STUDENTS AND FACULTY

Enrollment: 1,375.

Student Body: 59% female, 41% male, 50% out-of-state, 11% international (71 countries represented). Asian 4%, African American 5%, Caucasian 73%, Hispanic 7%.

Retention and Graduation: 83% freshmen return for sophomore year. 59% freshmen graduate within 4 years. 35% grads go on to further study within 1 year. 55% grads pursue arts and sciences degrees. 19% grads pursue law degrees. 7% grads pursue business degrees. 14% grads pursue medical degrees.

Faculty: Student/faculty ratio 12:1. 95 full-time faculty, 98% hold PhDs, 12% are members of minority groups, 40% are women.

ACADEMICS

Degrees: Bachelors, masters.

Classes: Most classes have 10-19 students. Most lab/discussion sessions have 10-19 students.

Majors with Highest Enrollment: Business/commerce; communication studies/speech communication and rhetoric; English language and literature.

Special Study Options: Accelerated program, double major, honors program, independent study, internships, liberal arts/career combination, student-designed major, study abroad, teacher certification program.

Honors programs: The Honors Fellows program recognizes those students admitted to Lake Forest College with exemplary high school careers and high promise for independent study and research at the College. Fellows are expected to think deeply and broadly, and to join their teachers and fellow students in serious intellectual inquiry and debate. They will produce independent work, research, Student Symposium presentations, Independent Scholar majors, distinguished senior theses, and provide intellectual leadership. The Richter Apprentice Scholars Program provides students, early in their academic careers, with the opportunity to conduct independent, individual research with Lake Forest College faculty. In the summer between their first and second year, each student in the Richter Program is employed for a ten week period and works one-on-one with a faculty member, doing independent research in a particular field. As the Richter Apprentice Scholars live and work together and participate in a weekly colloquium, they become a community of peers providing encouragement and support for each other’s present and future intellectual and research endeavors.-Combined degree programs: BA/JD, BA/MA, accelerated BA/JD with select law schools—Ace. BA/MA with Monterey Inst. Special programs offered to physically disabled students include note-taking services, reader services, tape recorders, tutors.

Career services: Alumni network, alumni services, career/job search classes, career assessment, internships, regional alumni.

Career services highlights include: Internships—Due to our location near Chicago and the many partnerships Lake Forest College has developed with Chicago institutions over the years, there are a myriad of internship opportunities available to our students. Experiential learning—Again, due to our location near Chicago and the relationships with area institutions the school offers dozens of courses that have been developed to utilize the rich resources of Chicago to enhance the curriculum. Beginning with our innovative First-Year Studies program students travel downtown to Chicago with professors and take advantage of the many resources.

FACILITIES

Housing: Coed dorms, special housing for disabled students, women’s dorms, apartments for single students, wellness housing 80% of campus accessible to physically disabled.

Special Academic Facilities/Equipment: Center for Chicago Programs, art galleries, language labs, technology resource center, speech and video production room, “smart” classrooms, music/recording studio with synthesizers, public access computer labs, electron microscope, computer molecular modeling equipment, high-resolution FT-IR, NMR spectrometer, neutron howitzer, digital storage oscilloscopes, fluorescence microscope.

Computers: 90% of classrooms, 100% of dorms, 100% of libraries, 75% of dining areas, 100% of student union, 10% of common outdoor areas have wireless network access. Administrative functions (other than registration) can be performed online.

CAMPUS LIFE

Environment: Village.

Activities: Choral groups, concert band, dance, drama/ theater, jazz band, literary magazine, music ensembles, musical theater, radio station, student government, student newspaper, symphony orchestra, campus ministries, international student organization, Model UN.

Organizations: 80 registered organizations, 12 honor societies, 6 religious organizations. 2 fraternities, 4 sororities.

Athletics (Intercollegiate): Men: Basketball, cross-country, diving, football, handball, ice hockey, soccer, swimming, tennis. Women: Basketball, cross-country, diving, handball, ice hockey, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, volleyball.

On-Campus Highlights: Donnelley and Lee Library, Mohr Student Center, Sports Center, Center for Chicago Programs, Career Advancement Center.

ADMISSIONS

Freshman Academic Profile: Average high school GPA 3.48. 38% in top 10% of high school class, 62% in top 25% of high school class, 92% in top 50% of high school class. 64% from public high schools. SAT Math middle 50% range 530-640. SAT Critical Reading middle 50% range 520-630. SAT Writing middle 50% range 530-640. ACT middle 50% range 23-28. Minimum paper TOEFL 550. Minimum computer TOEFL 220.

Basis for Candidate Selection: Very important factors considered include: Academic GPA, recommendation(s), rigor of secondary school record, interview. Important factors considered include: Application essay, character/personal qualities, extracurricular activities, level of applicant’s interest, talent/ability. Other factors considered include: Class rank, standardized test scores, alumni/ae relation, first generation, geographical residence, volunteer work, work experience.

Freshman Admission Requirements: High school diploma is required and GED is accepted. Academic units required: 4 English, 3 mathematics, 3 science, (3 science labs), 2 foreign language, 2 social studies, 2 history, 3 academic electives. Academic units recommended: 4 English, 4 mathematics, 4 science, (4 science labs), 4 foreign language, 2 social studies, 2 history, 3 academic electives, 1 honors or AP course.

Freshman Admission Statistics: 2,026 applied, 69% admitted, 25% enrolled.

Transfer Admission Requirements: High school transcript, college transcript(s), essay or personal statement, minimum college GPA of 2.5 required. Lowest grade transferable C-.

General Admission Information: Application fee $40. Early decision application deadline 12/1. Regular notification 3/20. Nonfall registration accepted. Admission may be deferred for a maximum of 1 year. Credit and/or placement offered for CEEB Advanced Placement tests.

COSTS AND FINANCIAL AID

Annual tuition $33,576. Room and board $8,006. Required fees $630. Average book expense $1,000.

Required Forms and Deadlines: FAFSA, institution’s own financial aid form, federal income tax return. Financial aid fifing deadline 5/1. Priority financial aid filing date 2/15.

Notification of Awards: Applicants will be notified of awards on a rolling basis beginning 2/1.

Types of Aid: Need-based scholarships/grants: Federal Pell, SEOG, state scholarships/ grants, private scholarships, the school’s own gift aid. Loans: FFEL Subsidized Stafford, FFEL Unsubsidized Stafford, FFEL PLUS, Federal Perkins, private loans.

Student Employment: Federal Work-Study Program available. Institutional employment available. Off-campus job opportunities are good.

Financial Aid Statistics: 79% freshmen, 76% undergrads receive need-based scholarship or grant aid. 65% freshmen, 44% undergrads receive need-based self-help aid. 94% freshmen, 94% undergrads receive any aid. 74% undergrads borrow to pay for school. Average cumulative indebtedness $29,279.

Criteria for awarding institutional aid: Non-need-based: Academics, alumni affiliation, art, leadership, music/drama, state/district residency.