himself to blame when students get taken to hospital every weekend because the frats gave them too much alcohol, when he could legally shut nearly every one of them down.</p>
<p>My child has had a fantastic educational and social experience at Lehigh. So either I have a highly superior child or Lehigh is a better place than people would lead you to believe. Or both. Look at the freshman retention rate - and decide for yourself. </p>
<p>I think the drinking/dangers of Bethlehem concerns are completely overstated to the point of being ridiculous.</p>
<p>Leaving Bethlehem for NYC to avoid crime? C'mon you can't be serious. And NYU doesn't even have a campus.</p>
<p>mcdeb...I agree with your post. I will tell anyone that will listen that my education at Lehigh was superior to the one I received at MIT....and I was a teaching assistant at MIT, so I was very well aware of the undergraduate experience there. There were frat parties at MIT that easily equaled the ones at Lehigh if you were into that sort of thing. You can dwell on the negatives at any school you choose, but the fact remains Lehigh will give you an absolutely first-rate education.</p>
<p>Mcdeb, I think you're right, Lehigh is a better place for some, as is any school. I haven't seen this year's freshmen retention rate but figures mean nothing. Not only do I personally know 5 people applying to transfer but I know of 3 that want to transfer but can't because of aid. Aid is a big factor in why people come to and stay at Lehigh.</p>
<p>Drinking is not overstated in Bethlehem. It is such a poor area; last semester there was a burglar on the rampage around the off-campus housing and a man that broke into girls' bedrooms. Both ended up being arrested after about 8 months, luckily. There has also been a stabbing, mugging and GBH...all in my freshman year right near campus. I'm sorry but I feel SO much safer walking around NYC at night (which I do, constantly) then I ever would around Bethlehem. There are less (sane) people walking around Bethlehem at night, the police are beyond useless... And I'm not transferring to NYU. I applied there but I prefer Barnard.</p>
<p>My education experience hasn't been all bad but I only had the option of taking 2 history classes this semester (History major), which is ridiculous. This is not the school to be at for English or History. Lehigh probably does give a first-rate education in science/engineering but the oppurtunities available to me are extremely low.</p>
<p>I'm not saying Lehigh is the worst school, I'm aware it's not. But it's not the school for me and many others. Reading the school paper really does gage some students' feelings about the school. No school is perfect, anyway.</p>
<p>I should also point out the different between North and South Bethlehem, for there is a very big one! If you took the bus tour during tour time at Lehigh, you may notice how they drive over the bridge and right into North Bethlehem. You end up seeing more Moravian buildings than the rundown/nonexistant South Bethlehem ones! North Bethlehem, although so small, is pretty, quiet and more peaceful. South Bethlehem is the opposite. So I guess you could say it's like living in certain burroughs of NYC compared to Morningside Heights in the Upper West Side, for example. I would just rather be in the nicer and safer area.</p>
<p>I guess you hung out with the other 7% of Lehigh freshman who won't return for sophomore year. And so far as these horrible criminals - think of it this way - would a peeping tom make the news in NYC? Honestly, go ahead and hate Lehigh all you want and transfer out. But your views do not depict reality. I think any 18-21 year old should be able to hold their own in Bethlehem. My 74 year old mother spent a weekend there and loved it.</p>
<p>As far as drinking, I'd rather my son pulled a couch outside and relaxed on his own front lawn, drinking a couple of beers and playing frisbee after class rather than hanging out in bars. Swing by my own house any given summer evening and you're likely to see a bunch of barely 21 year olds doing the same thing. Well, except we have patio furniture.</p>
<p>I think a peeping tom (he did more than that, he actually touched them & spoke to them) would certainly be reported in the school paper, if it happened on/near campus, yes. I don't hate Lehigh, I have had some good professors. But overall, I feel I am not getting the most out of college and frankly, I am not happy with the Lehigh administration. Trust me, I am very happy that a lot of people like Lehigh, and I know they do. I can only speak for myself, as I said before. And my views do depict reality, it is rather patronizing to say otherwise. It is MY reality, and the reality my friends have experienced. I wouldn't accuse your child of having views that do not "depict reality". Did your mother actually spend her entire weekend in South Bethlehem?</p>