Can you comment on the culture at each school? How hard do they play if “work hard/play hard” is motto. (Is it pretty extreme socializing, out every night etc.?) Or, conversely, is it too serious and needs a bit more play? Do any of them strike the balance?
Looking for some spirit and fun, but not extremely social.
Understand the academics…really more a culture question.
I had a friend from high school who use the phrase “work hard and play hard” to describe herself and her fiance. Five years later, he was killed when he fell asleep at the wheel on New Year’s Eve.
That phrase would be a red flag for me. I would take it to mean heavy drinking and very rowdy behavior.
Hi there. I had a kid at Vandy and one at Wake – both were wonderful experiences. I can’t comment on WashU. I think that “work hard, play hard” moniker gets tossed around about lots of schools but I think it more intended to describe “balance”. Both of my kids are serious students but very social. Neither ever went out “every night” – I don’t think they would have graduated in 4 years if they had!
I would describe both of my kid’s experiences at these schools as academically very strong, but lots of fun. Vanderbilt (in my opinion) has become much more of a pressure cooker than when S1 started in 2009 so the culture may have shifted a bit although I could be wrong. Vanderbilt also has Nashville, which is a huge draw to all the kids wanting to find bars, restaurants, more bars, etc.
We felt Wake offered a more campus-oriented experience which was awesome. S2 and all his friends had boat loads of fun, but were all also very involved in campus life, joining groups, participating in philanthropy events, etc. It was very much a culture of the school and the “personality” of the student body. Winston-Salem is no Nashville, but is a nice town with enough restaurants, bars, etc. for those seeking that.
Thanks!
Indeed.
Ron Liebowitz, the president of Middlebury College, believed that the work hard, play hard mentality was an appreciable problem and entitled his '08 baccalaureate speech "Reflections on “Work Hard, Play Hard”
Ron discusses the salient points about halfway through the speech.
There are interesting observations worth reflection.
http://www.middlebury.edu/about/president/past/ronald-liebowitz/addresses/archive/baccalaureate2008/node/177871
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