Washington and Lee University Top Questions

The stereotypes are somewhat accurate, but perhaps exaggerated. Except for the southern part -- That's not really accurate.

yes

We are rich and smart, mostly, but we are not really snobby. I've found that at private schools and colleges people are generally more secure with their wealth, so they don't flaunt it.

Like all steretypes, to a certain extent, but probably not the extent of our reputation.

yes.

to a certain extent

The work hard - play hard stereotype is true. With the greek system, there is always a party going on. However, everyone still gets their work done before class time. However, the lack of diversity stereotype is false. Many students are international, many are on financial aid, and there's something different about everyone.

For the most part.

To some extent. But there really is a place for almost every one, unless you are very alternative. Students who come here with a punk/west coast lean find themselves migrating to a more conservative look. Students don't compromise work for play, or play for work, they just don't sleep. If you don't get carried away by the party scene, you will graduate with a coveted agree and wicked cocktail party and networking skills.

In many ways, yes. There are plenty of exceptions. While the school is overwhelmingly preppy and rich currently there are student who fall into neither category. And the new scholarship program allows the university to bring in more students from a large variety of socio-economic backgrounds. Alcohol is readily available for anyone who wants it, but the student who chooses not to drink is highly respected and never pressured. We work hard and play hard, partying three to four nights a week. There are a lot of White Anglo-Saxon Protestants to fit the WASPY stereotype, but anyone not fitting in these categories will not feel out of place.

There is obviously an element of truth to this. The majority of us are part of the Greek system. Therefore it is understandable that the party scene is a major part of this school. We are also predominately a white student body. What needs to be understood is that most of us do have a balance between our academics and social life. The party scene is a way of escaping out tremendous workload for a little while.

describes about 80{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the school I would guess...so the stereotype has some basis in truth

No. The school has been doing a great job recruiting students from all backgrounds. In my time here I have met people from all different walks of life. There are blacks, whites, Indians, Southern, Northern, and other. We are becoming more diverse and learning to accept different groups.

not necessarily

There is a significant portion of the student body that fits that description, but every year the school is becoming more and more diverse, with students now from all sorts of different backgrounds.

95{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of men and 75{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of women are members of Greek organizations, so I'd say that stereotype is pretty true. The rich/privileged/elitist/alcoholic/cokehead stereotype is true for about 25{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the students. Over 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of students are white and from an upper-middle-class background. However, there is also a lot of diversity that you don't hear about. The minority of students who don't fit the white/rich mold come from all over the world and all sorts of backgrounds. The real problem is that this group doesn't mix much with the rich-frat-boy group.

To a point, yes; however, you'll always find exceptions to the rule. Quite a few people abstain from drinking altogether, and there are quite a few who are independent of the Greek system. The pearls part, unfortunately, is very true.

Absolutely. Not all students fit the stereotype, but enough do to where it's impossible to avoid that type of person.

i would say im a middle class liberal who drinks too much

Though most upperclass males (~85-90{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}) are Greek-affiliated, there is a strong independent community as well. There are some students, especially freshmen, who decide to party almost every night, but they generally pay the academic consequences. Students are almost universally friendly and helpful, and though racial bias is certainly a reality among some students / Greek organizations, most students are open and accepting of others. The political leanings of the students and faculty are generally conservative, but there is still a wide variety. Many, perhaps most, students are pre-occupied with the dramas of the Greek system, with social standing, and with appropriately preppy/fratty dress. This does not usually interfere with the general friendliness and accepting attitude that pervades our campus, however. A large proportion of the student body hails from the Southern states, and many are very concerned with appearing "Southern," even to the point of affecting accents (ex: KKG). We are mostly white, and though efforts are being made to bring in more students of other races/nationalities, the proportion of such students is still quite low.