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Diana Hasegan
Lafayette College, PA Class of 2010
It began way back, I think in the sophomore year of high school. I knew I needed something more than Romania could offer me. I was inclined to do engineering because I loved sciences and math. America in general has great opportunities for engineering study because of the higher amounts of money that are spent every year on education. So I said "okay, let's do it." In the process I found all kinds of people, some that inspired me and some that tried to undermine my efforts. But I had a vision: I wanted to study abroad right after high school, and nobody could convince me not to. This is probably the first and most important ingredient someone needs in the process of application.
I chose to go to Lafayette College because they offered me a very good financial aid package which is the most important factor for a Romanian student. Although Lafayette was not my first choice, now I realize I was very lucky to be offered this chance because the college is an excellent match for me.
Lafayette is a small private school with faculty and staff trained to help you do the best in your studies and activities. Every fall a group of peer advisors are waiting new students at the airport to pick them up and take them safely to the campus. They make sure new students get to campus earlier so as to adjust to the time difference; they plan a wide variety of activities so as to help them get smoothly integrated in the community. Students have an academic advisor and one can also apply for a career advisor as well as a peer advisor.
The most awesome fact is that you can choose. You can choose your courses, sometimes even your professors if more than one section is offered. You can choose your activities. You can choose your hobbies. You can choose your roommates. And in each of these categories you have a wide variety of choices. And if you think you will be overwhelmed by the incredible amount of decisions you will have to make, don't worry. There are trained persons to help you make the right choices.
You are also offered second chances. For example, if you choose a particular major and find out at the end of the first year that it is not for you, you can still change your major without losing one year of your life by starting again.
I don't have enough room to talk in details about all the aspects that I like on my U.S. campus. So, I will just list some of them: going to the library at any hour and studying in a private room with wireless connection, adjustable temperature and boards and windows on which you can write and review your material renting movies, TV series and documentaries from the library's DVD collection with no charge on your part renting free of charge fully equipped cameras, laptops, headphones, microphones and other electronics receiving money from the student government to organize activities and parties with your floor or social group going to lectures during lunch, getting free food and learning about interesting facts and issues going to yoga, Pilates, fitness or many more exercise programs for free having an interesting job such as calling alumni or tutoring students and making 7 or 8 dollars per hour. doing research which means being paid to learn interesting stuff and help professors getting training on topics such as time management, study skills, team work, effective presentations, stress management, communication, etc. always being asked for feedback.
If you share the same vision and passion, I wish you good luck and take the battle to the very end. It's worth it.
Diana
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