Lake Forest is a quirky, international, close-knit liberal arts school that's a Metra ride away from the city of Chicago (which needs no introduction). The coursework is difficult, but professors treat students individually and encourage experiential learning. People here come from literally all over the world, and our campus is both historic and beautiful.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
My academic experience at Lake Forest has been excellent. Professors here are challenging, inspiring, highly knowledgeable, and more than willing to meet with you until you understand the material fully. I am a neuroscience major, and from what I've heard from friends at large state schools, an education this personal simply isn't possible in a class with 200+ students. This is the boon of a liberal arts education in any subject, and Lake Forest exemplifies the closeness, rigor, and inability to fade into the woodwork that this kind of education affords. The coursework at Lake Forest is not easy. I graduated from a competitive STEM-education boarding school, and have found classes to be just as challenging, and oftentimes more so than what I experienced before. This is also a writing-intensive school. Be prepared (and know how to) write, no matter what discipline you're entering. For help with schoolwork and papers, the Writing Center is available and staffed by LFC alumni. Like many other liberal arts institutions, Lake Forest stresses internships and study-abroad opportunities: many students will study abroad in Spain, Greece, or New Zealand, and the Groner Foundation offers fully-paid service internships all over the world, and the college just opened a new In the Loop internship program in Chicago.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
The dorms at Lake Forest are hit-or-miss. South Campus dorms are always where the party's at, and most likely where freshmen will be placed. Many dorms on South were built in the '60s: their Modernist style looks dated and clashes pretty badly with the rest of the buildings at the College and in the town of Lake Forest. A new residence hall is being constructed in place of old Moore Hall, and is expected to be completed by Summer '13. Nollen and Deerpath are the most recently renovated dorms, and Harlan and Blackstone on Middle Campus are very near most of Lake Forest's academic buildings. Residence Life is very open to letting students make their own decisions when it comes to how they live. This is why the residence halls are co-ed (except for Lois, which is all female), and why students can choose to live with a roommate of the opposite sex if they want.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
Aramark's food quality varies. Some days, the Caf serves what seems like restaurant-quality fare (made-to-order Reubens, pasta creations, and stir fry), and some days you're greeted with pizzas, burgers, and fries. To be fair, there is always an excellent salad bar and wrap line, and sushi and other food can be purchased with a meal plan outside of cafeteria hours in the student center. In general, food is very fresh. Students sign up for an on-campus meal plan that includes a certain number of allotted meals per week and some flex dollars. These can be spent at a number of cafe and convenience store locations on campus. On the whole, the food at Lake Forest is significantly better than most other college cafeteria food that I've tried.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
Many people here complain that there's nothing to do in Lake Forest, but that isn't exactly true. As background, Lake Forest is one of the wealthiest cities in Illinois. The town essentially closes down by 10pm, so most students will visit nearby Highwood for its nightlife. However, LF hosts multiple art fairs during the fall, as well as a weekly farmer's market in the square. Lake Forest's public beach on the shores of Lake Michigan is stunning and just a few blocks from the College. The city has hundreds of acres of restored prairie and forest, as well as an excellent park system. I personally think that just walking around the town and looking at the ravines and 19th century mansions that abound is interesting. Of course, Chicago and Evanston are readily accessible by the Metra for those who want to get off campus. For a larger campus social scene, many students go to Northwestern on the weekends, which is just a 25min train ride south from Lake Forest.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Lake Forest College isn't cheap, and with tuition increases, it costs about $47,000 a year to attend. However, the college is top-ranked for its financial aid, and most students here receive some grant or scholarship from the school. The education that you receive here, however, is well worth the sticker price.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Campus is divided into three separate sections by deep wooded ravines, which can only be found along a two-mile stretch of the Lake Michigan shoreline. The ravines are probably the most beautiful part of campus - I go down there from time to time to read and do homework. There is also a restored savanna behind the science building bordering one of the ravines.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
The school is perfect for intelligent, driven students who can appreciate the richness of a liberal arts education in close proximity to Chicago.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
Greek life here is not nearly as ubiquitous as it is at some other schools. Only about 20% of people at Lake Forest are Greek, and the city banned the use of fraternity houses, so frat parties here are basically nonexistent.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
Public Safety are always around patrolling campus. There is a daily crime log for the college that students can access online. All in all, it's a safe campus in an even safer location.
Lake Forest is a quirky, international, close-knit liberal arts school that's a Metra ride away from the city of Chicago (which needs no introduction). The coursework is difficult, but professors treat students individually and encourage experiential learning. People here come from literally all over the world, and our campus is both historic and beautiful.
My academic experience at Lake Forest has been excellent. Professors here are challenging, inspiring, highly knowledgeable, and more than willing to meet with you until you understand the material fully. I am a neuroscience major, and from what I've heard from friends at large state schools, an education this personal simply isn't possible in a class with 200+ students. This is the boon of a liberal arts education in any subject, and Lake Forest exemplifies the closeness, rigor, and inability to fade into the woodwork that this kind of education affords. The coursework at Lake Forest is not easy. I graduated from a competitive STEM-education boarding school, and have found classes to be just as challenging, and oftentimes more so than what I experienced before. This is also a writing-intensive school. Be prepared (and know how to) write, no matter what discipline you're entering. For help with schoolwork and papers, the Writing Center is available and staffed by LFC alumni. Like many other liberal arts institutions, Lake Forest stresses internships and study-abroad opportunities: many students will study abroad in Spain, Greece, or New Zealand, and the Groner Foundation offers fully-paid service internships all over the world, and the college just opened a new In the Loop internship program in Chicago.
The dorms at Lake Forest are hit-or-miss. South Campus dorms are always where the party's at, and most likely where freshmen will be placed. Many dorms on South were built in the '60s: their Modernist style looks dated and clashes pretty badly with the rest of the buildings at the College and in the town of Lake Forest. A new residence hall is being constructed in place of old Moore Hall, and is expected to be completed by Summer '13. Nollen and Deerpath are the most recently renovated dorms, and Harlan and Blackstone on Middle Campus are very near most of Lake Forest's academic buildings. Residence Life is very open to letting students make their own decisions when it comes to how they live. This is why the residence halls are co-ed (except for Lois, which is all female), and why students can choose to live with a roommate of the opposite sex if they want.
Aramark's food quality varies. Some days, the Caf serves what seems like restaurant-quality fare (made-to-order Reubens, pasta creations, and stir fry), and some days you're greeted with pizzas, burgers, and fries. To be fair, there is always an excellent salad bar and wrap line, and sushi and other food can be purchased with a meal plan outside of cafeteria hours in the student center. In general, food is very fresh. Students sign up for an on-campus meal plan that includes a certain number of allotted meals per week and some flex dollars. These can be spent at a number of cafe and convenience store locations on campus. On the whole, the food at Lake Forest is significantly better than most other college cafeteria food that I've tried.
Many people here complain that there's nothing to do in Lake Forest, but that isn't exactly true. As background, Lake Forest is one of the wealthiest cities in Illinois. The town essentially closes down by 10pm, so most students will visit nearby Highwood for its nightlife. However, LF hosts multiple art fairs during the fall, as well as a weekly farmer's market in the square. Lake Forest's public beach on the shores of Lake Michigan is stunning and just a few blocks from the College. The city has hundreds of acres of restored prairie and forest, as well as an excellent park system. I personally think that just walking around the town and looking at the ravines and 19th century mansions that abound is interesting. Of course, Chicago and Evanston are readily accessible by the Metra for those who want to get off campus. For a larger campus social scene, many students go to Northwestern on the weekends, which is just a 25min train ride south from Lake Forest.
Lake Forest College isn't cheap, and with tuition increases, it costs about $47,000 a year to attend. However, the college is top-ranked for its financial aid, and most students here receive some grant or scholarship from the school. The education that you receive here, however, is well worth the sticker price.
Campus is divided into three separate sections by deep wooded ravines, which can only be found along a two-mile stretch of the Lake Michigan shoreline. The ravines are probably the most beautiful part of campus - I go down there from time to time to read and do homework. There is also a restored savanna behind the science building bordering one of the ravines.
The school is perfect for intelligent, driven students who can appreciate the richness of a liberal arts education in close proximity to Chicago.
Greek life here is not nearly as ubiquitous as it is at some other schools. Only about 20% of people at Lake Forest are Greek, and the city banned the use of fraternity houses, so frat parties here are basically nonexistent.
Public Safety are always around patrolling campus. There is a daily crime log for the college that students can access online. All in all, it's a safe campus in an even safer location.