<p>in what area do YOU think washU is lacking? which courses/programs are weak?</p>
<p>thanks, I need to know all the negatives before I choose to go</p>
<p>I heard they gutted the mechanical engineering department from a friend’s mom. She is a graduate student there and she said that the new dean completely gutted the place.</p>
<p>They were doing construction in Lopata at the beginning of the semester last year (could still be going on, not an engineer, so not in Lopata often), but the actual department itself is still in existence (I have several mechanical engineering friends). They did get rid of the aerospace engineering program however.</p>
<p>I think the one thing they really need to improve on is their math department. Some of the Calculus professors are not very engaging and don’t teach as well as they could.</p>
<p>
Welcome to most universities… I’ve talked to my friends in the past, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard of engaging calc professors. Most of the time, I hear complaints about math professors not even speaking English, though Wash U seems to have a leg up in that department.</p>
<p>To be fair, once you get past the introductory calc classes, it’s better. Maybe it’s because the class composition shifts from predominantly non-math majors to almost entirely math majors.
Another downside/positive side, depending on which way you look at it–WashU’s premed curriculum is challenging. Good for if you are actually planning to use a lot of chemistry in your future life; not so good if you just need background chemistry for another biology path than medicine.</p>
<p>So, when you say that once you get past the Calc courses, it is “better,” does that mean it’s really good or just tolerable? I wonder how it would compare to University of Chicago’s math program?</p>
<p>well I know WashU is a beast as far the Putnam goes and WashU also offers a small honors-like class for select freshmen
I lack in details
but I know WashU’s math program is not weak
WashU has placed in the top 5 in the Putnam many times
including back-to-back 1st place finishes to start the 80s</p>
<p>
I heard that in this case it helps to take the chemistry courses “out of sequence” (i.e not at the same time that all the premeds are taking them)</p>
<p>I went to Northwestern and my eldest is at Wash U, youngest is going this fall. I love Wash U - having seen it through my kid’s eyes and as a parent. The school treats both categories extraordinarily well, as though we are doing them a favor sending them our children/attending… even though it is clear to all who were denied admission that the school is not welcoming to everyone. But… once a student is admitted, the school/administration/faculty is AMAZING. They are committed to our kid’s success -and happiness (not a typical concern.)</p>
<p>This said -
- No Big Ten Football. It’s not like we won games at Northwestern during my times there, but the games and tailgates and energy are FUN.</p>
<ul>
<li>No Chicago (or New York) in driving distance.</li>
</ul>
<p>That’s about it. My youngest chose Wash U over my alma mater Northwestern because of Wash U’s campus, and the happiness level of the students who attend. Look at all the college boards/rankings. Wash U. has few kids complaining in public (or in my experience, private.) In contrast, there seem to be multiple complaints about other schools, in many areas.</p>
<p>Wash U’s biggest issue (?) is that it is unknown outside of elite, knowledgable circles. Perhaps this will change as the graduates of the newer, eliter Wash U. enter the work world and suceed.</p>
<p>My S chose WashU over NU, as well. He’s a freshman who has never looked back on the decision. He loves it there. I will echo the lack of D1 sports, however, on the city proximity…while St L is no NY, Chicago, L.A., etc., the fact is that for the first couple of years, the students really do not take much advantage of the city they’re in. For instance, a close friend of mine sends his oldest to Duke…Durham is not exactly a booming metropolis…she is from the metro-NY area and it has never bothered her.</p>
<p>As for rep, all I can say is that over and over and over, when I tell people that my S is at WashU, the response is “wow” or “that’s the hottest school on the planet”. Now, of course, I’m biased, but as a parent, every time I visit the school I say to myself, how can you not want to go there.</p>
<p>My S chose Wash U over NU too! He going to graduate in May. Sad for him, but he is loves Wash U, as I do too! There is something so very special about that school!</p>
<p>ActuarialDJ,</p>
<p>Putnam performance has almost nothing to do with the quality of math department. College courses don’t teach/prepare you for Putnam exams. On the other hand, having a coach is a huge factor but most schools don’t have coaches and it’s difficult to form a team, let alone a competitive one, without a coach. The coach at WashU, who is an incredibly bright guy with great sense of humor, is a professor in their physics department, not math dept.</p>
<p>Actually, there are two coaches at WashU-one from the physics department, and one from the math department. But I agree that the Putnam is not a good measure of the math department itself.</p>
<p>^They used to just have Bender. I don’t know they have 2 now.</p>