Lehigh University

Responses from the Student Interview

From a student  who identifies as Major: Music Composition
Minor: None
Student Self Identifies as: Biracial: Hispanic and African American Straight Male

Summary

I’m in a bunch of musical performance groups. I’m the Lehigh University Jazz Repertory Orchestra, The Lehigh Funk Band, two jazz combos, and I take a bunch of lessons.

Background

Gender Identity: Male
Race/Ethnicity: Biracial: Hispanic and African American
Sexual Orientation: Straight

High School Experience: Public high school in Philadelphia, PA with a graduating class of about 800 students. There was a culture of going to college
First-Generation College Student: Yes
Major: Music Composition
Minor: None

Extracurricular Activities: I’m in a bunch of musical performance groups. I’m the Lehigh University Jazz Repertory Orchestra, The Lehigh Funk Band, two jazz combos, and I take a bunch of lessons.
Have any of your extracurricular activities had a particularly big impact on your experience?
I’d say all of them have had an impact. I have fun playing in all the groups and playing music in general. They’ve helped me meet new people. Also, for prospective students, if someone doesn’t know if they’re good enough to play in one of the groups and they’re scared they can just join the marching band.

Academic Experience

Can you describe the weekly coursework for your major?
Lessons aren’t mandatory, but there are classes. Usually, the first two years are mainly theory classes and you don’t compose stuff unless it’s on your own or you talk to the professor. The composition classes are intended for juniors and seniors in the program. You have to gain the knowledge before writing music. Once you get to the upper classes there’s a group class and analyze compositional work, then we try to imitate whoever we’re analyzing. The bulk of our grade is our own compositions of the imitation, as well as the actual analysis and papers on what we think of the work.
Is there anything you feel your major’s department does especially well or poorly?
There is nothing they do particularly poorly. I’ve enjoyed the theory classes, although this semester there has been an issue with the amount of time we’re given homework – that’s because this is the first year the music department is testing something new. It’s a condensed version of two other classes, so it’s a rushed program.
How would you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s particularly competitive or collaborative?
It’s not competitive at all. Everyone in the music department is pretty cool with each other. The librarian is the most helpful person in the building. She’ll help you with anything like emails, papers, and research.
How accessible are your professors?
The professors are really understanding and kind for the most part.
How was transitioning academically as a first-generation college student? Are there systems in place that help you transition?
I was part of a limited-access program called LUSSI, which helps first-generation students. It’s a summer program where they emulate actual classes for a few weeks. We got a lay of the land and stayed over the summer for a few weeks.
What is your favorite part of Lehigh academically?
The composition classes. I understood a little bit of the theory class so I kind of knew what I was doing. But with compositions, I don’t really know what I’m doing yet. Doing something new is
the exciting part.
Why did you pick your major? Are you happy with your choice?
I always knew I wanted to do something with music, I just didn’t know what. Now that I’m in my major, I just want to write and record music.

Reasons to Attend

1) If you want to be an engineer, it’s an amazing engineering school.
2) The music program is getting better.
3) The people and professors at Lehigh are pretty nice for the most part.

Reasons Not to Attend

1) The higher-ups at Lehigh can be pretty annoying at times, and they can disregard the student body like they did last year with the housing.

Around Campus

Where have you lived on and around campus?
Freshman: Lower Centennial in a double
Sophomore: Warren Square A in a double
Junior: Creative Vibes community, which is in Warren Square A, in a single
How was transitioning from Philadelphia to Bethlehem, PA in terms of location?
In Bethlehem, there are a lot of hills and in Philadelphia, everything was relatively flat. Walking in Bethlehem is a bit of a hassle because you have to go up and down the mountain. There’s a lot of benefits and negatives to it. Sometimes I get really lazy and don’t feel like walking up the mountain to the cafeteria.
Can you describe the level of safety you’ve experienced on and around campus?
I’ve felt relatively safe. I’ve never been in danger, but I have heard some stuff through the Lehigh alerts about dangerous things happening on other parts of campus.

Social Opportunities

What kind of nightlife or weekend activities do you participate in at Lehigh?
I don’t go out that often. I prefer staying at home and watching a movie with friends.
What have been some of your favorite times at Lehigh?
My favorite times are when I play shows with my groups. I go to other music shows offered.
How happy are you with the weekend options at Lehigh? Is there anything you would change about them if you could?
I’m pretty fine with it. Since I don’t go out that often, I think it’s pretty cool. If I went out there usually is something happening every weekend.

Campus Culture

How did you meet your closest friends?
My closest friends are basically my housemates [in Warren Square A] because I spend the most time with them. Since I’ve been in this house for two years, I know a bunch of them that have stayed.
How would you describe the overall social scene?
It has its problems, but since I don’t go out often, I don’t experience them. Most places are pretty accepting.
To what extent do you feel people of different races and sexual orientations mix socially?
Most groups stick to their own race at Lehigh. There are diverse groups, especially in the multicultural communities. I’ll be with friends with anyone, but everyone I’m surrounded by in this house are minorities. In this house, there are a bunch of people of different races that come by pretty often. [The undergraduate population is 62% White, 9% Hispanic, 8% Asian, and 4% Black or African American.]
How would you describe the student body?
Everyone I know is pretty [relaxed]. I don’t know anyone with negative personalities.
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 alright. Last year they started adding more freshmen, so the juniors and seniors were rushing to get houses off-campus. [See the Brown and White article, “Concerns, questions and uncertainties: student leaders, staff and faculty speak out on student growth.”]
How would you describe the African American community on campus? How strong is it?
It’s really tight. People are really close to each other, especially those involved in cultural groups.
If at all, how did being a first-generation college student affect your social transition?
It didn’t really affect me. I’m friends with other first-generation students and people who aren’t.

Careers

What have you used the career office for? How helpful have they been?
I’m planning on doing Iacocca this summer. It’s a summer internship program where you apply and they send you abroad somewhere to intern at a company. Expenses are paid for, but I don’t think it’s a paid internship.

Financial Aid

Have you used financial aid? If so, accommodating was the office to your needs?
They’re pretty responsive. They respond to emails within a couple of hours usually.