Academics
Lewis & Clark College offers students everything they could possibly want: a “sense of community, beautiful campus, great academics, and lots of opportunities to engage in extracurriculars.” Indeed, “it is a very welcoming” school, one filled with people who “care about the classes they are taking and the work that they are doing.” In particular, students shine a spotlight on the school’s “amazing job of engaging students in experiential learning,” which includes “service work to underserved communities as well as educational and mentorship opportunities at nearby schools.” Undergrads praise being able to “work with incarcerated people to explore topics of historical injustices in the criminal justice system or write expert witness statements for immigrants seeking citizenship in the U.S.”
Students note that lower-level classes tend to be “much more lecture based” than many of the seminar-style upper-level classes that feature active group discussion, but are described as “still fascinating,” due in large part to the fact that “professors are sure to engage their students by asking questions and encouraging participation.” On this, undergraduates are largely unanimous: their teachers “are one of the best things about Lewis & Clark…dedicated to teaching and exclusively focused on the undergraduate experience.” As one enrollee puts it, “Not only do they provide great instruction in the classroom, but they are available outside of the classroom to talk about class, life, and your future after college.” A classmate concurs, adding, “I have made close connections with professors here—they have me feel like I am valuable, that my voice is important. I am so grateful for this, and I think this is a rare thing.”
Student Body
Peers at Lewis & Clark are described as “overwhelmingly white, very liberal, and generally pretty well-off, financially,” with many hailing from the Bay Area, Washington, and Oregon. Among this cohort, there is also a group of “tight-knit international students” and “a very large and welcoming queer community.” Some of the population describes itself as politically “very radical…compared to other colleges,” but the overall consensus is of a student body that is “pretty balanced,” particularly when it comes to the partying culture, which “never feels unhealthy or unsafe.” The atmosphere, in short, is “very warm, welcoming, and open-minded,” the sort of place where “no matter where I go on campus, there is always someone to wave to or stop and chat with.” Indeed, “it is a very accepting community where everyone can feel comfortable in being their true selves and it is a place where you’ll find your people.” In other words, as this classmate sums up, “We form such special bonds at this institution and I can’t imagine going to school anywhere else.”
Campus Life
Lewis & Clark is “a pretty lax place, so you can kind of socialize at your own pace,” whether that means partaking in the countless school events or just chilling in one’s dorm. It’s “really easy to start a club, so there is also something that caters to everyone.” This eclectic mix includes “a club dedicated to the art of fire dancing” and a “beekeeping and gardening club,” as well as staples like cheer, step, speech and debate, and a radio station. Some students also highlight the international affairs symposium, noting that it’s “one of the most special things we have. They bring speakers from all over the world to debate on controversial topics and they are very interdisciplinary.” Crafty and creatively inclined undergrads can take advantage of the Platteau, a “student-centered art center with free access to a ceramics studio, dance studio, darkroom, printing press, music studio, and general arts needs.” Additionally, the school is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with one club providing “affordable weekend trips and free gear…for backpacking, white-water rafting, rock climbing, etc.” As for downtown Portland, it offers a nice respite from campus life. It’s typical to see students sampling the “cafés, brunch places, and thrift shops, museums, [and] malls.”
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