Lewis & Clark College Top Questions

I don't know, Lewis & Clark is a pretty neat place so long as you're not coming here for sports or fraternity/sorority-type things. If you come to Lewis & Clark expecting mad huge parties and pep rallies/school pride/etc. , you're going to be disappointed, but everyone is very nice. The number of students is pretty small, so everyone more or less knows each other or knows of each other. The campus is absolutely GORGEOUS; the property used to be part of this manor's estate, so the manor house and a lot of the surrounding buildings are just beautiful. The gardens are gorgeous as well; I'm fairly certain (as are many students) that most of our tuition goes towards grounds keeping. Portland is an awesome city though, so having the small campus isn't too limiting or whatever. The one complaint I have is about the food; Lewis & Clark has a two-year campus living requirement, and students that live on campus are required to have food plans. The Bon (the cafeteria) is open at inconvenient hours (it closes at 7 P.M.), and the other options available (Maggie's and the Trail Room) don't count as part of your meal plan and are fairly expensive (especially Maggie's). The Bon's food itself is really lacking in interesting fare; at the beginning of the year they were extremely good, but as the year went on they got worse and worse. I ended up eating cereal every night for dinner.

Lewis and Clark sucks. Its pretty much just a resort for a bunch of rich hippie who never pick up a text book but in four years will somehow manage to obtain their secret dream job in corporate america working for daddy's business upon graduation as they have given up on the socialist ambitions they never had in the first place. Its too small. Everyone knows everyone, and everyone is judgemental. I spent most of my time running as far away from campus as possible. Students tend the mistake of associating Lewis and Clark with Portland, but they should know that just as Portland is a heaven, and Lewis and Clark is a hell. The teachers are fantastic, but the other administrators are not. They are small minded and keep the school from becoming what it has potential to be by imposing conservative academics to a generally liberal student body. There's a huge problem with rape on campus. Lots of Lewis and Clark girls seem to be getting raped, and boys seem to be getting off with nothing but a small slap on the wrist. The most frequent complaints are probably about how the school is not as progressive or liberal as students expected.

The "big picture" is one that can only be painted by the individual. I cannot begin to tell you how you will perceive the school and all it entails. I can, however, tell you what have come to love and dislike about it. The very two things that led me to make the decision to attend Lewis & Clark this past year still stand as the two things that i love the most about L&C. The first of which are the people. Some say there's something in the water and some say we're all crazy, but whatever it may be, the people are remarkable. From the Professors, to the students, to the admissions staff, to the maintenance crew, the people are just good hearted people that are really down to earth. I can honestly say that i have found everyone to be welcoming, honest, and warm hearted. Beyond their personalities, i have met tons of incredible individuals at L&C. Most people are very much involved with what is going on in todays world and are trying to help the world with their talents. The second thing that attracted me to, and is keeping me at, Lewis & Clark is what i call the "mutual benefits." I chose to go to Lewis & Clark because out of the 9 Colleges and Universities i was looking at, L&C stood out as a school i could give the most to and in return gain a lot from as well. That being said, some find it too small, it is only 2000 students. I however, find it to be just right. I don't feel like another face in the crowd, but i don't feel like i see the same people all the time. Along with that, i am fond of the beautiful campus. All my friends who visit who would never go to the school always say the campus is gorgeous. Because it is situated in a quiet neighborhood, you truly feel like you're there to go to school. The nice thing is that there is free transportation to downtown Portland, which is a cool place to explore and hang out. But then again, no school is for everyone.

The best thing at LC is the crowd. It sucks you in, pleasantly, with organic and herbal everything and a comfortable college life. Weekends are social but casual, parties themed or with keggers, always weed, but heavier drugs are avoidable, which is nice. All students are extremely intelligent and well informed, a lot of times in specialty interest areas- people here are multi-faceted and complex in ways that pop out talented and heartfelt individuals. If I had to change something, it would be the guy to girl ratio. Guys are outnumbered, not by much, but I'm used to living with three brothers! The college size is just right, I love it. Not too big to lose yourself, not invasively small, but just right for being able to choose between a night of partying or studying. I spend a lot of my time outside, at people's houses, in the Co-op, at my place, or in the library. The College town is small: the neighbors of the campus, residences and little schools mostly. The area is very nice, with beautiful wildlife and Tryon Park nearby, as well as a crazy-beautiful graveyard that stretches miles. The admin-- a little ridiculous and unnecessarily rude, but I've had many good experiences, too. Unusual parts of Lewis and Clark would be the drug use I think. Not Reed-Style heavy drugs, but just a lot of weed. I've been places where its just alcohol so I have noticed the difference. Its nice though, not an abusive off-putting way, its somewhat of a thinking hobby. Frequent student complaints: too much vegetarian food in the cafeteria, some lame teachers, outrageously rigorous teachers, not enough snow days!

I like that it's a small size because I personally enjoy seeing someone I know wherever I go on campus and I'll always have a friend in class. Plus, if planned right, you'll never eat alone at a meal. When I tell people I go to LC, I pause and then say it's in Portland, OR and they then nod in understandment. I really like when someone has heard of it and they definitely therefore go up a knotch in my book. Portland is an amazing city with a lot to do. It's gorgeous, just like our happy little hill, with a great mixture of city life and lots of opportunities for the outdoorsy types. I wish there was a little more school pride and spirit at sporting events because an empty stadium is discouraging to the athletes and friends of the athletes. I had a ton of school spirit in high school and showed up to the first football game with a poster and hand-decorated t-shirt to find myself among 10 other fans. It was disappointing.

A few impressive things about LC: 1. Promotion of LC overseas programs: Of course, this is partially done out of financial gain for this private school. Even so, I think the wide variety of overseas programs (during the school year and in the summer) offered by LC could provide students a global perspective, practical experiences outside the classroom, and enhanced competitiveness in an increasingly interconnected world. Well over half the student body have either lived abroad or have participated in an overseas program at some point. The administration also tries very hard to attract overseas and minority students to the school. 2. Natural environment: You simply have to see it for yourself. Overall its a great campus. However, there are some complaints about the archaic and inconvenient architecture of the Templeton Student Center. 3. Relatively easy access to downtown Portland: The free bus going between campus and downtown Portland everyday is a HUGE convenience to students who want to hang out or work downtown. Areas in need of improvement: 1. Lack of school spirit: I found very few students who are proud of their school, and who will actively work to preserve and enhance the image of our school. The general lack of successful sports teams is a contributer to this trend. 2. Food monopoly by Bon apetit: I feel that the overall quality of food has decreased year by year while I was there, while prices have slightly increased. This could be the result of the exclusive provider contract between LC and Bon Apetit.

One thing about which I wish the Lewis & Clark College administration cared more is the relationship between our campus and the greater Portland community. Yes, we are geographically on the outskirts of Portland, but that does not mean that we should not interact with the city more. The worst thing is the orange bus that announces to the rest of the city that this school is private and wealthy. It is embarrassing getting on that bus downtown. Last summer when I was working in downtown Portland, I wore my college t-shirt to my first day of work. I never wore it again. People from the Portland community asked me throughout the day: "So, you're really rich, huh?" "So your school is full of hippie rich hypocrites, right?" "Oh...you're the school that has that free bus." The administration, despite their rhetoric, does not care about our reputation in Portland and even does things, like painting the bus an unavoidable unsightly orange color that announces to the entire city that we get free transportation. They do not like us and the administration does not want to do anything about it.

It is a nice college campus. There are very exceptional proffesors, but many unqualified ones as well. Advisors don't have the time or desire to handle both classes and students. This college costs way too much. They do not provide the services they promise. They tell you what you want to hear and then tell you to deal with the situation when they don't come through with their promises. The college is too far away from downtown and their are not enough bus routes, which run after 8 pm. The college is too expensive. They don't give you what you pay for.

I think the best thing about this school is probably the campus aesthetics and the location. Disregarding November - February, L&C is gorgeous and seems like a summer camp type atmosphere. Otherwise it is extremely wet, rainy, and cold all winter. I would say if you don't like rain this place is not for you. Portland is a great city and there are several free school shuttles that run every hour. It is a school that is a bit "different" for me at least but I am from the midwest, so it may be completely normal here. One of the great things is that everyone here is very "real," none of the superficial types I had in high school. There is a hippie presence that can be a bit weird at first but you get used to it. I think that a lot of students aren't happy with the administration... I personally don't pay attention to it and haven't anything really to fight with them about. Sports are almost non existent here, although there are a lot of teams just not any spirit to go with it. I think that the school is a great place to learn if you are interested in being well rounded and have a variety of things you want to learn. Personally, I am not so much one of these people which is one of the reasons I detested my freshmen course schedule.

The campus is amazingly beautiful and with each season it changes. The people are friendly, and the teachers are dedicated to their students growth and development.