As mentioned in the previous blog, members of the college counseling staff embarked on a college tour in Pennsylvania for four days, visiting nine colleges and universities. This was a great experience, and we thought it would be helpful to share some information about a few of the schools, including admission trends and overall facts and tidbits on the schools.
Lafayette College: Lafayette is a private, small college, in a suburban setting (roughly 2,500 undergraduates) set on a beautiful campus in Easton, Pennsylvania. Lafayette is a liberal arts college, and they stick to a liberal arts education, having all students, regardless of majors, take an array of humanities courses. Lafayette has a very strong engineering program and with the establishment of a new film studio, their arts department is growing and becoming more competitive. Walking around the campus, students seemed very involved in different activities, and many students were active in the quad throwing the Frisbee and football around. Lafayette is the quintessential college campus, which is not too big or too small, with a lot of green and beautiful facilities. There is a great community feel and a real sense of mindfulness and openness. Here are some quick facts on the school:
Percent admitted: 40%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 11:1
Middle 50% SATs: Critical Reading: 590-680/ Math: 620-700/ Writing: 580-680 ACT: 26-31
If submitting the ACT, the writing section is required
Tuition plus Room and board plus additional fees per year= $54,720
Percent of need met: 99% with average financial aid package of $37,958
Top 2% in country for endowment per student in nation
Ranked 18th in country for career services and has great alumni connections
No business school
Lehigh University: Lehigh is a private, smaller mid-sized university is a suburban setting with roughly 4,900 undergraduate students and 2,000 graduate students. The campus is set on rolling hills with historic buildings that are nothing short of breathtaking. Students are spread out in numerous terrific majors in Arts and Sciences (40% of students), College of Business and economics (30% of students), and the College of Engineering and Applied Science (30% of students). The average class size is 27 students, and regardless of major, all students must have 20% of their courses in the humanities and social sciences. Although it is a university, the only graduate schools available are the graduate school of education and they offer 7-year programs in Medicine, Dentistry, and Optometry. Here are some quick facts on the school:
Percent admitted: 33%
Middle 50%: Critical Reading: 580-680/ Math: 640-720/ ACT: 28-31
If submitting the ACT, the writing section is required.
Tuition plus Room and board plus additional fees per year= $52,800
Percent of need met: 96% with average financial aid package of $34,700
One of only 10 colleges that offer Internships at the United Nations
40% of students are in Greek Life
45% of accepted students are in Early Decision pool
Saint Joseph’s University: St. Joseph’s University is a Jesuit, private, smaller mid-sized university in a suburban setting, right outside of Philadelphia, with roughly 5,200 undergraduate students and 3,500 graduate students. St. Joe’s has made tremendous strides in the last few years, growing their campus size by 38 acres and developing new buildings all over campus. Being a short cab ride or train ride from Philadelphia makes it an ideal location for those students who enjoy all of the opportunities a big city offers, but would prefer to not be directly in the heart of a city. St. Joe’s is dedicated to providing all students with an education for the whole person, aligned with the Jesuit philosophy. There is a general education program that sees students taking theology, philosophy, ethics, writing, science, and language courses adding up to 60 credits in Arts & Sciences, in addition to their courses associated with their major. St. Joe’s has increased the amounts of majors and minors, with 34 and 40 respectively. They are now offering a new music major and film studies majors, as well as a sports marketing major and entertainment marketing major. Unlike many colleges and states, an education degree at St. Joseph’s is reciprocal in every state. Also, the country’s largest food marketing program is at St. Joe’s, as well as the biggest Jesuit business school. Here are some more additional facts about St. Joseph’s University:
Percent Admitted: 78%
Student-to-faculty ration: 13:1
Middle 50%: Critical Reading: 510-600/ Math: 520-610/ Writing: 520-610 ACT: 22-26
If submitting the ACT, the writing section is optional
Tuition plus Room and board plus additional fees per year= $49,840
62% of accounting graduates have been offered positions at the Big 4 accounting firms
Jesuit Scholarship available for students from Jesuit high schools that have a 3.0 GPA worth $3,500
