Washington University in St Louis Top Questions

The school is beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. The services it offers students from the food, to the gyms, to the rooms, to the architecture, to the biweekly bathroom cleaning services are all top notch. The size it perfect. Large enough that I will never meet or get bored of everyone on campus or in my grade but small enough that a walk across the school will cause me to run into a familiar face. St. Louis kind of sucks. There are small cool things to do, but its really only for people who want to look for those things. It's very easy to comfortably never leave campus.

Although all students are disappointed with the school's lack of name recognition, WashU is a great university with awesome rankings, staff, and people. The administration is great, and I am continually pleasantly surprised to see how quickly people respond to emails. If there is a problem, big or small (for example, your floor's sink is clogged), it will most likely be fixed within 24 hours. St. Louis is a difficult town to get around without a car, despite WashU's free UPass, which gives students access to the underground railroad system and bus routes.

The best thing about Wash U is all the people. Everyone is really awesome and talented, but most important nice and friendly. The one thing I'd change is name recognition; however, when people know about Wash U they are super impressed. I think the school is the right size. When you walk across campus, you see a lot of strangers, but you also see a lot of people you know. St. Louis is a great place with a lot of cool places and it's not that dangerous. There are dangerous places, but if you are smart then you'll be fine. There is not a lot of school pride. The biggest complaints are from the pre-meds with those classes. Gen Chem Lab is the worst/hardest class and that brings a lot of complaints.

Coming from a small, New England, prep school, I was looking for a mid-sized University outside of the Northeast. For me the size is perfect -- big enough so that there are always new people to meet, and small enough so that no matter where you go you'll see a familiar face. Usually when I tell people where I go to school, they respond with one of two things: "So how do you like Washington?" or "Wow, that's a great school." One of the most frustrating things about going to Wash. U. is that not everyone knows what it is. However, the people that do know the school know how competitive the academics are. Wash. U. has been trying to boost its reputation for a few decades now, but it definitely still has room for improvement. Going to school in St. Louis has been surprisingly fun. Everything is affordable, it's easy to get around, and there's a pretty impressive night life. There's somewhere to go out almost every night of the week, and wherever you go, you'll be sure to run into a crowd of Wash. U. students. That being said, it's no secret that St. Louis isn't the safest city to live in. Although the area around Wash. U. is much safer than East St. Louis, it's still not a good idea to walk around alone at night, except on campus. The school tries to make the campus as secure as possible, and does a pretty good job at it, but the real safety issues for students lies in the off-campus neighborhoods. As a student who lives off-campus, I'm frequently frustrated with the lack of attention paid to security around the off-campus student housing. Wash. U. isn't well known for its athletics (except for our basketball teams -- their games draw huge crowds). Our school pride typically comes from our academics and our events. Every semester, the school brings a popular musician to campus for everyone's favorite day, W.I.L.D. The weather is usually beautiful (it's always in the beginning of fall and the end of spring), we either haven't started classes or have just finished them, and all of the frats open their doors to throw huge parties. As an upperclassman, I spend most of my time off-campus, but with all of the on-campus events (like W.I.L.D), I'm still on-campus more than most upperclassman at other schools. Wash. U. has an incredibly close-knit and supportive community, one that I've enjoyed being a part of for the past 4 years and look forward to continuing to be a part of in the future.

Coming from a small, New England, prep school, I was looking for a mid-sized University outside of the Northeast. For me the size is perfect -- big enough so that there are always new people to meet, and small enough so that no matter where you go you'll see a familiar face. Usually when I tell people where I go to school, they respond with one of two things: "So how do you like Washington?" or "Wow, that's a great school." One of the most frustrating things about going to Wash. U. is that not everyone knows what it is. However, the people that do know the school know how competitive the academics are. Wash. U. has been trying to boost its reputation for a few decades now, but it definitely still has room for improvement. Going to school in St. Louis has been surprisingly fun. Everything is affordable, it's easy to get around, and there's a pretty impressive night life. There's somewhere to go out almost every night of the week, and wherever you go, you'll be sure to run into a crowd of Wash. U. students. That being said, it's no secret that St. Louis isn't the safest city to live in. Although the area around Wash. U. is much safer than East St. Louis, it's still not a good idea to walk around alone at night, except on campus. The school tries to make the campus as secure as possible, and does a pretty good job at it, but the real safety issues for students lies in the off-campus neighborhoods. As a student who lives off-campus, I'm frequently frustrated with the lack of attention paid to security around the off-campus student housing. Wash. U. isn't well known for its athletics (except for our basketball teams -- their games draw huge crowds). Our school pride typically comes from our academics and our events. Every semester, the school brings a popular musician to campus for everyone's favorite day, W.I.L.D. The weather is usually beautiful (it's always in the beginning of fall and the end of spring), we either haven't started classes or have just finished them, and all of the frats open their doors to throw huge parties. As an upperclassman, I spend most of my time off-campus, but with all of the on-campus events (like W.I.L.D), I'm still on-campus more than most upperclassman at other schools. Wash. U. has an incredibly close-knit and supportive community, one that I've enjoyed being a part of for the past 4 years and look forward to continuing to be a part of in the future.

Overall, Washington University seems dedicated to maintaining a high quality of life and an enjoyable learning environment. One of the best things about Washington University is the abundance of easily accessible help on campus: advisors, disability resources, professors, mentors, and teacher assistants. The faculty is very prompt when responding to emails, and everyone seems to genuinely want to help one another. Alumni maintain the same passion for the university, and donations and tuition are constantly recycled right back into the school for things such as new student centers with hot chocolate bars and dormitories equipped with Tempur-Pedic mattresses. Wash U is a very centralized, medium-sized school, so the university works hard to carefully watch for long lines and crowds in order to determine what changes will make every experience more efficient and enjoyable. For instance, a large eating center was recently built in one of the main residential areas to decrease lines and increase food variety. Now, made-to-order stir fry, Indian cuisine, and seared crab cakes can all be ordered under one roof. Many students from New York City or Los Angeles frequently say that St. Louis is not the most active or vibrant city. The university is about a 15-minute drive from downtown, which has bars, shops, and restaurants but is not as walkable as Manhattan, and about a 5-minute drive from Clayton, a suburb of St. Louis dominantly filled with a young professional crowd. Although St. Louis is not the epitome of a "college town," other St. Louis schools such as St. Louis University are close by and feature other student-targetted burger joints and sports bars. However, for the student who prefers to not explore the city, everything you need can be found right on campus.

In my opinion, the best thing about Wash U is that we can really learn what we want. Although we have many schools, such as the School of Arts and Sciences, the Business School, and the Art School etc., students can choose courses across school divisions. We can double major across schools and we can transfer very easily if we want. Overall, the academic policies are amazingly flexible, which is different from many other colleges. And the foods are of quality. There are various kinds of cuisines in dining halls and they taste delicious. Thirdly, I have to mention the living experiences here. Wash U is proud of its dorms, especially the modern dorms. They are like rooms in fancy hotels. And the facilities in there are great. We have many residential halls. Students living in their respective ResHalls really get to know each other through many nicely designed group activities. I spend much of my time on my floor, with my floormates. Academically, we are strong in Pre-med, Biology, Chemistry, History, Political Sciences etc. And the language departments are mostly great. Among them, German Department is one of the best in the states.

I really wasn't sure I wanted to go to the mid-west when I first started looking at Washington University. However, once I went to visit the campus, I knew I was hooked. You immediately feel a collegiate atmosphere, and the entire student body seemed actively involved around campus. One of the things I now love about campus, is that I find it the perfect size. It is great because you are constantly able to meet new people, yet you're always going to see a familiar face walking to class.

Washington University is the Stanford of the Midwest. It should be in the Ivy Leagues. Seriously! We rank close to if not higher than them on several colleges lists. I have a higher wor load as a theatre major than some of my pre-med friends at Harvard or Yale. Wash U is severely underrated.

WashU is actually the perfect size, both with its campus and the student population. Every place on campus is no more than a 10 or 15 minute walk away from the dorms, and Freshman and Sophmores have Bear's Den (the dining hall) located a mere thirty seconds away. Very convenient when the late-night hunger strikes. 6,000 students is an amazing number because you will always be able to walk into a room and know a few people, but it's not like you know everybody. There are always new people to meet, which is nice. One thing I'd change are Saturdays. Although WashU students love to party it up on Friday and Saturday nights, many people are too preoccupied with homework during the day on Saturdays to do anything fun. Sundays are made for homework, not Saturdays, and the students here just don't seem to be able to grasp that concept. Unfortunately, most people have never heard of WashU even though it's one of the best colleges in the country. Seriously, the kids here are smart, and we don't get enough credit. Name-recognition is pretty much non-existant except in the medical community. Tell your doctor that you go to WashU and they'll be really impressed. But the guy next door will probably just tell you to have a good time in D.C. I spend most of my time on campus in Bear's Den. Unlike many schools, which require you to swipe a meal card every time you want to enter the dining hall, WashU's dining system is points only. This makes Bears Den a popular hang-out spot even if you're not hungry. But the point system can definitely be a challenge because points run out quickly. The College Town around WashU is really nice--The Loop is a long street of streets, restaurants, a movie theater, etc, and it's only fifteen minutes away walking. But aside from the loop, students rarely get off campus. "The WashU bubble" can be hard to escape, and students often forget that St. Louis is an actual city. The bubble is one of the biggest complaints of students, because even though our campus is great, things can get repetitive. I honestly do think that our school has the most amazing campus. The buildings and architecture are amazing--they were enough to sway me to spend 4 years of my life in Missouri! Being an east-coaster, this move says a lot about the draw of the campus. Unfortunately, having such a great campus also means that the campus works way too hard to maintain it's picture-perfect image. This means constant construction and way too much money being poured into new projects all the time.

Coming to Wash U has been the best decision of my life. The professors are excellent, approachable, and make efforts to get to know you--even in lecture classes. I had one professor who taught a class of 100 and knew nearly everyone's name by the end of the semester. The administration is really geared towards undergrads--so you feel like you're getting the attention of a small liberal-arts school with the opportunities of a large university. The undergrad student population is about 6,000, which to me is a perfect size. It is not too large that it is overwhelming, and not too small that you don't know everyone's business and so you can always meet new people. Wherever I go I see people I know. The best thing about Wash U is the people. These are the most welcoming, friendly, and all-around most dedicated people I have ever been around. People here are so multitalented and interested in all sorts of things that you can be sure to meet people who share similar interests as you do.

WashU has 6,000 undergrades and as such, is a medium-sized school. It is one of those up and coming schools, plugged a "hot school" these days. People sport shirts that say "WashU pride... in St. Louis dammit" because most of the time when you tell people outside the Midwest area, they think you mean Washington University in Seattle or George Washington University in Washington, D.C. But, the word is spreading and while it certainly doesn't have the recognition of Harvard, employers should know Wash U is a great school. People spend a lot of time on campus but Forest Park, a great place to run, bike, etc., is 2 feet away, the Loop which has been written up in the New York Times has a bunch of restaurants and shops is also a short walk from campus, and finally the metro is available to go into downtown St. Louis where a lot of a upperclassmen go to the bars on Thursday nights. The WashU administration can cause controversy on this predominately liberal campus. Recently, they would not like Barack Obama speak with the argument that if all the candidates had wanted to speak, they couldn't have provided accurate space. This was also upsetting to some because Mike Huckabee had spoke a year before at our Assembly Series. Most recently, Phyllis Schafly, a woman who argues that a woman's place is in the home among other things, was given an honorary degree at graduation. The administration did apologize for it and seem to feel it was a mistake and it was good to see the student uprising agaisnt it. In fact, many students turned their backs when she got the degree. One big complaint of mine is WashU's Study Abroad office. Like many schools across the country, you have to petition to go on a program outside of the 20 or so they offer, and even if the program is not Wash U affiliated, they managed to take a slice of the tuition. In my case, they are charging me an additional $8,000 despite the fact that I will not be taught by a single WashU professor when I am abroad. You do have the option of taking a leave of absence and not having to pay WashU anything, but you need enough extra credit (from additional classes you took or AP Credit) because WashU won't give you any credit for your classes abroad if you take a leave. Nevertheless, don't let this disuade you from applying- just be aware of it. I love WashU and overall, I've had a great experience thus far.

The location of Wash U is underrated, and I feel bad for high schoolers who reject the school because it's in St. Louis. The campus is located in an upscale neighborhood in Clayton, surrounded by mansions that must have unholy price tags. Old oaks line the streets and paths on and off campus, making Fall an outstanding time to be outside. For me, at least, the best thing about Wash U's location is its proximity to Forest Park. As a runner, I enjoyed the scenic paths that flow throughout the park. Further, the park houses a free zoo and several free museums within walking distance of campus. "The Loop" is just a few blocks north, and students go there regularly for food, bars, and concerts. There are a few clubs downtown that are popular, and a bus shuttles students to a club every Thursday night. Wash U lacks name recognition. When people ask where I go to school, they always seem confused at my answer, or at least they have no idea of its caliber. Occasionally, though, I do get an "oh, wow" (especially from doctors). Generally, I think nearly all students are happy here.

alot of people get confused as to why washington university is in st. louis and not washington, but that's not too hard to deal with. it's a really good size because it's big enough that there are lots of places to eat on campus and there are lots of different classes but there are also small classes. it's within walking distance of a cute area called the loop where you can go to get lots of different kinds of food and has great shopping. because it's in the midwest everyone is really nice ad says hi and is helpful, i've heard some people get a little freaked out by it at first.

People really are happy. They are there not because they want to be in the particular city geographically, but because they wanted to come to the school. People are very friendly.... Greeklife especially, each sorority and fraternity easily socialize with one another. It's a very open system. The administration really seems to care about students and that is apparent in the amount of advisors you get, including a peer advisor freshman year. Wash U is kind of an enigma, where the athletes and those involved in greeklife are some of the smartest people here.... Though basically everyone here is really smart. The campus is gorgeous, I visited 18 schools and it was by far the prettiest.

The campus is really beautiful, especially in the fall and spring! I'd say that the size of the student body is just right. It's big enough so that you don't know everyone, but small enough so that you usually know someone! This means that you can avoid people if you want, but you'll be sure to run into them once in a while. I've gotten a lot of different reactions from people when I say that I go to WashU. Some people have never heard of the school. "Why did you decide to go THERE?" they ask. Usually, I don't want to brag and say that WashU is tied with Cornell for being the #12 school in the nation so I just say that I was recruited by the cross country coach. Then, they ask if I went there for athletics and if I'm getting a scholarship. I have to say, "No, it's a Division III school. They don't give athletic scholarships. I'm there for the academics. I'm on an academic scholarship." If people do know the school, however, they usually say, "That's a great school!" I have to say, though, that every medical doctor I've ever been to knows WashU, and they always say, "Oh, they have a very good Med School!" The biggest recent controversy on campus is that WashU is awarding an honorary doctorate to Phyllis Schlafly, an anti-feminist known for her opposition to the Equal Rights Ammendment. Students are currently planning to protest at the ceremony. I think people spend most of their time on campus, especially underclassmen. The campus is sometimes referred to as the "WashU Bubble." You can get basically everything you need there. When people go off-campus, they usually go to the Loop (it has restaurants and shops) or to the city. WashU has a fun, big concert twice a year called WILD.

Just right, but too many students in one class. Most people have no idea where Wash U is. Most of my time is at olin. What college town? don't care about wash U's administration, because I could not get information about them and have no idea when to vote. Biggest recent controversy on campus is whether to bring obama, clinton, and mccain to wash U. Pride, yes, and people are just comfortable. student complaints about food price in wash u.

The atmosphere of Wash U is really great. Campus Life is exciting and there are always things to do. St. Louis also has a lot of hot spots like the city museum and the landing. The only thing that I find it hard to do is get off campus and explore the city. Transportation has been improved with the addition of the metrolink though. Wash U is also a very politically charged campus. We always have speakers coming in to talk about political issues and next year we are hosting the vice-presidential debates. Political student groups are always raising controversy over different political issues. I'll always remember how many great things there were to do. There is always some event going on... almost every night of the week. Although its hard to choose what things to go to I am always glad that there is something to keep me entertained.

I am a freshman this year at Washington University in St. Louis, and I am so happy I decided to come here. I had a very tough time deciding last year because I had a lot of good options, but I could not have made a better decision. The university is a beautiful place; there are trees all over and the buildings look exactly how I always thought a university should look. That may sound really shallow, but it really does make a difference... when I walk out of Chemistry I may feel concerned about understanding the material or doing well on tests, but then I look around me at the cool Gothic buildings and I am so amazed that I am here. A lot of people don't know of Wash. U or may not like the idea of going to school in Missouri. But I have found that the name doesn't matter so much now. Everyone here in this part of the country knows Wash. U is a spectacular school, and so do the med schools and graduate schools. So I wouldn't worry too much about the name.

Campus housing and food are by and far excellent. The modern dorms are especially nice--air-conditioned, carpeted, nicely furnished, laundry facilities, common rooms on each floor. By 2010, all the big dorms on the South 40 (the residential area for underclassmen) will be modern. Food is also great here; most places serve things made fresh to order, and they usually taste good. Still, it's not the same as home-cooked meals, so students here tend to get sick of the food after half a year or so. The campus is quite nice, with big green areas and flower-lined pathways and trees everywhere; the campus is sort of modeled off the quads of Cambridge and Oxford, and it works well.

I am a freshman this year at Washington University in St. Louis, and I am so happy I decided to come here. I had a very tough time deciding last year because I had a lot of good options, but I could not have made a better decision. The university is a beautiful place; there are trees all over and the buildings look exactly how I always thought a university should look. That may sound really shallow, but it really does make a difference... when I walk out of Chemistry I may feel concerned about understanding the material or doing well on tests, but then I look around me at the cool Gothic buildings and I am so amazed that I am here. A lot of people don't know of Wash. U or may not like the idea of going to school in Missouri (I'm from California, and the lack of a well-known name was a big concern for me and I was temped to choose Cornell instead because going to New York sounded so much better) But I have found that the name doesn't matter so much now. Everyone here in this part of the country knows Wash. U is a spectacular school, and so do the med schools and graduate schools. So I wouldn't worry too much about the name.

When I came here, I knew that WashU was really good in fields like anthropology, biology, philosophy, psychology, business, political science, chemistry, English, etc., but I was not too sure about physics. Thankfully, I have been very satisfied with my experience in the physics department. The physics course I'm in right now is easily the best educational experience I've had of any type; the professor is funny and engaging, he explains things very clearly, and he emphasizes understanding. Additionally, he's always accessible after class and has very lenient office hours. It's been a great experience.

I am starting my last semester at Wash and will graduate with a double major in Accounting and Finance. I can honestly say that this university was the best choice for me. The students are friendly, the population is diverse, the professors are stellar, and the campus is gorgeous. Each semester we have WILD - Walk In, Lay Down - an all day party with a big name band. I've never gone because of the crowds and the drinking, but you can hear the music from outside the Quad and it sure sounds fun. In the Spring we have Thurtene - a huge carnival that attracts many in the city of St. Louis. (My only regret is that is takes up close to 100 of our valuable, and rare, commuter student parking spots.) I've helped TKE build and have enjoyed many rides, shows, and pulled-pork sandwiches there. You can usually find free or cheap food on any given day - it entices people to attend meetings. Some of the freshman dorms are old, but they are building a new dorm each year. There is always construction on campus, but it doesn't usually get in the way and it keeps the campus up-to-date and beautiful. Living on campus was great, but I currently live with my fiance (we met here!) and there are no co-ed rooms, only co-ed floors and dorms. The off-campus apartments are a joke: 50+ years old, shoddy, street parking, sketchy neighbors, and crime. Either live on campus al 4 years or find a nice rental in Clayton. We also get 4 weeks off for Winter Break, which is nice because after 4 winters up here I hate snow. Dont be fooled though: St. Louis gets hot in the summer. I live in West County (30 minutes away) because housing is cheaper, the area is cleaner and newer, and there is more to do. Driving is snow is not fun, but neither is walking in it.

WashU is a great school, but its a little hard to get used to. Its a research university, so professors are not necessarily going to be concentrating on undergraduates. Its hard to make relationships with your professors, but if you try really hard, you can develop them. One benefit of being at a research university is that we have a lot of resources that smaller schools wouldn't-great libraries, extensive course selections and a lot of research opportunities. WashU is a nice size, in terms of student body. At about 6,000 undergrads, it is easy to make a defined group of friends, yet I can still walk around campus and see new people. However, St. Louis is not a college town, so you either spend a lot of time on campus or you need a car to get around.

Housing is a pain in the ass. Right size. No school pride... at least for sports. Lots of jews.

WashU=amazing! Everyone is intelligent and fun, people you can have a good discussion with and then race off to the club with for dancing/drinking. Work hard/play hard is definitely a motto at WashU. St Louis is okay, it is a big enough city with a really good public metro transportation system. Coming from New Orleans it was definitely less exciting, but there still are good things St Louis has to offer. After recently winning the men's basketball D3 championship, I feel that school spirit has risen. Most people have pride in the school (i.e. wearing the obligatory college sweatshirt) but not necessarily for athletics.

WashU has the feel of a larger school, but with a smaller community. Everything is relatively spaced out so it feels rather large. I ended up loving it here because everyone is so nice. A stereotype is that we have the academics of an Ivy, but a southern etticette. Most people have never heard of WashU, but it's nice when someone raves about it being amazing.

Best Thing: People and Professors One thing I'd change: our mascot School size?: just right Reaction when I say I go to Wash U: "State or DC?" Where I spend most of my time on campus?: Bixby aka the art school college town or "what college town?": St. Louis is what you make of it. Wash U's administration?: Mostly helpful and friendly. Biggest recent controversy: The Dean of the Engineering School School pride?: Not for sport teams, but we wear the clothes and are generally proud. Anything unusual?: Good food, and lots of bunnies and squirrels. :) One experience I'll always remember: The Vice Presidential Debates this coming fall. Most frequent student complaints: The weather (it's still raining?!), the smell of the mulch in the spring, Writing 1 assignments, walking all the way across campus for class.

The best thing about Wash U are the nice, caring kids. I wish that they had more time to just hang out, though. It is just the right size. Many people don't know what Wash U is. I spend most of my time on campus, but there are good places to go nearby (aka average college town). Wash U's administration is a little bit draconian at times. The biggest recent controversy on campus was that some guy was tasered at a concert. There isn't that much school pride, which sucks, at least in terms of athletic games and such. I will always remember meeting my girlfriend at Wash U!

The best thing about Wash U is the picturesque campus, feels like Europe. I would change the engineering school's curriculum a bit. My school is just right. Most people are of two categories: the either know about Wash U and are super impressed, or haven't heard a thing about us. Biggest recent controversy - a student getting tasered while naked. Wash U has zero school pride as a whole. An unusual thing is that Wash U has an underground bowling alley in the chancellor's basement. I'll always remember bowling in this alley in the chancellor's basement with the lifelong friend I had just made. Students complain about the Engineering Dean daily.

The campus The weather Just right Either very positively or not at all In my room What college town? Nice enough Barack Obama not speaking/Alberto Gonzales coming Eh Not particularly Everything The prices

Good School

Too much classification by race. Otherwise, awesome.

i'd say my school is just right as far as size. i like seeing the people walk around campus, but in the classrooms most are small enough (like 12 people max) that you're able to have that relationship with your professor where they can actually get to know who you are. lots of people have either never heard of my school or forget the name of it. lol. i really like it here though. st louis is not a college town, but washu is its own community. we call it "the bubble" and you have to work very hard to get out of it and explore the city (esp freshman year cause you can't have a car) st louis is great though and it has TONS of free stuff to do which is great for us broke college kids! most people don't have any serious qualms with administration. there are a lot of student groups though, so making sure all of them get fair funding and attention can be a challenge sometimes. as far as school pride, people like wearing school apparel and bumper stickers and stuff like that. people show up to the games, but honestly, its nothing like my high school when people went crazy at home coming. here, i didn't even know when homecoming was. did we even have one? the kids here are kind of well off so they're accustomed to certain things. i find that they sometimes complain about lots of stuff that seems unwarranted. we don't have enough flexibility with scheduling classes though. on very snowy days etc classes still will not be cancelled. the shuttle doesn't come frequently enough or its sometimes late. most kids hang out in their rooms or in Bears Den when they're on the forty (that's where all the dorms are) or in the cafe adjoined to the library when on campus. when its nice out, people will just lay out on the grass and study, chat or hang out. WashU prides itself with being very diverse and liberal and tolerant of everybody. compared to other schools of its caliber, its definitely more diverse than a lot of schools but we need way more people of color to come here. its mostly white and Asian but Blacks and Latinos and others are still underrepresented. i literally only know 2 Peruvian kids. WashU spoils the freshmen rotten!! its all about you guys! your freshman year-yes the entire thing- will for sure be one to remember just because of all the extra attention you get. its great but its also like hand holding which just makes the transition into the rest of your years harder. its just delayed a little longer(which is why its called the sophomore slump)

Washington University offers a tantalizing diploma in the eyes of your future employers. People in the work world seem to know that middling grades here are still better than A's at state schools. And A's here, well, you won't get A's. Indeed, I'm not sure why Wash U isn't considered Ivy League officially, since the teaching staff is top-notch, the campus is breathtaking, and the price is sky-high. The average American doesn't have a clue what Wash U is, much less where it's at. Those who *do* know are almost always awed by my being a student here. St. Louis is a dirty, dangerous city. That's why Wash U kids mostly stick to the campus, a phenomenon known as "The Wash U Bubble Effect." There's a strip of cool stores and eateries just a few well-lit blocks away, which is about as far as most of us ever go on weekends. Because we mostly don't have cars. Campus Crime: Last spring some guy (not a student) waltzed into one of the dorms, raped a girl in the butt, and got away scot-free. That freaked everyone out pretty severely, so they installed peepholes in all the doors and made it so each dorm has only one entrance (which is a big hassle, actually, in some of the buildings). There have also been a couple on-campus muggings, because the campus blue-lights are few and far between. As for student crime... I guess kids get caught with kegs or pot pretty frequently, and there's the occasional coke bust, but we're mostly docile suburbanites.

The best thing about WashU is the size--there are few enough people that groups are interrelated but not too few. If I could change one thing, it would be the pompous attitude that many people have about how difficult it is to get accepted into WashU. I spend most of my time in the library. St. Louis is not really a college town, but it is a very good area for a school. I have no opinion about the administration; the only thing that I ever hear from them is that tuition is increasing. There is alot of [misplaced, in my opinion] school pride among the students. It is unusual, I think, that there is such an abnormally large Jewish population here at WashU.

I love the diversity of students at Wash U (I think we could use more racial/ethnic diversity, but I was just referring to social groups). You can find almost all types of people from frat and sorority members to indie scene kids, computer geeks, hippies, yuppies and everything in between. Having that diversity of personalities has been a key reason why I've enjoyed my experience here. One thing I would change is our relative apathy towards political issues. We are a liberal campus, but we are not very activist from my experience. It is possible to join young dems/republicans to get more involved, but I sometimes wish that more people were active, even idealistic about politics.

The best thing about WashU is that everyone is so willing to help you in your endeavors. My four year advisor will help me with any problem I am having, even if it does not pertain to school. ResLife was helpful for me too- I had to move dorms mid-year and they helped me and allowed me to choose exactly where I needed to move. When I tell people I go to WashU they usually have no clue what I'm talking about. There is not much school pride, but I'm okay with that. It fits me that it's not a major sports school. The fact that we don't have much school pride just shows how mellow we are. I would say we have pride in the fact that we go to WashU. I rarely hear major complaints about the school; everyone seems pretty happy with going to WashU, and I'd call that having school pride of sorts. I think WashU's administration is fabulous. They are so friendly and seem concerned about the students, more so than when I talk to my friends from other schools. For example, I would feel that I could drop a class if I said I was having psychological issues, yet one of my friends at a state school wasn't allowed to drop a class when she needed to use that reason.

The best thing about Wash. U. is the people from the teachers to the students to the staff. Each person has their own unique story and there's just so much potential. At first people will ask if you're going to Washington State or Washington D.C. but those in the know, are really happy for you. My school is just right in terms of the number of people. St. Louis isn't really as big a city as it is made out to be. It feels like a huge suburb but at Wash. U. you get a U pass which lets you take all the buses and trains in the city for free so you can really explore the area. The biggest recent controversy would be the resignation of the engineering dean. School pride isn't really seen in athletics or anything like that although we have a good Division III program with 19 sports. Basketball's probably the most well supported sport though the volleyball team has won the national championship nine times. Students take pride in their own extracurricular activities. When asked, students will probably say I'm a member of this frat/sorority and this club rather than saying I'm a Wash. U. student. Students frequent complaints are about rising tuition costs and a lack of administration listening to the concerns of students. I don't really feel the impact of Wash. U.'s administration in my everyday life. Most of the time on campus I'll be in my dorm, at the Athletic complex watching games, in the newspaper office writing articles, out on the Swamp tossing around a football, or in class.

The best thing about WashU.. I really can't narrow it down to one so I will say- 1. the whole student body is genuine and really cares about you, 2. the school runs SO efficiently (Chancellor Wrighton really knows what he's doing), 3. The campus is gorgeous -Something I would change.. easier science classes. -Size.. just perfect! -Response to "WashU".. most people honestly have no clue what WashU is, especially from my hometown, about 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the people think I go to college in Washington State or something. -College town.. somewhere inbetween.. Clayton is low key enough so you can stay in a "bubble" if you really want to but St. Louis city is so close you can really get out and explore as much as you want -Administration.. amazing! again, everyone really wants to see the students do well and enjoy life at WashU-- advisors, faculty, etc. are always availible to talk to and will help you out however they can! -School pride.. certainly lacking on campus I'd say, mostly due to the lack of major sports teams, but I feel like it doesn't compromise my enjoyment of WashU for the most part -Unusual.. fried ravioli, you have to try it.

Best thing about Wash.U.: Friday night basketball games. Yeah, it's D3, but we have a blast. The school is also a great size and very geared toward the undergraduate population which is awesome School pride is big, though not necessarily in the athletics sense. That said, basketball games have gotten huge in the last couple years and are incredibly fun. Without D1 sports, though, people just aren't gonna get hopped up for games other than hoops. I wish kids were a bit more socially and emotionally intelligent. We have some of the most book smart people in the world, but they often don't have a clue as to how to interact or think outside of their narrow academic boxes.

best thing about washu: the people size is just right people don't know about WashU and it is such an amazing school. get the word out about it! spend most of my time on campus chilling with friends or doing work. administration does a great job for us. so much school pride, everyone i know here is happy to be here!

I enjoy it when people ask me where I go to school, only to discover they've never heard of Wash U. I live three hours away, yet plenty of people from home don't know Wash U is in St. Louis. I'm glad that I can be proud of where I go to school, but at the same time I don't seem like I'm bragging by telling people where I go. The biggest recent controversy on campus was a student movement against the administration to bring presidential candidates to campus to speak for free. The administration cited legal and logistical reasons for not allowing Barack Obama to come speak. While these are probably very legitimate reasons, the students were still very upset. Wash U is in a great location. We're essentially in St. Louis, with easy access to the City Museum, major league sports events, concerts, musicals, etc. We're also a self-contained campus, so the campus is relatively compact. There are also two MetroLink stops on campus, for which we get free passes, so St. Louis is literally a couple stops away. It's perfect. The Loop on Delmar is also a fifteen-minute walk away, with "college-town" shops, restaurants, etc. My favorite aspect of Wash U's location is Forest Park, which is across the street from campus. Whether for a run, playing ultimate frisbee, going for a bike ride, going sledding down art hill, going for a walk, or going to the science center, Forest Park is a wonderful asset to Wash U. The most frequent student complaints are the lack of variety and healthy options in campus dining. Wash U's food is really very good, but we all get sick of having practically the same menu everywhere. Although cost is probably an issue at every school, students frequently get upset at substantial cost increases in tuition, room, board, and fees every year. Many of us also feel like Health Services is inconvenient and not as effective as it should be. There is not a lot of attendance to varsity sports, yet there is "school pride" in the sense that students are proud to be part of the Wash U community. One of my more unique experiences was winning the intramural inner tube water polo tournament two years in a row. One of my favorite unique activities Wash U offers is Residential College Olympics, a Saturday full of free t-shirts, food, and all sorts of games: ultimate, soccer, basketball, tug-of-war, ping pong, foosball, euchre, dodgeball, flag football, etc. It's awesome.

the name to something shorter and more unique if it werent too late already or number of foreigners, we need more diversity hardly any europeans, south americans. most people dont know the school. not a college town but definitely not a metropolitan.

Wash U is the perfect size to have an intimate college experience but also to realize that there are a lot of people on campus that you don't know. The diversity in beliefs is amazing, from religions to priorities to upbringing. You name and there is probably someone here who is that. Not many people know about Wash U, it's not a big name around the country, even though we are very good academically. I find that to be good, because there is no annoying arrogance or ego associated with the school like many other top notch universities.

The best thing about WashU are the people. Everyone is very intelligent, but still very down-to-earth. Given the high academic demands of the school, the atmosphere on campus could be ultra-competitive and selfish, but it's not. Students are willing to help each other do well in classes, study groups allow students to work together to come to a better understanding of concepts, and the kids who are doing the best in classes can usually be found helping kids who aren't doing as well as they like. That atmosphere allows a lot of learning - for all involved - to take place.

The best thing about Wash U is that most of the faculty and staff are very accessible, personable, and interested in helping students succeed. The one thing I would change is the somewhat arbitrary complication of the Arts and Sciences cluster system. The school is just the right size for me. Most people are impressed when I tell them I go to Wash U. I spend most of my time on campus either in class or at my job at the library. I come from St. Louis, so the city's "college town" status--or lack thereof--makes no difference to me; it's the same city to me. Wash U's administration seems a bit overcomplicated--I wouldn't be surprised if there were a Dean of Dirt, Dust, Mud, and Other Stuff on the Ground. The biggest recent school-related controversy may have been the introduction of gender-neutral housing on campus, but the biggest recent general controversy was probably Alberto Gonzales' visit. There seems to be a lot of school pride, at least judging by the amount of Wash U clothing worn on campus. The most unusual thing about Wash U is the constant construction uglifying the campus while groundskeepers regularly change the flowers to keep the campus pretty; meanwhile, St. Louis weather is doing its best to keep everything ugly, everywhere, all the time. The first memory that comes to mind that I will probably always remember is my German 1 instructor realizing that I was dressed as her on Halloween. The most frequent complaints usually have something to do with how inefficient and slow to change Wash U is.

Wash U is the perfect size -- not just a few thousand like a highschool, and not so big that you'll get lost in the crowd. Most people don't know about Wash U. Many are mistaken when they think we're located in the state of Washington. Most people I know stay on campus the majority of the time. Some underclassmen go out to clubs on Thursday nites. Many students go out to dinner off campus. I think most students are happy they go to Wash U, but there isn't much school pride when it comes to sports at all. Our campus has many pesky squirrels and rabbits.

The biggest recent controversy on campus involved the Dean of Engineering. She is terrible, and pretty much everyone hates her, students, alumni, and faculty. Finally, she resigned, which made everyone very happy, with the obvious exception of the Dean and the Chancellor. I spend the majority of my time on campus in the engineering school. I have spent so many nights there I can't even count, but I now know where all the most comfortable couches are. It's getting better as Wash U gets more prestigious, but I still get the response of "Oh, is that in Washington, D.C. or Washington state?"