Anyone know anything about Lehigh University in PA?

[Sharon in MD]

We've decided ds needs to look at a couple more schools with Materials Science programs. We are tending more towards mid sized than the state giants like Penn State or University of Maryland.

 

I heard a rumor that they were a very liberal campus....but I have no real knowledge...

 

We're also trying to stay within about 3 hours of the metro DC/Baltimore area....

 

TIA

[Brenda in MA]

Sharon,

 

I don't know much about Lehigh specifically, but if you're interested in the political leanings of colleges, we found the following book helpful, and Lehigh is in the book. I borrowed the book from the library, so I don't have it in front of me right now to look up what they say about Lehigh.

 

HTH,

Brenda

 

Choosing the Right College: 2008-2009: The Whole Truth about America's Top Schools by John Zmirak

[Sharon in MD]

I have an older ed of the book, but Lehigh isn't in it....I'll check my library.

[Jane in NC]

 

I heard a rumor that they were a very liberal campus....but I have no real knowledge...

 

 

 

My husband attended Lehigh.

 

Given that the university produces a number of engineers and business majors whom I don't view as a "liberal" bunch by nature (although certainly some are), I don't think of Lehigh as a "liberal" school like Reed. But perhaps you don't mean liberal in a political sense.

 

This begs the question what do you mean by a "very liberal campus"?

 

Perplexed,

Jane

[Sharon in MD]

My husband attended Lehigh.

 

Given that the university produces a number of engineers and business majors whom I don't view as a "liberal" bunch by nature (although certainly some are), I don't think of Lehigh as a "liberal" school like Reed. But perhaps you don't mean liberal in a political sense.

 

This begs the question what do you mean by a "very liberal campus"?

 

Perplexed,

Jane

 

I spoke with another mom last year who had been up there on a campus visit and she felt like the "moral compass" was really liberal, to the point of making her and her sonfeel out of place as a more conservative Christian. She also said there was a lot of liberal side political stuff around, but not much from the conservative side....

 

So, I thought I would ask the question here, where I'd get a much wider sampling of opinions.

 

I don't mind a mixed bag of students and professors...in fact I would prefer that. I just don't want to take the time to go visit some place if it so politically or morally liberal that we would be out of place....

 

Does that help clarify? It is very hard to quantify....

[JoyfulMama]

My DH grew up in Lehigh's backyard, and I attended college nearby. Lehigh has some excellent educational opportunities and profs, but also is home to many fraternities and sororities. I used their wonderful libraries (yes, two) while I was in undergrad and grad school. But I also 'climbed the hill': Lehigh lingo for fraternity party hopping.

They are building a casino within walking distance to the university. Some aren't thrilled with the proximity, but some think it could offer decent paying PT jobs to students who want them.

Bethlehem is a wonderful area, with a heavy Moravian presence. Lehigh has their own BEAUTIFUL chapel, and a Bach Choir as well.

College is a great opportunity to be able to meet people of differing values, and to be able to determine which values you hold dear.

[Jane in NC]

I spoke with another mom last year who had been up there on a campus visit and she felt like the "moral compass" was really liberal, to the point of making her and her sonfeel out of place as a more conservative Christian. She also said there was a lot of liberal side political stuff around, but not much from the conservative side....

 

 

 

Obviously it has been a while since my husband was a student there so his experience would not be the same as one today.

 

I think though that most campuses have both their liberal and conservative elements. It is up to the student to seek out his peers.

 

As Joyful Mama pointed out, there is a heavy Moravian presence in Bethlehem, one of the reasons that my husband was attracted to Lehigh since he is Moravian. (Click here if you don't know who the Moravians are.)

 

Roughly a third of the student body belongs to Greek organizations according to Wikipedia. Is this indicative of a party school? Ya got me.

 

I do know that academically Lehigh is an excellent school with a well connected alumni association. I also know that they are open to homeschoolers.

 

Jane (who is really having trouble with this liberal/conservative label business. A college could have a liberal faculty, a conservative student body or vice versa. The board of trustees wants the college to stay afloat financially so they usually make conservative financial decisions, but can be influenced on policy decisions by outspoken faculty on both sides of the fence. Sorry, these words liberal and conservative are meaning less and less to me! Must be too many musings in this election year...)

[JoyfulMama]

In my opinion, most colleges have some party atmosphere - as some go to college specifically for that! But Lehigh is not an EASY school to get into, either - meaning I wouldn't count it as a safety school when comparing to Penn State. (Not putting down Penn State - it's a great school, but state colleges usually have lower entrance standards than private.) So I wouldn't count it as a party school.

If we still lived there, my DH would be going there for his engineering degree. It's a highly respected school.

Would I be happy to have one of my kids go there? Yes - because I know there are a variety of groups/clubs/activities that they would be able to find their comfort level. And they'd get a great education. (And I'd well prepare them ahead of time on my feelings of drinking parties and drinking games, other drugs, and personal safety, just as I would before they would go to ANY college.)

[Sharon in MD]

I'm just feeling a bit worried about which schools, how many schools, etc for ds to apply to....I think I may be over-analyzing the puzzle, ya know?

[JoyfulMama]

I would encourage you to visit the schools that DC is interested in. I thought I loved Temple University, but once I got there I couldn't believe the tall metal fences, and the lack of grass. Changed my mind! (My mother was SO relieved that I didn't want to be in Philly!)

Also, sign up for a tour, talk to the student guide, arrange a meeting with a professor... I did stay overnight at my top two college choices as well, which I loved. I got to meet more than one student, I got a real feel for the campuses, and sat in on classes. And when it came down to my decision, it was the one that I was more comfortable at that won out! (Not the one I dreamed about going to since I was little.)

And, by the way... you ARE a mom, and mom's are supposed to have the worry gene! :)

[Sharon in MD]

Thanks for the words of encouragement! I have been worrying the last few days because ds doesn't just want engineering...it is materials science that he thinks makes his heart go pitter patter. Which I can honestly see being more of his area than, say Mechanical or chemical or electrical. My worry came to the front because I came to realize how important the materials side is to him, and only one of his four main choices had materials as an undergrad degree! We had researched and visited like crazy last year...but that was before he really felt so strongly about materials.....So, I told him I really think he needs to have at least one other school, maybe two more that have materials for the degree.

 

His first love is Drexel. He has been there to visit, fell in love and went back for three weeks this summer....love, love love....Kind of the opposite of your Temple experience.

 

We are going to go look at University of Md again, he had been put off by the size and impersonal feel last year when he spent a week there. But, I think we need to give it a fresh eye instead of just basing our feelings on the size.... and fact that the dorms stink.....alone. I nearly made that mistake myself....I thought I needed a smaller school, but wound up at Carolina and loved every minute of it. Sometimes I think I have local prejudice against UMD.....it is so close to home that I know the area too well, living only 15 minutes away....Sometimes too much local news is not good because you only hear the bad....

 

But, I'm driveling.....Lehigh sounds like they are worth a look, but they are in the same price category as Drexel and Lafayette (no materials there either)....maybe Penn State would be another option.....certainly more expensive than MD, but less than Drexel....I just want to have more than one fall back position....I don't like leaving my bases uncovered, KWIM....

 

Thanks,

Sharon.....who is feeling like a real control freak right now.....

[Carol in Cal.]

Yup, THAT Berkeley.

 

I was very, very conservative. I was (and am) also Christian--conservative, Lutheran type Christian.

 

I thought the politics was going to eat me alive, but frankly, I didn't have time for anything but school work. As a chemical engineering major, I had no free time at all.

 

I did make it a point to sign a religious preference card when I enrolled, and to seek out the two Lutheran campus ministries nearby. They were both liberal but lovely, and I would say that we stretched each other. Somehow I heard of Campus Crusade and attended that most weeks as well. It was a time of great spiritual growth for me.

 

I prayed specifically that I would find Christian friends and not be alone. The first week that I was there, I sat down on the floor outside of my chemistry lab class, waiting to be let in, and a boy across the hall struck up a conversation with me. I asked him what he was planning to do with his major and he mentioned a few possibilities and then wrapped it up with, "...whatever the Lord wants me to do." Yup, he was a Christian. Lutheran, even, it turned out--pretty amazing (as we are not so common here as in Minnesota or Wisconsin.) My all time best friend in college was a Christian woman from Egypt--Coptic Orthodox. I love her dearly to this day--she is my DD's godmother.

 

So, all of that to say, between the overwhelm of a technology major and the power of prayer, maybe you don't have to worry about this. Pay attention, yes, but don't worry.