This Is How You Recruit Me?
Written: Apr 21 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: I got to see an attractive old friend, and the largest piece of Tiffany glass in the country!
Cons: A very poor introduction and representation of the college by the admission staff.
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| Sneil_IV's Full Review: Lehigh University |
After the five- hour car trip from my home in Albany, NY to Lehigh in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, I was a bit cranky and was hoping I would be damn impressed. I wasn't. While I hear great things about the school, from fantastic academic programs to "lots of beer" (Princeton Review rated Lehigh #1 in the country for amount of beer on campus), the presentation I met with upon my after-acceptance visit is the singular thing that deterred me.
Upon arriving at 8:30, the time we were told to, I signed up and took a seat on the nice, plush leather couches they have in admissions. I soon found out why an investment in very comfortable couches was made. I sat there, waiting, for almost two hours. I tried to nap. I read; almost an eighth of Ayn Rand's fantastic "Fountainhead", which is a damn long book. Finally, when admissions noticed that their <prospective students> were comatose, we were escorted to a room down the hall, and seated in front of a large TV, where we watched a mindless video about Lehigh. Then a nice young fellow came in to talk to us about what the school has to offer. Namely, it's website. Suddenly the enthralling video was switched off, and we were presented with the home page of the school. The young man, sitting behind a computer, gave us a quick tour of the website, showing us how to use it, and then concluded by stating that any questions we have about the school could be found online. Presentation's over.
Next, we rendez-vouzed with a very peppy sophomore, who took us on a tour. We were taken to a library, and rather than telling us how many volumes it has, or what the policies are, she pointed upwards and showed us the "largest piece of Tiffany glass in the country". That was that with the library, and we moved right along. During the tour, my father inquired as to what prompted the young lady's decision to attend Lehigh. "Oh, I dunno. It was the best school I got into." was her informative reply.
The tour ended at the cafeteria, where we were invited to go inside and have lunch- on our own tab. While it may sound a bit thrifty (read: cheap) on my part, it's worth noting that Lehigh was the only school out of five that I visited that didn't provide a complimentary lunch for prospective students. It's little things like a free lunch that make a student feel wanted, though.
So after our delicious lunch (and a run-in with an old crush from my high school. Ooooh. . .), Pops and moseyed back to the car, gave each other "the look", and telepathically crossed Lehigh off "the list". It may have a good reputation, and actually be a very good school, but I wouldn't know it from what I was presented. The accepted-students tour is supposed to attract just that, the accepted students, but unless you're interested in majoring in Tiffany-glass sculpting, the admissions offering was a very poor reflection of the college. Oh, and the hills were a kick to the shins as well.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID: Sneil_IV
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Member: Neil Janowitz
Location: Rochester, NY
Reviews written: 93
Trusted by: 192 members
About Me: Holy halibut, weekly humor columns at www.neiljanowitz.com . Join the mailing list, son.
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