Lees-McRae College
Banner Elk, NC, USA

Reviews

Lees-McRae College

Cassandra from Weldon, NC

a current student here
8 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
i love lees-mcrae. it is a beautiful mountain school that makes you feel like you live in a personal snow globe. this school prides itself on a strong community.
Tips for prospective students
if you don't like snow, don't come here. as i'm writing this review, it's snowing. this is a place to ski and snowboard. also, be ready for a small town feel. this is not a college city; it is small. you have to know the area you're living in before you decide to come here.
show up to classes. there shouldn't be any reason for someone to fail a class here. the professors are very interested in knowing you. the class sizes are very, very small. if you fail a class, it's because you didn't show up.
don't worry if you seemed overwhelmed that a school could be so small that everyone knows everyone. i promise that you'll get there too.
Academic Rigor
i'm in the honors program, and i think it's decent. a lot of things could be improved on, but there's nothing on that list that should push anyone away from this school. the core curriculum makes sure you become well rounded, and if you do most of it during your freshman year, you can focus on classes for your major the rest of your time here!
Dorm Life
oh, the dorm life. freshmen must live in designated freshmen dorms. for girls, that is avery. for guys, those are virginia and tennessee. i can't speak for the guy's dorm life, but for the girls, avery is a good location to be. it is right outside of the cafeteria and the student center. most of the classes you need to go to are five minutes away at max. if you wanted, you could wake up ten minutes before class and walk there. you will have your drama in the dorm, but it's four floors of girls. that's just a given. the ra's are really nice, and they're willing to help out with whatever you need. all in all, the dorm life is better than most places out there.
Food and Dining
i am only giving this a three because of circumstances that are finally starting to balance themselves out. for the past year or so, we've switched head chefs way too many times, which has made the food a little difficult to judge. our newest cafeteria head is a sweet woman who is doing an excellent job. and, to be honest, if you can't find anything you want to eat in the cafeteria, you can head to wily's when it opens. with your meal plan, you get a declining budget of wily's money, and it comes in handy. if you're craving some chicken strips, a salad, or a milkshake, it's the best place to go. plus, they have some of the best cookies i've ever had.
What to do for fun
there are a ton of school events to choose from. we have a quidditch team (yes, a quidditch team) starting to get on its feet. our outdoors program leads backpacking and camping trips all over the mountains on weekends. on some school nights, we'll have movies playing in evans. the most recent movie was the immortals. there are dances (like nda's black and white ball) and fundraisers to go to. we have relay for life during spring semester. there are a ton of ski and snowboard places here, and there are plenty of trails to go walk. there's a duck pond right by campus that's a great place to hang out and relax. during fall semester, you can go to wildcat lake, too. we're about half an hour from boone, so many students go there on weekends, too.
Bang for the buck
if you work hard and appreciate everything you're given here, it's worth every penny.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
at lees-mcrae, we have two events that have really stuck out to me. during the fall semester, we have mountain day. all classes are cancelled and we walk to wildcat lake. we dance, kayak/canoe, eat, hang out, and just relax. it's a way to get to know everyone.
spring semester, we have mountain day of service. once again, classes are cancelled, but this time we go perform community services. some groups do stuff on campus, for campus, and others go out into the community. you feel really good after mountain day of service. you feel like you've really accomplished something meaningful.
Great for these types of students
if you're a student looking for a small school with a community atmosphere and plenty of outdoors-y stuff to do, this is the place for you.
Clubs and Activities
we have plenty of clubs to choose from:
-quidditch
-nda/apo
-more greeks
-backpacking club
-search and rescue
-lmc players
-h.i.c.s.
-dance company
-sga
-sports
-s.a.v.e.
-recycling
Campus Safety
i've never had an issue on this campus. it's really safe here. the biggest concern is that sometimes bears like to wander around, but that rarely happens. besides, the school makes sure to send us emails and let us know what to do if we see a bear!

Jordan from Fries, VA

a past student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Did learn a lot
I Learned a lot in and out of the classroom while attending LMC. LMC gives you a lot of different option because it is a small school. While attending LMC i got to put on a local 5k running race, win a national title as a team, and also have a beautiful environment to learn in.
Did enjoy being here
I loved attending LMC, i would not change anything about my experience. If I could change anything it would be learning even more than I did from the people around me.
Bang for the buck
You get a lot for your money! I would also say don't let the price scare you away, because there are ways that you can make it affordable through grants and scholarships.
Tips for prospective students
If you like the outdoors, I would say this is one of the most beautiful places around. If you are interested in sports start talking to coaches now. If you are not an athlete this school offers a lot of extracurricular activities so look into getting involved, it will offer you more with your degree.
Great for these types of students
Students that like to see every type of season, because the weather changes a lot in the mountains. If you are a student that likes a lot of one on one attention you will get it here.

Brandon from Upper Darby, PA

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Lees-McRae is an amazing place to go to school. Because it is a small school its easy to find people who are into the same things as you, and creating opportunities for yourself and others to try new things is always encouraged. I really enjoy school here.
Tips for prospective students
1) Its a small school! Be yourself, its a surprisingly accepting community here.
2) Get used to the idea of snow, and cold. One of the hardest things to adjust to is the weather! It is an incredible place to live at all times of the year, but you have to love snow!
3) Get involved. Its easy to be a face in the crowd, but here at Lees-McRae being involved in something is a great way to destress over school.
Academic Rigor
Its all about how you learn, and how much you apply yourself. Faculty here are all about helping you succeed, so reach out if you're having problems.
Dorm Life
There is always something going on, and for the most part its a great place to live. The dorms are always interesting, you meet a lot of new and interesting people!
Food and Dining
The food is okay most of the time, but it isn't anything like mom's cooking!
What to do for fun
There are tons of different clubs and sports to be a part of here at Lees-McRae, from the BobScats, to the Soccer Team, to the Cycling Team, and backpacking club. There is always a new thing to try and do.
Bang for the buck
The tuition here is broadcasted as being a lot more than it actually is. Getting financial aid and scholarships is incredibly easy, and all in all you'd be surprised to learn you actually pay less than a third of what the tuition is. And with all the things you can do on and around campus, its hard to say it isn't worth it.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Soccer Team Dance Off; Its pretty funny.

Cycling Team Grand Prix; They ride around in costume several times a year, in snow, mud, rain, or otherwise crazed conditions. Its a lot of fun.
Great for these types of students
Students who are outdoorsy will have the best time here, but thats not to say there aren't indoorsy type things to do either!
Clubs and Activities
There are dozens of clubs and sports to partake in, I highly recommend doing so!
Campus Safety
The campus is located at 4000ft, in the middle of the mountains. I haven't heard of one thing safety related that would cause concern for me yet.

Nancy from Elizabethton, TN

accepted here and planning to attend soon
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Lees-McRae offers the most variety that I have seen so far at colleges.

Lees-McRae offers more rigorous courses for students who like to be challenged in class.

Lees-McRae is located on a beautiful campus that will inspire many different types of people.
Tips for prospective students
Get a head start on the application process as well as on scholarships.

Try to convince your friends to come if you want to have some one you know there on campus with you.

Get use to walking and studying more.

Don't be afraid when someone starts petting their snake in the middle of science class.
Academic Rigor
I have been accepted into the Honors Program where you have to take a n honors course every year. Also you could when a scholarship based off your academic performance.
Dorm Life
Girls and guys are in separate dorms until your sophomore year. There is an Honors dorm. Also you can have you pet with you in the pet friendly dorm building. Plus there are many international students.
Food and Dining
The food is amazing. If you want a special request food they will make it.
What to do for fun
go rock jumping in the river behind the athletic building.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
The boys dorm is haunted. There is a cemetery on campus. Many of the students will sleep outside for the fun of it. Also they will go rock jumping in the river behind the athletic building. The theatre department is inside an old mill.
Great for these types of students
adventurous, studious, fun loving, outdoorsy.
Clubs and Activities
There are many clubs on campus. There is a kayaking club, sororities and fraternities, open mic nights and mainly a lot of fun. You can start up your own club if you want to.
Campus Safety
The campus is very secure. Girls are required to put the number to the security building in their phone just in case.

Thelma from Charlotte, NC

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Welcome to the Bobcat Family here at Lees-McRae College, making the decision to further continue one's education here was the correct choice! This mountainous environment and joyous staff and peers invite everyone to take control of their own education and become a scholar. Here at Lees-McRae College one establishes a foundation of skills required for further development, it'll be the best four years of your life!
Tips for prospective students
Get involved with Lees-McRae College activities and workplace. This is now your home away from home so you must make the best of it. Get to know your professors; they are your single greatest resource. They have spent many years becoming a trained professional in their field of study. Be assertive, create your own support systems and seek help immediately when you realize you may need it. Take advantage of the library and their tutoring services. Students working as tutors are intelligent individuals who have been exclusively handpicked and recommended, they are some of the elites. Remember to plan ahead to satisfy academic obligations and then make room for everything else. Challenge yourself, make thoughtful decisions, and think beyond the moment.

Keep in mind that you have a whole college career that you have worked hard for. Now that you have a grasp of what to expect it will make the transition much smoother. Stay focused, work hard and be proud of your alma mater.
Academic Rigor
Avoiding procrastination is an immense factor. College academics are built upon each class, so studying is vital. It is nearly impossible to fit in all the social and academic incentives. Planning a schedule for studying, work and socializing is key to learning how to balance devotion for each activity.The library is a resource center open until 12 pm on weekdays. It has small secluded sections made for completing school work, researching or simply unwinding. Besides, with class schedules come subjects that may not be interesting, but get passionate about learning!
Dorm Life
The dormitory is your primary source for meeting new people. As incoming, you will be living in a building filled with dozens of fellow freshmen and upperclassmen just as eager to experience the college life. Prepare for all kinds of personalities, there will be some people that you will find difficult to be tolerate, but remember to weigh the importance of peace.

There is a choice of living with a roommate or by ones self. Internet and cable is also provided.
Food and Dining
Food and dining services are open to feedback! They do respond to all feedback on a bulletin board. Your voices are being heard. Delicious salad bar, soup station, different types of milk and cereal, soft drinks, water, tea, all you can eat buffet servings and desserts available.
What to do for fun
Lees-McRae College in present day is not much different from back then. Aside from physical school expansion, the environment is identical. The four year college is located in the town of Banner Elk nestled in the Blue Ride Mountains of western North Carolina. Lees-McRae College has the highest elevation of any college campus east of the Mississippi river. The climate is adjustable, though it is recommended to be ready for snow, rain and tons of fog. This mountainous region is highly recommendable for anyone who likes to camp, hike, ski or explore the invigorating outdoors.
Bang for the buck
College is voluntary and expensive. You have gained independence, you are in a new place, and your adult life is gradually beginning. Managing your own time is vital to balance responsibilities and set priorities. There will be moral and ethical decisions you may have never faced before and it is your job to stay on top of things. That is 33,000 dollars a year that can be wasted partying, failing classes, being in the wrong major or making the best of it. So many young adults go into copious amounts of debt for degrees that will not help them get a career. Schedules tend to look lighter than they actually are, so pick and choose classes wisely. You are expected to take responsibility for what you do and do not do, as well as for the consequences of your decisions. College is not guided, and professors will not remind you of due dates, incomplete work or initiate contact if you need assistance. College is a learning environment in which you take responsibility and apply what you have learned, but it's all worth it if you put in the effort.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Being over a century old, this college is bound to have a small amount of paranormal activity. Emily Draughn, the campus ghost, is a child who died of tuberculosis at the age of 12 in the 1930s. She died in what was Grace Memorial Hospital and is now Tate Dormitory, a four-story building near the northeast side of campus. If you ask nicely, faculty members in the library may tell you some personal experiences they had with real bone chilling encounters. Encounters such as this inspire many students to uncover more of Emily's history. Yes, Lees-McRae College's history is very rich and I have enjoyed learning more in depth about it.

College can be a challenging and an adapting experience for anyone; however, here at Lees-McRae College we have Mountain Day where we dedicate a day enjoying the mountains, doing community service. Abstract [Students spend time throughout campus working on projects such as painting, planting flowers, collecting recycling and giving the campus a good spring cleaning.]
Great for these types of students
All types of students are welcome to Lees-McRae Ceollege! Even if you have already declared your major and know what you want to study, it is a good idea to expose yourself to different subjects. Not only will this help you with connecting ideas and exercising the mind, but broadening your horizons and becoming intellectually curious.
Clubs and Activities
Remember that high school was the stepping stone between guided schooling and the freedom of college. At college many more doors are open for one to explore! There are many clubs and activities at Lees-McRae College and some of which I enjoy are - Backpacking Club where students learn the skills necessary to enjoy the activities as well as the safety considerations for backcountry camping and travel. Campus Ministry Leadership Team where students hold worship services, lead student Bible study groups and implement community service projects. Last but not least, there is also Nerd Club where students can exchange ideas, video games, card games and ultimately enjoy each others company.
Greek Life
There are currently only 4 (in total) sororities and fraternities.

AAY (Alpha Alpha Psi) - Fraternity

BOK (Beta Omega Kappa) - Fraternity

DOT (Delta Omicron Theta) - Sorority

DZN (Delta Zeta Nu) - Sorority
Campus Safety
Campus security is willing to listen to ideas and implement any structures in order for students to feel safe. There is also a phone number to call whenever in trouble - at any time.

Morgan from Wendell, NC

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Lees McRae College is a very diverse campus with any and all type of persons attending. The college is small, yet it's heart is large, and it's students and faculty are very involved in helping the school as well as helping the small community it's in. Lees McRae is always expanding to better fit the needs of its students and listens to what its students have to say.
Tips for prospective students
Be open minded in meeting a diverse group of individuals from all over the world. Be ready to learn on an intense level of education, but don't be afraid to ask for help if needed. Our tutoring services are great and the teachers are all friendly and ready to get to know the students. Banner Elk is small so be prepared to not have as much outside activities to do, but the college provides us students with fun activities every week. The school is very small, so be prepared to know everyone or at least see everyone that goes to the school within the first couple of weeks. However, it is expanding as we speak. The campus is not very wheel chair friendly but it does have a few elevators.
Academic Rigor
The college is all about academics. The teachers are very friendly and personable so if you need help don't be afraid to ask them. Also, the tutors are amazing and will help you on whatever subject you need in your learning style. If you study and pay attention in class the subjects are easy to learn. There are a variety of majors and minors available, and more are coming in every year the school expands. So, if your desired major is not available, you can ask administration and they will help you on the path to majoring in your desired degree even if it is not offered quiet yet.
Dorm Life
The dorm rooms are a comfortable size. They aren't too small and some of the rooms are larger than others. The cleaning crew and maintenance personnel are very sweet and do a wonderful job. Not all the dorms are wheel chair friendly and do not have elevators. Only the library and a couple of other places have elevators. The dorms are nice and clean, it's all about the people living in them that students decide for themselves how they like the dorm.
Food and Dining
The food is diverse with something new everyday. They are open to vegetarians diets and have a vegetarian section everyday. There is a gluten free section as well but it is not as diverse as it could be. The cafeteria is spacious and always clean. There is also an on campus grill called Wily's. The food there is very good and it is nice to go there and hang out while you eat.
What to do for fun
There is not much to do in Banner Elk for those in college, it is a very small campus. However, there is a club across the street that is very college friendly. The main part of the area, Boone, which has the restaurants and stores is only about a 35 minute drive.There is a field open where people can play frisbee, lay out to tan, etcâ?¦ There are many trees evenly spaced across campus to hammock. The Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute, which is a wildlife rehabilitation facility, is great to volunteer at and is fun to see/work with the animals. The sports complex is open to the public to use, like track, pool, soccer, etcâ?¦ The campus will hold different events every week from movies to plays, themed nights (ie. casino night) to games (ie. dodgeball). The town holds many festivals, like Woolly Worm Festival, that are fun to do with friends or family. Also, the school sits between two large ski resorts that give discounts to students throughout the year. Also, the school is beside Grandfather Mnt. that also gives discounts to students as well as job opportunities.
Bang for the buck
The college is kind of pricey but for the amount of money you are paying you do get something out of the experience. However, if you do not find your major or the school does not have what you need, then I would consider transferring or not going. The school is expanding in programs, but they need to get started first. The college is pricey when all payments are broken down and calculated, so make sure you want something Lees McRae has to offer before you pay the money.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
The campus is very old and was founded in 1900 by Edward Tuff. There js a Presbyterian church on campus with a grave yard so there are many ghost stories going around. Also, some of the dorms used to be part of a hospital so the rooms have not been changed much since it has been a hospital and there are ghost stories going around there. The most famous ghost story is about a 12 year old girl Emily that died around 1930's at the hospital of TB. She roams the campus but mainly fourth floor in Tate dorm. If you look for her tomb stone you won't find it because it moves. There is a tomb stone that looks like hers but that is of a 80 year old woman that died around the time she did. Many people get this grave confused for hers.
A tradition that has been around the campus is Mountain Day. On Mountain Day, the school is closed for the day and everyone is to join a group to help clean up the campus. It's a mass service day and the school provides a great lunch with t-shirts. It's a nice way for everyone to get involved and just clean the beautiful campus.
Great for these types of students
Lees McRae is a great place for anyone in drama or wildlife. The school offers great programs for both of these majors. We have many students from out of the country, mainly for cycling. The school is known for its cycling, soccer, and women's lacrosse. If you like a small school setting then this school is also for you. The school and town is very private and many tourists come there every year.
Clubs and Activities
The school has a multitude of sports clubs on campus that can be explored more on the schools website. There is a club interest event where the students go and check out each club offered on campus and can join, or even start your own club.
Greek Life
There are only a few greeks on campus, but they are very active in the community with services they do around the town. Each greek is it's own and they each have their own rules. Throughout the year each greek club will hold parties and/or special events that are fun and neat to go to (ie. 20's themed dance).
Campus Safety
There is a campus security on campus, and the guards are very pleasant. They will help you whenever you are called no matter the time or situation. Also, if needed there is a police station right down the road and a fire department across the street. The campus is very safe with not a lot of action or trouble happening. The campus is home to at least one bear, and the guards are good about getting word out when the bear is roaming around and will walk students to and from places if needed.