Washington and Lee University Top Questions

When you first arrive at college, it will appear to be the greatest place on earth to you, and although this may continue throughout your four years, do not let the huge parties cloud your vision. Like Mom always says, the most important thing to get out of your college experience is an education. School and studying should always come first, and if you are diligent enough to get everything done and handed in on time, that is when you can go out and party. Remember to always keep and open mind to new opinions and classes you never thought you would take. Weather you choose to go Greek or not, you will always make friends. Be true to yourself and never try to change who you are to impress someone; if they do not like the real you, then they are not a real friend. Join clubs that sound interesting, embrace the endless opportunities that college has to offer and never say you don't like something until you have tried it. The most important thing is to leave college having no regrets. Everything you do you should do it 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}, otherwise, what is the point?

DO NOT GO TO WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY. The people are shallow and self-absorbed and they lack wordliness. They are aware of their deficiencies but make no attempt to change them. Rape is very common and men have no respect whatsoever for women. AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS!

Students and parents should look very closely at what the college/university they are considering has to offer them, such as, majors, minors, social events, financial aid, academic advising, and athletics. Although a school may look impressive in one aspect it may fail to meet your standards in another. As for me, I chose a school with an impressive pre-med program, but now after my first year I have decided that I no longer am interested in pre-med. Instead, I would like to become a physical therapist/something in sports medicine, but my school does not offer a program for that so now I have to transfer to pursue my major. But my decision to attend my university was not all bad. At first I thought I wanted to attend a big university such as the University of Michigan with 40,000+ undergraduates, but after attending my university with just around 2,000 undergraduates I have realized that I would have been lost at a big university. Smaller classes allow the professors to get to know their students on a more personal level. In conclusion, make sure there's a place for you at your college/university.

Go with what feels right.

Don't allow anyone to influence your decision. Don't go somewhere just because your best friend or boyfriend/girlfriend is going there. Pick the college that you feel is best for you and your life plans. If you're rooming with someone, let it be random. You may not like your roomate, but you can always change. Don't room with someone you know from home. College is a time for new experiences and new people. Your roommate can help you on that journey. Don't change yourself just to fit into the "average" kid at your university. There are always people who are like you. Take the time to find them. Study hard, but don't forget that you'll only have this experience once. Get out there, make friends, and have fun. Look towards the future, but remember to live in today as well.

Don't base your opinion of a school on one visit. Visit as many times as you can if you feel that you have a good chance of going to school there. And visit during the school year.

Tour the school when the weather is nice, it will give a much better impression. Research the schools you are looking at thoroughly, and if possible stay there for a weekend or accepted students' day. For financial aid, get that done early. Also look for schools in an area or region that you want to live in, and decide whether you would like a rural, small-town setting or a big city. That can greatly affect your college experience. As for making the most of that college experience, remember your friends are just as important as your academics. Don't slack off, but don't let your studies keep you from enjoying yourself. College is about learning how the world works in both an abstract educational setting and in terms of social interactions. You will learn a great deal about yourself and the kind of person you want to be; embrace it, and most importantly enjoy the precious few years you have as a college student.

No matter what college you select, your experience there will have incredible highs and lows. Whether you expect to or not, you will inevitibly learn much about yourself during your years at college. Thus in selecting a school, in addition to all the other important criteria, consider what college will best support you in this journey. Granted it is exceedingly difficult to determine if a school offers you that from brief visits, but approaching a school form this perspective could illuminate your choice. Wherever you go, even if you discover that the school is not what you expected, consider all your time there as an opportunity to gain new skills and interact with different people you never thought you would. Believe me, the four years go quickly, and in the end even those lows will be fond memories.

The best college must do much more than just educate. The student and school should enhance and preserve one another while inspiring growth. Don?t let SAT or AP scores be your primary focus. Keeping that in mind, list your criteria: rural or urban, in-state or out, large or small, etc. Compile a list of schools that match. Visit the campuses. Talk to students. Ask questions. But here is the secret: the best school chooses the student. When you walk onto a campus and feel butterflies, when you keep thinking about it weeks after visiting, when you picture yourself thriving there ? the decision is made for you. You just need to recognize it. It might not match your criteria perfectly, but it matches you perfectly. To make the most out of college, remember that sense of possibility and pride inspired by your acceptance letter. Under the weight of class work, social pressures, extracurricular responsibilities and the unfortunate human need for sleep, you will occasionally lose perspective and hope. Don?t fear failure. Step back. Refocus. Ask for help. Remember that goals evolve. Learning to evolve with them is the key to opening the right doors and having no regrets.

Visit the campus if you can before you make your decision - the most important thing is finding somewhere where you'll fit in. If you're not comfortable with the campus, you won't do well.