Lawrence University

Overall ExperienceWhat's This?

It is easy for a college student to complain about the school they attend. Lawrence has a unique environment, and it has its oddities and drawbacks, but most students can’t imagine being anywhere else. At other small liberal arts colleges, many students complain about the confines in academics and often too-true stereotypes of a campus full of spoiled rich kids. Nothing could be further from the truth here. The opportunities in both the college and the conservatory are exceptional for any school, and a student can achieve as much he or she aspires for. The college attracts an impressively diverse assortment of students, a trait they hold highly, and it does as much as it can to keep finances from being a deterrent to enrollment. The campus consists of future classical pianists, marine biologists, poets, hockey players, jazz trumpet players, and doctors. With dedication, motivation, and straight-up hard work, they can achieve their goals.

So the food is terrible, the town is dull, and your wild party fantasies may remain unfulfilled. But it’s all part of the school the students love to hate and hate to love. A lot of freshmen go through a phase of wishing they could transfer, but almost no one does. Lawrence is not flashy or ostentatious, and at first glance, it is unimpressive. The campus is very small, but after living here, students would instead describe it as modest and warm. By graduation, students reluctantly realize that this small school in Appleton, Wisconsin, was where they were supposed to be.

Lawrence Student Reviews