<p>Great questions 4ChicksMom! </p>
<p>First, the “southern” thing – I understand that there is a southern vibe to W&L given its location and traditions, but the students really are from everywhere (85% OOS). And I don’t see it as being much more socially southern (what does that really mean, anyway, other than perhaps Greek oriented?) than my other son’s midwestern LAC. In fact, my son’s W&L brothers and housemates are predominantly not southern. Although frats may tend to have geographic tilts, I am not aware that the sororities do given their larger sizes. </p>
<p>As for money, well, we let our son know that there are going to be many students with more and some with less and it has never once been an issue. We have always had him pay for all his extras above tuition ($0, bless him and W&L), room and board, and he has done so from the money he earns over the summer and during the school year in his campus job. I would say the one aspect in which he has “felt” the family income differential would be that he has had to earn/save money to spend during the school year over the summer, whereas some others were able to study abroad/do unpaid internships. But I strongly believe it has not hurt him, socially or otherwise. No one seems to care, if they even notice.</p>
<p>One thing that distinguishes W&L, also, is the high number/percentage of W&L students with merit/need scholarships – this makes a very noticeable impact on economic diversity. I honestly feel that my alma mater, which does not have comparable aid for students, is far less economically diverse. </p>
<p>Secondly, and I believe more importantly, the “extras” cost of being a student at W&L (off campus food, entertainment, gas, off campus housing) has turned out to be far less for him than for his friends at other schools. There is just not as much to spend your money on in Lexington. And W&L students continue the tradition of making their own social lives, through campus-centered activities and parties that are open to all students of all ages without charge. And the Traveller system makes it possible for everyone to participate with a safe and free ride. </p>
<p>It’s always been my impression as well that girls pay less than guys, primarily bc the frat dues is so much higher than sorority dues given that they fund the parties. Of course that may be balanced out by the great equalizers – wardrobe and “maintenance” costs ;)</p>
<p>My son has virtually no time/occasion to spend money on going out to off-campus clubs and concerts. When he does, it’s usually a planned social event (often on a chartered bus, sometimes a sporting event) with his W&L friends or to meet up with a friend from another school. He eats at home and at his frat (cost of dining plan covers this) every day, only occasionally going out to restaurants – and there are plenty of student values around town for that. </p>
<p>As I recall, when he was looking at schools, there was some estimate of what a student at each school spends each week and I was somewhat surprised at how much less W&L kids spend than their counterparts on campuses located in cities/suburbs/more expensive areas of the country, where students take their social lives to non-school venues more frequently, resulting in more spending and social segregation based on who can afford that and who can get into the clubs. I have found support for that in what I have heard anecdotally from his friends at such schools. For example, one of his best friends, a student at Georgetown, told me it’s cheaper and more fun to road trip to W&L (3 hrs) than to go out there! After my son has visited this friend in DC, he has commented that he had a great time but is glad he doesn’t have to regularly spend that kind of money to have fun at W&L and that at W&L everyone can come out – there are no fake ids (not just illegal at W&L, but an Honor violation!!!), no cover or drink charges, and the party belongs to “them” rather than the public. </p>
<p>To each his own, but I feel pretty confident in saying that you don’t have to have a ton of money to have a great W&L experience.</p>
Methinks our son actually may have found “the one” at W&L … but that’s completely up to them! Whatever the future may hold, he’s one happy General right now.</p>