Visit Report by sanjenferrer (Member since October 30 2007 with 553 posts) Visit Date - November 2007
Visit to Washington University in St. Louis in November 2007 by sanjenferrer (Student, HS Class of 2007)
Visit Activities:
Information Session:
No - Flight delayed, so I missed this. Campus Tour:
Yes Classroom Visit:
No - I visited the day before Thanksgiving so there were no classes going on, but I did see some classrooms (which were really high-tech and nice).
Washington University in St. Louis Campus:
Friendliness/Courtesy of Students: 4 - Very Good -
I visited on a day when there were no students on campus, so I don't feel qualified to judge, but I would rate the students I did meet as being friendly.
Friendliness/Courtesy of Staff: 5 - Excellent -
I didn't really have much interaction with the faculty/staff other than asking a professor for directions to the admissions office and to confirm that a tour was taking place.
Appearance of Campus: 5 - Excellent -
I happened to visit on a rainy day, so the campus looked quite gloomy but still lovely (I think the rain enhanced the effect of the Gothic architecture). I loved the view from the arch.
Building/Facilities Maintenance/Cleanliness: 5 - Excellent -
Very impressed with the classrooms (smartboards!) but the interior of the Student Center needs updating (the University is building this fabulous-looking replacement, which will open in fall '08)
Dormitories: 5 - Excellent -
Didn't get to see rooms because of my untimely visit but the lobby area of one of the "middle of the road" dorms was impressive. I'm not one to easily complain about living facilit
Security/Safety: 5 - Excellent -
Felt very safe on campus, but I'm a city kid.
Overall Campus Impression: 5 - Excellent -
I especially loved The Bunny and the interior of Olin Library. I also loved walking on the Quad by myself and standing under the arch to look out into Forest Park in the distance.
Off-Campus:
Area Immediately Around Campus: 5 - Excellent -
"The Loop" area has everything a college student could need. If not, you could easily take the Metro to Wal-Mart or Downtown St. Louis w/ your free train/bus pass.
City/Town/Community: 3 - Good -
St. Louis is a good city but not as grand as Chicago/Boston. Also, I'm impressed by WashU's commitment to improving the areas farther from campus (the surrounding areas are already nice).
Campus Visit Notes for Washington University in St. Louis:
Visit Description:
I loved the Gothic architecture. The red bricks made the University look like a cheerier version of UChicago.
Again, I didn't see many students at all. The only ones I saw besides tour guides were the University bookstore worker (he was quite charming...), the people who were surprisingly still in the library (again, this was the eve before Thanksgiving), the people who sat by the windows reading something or using the computer. Very studious vibe juxtapositioned with this funny-looking bunny right by Olin Library. If I visited on a different day, I'd probably get more of the laidback vibe that everyone else seems to be talking about. In my short visit, the only way I could assess the friendliness of the few I encountered was to kiss them randomly and see how they reacted (I didn't though).
I came away thinking how lucky I am to get accepted (spring transfer). I would love to enroll!
Btw, I got looks from people St. Louis just wearing my sweatshirt. One even yelled out "great university!" right when I stepped off the plane. I noticed at least one non-WashU-affiliated person wearing WashU apparel (I asked this guy next to me to confirm the directions to campus b/c he had a WashU hoodie on, but he said he didn't go to WashU). So apparently, the University is really well-liked in St. Louis.
Hotel/Lodging Recommendations or Comments:
Stayed with family nearby.
Dining/Restaurant Recommendations or Comments:
The tourguide and my cousin coincidentally talked about some Thai place in the Loop, so it's supposed to be a big deal.
Other Comments (Transportation, local attractions, parking, etc.):
I took the Metro from the airport to WashU without a problem. The transportation system is not as extensive as in some other major urban areas, but it gets you to the major places.
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I visited on a day when there were no students on campus, so I don't feel qualified to judge, but I would rate the students I did meet as being friendly.
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I didn't really have much interaction with the faculty/staff other than asking a professor for directions to the admissions office and to confirm that a tour was taking place.
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St. Louis is a good city but not as grand as Chicago/Boston. Also, I'm impressed by WashU's commitment to improving the areas farther from campus (the surrounding areas are already nice).