If you’re a Cajun by birth, or you spent your teen years in Lafayette (or the neighboring towns of Breaux Bridge or St. Martinville), then you’ve got an inside track on at least some of the things you should avoid. If you’re coming in from out-of-state, from out of the area, or you’ve just been out of touch, you’re probably going to need a little bit of help. That’s where this list can assist you. Whether you’re trying to avoid the worst class or the worst food, you’ll find it right here.
1.) There are places that you shouldn’t park: In general, avoid parking anywhere on campus. The best decision you can make is to either live on campus or live nearby. The most available parking is at Cajun Field, and that’s too far to walk when you have a ton of books to lug around. Being close to the campus means you can go back and forth between classes. But it’s important to remember that whether you want to park on Cajun Field or not, the cost is included in your student fees. Parking off-campus in the nearby lots not owned by UL Lafayette is prohibitively expensive at $200-$400 per semester. And no matter where you park, it’s important to make sure your parking tag is readily visible or you’ll start racking up parking tickets.
2.) There is food you shouldn’t eat: Unfortunately, it shouldn’t be any surprise that the food in the campus cafeteria leaves something to be desired. It seems like all school food leaves a bad taste in your mouth. The biggest problem is that there are also time frames attached to the dining hall, and limits on what they cook and how much. So if you’re in late classes, have to work, or can’t get to the cafeteria right when they start serving certain meals, you might not get to eat or your choices could be seriously limited. If you don’t live on campus, or you can avoid eating in the cafeteria, it will be good for your palate and for your waistline.
3.) There are classes you might not want to take: There are always classes that are harder than others, but when you’re trying to focus on your major, there’s one class you will want to avoid, unless it happens to be your major. And that class is Astronomy. Too many students think that astronomy is the easy physics course and since you might be required to take one, that’s the one everyone signs up for. But the professors in the astronomy courses are demanding and they expect students to work hard. If math isn’t your thing and you don’t like science, try to find a different physics requirement, or risk failing.
4.) The requirement you shouldn’t attempt to skip out of: In the last couple of years, UL Lafayette has become stricter in enforcing its requirement that new students attend orientation. Skipping out of orientation or “accidentally” missing it means you’ll have to take it at a later time, and it could also keep you from registering for courses: you can’t go to academic advising until you’ve gone to orientation, and you can’t register until you’ve completed academic advising.
5.) Worst tradition at UL Lafayette: The worst time of year at UL Lafayette is the first week of school every fall. This is not only Rush Week, but it is also the same time that all of the clubs on campus, vendors around the city, and other groups converge on the campus to win over the hearts, minds, and pocketbooks of the students. If you can avoid the street in front of the Honors Hall and the Quad during this week, you’ll be far better off. Except for a few of the clubs and the Greeks, this event is all about congestion in high-traffic areas and the university making money. It’s not really useful for students at all.
Not everything at UL Lafayette is bad. In fact, a lot of it is amazing! And if you can avoid these pitfalls, you’ll be a much happier, healthier student.
Amy Oliver is a Marketing and Cultural Administration professional in the Rocky Mountain West. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from the University of Louisiana Lafayette, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Cultural Management.
Frequently asked questions
- Where should you avoid parking at UL Lafayette?
- Avoid parking on campus generally; Cajun Field has the most parking but is a long walk with books, off-campus lots not owned by UL Lafayette cost $200-$400 per semester, and parking cost is included in student fees. Keep your tag visible either way.
- What is wrong with the campus cafeteria food?
- Dining hall hours and limits on what and how much they cook mean late classes or work can leave you without a meal or with seriously limited choices.
- Which class does the guide say to avoid?
- Astronomy. Students expect an easy physics course, but the professors are demanding and expect hard work; if math and science are not your thing, pick a different physics requirement.
- Can you skip new-student orientation at UL Lafayette?
- No. The university enforces it: skipping means taking it later, and you cannot register for courses without completing advising, which requires orientation first.
- What is the worst week of the year at UL Lafayette?
- The first week of school each fall, when Rush Week coincides with clubs, city vendors, and other groups converging on campus. Avoid the street in front of Honors Hall and the Quad.
Sources
- UL Lafayette, official site (linked in the original guide)