<ol>
<li><p>What are the strongest academic programs/fields at WashU? Is there a good balance of the humanities and sciences?
The pre med track is one of the best, and most competitive, in the entire country. That said, the humanities departments are exceptional (see [Record:</a> WUSTL is top 10 in 19 disciplines](<a href=“The Record - The Source - Washington University in St. Louis)%5DRecord:”>The Record - The Source - Washington University in St. Louis))). So yes there is a balance.</p></li>
<li><p>Does a lot of learning occur through student-student interaction outside of class? -I.E. how intellectual is the student body?
Lots of students form study groups. It’s a friendly place, and most students are very motivated. </p></li>
<li><p>How easy is it to form close relationships with professors?
Many professors are very approachable, and definitely do NOT have this ivy-league mentality that teaching undergrads is an annoyance. At harvard, some classes are really run by the TA’s. At WashU I had profs grading my papers, emailing me personally whenever I missed a class, inviting me over for dinner (happened three times for class dinner).</p></li>
<li><p>…to get funding for individual research or other projects?
This is sort of tricky. I mean, if you’re talking about forming a student group or club, that’s easy. Just petition SU, they have tons of money lying around. For academic research, it helps to be in some sort of scholarship program and to pay attention to department emails. Declare your major early and keep in touch with the profs in the department – ask them and they’ll give you opportunities…</p></li>
</ol>