Lehigh University
Responses from the Student Interview
From a student who identifies as Major: Architecture and I might double major in business
Minor: None
Student Self Identifies as: Biracial: Half Mexican and Half Black Heterosexual Male
Summary
I’m part of the Black Student Union, the Latino Student Alliance, First, which is a first-generation club, and the Real Estate Club.
Background
Gender Identity: Male
Race/Ethnicity: Biracial: Half Mexican and Half Black
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
High School Experience: Public charter school in southwest Philadelphia, PA with a graduating class of about 80 students. Most of the students there were students of color. There was a strong push for us to go to college, so there was a culture of going to college
First-Generation College Student: Yes
Major: Architecture and I might double major in business
Minor: None
Extracurricular Activities: I’m part of the Black Student Union, the Latino Student Alliance, First, which is a first-generation club, and the Real Estate Club.
Have any of your extracurricular activities had a particularly big impact on your experience?
It’s hard to approach somebody and start a conversation, but whenever you’re all willingly put in a room together it’s nice because we get to meet each other. Those clubs also offer a lot of opportunities for moving into the workforce.
Academic Experience
Can you describe the weekly coursework for your major?
Architecture is under the college of arts and sciences, so it’s not like I’ll graduate with a five-year architecture degree, I’m going to have to go to graduate school. But, they set us up with the requirements to go to graduate school. Currently, I’m knocking the calculus requirement out of the way, am taking one Architecture class, and am taking two studio classes that are pre-requisites for some of the classes I have to take next semester. For my art and design projects, it’s a lot of projects and then for the math prerequisites, we have problem sets and exams.
Is there anything you feel the Architecture department does especially well or poorly?
In terms of especially well, all of the professors genuinely care about you. They have the mind for you to go to graduate school so they push you to do certain things for your portfolio and, if not, they always want to expand your experiences. They’re investing in the Architecture school and also invest in us so that we will stand out when we apply to graduate school.
How would you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s particularly competitive or collaborative?
For Architecture, everybody is there to help you. Sometimes student critiques can be hard and end up hurting your feelings, but that’s the reality of architecture and it’s better for them to tell you than somebody reading your portfolio to find it. At the end of the day, it’s out of a good place because everything is validated by the professor and if it seems like somebody is attacking another the professor steps in. In the business school, it’s more competitive. People won’t help you out if you have questions, they’ll just tell you to go to tutoring. It’s that way because everything is graded on a curve and also, they are trying to go into the same industry, so that’s just the culture.
How accessible are your professors?
The professors in the Architecture department are very accessible. Sometimes when my calculus TA doesn’t have time to meet up with me, the professor will take extra time to help me out. They are always willing to do whatever you need, like stay late after class to help you out with projects. They’re always there and are very supportive and always pushing.
How was transitioning academically as a first-generation college student? Were there any systems in place that helped you adapt?
I did Lehigh University Student Scholars Institute (LUSSI), which is a month-long program and is kind of like a trial period for college. You do it with people who are also first-generation or low-income students. I made some of my best friends during that. I was especially nervous about coming here so that was helpful. I also did the Diversity Life Weekend. I ended up living in the house that I stayed in during that weekend because I got so close with my house. It was a house dedicated for people who are musically and artistically inclined but usually end up becoming a multicultural house. LUSSI was really great because they gave us free textbooks and other school materials and they push us to all spend time together so I met some awesome people.
Why did you pick your major? Are you happy with your choice?
I first came in as pre-med and really didn’t like it. It was a lot of classwork and I dreaded going to class. I’m glad I realized early in my career that I didn’t want to do pre-med. Now that I chose Architecture, I’m very satisfied and very happy with it. I wake up and I enjoy going to classes.
How was transitioning academically from the TTP program?
There weren’t really any resources and it was a rough transition. The school I studied abroad at was pretty easy compared to USC’s expectations, so it’s been pretty difficult to transition from that.
Reasons to Attend
1) It’s a beautiful campus.
2) Lehigh is really good at promoting alumni connections. Alumni are always reaching back and alumni are usually really successful.
3) The vicinity to big cities like Philadelphia and New York City
Reasons Not to Attend
1) After a while, the food gets bad. But, I think that’s something that happens at all schools.
2) A lot of people don’t like where it’s located. The neighborhoods around Lehigh are rough and people don’t like that there’s graffiti or people of Hispanic backgrounds popping wheelies. People call it the ghetto, but that’s other people’s opinion, not my opinion. [The poverty rate in Bethlehem, PA is about 16%.]
Around Campus
Where have you lived on and around campus?
Freshman: I lived in Centennial II Complex in Palmer Hall in a double.
Sophomore: I live in the Creative Vibes community in Warren Square A, which is sort of off-campus but not really.
Can you describe the level of safety you’ve experienced on and around campus?
During the day there are no problems and there are campus police everywhere. We have a specific app called the HawkWatch app and one of the features is you can request a person to walk with you late at night.
Social Opportunities
What kind of nightlife or weekend activities do you participate in at Lehigh?
I like to play basketball and soccer and go to the gym a lot. The house I’m living in, Creative Vibes, has a full recording studio downstairs so my friends and I sometimes record music that we make. In terms of nightlife, I don’t go to the frat parties, but if there’s a multicultural party I will go to that. Frat parties are for a very straightforward person and my friends and I don’t meet that and don’t want to be there because we don’t like their dancing and music. At multicultural parties, there is a mixture of music and people actually dance, so it’s a fun time. The multicultural parties are just held by people who want to throw a party and have a basement because the multicultural fraternities here don’t have houses.
What’s an alternative to going to a party that you like for a night out?
Lehigh has Lehigh After Dark and they have different activities and food for people. Last weekend, we had a roller skating night and it was fun. They do paint night, bingo night, and other stuff like that.
How happy are you with the weekend options at Lehigh? Is there anything you would change about them if you could?
I’m pretty happy with the weekend options and I wouldn’t change anything. I have a car here so if I really don’t feel like being on campus I can go into Allentown. I also like being on campus because I don’t feel a lot of distractions. I like to keep it simple so I can focus on what I’m doing.
Campus Culture
How did you meet your closest friends?
I met them through the LUSSI program over the summer. Everybody there got the opportunity to open up about their background and who they are and we learned that a lot of us are very similar. My other set of friends I met through the Creative Vibes themed housing.
How would you describe the overall social scene?
Lehigh is notorious for its Greek life. The frat houses are mansions and are very beautiful. It’s not hard to find parties on campus because there are always parties at the houses, but that’s just not my scene. For people like me, we find our groups in the themed housing because that’s where we know there are like-minded people. The Lehigh After Dark events are also pretty popular and if you don’t go to those you just stay in your room.
To what extent do you feel people of different races and sexual orientations mix socially?
We have the Multicultural Room, or the “M” Room, the Center of Gender Equity, and the Pride Center and Spectrum club. They’re great places to go hang out if you have thirty minutes between classes and don’t have anywhere to go. In those rooms people will be hanging out, doing homework, and they’re all people you’re comfortable with who you can ask for help. We mix in those areas and support each other’s clubs. In terms of White students mixing with students of color, the Pride Center and Spectrum are where that mostly happens. But, usually you don’t see anybody outside of those groups in the different centers.
To what extent do people in Greek life and not in Greek life mix socially?
We don’t mix. That’s just not a thing that happens. The fraternities give us the option to rush and invite us over when we’re freshmen, but we don’t. Their scene is different from ours and the diverse students of Lehigh just don’t want to [participate in that]. [See The Brown and White article, “CORE report recognizes Greek, non-Greek divide.”]
How do you like the size of Lehigh in terms of undergraduate enrollment? How has that impacted your experience? [Lehigh has about 5,200 undergraduate students.]
I think it’s great. I like going into the dining hall and there’s usually at least a group of people I know, so I never have to eat alone. I’m a very social person, so I like that I can always find somebody I know.
How would you describe the Hispanic and Black communities on campus? How strong is it?
There’s not a lot of us in either community. But, in both communities, especially the Black community, we all know each other and all help each other. The upperclassmen help the freshmen and sophomores and know that some of us are not from the area so we try to help each other find housing. The communities are very strong. We have First-Generation housing and sometimes they’ll give us a budget so we can cook a traditional family meal and we teach people how to make empanadas.
Careers
Have you learned any computer programs or languages through your coursework that will be especially helpful to you professionally?
I learned Excel in some of the business classes. Most of the programs I use are architecture programs, like AutoCAD and Revvit. We also learn Photoshop in the design courses.