Washington and Lee University Top Questions

It can be very homogenized, though many students come here for that reason. The school is trying to diversify, but its efforts have largely failed because the diverse groups tend to hang out with each other. There are a few gay men, who are treated with respect, though many more exist without coming out until after graduation. There are really no lesbians around. Gothic students/punk students are seen very rarely. There are more than average extremely wealthy students, but just as many students who come from humble backgrounds. Expect to spend a lot on cocktail dresses and designer clothes for women, and sports coats and ties for men. Buy a tuxedo your freshman year; it will save you money in the long run. Though students are very smart, they largely don't do protests. There are several socially aware organization on campus, but large scale movements don't happen here.

W&L is a somewhat homogeneous place, but that is not to say that we don't have any diversity at all. Over the past few years W&L has slowly become more and more diverse. Some people say that it takes a certian type of person to like W&L, "you either love it, or you hate it."

Students seem to be passively closed to differences in race, country, religion, sexual orientation, and socio-economic background. Most students wear flip flops, khakis, sun dresses, north face, work out spandex, and polos to class. Most people dress up (sun dresses) for football games. Predominately conservative. Students from almost every state and several different countries... there seem to be a fair bit of Texans here

The student that would strive at WnL would be competitive in the classroom, accepting of a large social scene, and have a decent amount of money to spend on extracurricular activities. It is true that the school has few minorities. If a minority student chooses to come here, he or she will have to understand that they probably will find a place to fit in, but there are students and parents who are ignorant about other people.

I have to admit, Washington & Lee does not have a tremendously diverse group of students. There is a large portion of wealthy southerners, and very few students from minority groups. The student body can also be somewhat divided by the Greek system, although I would say that the system as a whole is beneficial to the social experience at W&L.

Coming from Southern California, I experienced culture shock at W&L. There is definitely a white, Southern feel to the campus, and it tends to get very, very cliquish. Students tend to be conservative, though that seems to be changing... or perhaps it's just the journalism department. People dress up for class -- you won't find pajamas or sweats, unless there's some sort of designer label involved.

The students in general are also quite competent. There are very few slackers here, or even non-exceptional students. I am many times amazed to discover the depth of my friends' specialties and research projects. Besides

I would not suggest this school to my gay or lesbian friends, although it would be really nice to have more diversity, because the people I know here who are openly gay are sometimes treated quite poorly. Students are very politically active and are really quite evenly dispursed between right and left and extreme, in my opinion.

W&L is primarily heterosexual, WASP, Upper Echelon individuals. The administration is trying to recruit diversity. However, the student body despises diversity for the most part. If you don't have a lot of money, get a job and pretend like you do (this will help you fit it). Also, most people are politically conservative. There are a lot of racists and homophobes. Don't go here if you are not white, rich, and straight. You're life will be so much easier at state school. Also, if you are not from the Northeast, the South, or the Atlantic Coast (or California) go somewhere else. We hate diversity. Where you come from affects what Greek house you join.

The stereotype says that all W&L students are rich, white and southern. That's not true. There are a few students who are rich, white and northern ...