Lawrence University

Responses from the Student Interview

From a student  who identifies as Majors: Economics and Innovation & Entrepreneurship Double Major with a Spanish Concentration
Minor: None
Student Self Identifies as: Black/African-American Heterosexual Male

Summary

I’m a varsity athlete on two sports teams.

Background

Gender Identity: Male
Race/Ethnicity: Black/African-American
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual

High School Experience: Public school in Melbourne, Florida with a graduating class of about 1,000 students. There was a culture of going to college.
First-Generation College Student: Yes
Majors: Economics and Innovation & Entrepreneurship Double Major with a Spanish Concentration
Minor: None

Extracurricular Activities: I’m a varsity athlete on two sports teams.
What impact has being a two-sport athlete had on your experience?
It’s helped me focus and lock-in on my education. It helps me strive to be the best at what I do on and off the field. It helps a lot with planning.

Academic Experience

Can you describe your weekly coursework for your majors?
I have a lot of problem sets and case studies, for the most part. For my Spanish concentration, I have a lot of week-to-week work too. For Economics and Entrepreneurship, the major assignments are exams and essays.
Is there anything you feel either of your majors’ departments do especially well or poorly?
My departments do a great job of putting me in the right position for internships. Recently, I’ve been working with my career advisors on my resume and sending it out to some of the internships. I’ve also had some companies reach out to me about internships because my career advisors have told me about what I do and how I balance my schedule.
How would you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s particularly competitive or collaborative?
It’s very collaborative. Everybody works together. It’s like a support system because everybody looks out for each other.
How accessible are your professors?
They’re very accessible. They have office hours and can meet with you outside of those if you set up a time with them beforehand.
How was transitioning academically as a first-generation college student? Were there any resources available that helped you transition?
I have a lot of resources, like coaches, family, and tutors.
Why did you choose your majors? Are you happy with your choice?
I wanted to pursue business and also am interested in pursuing a business in training and performance. I’m really happy with my choices. Through the Economics major, I got to help film a commercial that we had in our stadium last spring for Adidas.
How is managing both your sport and your coursework?
It’s challenging at times, but I love challenges. You have to sacrifice social events and also just make sure to plan ahead and think of my future more than the present.

Reasons to Attend

1) Unlimited opportunities to take advantage of. I’m only a sophomore and have had so many opportunities that I will be taking advantage of this year and next year, which is crazy.
2) There are a lot of people looking out for each other. The professors actually care about you and how you’re doing. They know you on a first name basis. Also, most students look out for each other and care about Lawrence being a safe environment.

Reasons Not to Attend

I don’t have any.

Around Campus

Where have you lived on and around campus?
Freshman & Sophomore: Hiett Hall with four roommates in a suite with two bathrooms and a living room.
How was transitioning from your hometown in Florida to Appleton, WI in terms of location?
I like Appleton. It’s a great environment and has a great downtown area. You can go downtown and have fun on the weekends and get food, so it was a pretty easy transition. There was not a big culture shock because everybody in the Midwest is really nice and friendly, so it kind of has that Southern hospitality.
Can you describe the level of safety you’ve experienced on and around campus?
It’s a safe environment. Everybody is friendly and respects each other. I feel safe off-campus as well.

Social Opportunities

What kind of weekend activities or nightlife do you like to participate in?
I tend to go to frat parties on Friday and Saturday nights and then stay in the rest of the nights of the week.
What is the impact of Greek life on the weekend options at Lawrence?
It’s a huge impact. A lot of people are part of it and it’s a great way to get together, meet people, and have fun. But, at the same time, there are lots of other things to do on the weekends, like there are downtown bars, student concerts, and sports games. Fraternity parties also aren’t exclusive, everybody is welcome. [About 9% of men join fraternities and 13% of women join sororities.]
How happy are you with the weekend options at Lawrence? Is there anything you would change about them if you could?
I like everything about it. There’s always something to do, whether it’s parties, concerts, or sporting events. Also, there is no exclusivity. You can go anywhere and everybody’s going to welcome you.

Campus Culture

How did you meet your closest friends at Lawrence?
Almost all of them are through sports. Pretty much all of my best friends have been teammates. We’re together all the time, especially when we’re the only people on campus during breaks.
How would you describe the overall social scene at Lawrence?
It’s perfect for me. You can talk to anybody, regardless of what’s going on. Everybody’s looking to meet new people, so I haven’t had any bad experiences with it.
To what extent do people of different races and sexual orientations mix socially?
I think people mix. When people go out downtown or go to parties, everybody gets together. I think it’s common to see diverse new friends.
How would you describe the Black community? How strong is it?
It’s definitely prominent. We have multiple groups on campus, like Black Student Union and Brother to Brother. I think there is a strong community between those groups too. [About 6% of students are Black.]
How do you like the size of Lawrence in terms of undergraduate enrollment? How has it impacted your experience? [Lawrence has about 1,450 students.]
It’s awesome. It’s just like a family. Everybody knows each other on a first-name basis or close to that and everybody looks out for each other. I feel like I already know everybody on campus and they know me, and I transferred in the Winter Term of Freshman year.
How would you describe the student body at Lawrence?
Friendly, easygoing, easy to talk to.
To what extent do athletes mix with non-athletes socially?
To a high extent. There are lots of athletes and non-athletes in different friend groups. That’s how everybody gets to know each other. Like I’ve said, the campus is just like a family because there are not many groups because it’s so small and there are no groups that won’t mix together.

Careers

Has the alumni network helped you find internships or jobs?
Yes. I’ve built relationships with them and they’ve helped me get internships. Like, I’ll meet an alum after a game and build that connection, and then they’ll introduce me to the right people. I feel that the alumni are always coming back and trying to help.
What have you used the career office for? How helpful have they been?
I’ve used the career center for help with finding internships, job opportunities, and then also helping secure funding for my student ventures. They’ve been great. They’ve helped me make sure I have all of my stuff together and reach the deadlines for all the things I’m planning.
Have you learned any computer programs or computer languages that will be helpful professionally?
In the Economics major, we have to do a lot of Excel.

Financial Aid

Have you used financial aid? If so, how easy is the office to work with?
I love the financial aid office. They are very responsive and they know how to take care of you if you need it. If you’re having financial issues or something, they are good at helping you find grants and opportunities.