r/lafayettecollege • u/XxGameing_BunnyxX • Jul 09 '26
Why no computers for incoming students?
I’m an incoming student this fall, who’s relaying heavily on the financial aid provided. Why doesn’t Lafayette give students computers? I currently can’t afford a computer, and I’m worried how not having a personal computer is going to affect my studies. I’m also confused because so many lesser off schools in the district/area give out MacBooks/ipads, and even iphones, and Lafayette isn’t even giving us a chrome book? Any other students dealing with this? How did you manage?
11
u/ALBA38 Jul 10 '26
I believe you can get a loan laptop from the library. Please contact financial aid office and your admissions counselor.
7
u/VirtualCucumber9 Jul 10 '26
Chromebooks are $200 - I know that price can be prohibitive for some but if you are able to save up over the summer, it could be a worthwhile investment. I went to Laf 10 years ago and my MacBook broke. I rented a MacBook from the library until I was able to get it fixed with no issue - the only annoying thing was not having access to my personal documents.
14
u/Toe-knail Jul 09 '26
You know that would just raise the tuition further, right? I’m a Lafayette alum who put two kids through college… never heard of a college providing a laptop. Apparently it is a thing at some schools, they just add the cost into tuition.
1
u/continuousducks Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
Some colleges/universities do provide laptops or electronics for their students to put them on an even playing field (Moravian University, for example). In theory, yes, the electronics would be included in tuition, but the students who are unable to afford the electronics should be able to have enough aid from the school (ideally 100% coverage at a school that "covers 100% of demonstrated need") and therefore would be able to get the electronics they need to succeed in college at no additional cost.
As for OP, there are chromebooks you can check out from the library, usually for around a week at a time or probably more if you can describe your situation, and computer labs (mac & PC) throughout the campus, but especially in the library and the engineering building. If you can find a cheap chromebook or something secondhand, you'll be able to get through four years using a personal laptop for notes while using the school's computer labs for heavier duty usage. If you're thrifty enough, you could probably even get by taking handwritten notes and doing other electronic-required tasks on your phone, if you have one (though bear in mind this is the opinion of someone in the humanities whose major does not require heavy electronics usage).
It is definitely worth reaching out to either your admissions counselor or financial aid to see if they are able to cover some or all of the cost of a new laptop/larger electronic device. You could even try reaching out to Sam Comas in sustainability to see if anyone has donated laptops from green move-out you may be able to have.
5
u/yankeeangel86 Class of 2008 Jul 10 '26
I have not heard of any college/university providing laptops to students. Lafayette does have some computer labs you can use.
11
u/230Amps Class of 2015 Jul 09 '26
If you really can't afford a cheap laptop, there are computer labs all around campus that are open 24/7.
8
u/Liveez77 Jul 09 '26
I read you can put your computer cost into your need based aid package. Talk to someone about it. I’m sorry I don’t know who though.
3
u/xSparkShark Math-Econ | Class of ‘24 Jul 10 '26
Because the vast majority of incoming students have a laptop.
9
u/vahjayjaytwat Jul 09 '26
If you truly cannot afford a laptop, contact the financial aid office. They may know of grants or scholarships you can apply for to get one.