Washington and Lee University Top Questions

Credit load compared to other colleges is really low - 12 or 13 credits per semester, with one 4-credit mini semester at the end of the year. It's easy to get B+s, kind of hard to get As.

The classes here are small, but you still have to make an effort to get to know the professors because they will not seek you out. The small community is overrated, and I often feel like I have missed out on the resources and opportunities of a big university. I was astonished at how easy the classes were compared to high school, and I often wonder how many of the students here managed to get in. I thought this was supposed to be a top-notch school, but so far it reminds me more of a community college in the caliber of its education.

Most professors are passionate about what they teach and definitely know their stuff. The classes are tough, and the workload is heavy most of the time. Fortunately the professors are great about being available through office hours and will answer any e-mail you send them. Since we're a liberal arts school we get to take a wide variety of classes outside our major. I think this school does a good job of preparing students for succesful careers while exposing them to subjects that provoke some deep thought. I'm an Econ major, but one of my most interesting classes here was a course in Acting. Generally though most classes are interesting, students are heavily involved in discussion, and everyone here works hard for good GPAs.

The academic life may be my favorite part about W&L, though of course it's only a fraction of what the school has to offer. There are no TAs and professors always have their doors open to talk, and I've been to some of their houses for dinner. Yes, classes are very hard, but it's worth it.

My largest class was 27 students (Macro Economics). The professors will always know your name and they will remember you for your entire W&L career. They are personally interested in your growth and success. It is very common for students to go to coffee with professors or to even go over to their houses for dinner on occasion. This does not mean that classes are easy--in fact they are quite difficult. I have never worked so hard, but it is manageable. I have time to double major, teach riding lessons, and be involved in my sorority and other clubs on campus. Students are competitive, but not in a cut-throat way. They all want to do well, but they will bend over backwards to help others who are directly competing against them. We're a community here and we act like it in all aspects of our life, including academics.

The small size of the student body lends itself to an intimate academic atmosphere. Professors actually care about you and get to know you. Since all classes are taught by full professors, students never skip class because they feel it's "not worth it to go." There generally exists an open door policy, meaning that professors will drop what they're doing to meet with you whenever their office door is open.

My Poverty 101 class last year had 9 students, and it met every day so I got to know the students in my class and my professor very very well. We all joked with each other and were a tight, close-knit family by the end of the term. It was also an intensely discussion-based course, so the 55 minutes of class flew by each and every day. The professor did a fantastic job of getting us to work out our opinions on our own, rather than spoon-feeding us what he wanted us to learn. He challenged our beliefs, made us think, and taught us so so much. The quality of teaching at W&L is unrivaled. Profesors are all extremely qualified and many have been published and are well-known names in their field. While many conduct research during summers or even during the year, they are primarily at W&L to teach. At W&L you will not find yourself in class with a professor who is at the University to do research and teach on the side, teaching is very much the first priority for all Professors. Along the same lines, there are no TAs at W&L. The only classes with any kind of teaching assistant are the introductory level language courses, and those assitants are international students studying at W&L employed by the university to meet with students individually and aid them in language development process. They do not teach the class but are there for development of conversation skills and other important aspects of the languge learning process. Students at W&L care a lot about success in their classes but that doesn't stop students from helping each other out. Even though classes are a challenge, the atmosphere is not competitive. Study groups are common, students often edit each other's papers, and discussion of class matter outside of class is a typical occurrence. While W&L has a reputation for a raging party scene and consistent underage drinking, students also take responsibility for their studies in as passionate a way. If there was a school that epitomized the phrase "work hard, party hard", W&L would be it.

Professors at W&L are amazing. They know your name, have you to their homes for dinner, and give you their personal phone numbers in case you need help with the assignment for that night. One of my best classroom experiences at W&L was Philosophy 142: Modern Philosophy with visiting Professor Terjesen. I had never taken a Philosophy class before coming to Washington and Lee and have to admit that I was afraid I would find the subject matter boring or irrelevant. I was surprised when the exact opposite occurred. Professor Terjesen, a movie and pop culture buff, is able to relate all the material we learn to movies or other media relevant to the present-day. For example, when we were learning about Descartes’ metaphysical solipsism, a complicated name for Descartes’ belief that he can only prove his own existence, Professor Terjesen stopped his lecture to show the class a brief clip from Family Guy in which a character “watches” everyone in town through a cardboard TV. So, in that character’s mind, he was the only one who really existed, and thus he could only prove his own existence. The crazy examples Prof. Terjesen comes up with really help me to remember philosophical concepts that I would probably otherwise find too complicated to grasp. He makes sure everyone in the class understands even the most difficult of subject matters by presenting it in both a unique and informative manner.

At the end of the term the professors will know everyones name even in the largest classes (which are around 40 people). Professors are usually very willing to work hard with you outside of class to make sure you are getting everything. Most classes in the history department are small and discussion based. Class participation is crucial but also makes the classes dynamic and engaging. Students are not super competetive, they are willing to talk outside of class and work together-when it is permitted. The academic requirements are easy to fufill and interesting. The teachers really teach you how to learn, analyze, and argue. As a result almost everyone gets a job or into a graduate program.

overshadowed by the fraternities. don't go there for the academics.

Academic life at W&L is intense. The small class sizes help the students, however, and it is easy to develop relationships with professors. The professors know your name, will email you when you miss class, and generally care about your performance. My favorite classes have been interactive, requiring preparation prior to class as well as in class participation. It is common to meet and become friends with students in your classes because most of the out of class work is done in groups. Homework is rare but difficult. Most of the classes I have taken have required lots of reading but the reading really helps the classroom move smoothly. The liberal arts requirement ensures that students take classes in all areas, and I've actually found that the classes outside my major are interesting. One of my favorite classes was my Geology lab I took during Spring term, where it was my only class. We were in the field everyday and learned geology through hands on experience. It is much easier to remember and understand topics when you've seen them firsthand. The education at W&L both prepares students for real world jobs and it also promotes students to explore areas that they are interested in.

Professors are great but there are exceptions. In the journalism department, everyone is a kind, giving person who wants to know about you and your life. Teaching does not stop after the class bell rings. I'm biased, but I think anything in the C-School sucks. Students study a lot, but that doesn't mean it's the only thing that happens (by far not true). Career services is a good resource, but if you're not a c-school major or planning on going to grad school, there's not much they can do to help you get a job.

Professors are always available and invested in your academic progress because classes are small enough that they can focus on you as an individual. Classes are often combine several disciplines, professors bring current events and campus issues into class discussions, and wide range of materials are used in studies. There is also a large amount of opportunity for creativity and specialized study. Anything that interests you, no matter how obscure, there is bound to be a professor

Academics are tough at W&L and a main focus of students. During the week the library is a very lively place. Being a liberal arts university, students are able to take a broad variety of classes. I'm an econ/politics major, but I have taken courses such as geology, environmental studies, discrete math, and an english lit course. We also don't declare our majors until the end of sophomore year, which allows students freedom to take courses and figure out what subjects they would like to pursue.

I've never had a class over 30 people. I've never had a t.a., even for lab. I know the students in my major and all the professors, and what's more, I like them.

I do not have a single complaint about the academics at W&L. I have had a wonderful education thus far, and KNOW that I would not have gotten a more indepth, hands-on education at any other school. The one on one connection with the professors is outstanding, the professor knows every students name. My largest class was twenty people. I have found myself endless challenged, but more fulfilled than I knew was possible. I have found myself enlightened and intellectually stimulated, everything I had hoped for out of college.

Last year I had an independent study. I don't know what that means at most schools, but here it is literally just you and the professor. Most of my friends still don't believe that the school would "waste" resources by offering a 3 credit course for just one person, but it happened. Of course I found both pros and cons for the class. The pros: 1) I really got to know the Professor, 2) I studies something that only I was interested in, 3) I was able to ask questions without the fear of embarrassment... The cons: 1) skipping was impossible, 2) it was very noticeable if I hadn't studied. The pros definitely outweigh the cons.

Academic life at W&L is very rigorous- W&L has a reputation for academics and professors hold students to very high standards. Everyone at W&L takes schoolwork very seriously, despite any stereotypes claiming that W&L students are just out to have a good time. Students come to W&L to get a quality education and to maximize their opportunities, and they take a lot of initiative in doing so.

Class participation is very common, and students take their academics seriously. The library is usually busy almost every day of the week. Professors are invested in their students, and often prefer to work with undergraduates doing research over the summer. My favorite class at Washington and Lee was a Biopsychology class called "Brain and Behavior," it is a "must-take" class at W&L for non-science and science majors alike!

The professors are tough and the workload is heavy. The academics are not, however, impossible. The small size makes it really easy to talk to professors and get help when you need it. Also, the work load isn't so demanding that you can't have a social life or get involved in extracurricular activities.