Washington and Lee: The Big Picture
Though most people haven't heard of W&L, it's actually a hidden gem. The surrounding town, Lexington, Va., is absolutely gorgeous, but it gets a little stifling when there's no way to get out of it. The campus is a good size, and there are always plenty of places to hang out. The honor system rules.
Washington and Lee Academic Life
Academics are rigorous, and definitely geared toward learning for its own sake. I happen to love the journalism department -- I find the curriculum entertaining and occasionally exciting. All my professors know my name, and I've stopped by the majority of their offices at some point or another just to chat. Academics aren't all about finding a job -- that's what Career Services are for. With the honor system, we often have take-home tests and quizzes, and our final examines are self-scheduled and unproctored.
Washington and Lee's Student Body
Coming from Southern California, I experienced culture shock at W&L. There is definitely a white, Southern feel to the campus, and it tends to get very, very cliquish. Students tend to be conservative, though that seems to be changing... or perhaps it's just the journalism department. People dress up for class -- you won't find pajamas or sweats, unless there's some sort of designer label involved.
Washington and Lee Student Activities + Social Life
The Greek system rules here, though there are plenty of other opportunities for non-Greeks and those who don't feel like partying: the drive-in theater, the movies in the Commons, plenty of excellent restaurants in town, productions in Lenfest and guest speakers almost every week. If you do like to party, the Traveller bus system shuttles students to major party pickup and dropoff points to discourage DUIs.
One of the perks of the Honor System is that we can leave our stuff all over the place without fear of it being stolen.
Washington and Lee Naked Truth
The Greek system can be overbearing at times. Also, BRING A CAR. Be ready for a campus that's in a city in the middle of nowhere -- the closest regional airport is an hour away, and the closest major airport is Dulles, which is a three-hour drive north. There's no public transportation; everyone walks or catches rides to Wal-Mart. If you're into Journalism, it's an excellent school, especially when it comes to publications. We've got two weekly papers, a conservative magazine, a pop-culture magazine, a political review, a literary magazine, a weekly television broadcast, and a journal of science, among others -- and those are just the student-run publications! The journalism department hosts the Rockbridge Report, a weekly broadcast and online newsmagazine that provides news for the cities of Lexington and Buena Vista and Rockbridge County.
