A School That Has It All? Washington University in St. Louis

Colleges & Universities Washington University in St. Louis
1

<p>Okay okay, so it doesn’t have a Div. I Sports team. But it does have everything else. I’d like to share with you all the following list of “WUSTL perks!”</p>

<p>(Content copied+pasted from the WashU forums. It’s a list compiled by students who visited and current undergrads.)
"

  1. The architecture of the buildings is classically gothic and beautiful.
  2. Big university resources, smaller LAC-style attention to students (and AN EXTREMELY SMALL % OF CLASSES TAUGHT BY TAs - and when they are taught by TAs/Grad students this seems to be a good thing - e.g., the Writing 1 class).
  3. Academic Flexibility – Easy to switch schools within WashU and to double major/minor.
  4. Amazing pre-professional programs and resources, especially for pre-meds through the renowned WUSTL medical center
  5. The quality of your peers
  6. Some of the best dorms in the country
  7. Some of the best food for a university
  8. Genuine Midwestern friendliness and helpfulness
  9. Lack of cut-throat competitiveness amongst students, more collaboration
  10. Easy access to metro and bussing (FREE!)
  11. 2nd best DIII sports school in the United States
  12. Professors are more undergrad-focused than other top research universities (but renowned in their research fields as well!)
  13. Undergrads have limitless research opportunities.
  14. Beautiful campus (where students are playing ultimate frisbee, football, or in hammocks on the quads).
  15. Forest park across the street (HUGE park with free museums and such).
  16. The Loop (great food and shopping) within walking distance of the university.
  17. Humongous shopping complexes not too far away (by car, Clayton area?)
  18. 3 large hospitals within the area.
  19. Exceptional academic advising
  20. Amazing diversity of the student body
  21. Abundance of outstanding prearranged extracurricular activities available to student body (tutoring h.s. students, hospital volunteering, etc.)
  22. Amazing merit scholarship opportunities not found at any school of WashU’s caliber.
  23. Central United States location that allows for relatively easy access from both the East and West Coast.
  24. Hammocks all over campus. 'Nuff said.
  25. Loads of brand new buildings and a strong commitment to construction and development…
  26. St. Louis’s fabulous music scene.
  27. Crazy huge endowment that allows for lots of free trips to campus and subsidized FOCUS excursions and everything a student could want.
  28. Summer excursions like ArtSci Weekends and FSAP that allow students to get acclimated to campus before Orientation.
  29. Awesome Pre-O’s!
  30. Residential colleges that allow freshman to have connections to sophmores.
  31. Really nice programs for frosh like FOCUS and Freshman Seminars and MBB, Text and Tradition, Medicine in Society…
  32. They send you a lot of mail and you feel really good, especially when it’s priority and you’re like “OMG they spend $4.95 on ME!”
  33. Outstanding Financial Aid
  34. St. Louis has some fabulous food. The Hill, Ted Drewes, Tin Cup. Also the amazing Missouri Bakery with the best cheesecake I’ve ever eaten.
  35. Involved and caring students (hirako, don_quixote, johnson181, balancedhelium, etc.) and parents/others (midwest parent; st2, fallenchemist; palmalk, etc.)
  36. WILD (Kid Cudi and the Black Keys in a few weeks!)
  37. Award winning and AMAZING a capella groups
  38. The best dressed university chancellor in the country who has a bowling alley in his house!
  39. The Bunny. Enough said.
  40. Thurtene Carnival, largest in St. Louis, tons of food, games, rides. Greek life also plays a big role in the carnival.
  41. The Holi Festival. Students gather on the Swamp for the school’s largest water balloon fight. Everyone gets wet, muddy, and most importantly, everyone has fun.
  42. The Gargoyle
  43. Highest “Survey-per-week to Student” ratio
  44. FLAT SCREEN TVs everywhere!
  45. Smart kids yet no snobbiness
  46. WUstock by the CS40 for free
  47. Ursa’s hot chocolate bar with 10 different kinds of hot chocolate, 6 kinds of homemade whip cream, and crepes on friday nights
  48. Become a part of the best Baseball city in America (Just 5 train stops away from Busch Stadium)
  49. Adjoined to the library is Whisper’s Cafe - where you can go for your late-night studying or cafe food run!
  50. If you’re into any of the hard sciences: the best, top-notch, cutting-edge, fully-stocked laboratories and the myriad of research opportunities that come with them
  51. The award-winning, always fresh and interesting StudLife
  52. Moonlight Breakfast
  53. Walking distance to The Loop, a bustling avenue of shops, cafes, and restaurants
  54. Did I mention the gorgeous campus? Call it fairy-tale or robust and gothic, whatever you wish, but it is GORGEOUS.
  55. Jazz at Holmes’ Lounge
  56. The Campus YMCA and the spawn of volunteer and community outreach programs, including the Social Change Grants
  57. Gelato and crepes in Ursa’s, Froyo at Bear’s Den
  58. Selectively chosen, fully trained, enthusiastic, and approachable Residential Advisors
  59. Academic mentoring WITHIN the residential halls, in the form of selectively chosen, fully trained, and caring Residential Peer Mentors (for Writing, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Calculus)
  60. New Dorms on the 40 have memory foam
  61. Free pizza events all the time
  62. For the premeds: A panel of premedical advisors who are always available, supportive, and effective. While they are available anytime, starting junior year the Pre-Health advisors begin keeping a very close eye on your medical school application process. Premed advising and workshops include mentorship on your personal statements, reviewing your medical school resume, and interview practice.
  63. Bear Patrol, which escorts those late-night study-ers back to their dorms
  64. Closed campus, probably one of the safest around
  65. The newly opened Danforth University Center, with an array of eateries, its own formal restaurant, and the upstairs Game Room (includes Wii, I think)
  66. Wireless Internet access virtually anywhere on campus
  67. Friendly bus drivers who care about the students
  68. Bon Appetit, which listens to the students’ needs and concerns and hosts fun events (like that Willy Wonka golden ticket game last year)
  69. Students who are tolerant and supportive of each other
  70. We just won the 2010 Annual Jeopardy! College Championships. BOOYA.
  71. The Lunar New Year Festival - Student dancers and musicians combine artistry and aesthetics to create a story about the Lunar New Year.
  72. The fact that it’s WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS. "</p>
2

<p>. . . . . .Wow.</p>

3

<p>A few more reasons added: </p>

<ol>
<li>The architecture of the buildings is classically gothic and beautiful.</li>
<li>Big university resources, smaller LAC-style attention to students (and AN EXTREMELY SMALL % OF CLASSES TAUGHT BY TAs - and when they are taught by TAs/Grad students this seems to be a good thing - e.g., the Writing 1 class).</li>
<li>Academic Flexibility – Easy to switch schools within WashU and to double major/minor.</li>
<li>Amazing pre-professional programs and resources, especially for pre-meds through the renowned WUSTL medical center</li>
<li>The quality of your peers</li>
<li>Some of the best dorms in the country</li>
<li>Some of the best food for a university</li>
<li>Genuine Midwestern friendliness and helpfulness</li>
<li>Lack of cut-throat competitiveness amongst students, more collaboration</li>
<li>Easy access to metro and bussing (FREE!)</li>
<li>2nd best DIII sports school in the United States</li>
<li>Professors are more undergrad-focused than other top research universities (but renowned in their research fields as well!)</li>
<li>Undergrads have limitless research opportunities.</li>
<li>Beautiful campus (where students are playing ultimate frisbee, football, or in hammocks on the quads).</li>
<li>Forest park across the street (HUGE park with free museums and such).</li>
<li>The Loop (great food and shopping) within walking distance of the university.</li>
<li>Humongous shopping complexes not too far away (by car, Clayton area?)</li>
<li>3 large hospitals within the area.</li>
<li>Exceptional academic advising</li>
<li>Amazing diversity of the student body</li>
<li>Abundance of outstanding prearranged extracurricular activities available to student body (tutoring h.s. students, hospital volunteering, etc.)</li>
<li>Amazing merit scholarship opportunities not found at any school of WashU’s caliber.</li>
<li>Central United States location that allows for relatively easy access from both the East and West Coast.</li>
<li>Hammocks all over campus. ‘Nuff said.</li>
<li>Loads of brand new buildings and a strong commitment to construction and development…</li>
<li>St. Louis’s fabulous music scene.</li>
<li>Crazy huge endowment that allows for lots of free trips to campus and subsidized FOCUS excursions and everything a student could want.</li>
<li>Summer excursions like ArtSci Weekends and FSAP that allow students to get acclimated to campus before Orientation.</li>
<li>Awesome Pre-O’s!</li>
<li>Residential colleges that allow freshman to have connections to sophmores.</li>
<li>Really nice programs for frosh like FOCUS and Freshman Seminars and MBB, Text and Tradition, Medicine in Society…</li>
<li>They send you a lot of mail and you feel really good, especially when it’s priority and you’re like “OMG they spend $4.95 on ME!”</li>
<li>Outstanding Financial Aid</li>
<li>St. Louis has some fabulous food. The Hill, Ted Drewes, Tin Cup. Also the amazing Missouri Bakery with the best cheesecake I’ve ever eaten.</li>
<li>Involved and caring students (hirako, don_quixote, johnson181, balancedhelium, etc.) and parents/others (midwest parent; st2, fallenchemist; palmalk, etc.)</li>
<li>WILD (Kid Cudi and the Black Keys in a few weeks!)</li>
<li>Award winning and AMAZING a capella groups</li>
<li>The best dressed university chancellor in the country who has a bowling alley in his house!</li>
<li>The Bunny. Enough said.</li>
<li>Thurtene Carnival, largest in St. Louis, tons of food, games, rides. Greek life also plays a big role in the carnival.</li>
<li>The Holi Festival. Students gather on the Swamp for the school’s largest water balloon fight. Everyone gets wet, muddy, and most importantly, everyone has fun.</li>
<li>The Gargoyle</li>
<li>Highest “Survey-per-week to Student” ratio</li>
<li>FLAT SCREEN TVs everywhere!</li>
<li>Smart kids yet no snobbiness</li>
<li>WUstock by the CS40 for free</li>
<li>Ursa’s hot chocolate bar with 10 different kinds of hot chocolate, 6 kinds of homemade whip cream, and crepes on friday nights </li>
<li>Become a part of the best Baseball city in America (Just 5 train stops away from Busch Stadium) </li>
<li>Adjoined to the library is Whisper’s Cafe - where you can go for your late-night studying or cafe food run!</li>
<li>If you’re into any of the hard sciences: the best, top-notch, cutting-edge, fully-stocked laboratories and the myriad of research opportunities that come with them</li>
<li> The award-winning, always fresh and interesting StudLife</li>
<li>Moonlight Breakfast ;)</li>
<li>Walking distance to The Loop, a bustling avenue of shops, cafes, and restaurants</li>
<li> Did I mention the gorgeous campus? Call it fairy-tale or robust and gothic, whatever you wish, but it is GORGEOUS.</li>
<li>Jazz at Holmes’ Lounge</li>
<li>The Campus YMCA and the spawn of volunteer and community outreach programs, including the Social Change Grants</li>
<li>Gelato and crepes in Ursa’s, Froyo at Bear’s Den</li>
<li>Selectively chosen, fully trained, enthusiastic, and approachable Residential Advisors</li>
<li>Academic mentoring WITHIN the residential halls, in the form of selectively chosen, fully trained, and caring Residential Peer Mentors (for Writing, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Calculus)</li>
<li>New Dorms on the 40 have memory foam </li>
<li>Free pizza events all the time</li>
<li>For the premeds: A panel of premedical advisors who are always available, supportive, and effective. While they are available anytime, starting junior year the Pre-Health advisors begin keeping a very close eye on your medical school application process. Premed advising and workshops include mentorship on your personal statements, reviewing your medical school resume, and interview practice.</li>
<li>Bear Patrol, which escorts those late-night study-ers back to their dorms</li>
<li>Closed campus, probably one of the safest around</li>
<li>The newly opened Danforth University Center, with an array of eateries, its own formal restaurant, and the upstairs Game Room (includes Wii, I think)</li>
<li>Wireless Internet access virtually anywhere on campus</li>
<li>Friendly bus drivers who care about the students</li>
<li>Bon Appetit, which listens to the students’ needs and concerns and hosts fun events (like that Willy Wonka golden ticket game last year)</li>
<li>Students who are tolerant and supportive of each other</li>
<li>We just won the 2010 Annual Jeopardy! College Championships. BOOYA.</li>
<li>The Lunar New Year Festival - Student dancers and musicians combine artistry and aesthetics to create a story about the Lunar New Year. </li>
<li>Many city events are subsidized for students by campus organizations like ArtSci Council. Examples of events include city symphony performances (freshman year I remember Itzhak Perlman was in town), plays, musicals, Shakespeare in the Park (summer), and more. </li>
<li>The BALLER Brookings Hall. Seriously, have you every stood in the parking lot, beneath that flight of stairs leading to the two towers of Brookings Hall, and know that you will soon ascend the path to greater knowledge?</li>
<li>WashU is one of the prominent hosts of the Vice Presidential Debates, including Palin vs. Biden, 2008.</li>
<li>The fact that it’s WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS.</li>
</ol>

4

<p>Thanks zenith for sharing!
I noticed several of the listed descriptions during my visit; the list is pretty much on the mark. </p>

<p>Just want to add that the campus was medium-sized, not incredibly large like say UC Berkeley, but it was beautiful indeed.</p>

5

<p>easily the most overrated college on CC</p>

6

<p>Hahaha I get your sarcasm, soccersamdude :)</p>

<p>What do you guys think? What other factors make a school great that’s not on WUSTL’s list?</p>

7

<h1>76. Super-inflated USNWR Ranking.</h1>

8

<p>Actually, 20Legend, I doubt in this day and age people go to an university solely on ranking. Tell your parents who will be paying for college that you are going because it’s ranked highly, and they will probably give you a lecture on how to choose a college correctly. I’m sure there are so many other important factors, like the strength of academics, the feel of the campus, the research opportunities provided, etc. So it’s nice there’s a comprehensive list of WUSTL’s offerings. </p>

<p>But I think it does help that WUSTL is ranked 12 in the nation (and yes, it is one of my top choices, as you can see from my screen name) And for a lot of my peers who are interested in medicine, WUSTL’s bio/medical programs are quite attractive.</p>

<p>I haven’t visited the campus yet, but every single person I know who has visited has mentioned a few of the things on the list the OP has provided. Namely, they mentioned the campus (“so pretty”), some of the classes they sat in on, the transportation, the premeds they met, and several mentioned the food. </p>

<p>Like every private school it’s probably very expensive, but it’s nice to know they offer good financial aid. </p>

<p>Anyways, I’m planning on visiting this summer or early fall. I am quite excited!</p>

9

<p>WUSTLfuture: I usually don’t try to participate in fueling argument, but I would argue quite a few highschoolers (and their parents even!) do choose schools based on rankings. It’s absurd, yes, but true. However, that being said, all schools (at least all those above 50 on USNWR’s list) play the rankings game to some extent, because they know it, sadly, matters.</p>

10

<p>WashU’s an excellent school that fully deserves its rankings. You have a lot of unsophisticated, provincial people from the East Coast who aren’t bright enough to find St. Louis on a map, and so they think that a school there can’t be good. But it is indeed that good. And if people don’t know about it? Their loss. Someone who is interested in WashU shouldn’t waste any time worrying about what people who aren’t well-traveled think.</p>

11

<p>I visited WashU a few years back and let me say…
Everything on that list is true, save a few that I wasn’t able to confirm, for practical reasons and for the reason that they probably got even more improvements now.
I’m from the Bay Area here, and WashU is pretty prestigious, especially when you count the kids and parents who want to go into science or medicine.
And sadly yes, people around here do care about rankings. It’s a bit unnerving actually.</p>

12

<p>"WashU’s an excellent school that fully deserves its rankings. You have a lot of unsophisticated, provincial people from the East Coast who aren’t bright enough to find St. Louis on a map, and so they think that a school there can’t be good. But it is indeed that good. And if people don’t know about it? Their loss. Someone who is interested in WashU shouldn’t waste any time worrying about what people who aren’t well-traveled think. "</p>

<p>I agree, Pizzagirl. </p>

<p>To spunaugle: I totally agree with you that people do care about rankings. I guess the list didn’t include the fact that WashU is ranked 12 in the nation because the list was supposed to be a set of qualitative reasons for why people love WashU. On campus, my peers don’t seem to talk about how WashU is doing in the rankings or whether WashU is really better than the Ivies, etc. People here ARE brilliant (well, besides me I guess) and yet at the same time laid-back. I think it’s the excellent environment for academic work and play.</p>

<p>So I wanted to share the list with you all because, after all, this is the College Search and Selection forum and I know high schoolers are starting to think about their dream schools.</p>

13

<p>i wasn’t being sarcastic…</p>

14

<p>As someone who has visited many, many universities, I find that Wash U is an absolute gem. It has top-notch programs in many fields, fabulous students, an interesting and thoughtful curriculum, a beautiful campus, and it is responsive to student-initiated projects. </p>

<p>CC is a valuable resource when students (and parents of students) who are at an institution provide answers to questions. However, I find that posters often rely on information that was valid when he/she (or his/her parents) went to school–often 30-40 years ago! Times change and schools change. Presidents, large donations, wise investments and actions make a difference. Wash U has been very fortunate in this regard. </p>

<p>If you are trying to make a decision on which college to attend, you would be wise to ignore many of the posts here (mine as well, of course) and, instead, to read a reliable college guide. You’ll find that all of them praise Wash U. </p>

<p>Wash U and its peers are all excellent institutions, and a student would be very fortunate to attend one of these schools. In addition, they are quite distinct institutions and therefore you can choose the one that fits you the best.</p>

15

<p>This is a non-argument. Those who choose rankings based on USNWR will go elsewhere. Those who know WashU is (one of the) best college(s) in the US will go to WashU.</p>

16

<p>Yeah, on top of applicannot, I fully agree with that. I chose to go to WashU not based off of what I read, but from visiting and hearing it from people who are there. I chose to apply and make it my number one school because I feel like it’s the best environment for me to be in.</p>

17

<p>Moon&Star,</p>

<p>Same here- I visited during Multicultural Weekend and was instantly in love. I also read so many good features about it I couldn’t wait to attend. </p>

<p>In high school I never was really informed about colleges. I knew Washington University in St. Louis before I knew Cornell (I didn’t even know that it and Brown were Ivies). Of course, I was a huge science nerd. So in the end, I chose WashU for its top-notch science programs.</p>

18

<p>From other thread (thought content would fit here appropriately, and people can access information all in one thread)</p>

<hr>

<p>More Reasons Why WashU is HOT: Some Key Campus Life Questions Answered:</p>

<p>"1) How is the religion/spiritual life on campus?
VERY TOLERANT, welcoming, and diverse. Since you mentioned your daughter is Christian, I want to say that I know at least three different Christian groups on campus. I have attendend events and church with them, and they are some of the most loving and caring people I know. </p>

<p>2) How are the extra-curriculum activities on campus? How is St. Louis?
On campus, the activities are endless. I could go on and on.
Volunteer opportunities? Check out the Campus YMCA or the Student volunteer office (they have a website too) - there are at least 20 different Campus YMCA programs, and even more volunteer groups like APO not affiliated with the Campus Y. Some examples of volunteer groups are Alternative Spring Break (which has gone to New Orleans to help fix up after Hurricane Katrina), Feed St. Louis (provide food for the hungry), and Project Sunshine (visit children’s hospitals and host parties for the kids there). WashU also offers the Social Change Grants- write a proposal for changing a social situation, and you may win funding to make your vision come true. </p>

<p>Singing and musical performance? Check out the chamber orchestra, the symphony, the piano concerts, and also the numerous award-winning a capella groups. </p>

<p>Theatre? My friend directed a student production- a musical- last semester. It was a great performance with talented actors (and singers!)</p>

<p>Writing? - Monthly poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction readings, showcased by both faculty and students. Enjoy appetizers afterwards (very delicious appetizers, might I add)</p>

<p>Research- You really can’t find better-stocked and cutting-edge laboratories elsewhere. WashU IS one of the top places for science, and hands-on undergraduate research. This school has got the money rolling in to fund its research project, and a good amount of that money goes to fund undergraduate research. Besides scientific research, my peers also are active in original humanities research, such as helping to transcribe the writings of an early English writer or to research the underpinings of a health problem in medical anthropology. Every semester there is an undergraduate research symposium, and the projects displayed I’ve seen are always the acme of quality. </p>

<p>There are also numerous clubs and ethnic student groups that host fun, multicultural events (like the Asian Night Market in April and also Diwali in the fall)</p>

<p>Tutoring? - Stop by Cornerstone. They have a free tutor and study groups for every subject (name it, you got it, and if they don’t have it, they’ll get it). The residential halls also have their own in-dorm academic mentoring system. They are the Residential Peer Mentors, and they really work with the students in subjects such as Writing, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Calculus. The tutors are not only great students, they are great mentors- they don’t just give you a problem and tell you how to solve it, they are trained to make sure you understand the concepts. </p>

<p>The list goes on and on and on…</p>

<p>St. Louis has its own share of offerings. It is not as bustling as say, New York City, but you can imagine it as a quaint town with lovely shops and cordial people. Flush with WashU is the Delmar Loop- an exciting avenue with restaurants, shops, and cafes. Then, via (free) public transportation, you can reach the Galleria, an upscale and beautiful shopping complex with everything from Macy’s to Godiva. </p>

<p>I think it’s good St. Louis is a relatively quiet place with a solid, vibrant culture. It really cultivates your world-view as well as allow you the right mindset to study for those WashU exams!</p>

<p>3) How competitive is the student body?
Oh gosh, this is one of the happiest places to study. I was in the premedical classes, and while people do stress out, it’s not because of “That jerk is trying to sabotage my grade.” It’s more of a “Professor X is going to write a hard exam, and I want to rise up to the challenge.” Premed students, for example, help each other out all the time ( I personally have shared my notes and have gotten the favor returned) Engineering students work together all the time on problem sets and to build some innovative contraption. Visit Whisper’s Cafe- students there mingle, converse, and encourage each other. When I think “WashU” I think “motivated, intense students” but not “cutthroat.” </p>

<p>4) How is food on campus? How are the restaurants close to campus?
Years ago, before I visited the campus, I read in The Princeton Review that WashU’s food was rated in the top 5 in the nation. When I visited the campus, I could not stop eating. I remember eating a pizza with a savory crust that was crispy on the surface but chewy on the inside- topped with fresh mozarella, fragrant basil, and succulent tomato slices. I was soon to discover the wealth of food- the choices, the aromas, the tongue-tintillating flavors. Okay, so now I may be exaggerating, but the end point is- the food is delicious. And if you’re bored, you can always eat at Ibby’s, the on-campus ‘fancy’ restaurant, or Subway’s (ie $5 footlong and macadamia cookie, anyone?)</p>

<p>5) How preppy is the student body?
Hmmm. I think this one goes both ways. There are the preppy students, and there are the students like me (T-shirt wearing, flipflops during winter). The students here are generally financially well-off, but they also come with etiquette and sensitivity (not a ‘preppy’ condescending sneer, haha). So it’s not that preppy here, and you find students on both ends of the economic scale. </p>

<p>Lastly…
For science whizzes: I actually was (and still am!) crazy about science, and applied for WashU just for that reason. The hard sciences offerings at WashU are top-notch. I have done at least three independent research projects in the lab so far, starting my freshman year; a large proportion of undergrads do research in every department (engineering to basic research) WashU also has one of the top number of undergraduate funding for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Foundation. It’s really hard to go wrong with the WashU science program, and every year, WashU undergrads attend top graduate school programs (for example, I know several undergrads who eventually got into WashU biology department for graduate school as well as to Duke, Stanford, UNC, etc). The professors here are at the forefront of their research but are really caring teachers as well!"</p>

19

<p>Yeah, the writing activities (poetry, nonfiction, fiction) activities are definitely a plus for me. It’s been my dream (I’m a science nerd) to get into WashU. I’m reading all these acceptances and decision threads that I’m starting to feel anxious. Seriously, I can’t imagine why anyone would go to anywhere else but WashU, money matters aside.</p>

20

<p>I just remembered another reason:</p>

<h1>73. The administration is incredibly friendly and helpful. They are like the staff at an upscale restaurant- understanding of your questions and concerns, at the same time professional and efficient.</h1>