Lake Forest CollegeStudent Guide

Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for Lake Forest College. Free for students.

College in Lake Forest, IL. Operating on a semester system.

Looking for dorms? Scroll for the dorm and housing breakdown below.

Free for all Lake Forest College students. No credit card required.

2K+

Total Enrollment

College

Institution Type

22

Housing Buildings

Student guide · Fall Semester 2026

The semester, explained for Lake Forest College

Dates from the active academic calendar, plus the campus language and local details students actually need. Every entry comes from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Relevant term
Fall Semester 2026
Campus terms
37
Local details
25

Academic calendar

Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 27, 2026 – Dec 18, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

7 entries
  1. June Term 2026
  2. July Term 2026
  3. Fall Semester 2026Relevant now
  4. Spring Semester 2027
  5. May Term 2027
  6. June Term 2027
  7. July Term 2027

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Campus language

Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.

37 terms

A

ACM
Associated Colleges of the Midwest, a consortium of liberal arts colleges that Lake Forest belongs to.

B

Blackstone
Blackstone Hall, a residence hall on Middle Campus.
Boomer
The official mascot of the college, a bear named Boomer.
Boomer
Boomer Hall, a residence hall located on the Middle Campus.
Boomer Bucks
Dining currency included with residential meal plans that rolls over between semesters.
Boomer's
A retail dining area in the Mohr Student Center featuring multiple food stations.

C

Cyber
The Cyber Café, a coffee shop located in the Donnelley and Lee Library.

D

Deerpath
Deerpath Hall, a residence hall on North Campus.

F

Foresters
The collective name for Lake Forest College students, alumni, and athletic teams.

G

Gates Center
The Gates Center for Leadership and Personal Growth, which oversees student organizations and leadership programs.
Gorter
The Gorter Family Career Advancement Center, the campus office for internships and career services.
Gregory
Gregory Hall, a residence hall on South Campus.

H

Harlan
Harlan Hall, a residence hall on Middle Campus.

I

In the Loop
The college's signature Chicago-based program where students live and intern in the city.

L

Lois
Lois Durand Hall, a residence hall on North Campus near the Durand Art Institute.

M

McClure
McClure Hall, a residence hall on South Campus.
Moore
Moore Hall, a residence hall on South Campus.

N

NAIS
Native American and Indigenous Students, an empowerment group on campus.
NCHA
Northern Collegiate Hockey Association, the conference for the college's ice hockey teams.
Nollen
Nollen Hall, a residence hall on South Campus near the Sports and Recreation Center.

P

Polo
Polo Residence Hall, an upperclassman housing option.

R

Roberts
Roberts Hall, a residence hall on South Campus.
RSO
Registered Student Organization, the official designation for campus clubs.

S

SG
Student Government, the representative body for the Lake Forest College student population.
SPB
Student Programming Board, the organization responsible for planning campus entertainment and events.
Student Gov
The Student Government, the representative body for the Lake Forest College student population.
Super Double
A quad-sized dormitory room that is assigned to only two students, providing extra space.

T

The Caf
The Gus and Margie Hart Dining Hall, the main all-you-care-to-eat dining facility on campus.
The Den
Boomer's Den, a social and dining space in the Mohr Student Center that includes a games room.
The Loop
Refers to the 'Lake Forest College In The Loop' program where students live and intern in downtown Chicago.
The Market
The Market at Boomer's, a convenience-style shop for snacks and pre-packaged meals.
The Metra
The Union Pacific North line train that students use to travel between Lake Forest and downtown Chicago.
The Paw
A retail dining location on campus offering quick meals and snacks.
The Stentor
The official student-run newspaper of Lake Forest College, founded in 1887.

V

Vail
Vail Commons, a dining area located in Buchanan Hall on South Campus.

W

WMXM
The student-run campus radio station.

Y

You do you
A common student phrase emphasizing personal autonomy and individual choice.

Places and practicalities

Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.

25 details
Ad Astra
The online scheduling system used by students and organizations to reserve rooms and event spaces.
Brown
Brown Hall, a modern academic building and addition to the historic Young Hall.
cyber_cafe
Cyber Cafe
Donnelley
The Donnelley and Lee Library, the main campus library.
Durand
The Durand Art Institute, which houses the Sonnenschein Gallery and art classrooms.
Flex Dollars
Supplemental funds added to a student ID for use at campus dining locations, separate from Boomer Bucks.
Food U
The mobile application used to view daily menus and nutritional information for campus dining.
ForesterNet
The internal campus portal used by students to access resources, health services, and campus news.
gus_and_margie_hart_dining_hall_the_caf
Gus and Margie Hart Dining Hall (The Caf)
Johnson
The Johnson Science Center, which houses the Center for Chicago Programs.
Lillard
The Lillard Science Center, the primary facility for science departments and research.
Metra
The Union Pacific North line train located a short walk from campus, used by students to travel to Chicago.
Mohr
The Mohr Student Center, the central hub for student life and dining.
My.involvement
The digital portal used to manage student organization memberships and track campus events.
my.lakeforest
The student information system used for course registration, grades, and financial accounts.
Pass/No Pass
A grading option that allows students to take certain courses for credit without affecting their GPA.
Patterson
Patterson Lodge, the building housing the Admissions and Financial Aid offices.
Public Safety
The campus department responsible for security, emergency response, and ID card services.
Reading Days
Designated days at the end of the semester with no classes, reserved for final exam preparation.
Reid
Reid Hall, a historic building on Middle Campus used for various academic and administrative purposes.
SRC
The Sports and Recreation Center, the main athletic facility on South Campus.
The Lib
The Donnelley and Lee Library, the primary academic resource and study center.
The Mohr
The Mohr Student Center, the central hub for student life, dining, and activities.
The Rec
The Sports and Recreation Center, which houses the gym, pool, and fitness facilities.
Young
Young Hall, the main administration building and one of the oldest structures on campus.

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 27, 2026 – Dec 18, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
37 approved campus terms and 25 local details are included in full.
Are all approved campus terms included?
Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
Where does this guide come from?
Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Class of 2030 · Lake Forest College

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  • Aug 1

    Final Official High School Transcripts Due

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    Fall Semester Tuition Payment Due

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    New Student Move-In Day

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  • Major-aligned clubs, pre-professional groups, and research communities.
  • Performing arts, visual arts, student publications, film, and music.
  • Cultural orgs, identity communities, and faith-based groups.
  • Volunteer groups, civic engagement, mutual aid, and student government.
  • Outdoor clubs, intramural sports, club sports, and rec center programs.
  • Entrepreneurship, hackathon teams, makerspaces, and engineering project teams.
  • Casual hangouts, interest groups, and open events without applications.

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Life in Lake Forest for Lake Forest College Students

Everything you need to know about living and studying in Lake Forest.

Timezone

Central Time (CT)

Median Rent

$1,653

Cost of Living Index

150

Student Population

1,500

City Transportation

Walkability

35

Bikeability

45

Public Transit

Metra Union Pacific North Line, Pace Bus

Nearest Airports

Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago Executive Airport

Climate Averages

Climate

Humid continental

Avg Annual Temp

49°F

Avg Snowfall

36 in

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

North Campus

surface_lot • Limited

Valid North Campus permit required Mon-Fri 7 am - 4 pm.

Middle Campus

surface_lot • Limited

Valid Middle Campus permit required Mon-Fri 7 am - 4 pm.

South Campus

surface_lot • Limited

Valid South Campus permit required Mon-Fri 7 am - 4 pm.

Commuter Lots

surface_lot • Limited

Annual permit fee is approximately $250.

Dorms & On-Campus Housing at Lake Forest College

Various dorm and housing options are available for students.

22 known dorm and housing options. Every known option is shown below.

23 South Campus

Capacity: 5

Room types: double, single

25 South Campus

Capacity: 4

Room types: double

28 South Campus

Capacity: 4

Room types: double

29 South Campus

Capacity: 4

Room types: double

329 Washington

Capacity: 4

Room types: double

331 Washington

Capacity: 4

Room types: double

674 Illinois

Capacity: 5

Room types: single, triple

Arrive Apartments

Room types: double, triple, quad

Arrive North Shore Apartments

Room types: apartments

Blackstone Hall

Room types: double, triple, quad

Campus Apartments

Room types: varies by apartment

Cleveland-Young International Center

Room types: single, double

Deerpath Hall

Room types: double, triple, quad

Gregory Hall

Room types: not specified

Harlan Hall

Room types: double, triple, quad

Lois Durand Hall

Room types: double, triple, quad

McClure Hall

Room types: not specified

Moore Hall

Room types: single, double, adjoined double, suite

Nollen Hall

Room types: not specified

Roberts Hall

Room types: not specified

The Flats

Room types: not specified

Vail House

Room types: doubles, four-person quad

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Email Domain

@lakeforestcollege.edu

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