火爆社区

Many students are motivated by the active education opportunities at Lafayette College: 鈥淚t鈥檚 never a lecture alone, you always get to apply the learning you gained.鈥� Across many majors at this 鈥渟mall, prestigious liberal arts school,鈥� time is well-spent on 鈥渉ands-on learning through field trips to relevant and interesting locations,鈥� such as a geology class using lab time to travel to state parks around the area and explore the natural geography and a 鈥淲omen鈥檚 Gender and Sexuality Studies class following the Inside-Out Program model of having class inside the local women鈥檚 prison.鈥� Even when students don鈥檛 leave the classroom, their work is described as 鈥渋nterpretive and creative.鈥� They also note that even 鈥渃lasses that are lecture-heavy will offer collaborative projects鈥� and that labs are 鈥渁ttended by professors (and not graduate students or TAs).鈥� Lafayette Leopards also celebrate the school鈥檚 strong study abroad program, including about ten interim trips a year, 鈥渨hich are three-week trips to locations all over the world.鈥� The overall educational focus is fostered by the professors, who are 鈥減ersonable and intelligent鈥� and 鈥渟uper accessible and accommodating.鈥� In addition, 鈥渢here are resources for every class in addition to the professors, such as TAs, writing assistants, tutors, and supplemental instructors.鈥� Lafayette may be a 鈥渃hallenging academic institution,鈥� but it鈥檚 one that impresses with its engagement and support: professors 鈥渁ll have good intentions and want to help.鈥�

Lafayette students are typically 鈥渋nvolved in many campus activities, clubs, and commitments鈥� and 鈥済enerally respectful and look out for each other, which establishes a sense of community and belonging on campus.鈥� While the student body seems to get along, there is some consternation with the administration, with one student sharing that 鈥渢he student body and the administration are consistently at odds over decisions made with very little student input and which act against our own interests.鈥� The vibe among the student community is strong and positive, though, with one student describing Lafayette students as, 鈥渘erds who enjoy having fun,鈥� and 鈥済enuinely fun people to be around鈥� who 鈥渁lso value interesting conversations about the college, academics, and the world around us.鈥�

鈥淪tudents value the work hard, play hard mindset at Lafayette,鈥� noting that while they 鈥渟tudy rigorously for assignments and exams,鈥� there are also those who 鈥渆njoy partying even on weekdays.鈥� This also results in college-led events being well attended, whether that鈥檚 鈥渇ood trucks on the quad鈥� or 鈥渇un events鈥� with the Lafayette Activities Forum, which run the gamut from 鈥渢rivia nights to festivals on the quad.鈥� Reviews are mixed on the importance and popularity of Greek life, with one student saying, 鈥淕reek Life and athletics dominate the social scene鈥� while another insists that whether the school 鈥渋s leaning away from it鈥� or making it 鈥渕ore pronounced, it just depends on the people you surround yourself with.鈥� Off campus is a draw, too, as downtown Easton boasts 鈥渄ozens of consignment shops and small businesses that offer student discounts鈥� and has a 鈥渧ibrant food scene鈥� that鈥檚 鈥渁 gem for nightlife, restaurants, and walking around.鈥� Either way, 鈥渢here is an opportunity to socialize in any shape or form if students get involved on campus.鈥�

The Gateway Career Center is proud to extend its panoply of services to students at every stage of their time at Lafayette, offering individualized support and guidance in planning out each student鈥檚 career road map. Career counseling services begin during a student鈥檚 first year and 鈥渁re readily available to any student who wants to utilize them,鈥� says one student. Students are encouraged to join GatewayLink, the Lafayette-specific online portal that connects students with a network of alumni mentors and fellow students who share the same interests. And sophomores, juniors, and seniors can learn more about specific careers with the January Externship Program, where they shadow a professional for two to five days. One student praises the school鈥檚 鈥渟trong career services program that provides excellent opportunities and...works closely with alumni to provide career exposure opportunities even to first-year students.鈥� The median starting salary for a Lafayette graduate is $80,100, according to PayScale.com.