Lehigh University

Date: Oct 18 2008
Major: Physics (This Major's Salary over time)

Lehigh has some very good points, and some very bad points.

Good points:

1. You can get a great education at Lehigh if you avoid the traps and really make the effort. Lehigh's good reputation was built mostly on engineering. To take full advantage of your time there, and if you are so inclined, major in engineering, a closely-related field, or one of the sciences.

2. Don't expect great teaching in engineering courses, however. It just doesn't work like that. It's you vs. the material, and you will learn it on your own. Expect a challenge bordering on the irrational. You will be better for the experience when it's all over, but it won't be pleasant or easy, and it certainly will not be pleasant. Just get through it, and enjoy your reward later. (This really is a good point, but you won't appreciate it until you graduate.)

3. Once accepted at Lehigh, you are free to major in whatever you wish. Many universities don't allow this, so take advantage of it if you are so inclined.

Bad points:

1. The social environment at Lehigh is absolutely horrible. The majority of the students are arrogant, self-centered, and amoral. Frats and their juvenile nonsense dominate the social scene and recruit these types. Alcohol and drug use are out of control, and the administration tends to encourage this kind of behavior. So beware: Lehigh will provide you with ample opportunity to ruin your life. Many of your friends will become alcoholics and drug addicts, and plenty of young alcoholics graduate from Lehigh every year. Hopefully someday the administration will solve this problem.

2. Don't expect to meet intellectual people at Lehigh. It's just not that kind of school. You'll find plenty of intelligent people, but very few intellectual people, and they will tend to be unhappy.

3. If you are male, don't expect to have many relationships at Lehigh. The ratio is not in your favor; the women have their pick, they know it, and most of them act like it. Be prepared for this. Of course, if you are female, this might be good.

4. Take a good, hard look at the town. Some like it, some hate it. The north side of Bethlehem is not too bad, but some sections of the south side, near the campus, are pretty run down. A lot of Lehigh students are city people or suburbanites and don't seem to mind this kind of environment, but if you are a rural person, you might not like it at all.

5. Don't be fooled by the tuition. It WILL increase faster than inflation. Many students and families are not fully prepared for this. (Of course, this will happen at most other private colleges and universities, too.)