Washington University in St Louis Top Questions

The best thing about WashU.. I really can't narrow it down to one so I will say- 1. the whole student body is genuine and really cares about you, 2. the school runs SO efficiently (Chancellor Wrighton really knows what he's doing), 3. The campus is gorgeous -Something I would change.. easier science classes. -Size.. just perfect! -Response to "WashU".. most people honestly have no clue what WashU is, especially from my hometown, about 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the people think I go to college in Washington State or something. -College town.. somewhere inbetween.. Clayton is low key enough so you can stay in a "bubble" if you really want to but St. Louis city is so close you can really get out and explore as much as you want -Administration.. amazing! again, everyone really wants to see the students do well and enjoy life at WashU-- advisors, faculty, etc. are always availible to talk to and will help you out however they can! -School pride.. certainly lacking on campus I'd say, mostly due to the lack of major sports teams, but I feel like it doesn't compromise my enjoyment of WashU for the most part -Unusual.. fried ravioli, you have to try it.

Best thing about Wash.U.: Friday night basketball games. Yeah, it's D3, but we have a blast. The school is also a great size and very geared toward the undergraduate population which is awesome School pride is big, though not necessarily in the athletics sense. That said, basketball games have gotten huge in the last couple years and are incredibly fun. Without D1 sports, though, people just aren't gonna get hopped up for games other than hoops. I wish kids were a bit more socially and emotionally intelligent. We have some of the most book smart people in the world, but they often don't have a clue as to how to interact or think outside of their narrow academic boxes.

best thing about washu: the people size is just right people don't know about WashU and it is such an amazing school. get the word out about it! spend most of my time on campus chilling with friends or doing work. administration does a great job for us. so much school pride, everyone i know here is happy to be here!

I enjoy it when people ask me where I go to school, only to discover they've never heard of Wash U. I live three hours away, yet plenty of people from home don't know Wash U is in St. Louis. I'm glad that I can be proud of where I go to school, but at the same time I don't seem like I'm bragging by telling people where I go. The biggest recent controversy on campus was a student movement against the administration to bring presidential candidates to campus to speak for free. The administration cited legal and logistical reasons for not allowing Barack Obama to come speak. While these are probably very legitimate reasons, the students were still very upset. Wash U is in a great location. We're essentially in St. Louis, with easy access to the City Museum, major league sports events, concerts, musicals, etc. We're also a self-contained campus, so the campus is relatively compact. There are also two MetroLink stops on campus, for which we get free passes, so St. Louis is literally a couple stops away. It's perfect. The Loop on Delmar is also a fifteen-minute walk away, with "college-town" shops, restaurants, etc. My favorite aspect of Wash U's location is Forest Park, which is across the street from campus. Whether for a run, playing ultimate frisbee, going for a bike ride, going sledding down art hill, going for a walk, or going to the science center, Forest Park is a wonderful asset to Wash U. The most frequent student complaints are the lack of variety and healthy options in campus dining. Wash U's food is really very good, but we all get sick of having practically the same menu everywhere. Although cost is probably an issue at every school, students frequently get upset at substantial cost increases in tuition, room, board, and fees every year. Many of us also feel like Health Services is inconvenient and not as effective as it should be. There is not a lot of attendance to varsity sports, yet there is "school pride" in the sense that students are proud to be part of the Wash U community. One of my more unique experiences was winning the intramural inner tube water polo tournament two years in a row. One of my favorite unique activities Wash U offers is Residential College Olympics, a Saturday full of free t-shirts, food, and all sorts of games: ultimate, soccer, basketball, tug-of-war, ping pong, foosball, euchre, dodgeball, flag football, etc. It's awesome.

the name to something shorter and more unique if it werent too late already or number of foreigners, we need more diversity hardly any europeans, south americans. most people dont know the school. not a college town but definitely not a metropolitan.

Wash U is the perfect size to have an intimate college experience but also to realize that there are a lot of people on campus that you don't know. The diversity in beliefs is amazing, from religions to priorities to upbringing. You name and there is probably someone here who is that. Not many people know about Wash U, it's not a big name around the country, even though we are very good academically. I find that to be good, because there is no annoying arrogance or ego associated with the school like many other top notch universities.

The best thing about WashU are the people. Everyone is very intelligent, but still very down-to-earth. Given the high academic demands of the school, the atmosphere on campus could be ultra-competitive and selfish, but it's not. Students are willing to help each other do well in classes, study groups allow students to work together to come to a better understanding of concepts, and the kids who are doing the best in classes can usually be found helping kids who aren't doing as well as they like. That atmosphere allows a lot of learning - for all involved - to take place.

The best thing about Wash U is that most of the faculty and staff are very accessible, personable, and interested in helping students succeed. The one thing I would change is the somewhat arbitrary complication of the Arts and Sciences cluster system. The school is just the right size for me. Most people are impressed when I tell them I go to Wash U. I spend most of my time on campus either in class or at my job at the library. I come from St. Louis, so the city's "college town" status--or lack thereof--makes no difference to me; it's the same city to me. Wash U's administration seems a bit overcomplicated--I wouldn't be surprised if there were a Dean of Dirt, Dust, Mud, and Other Stuff on the Ground. The biggest recent school-related controversy may have been the introduction of gender-neutral housing on campus, but the biggest recent general controversy was probably Alberto Gonzales' visit. There seems to be a lot of school pride, at least judging by the amount of Wash U clothing worn on campus. The most unusual thing about Wash U is the constant construction uglifying the campus while groundskeepers regularly change the flowers to keep the campus pretty; meanwhile, St. Louis weather is doing its best to keep everything ugly, everywhere, all the time. The first memory that comes to mind that I will probably always remember is my German 1 instructor realizing that I was dressed as her on Halloween. The most frequent complaints usually have something to do with how inefficient and slow to change Wash U is.

Wash U is the perfect size -- not just a few thousand like a highschool, and not so big that you'll get lost in the crowd. Most people don't know about Wash U. Many are mistaken when they think we're located in the state of Washington. Most people I know stay on campus the majority of the time. Some underclassmen go out to clubs on Thursday nites. Many students go out to dinner off campus. I think most students are happy they go to Wash U, but there isn't much school pride when it comes to sports at all. Our campus has many pesky squirrels and rabbits.

The biggest recent controversy on campus involved the Dean of Engineering. She is terrible, and pretty much everyone hates her, students, alumni, and faculty. Finally, she resigned, which made everyone very happy, with the obvious exception of the Dean and the Chancellor. I spend the majority of my time on campus in the engineering school. I have spent so many nights there I can't even count, but I now know where all the most comfortable couches are. It's getting better as Wash U gets more prestigious, but I still get the response of "Oh, is that in Washington, D.C. or Washington state?"

I often wish Wash U had more networking opportunities in my area of interest, but overall there are a lot of very successful alums and quite a broad range of networks. I like the size of the school, not too big, but not too small. When I'm at home (a small town) most people don't know where Wash U is or that it is such a great school, but when people do know of the school they are generally impressed. One of the most recent controversies affecting me was all the problems with the Engineering School dean. She wasn't communicating changes within the school very well, and students were getting very upset. Very recently she decided to step down after this semester, so we are waiting to see who gets appointed as the new Dean of the Engineering School. There is definitely a lack of school pride at Wash U. I wish there was more so I had something or someone to root for. I don't know if there ever will be school pride, but there are athletics and ways to get involved if you want, just don't expect a huge crowd come to support you. I'll always remember my freshman convocation. Everyone goes through convocation freshman year, its somewhat of a bonding and welcoming experience, and of course no one will ever forget the free Ted Drewes at the end.

Compared to your Stanfords or Dukes, Wash U is a relative newcomer to that privileged bunch that turns away the bulk of its applicants. ESPN broadcasters don’t name-drop our basketball players and no one goes to St. Louis for its weather; a lot people don’t even know that Washington University in St. Louis is, in fact, in St. Louis. But there is definitely a sense around here that Wash U is a school on the rise and its cool to be part of that. The school is flush with money; the administration has spent millions on constructing new buildings and recruiting world-renowned faculty. We now have dorms that have more in common with the lodging at Disneyland than a traditional college dorm. You can order crepes at our dining halls or take advantage of abundant funding for student groups and projects. I doubt I am the only one, however, who wonders whether these perks really justify a $50,000 a year price tag. Sometimes it seems as though the administration lavishes more money and attention on its buildings than its students. Wash U, like much of its competition, charges for everything: to use the Internet, to print at the library, to use outdated exercise facilities. The nicest dorms cost over $1,000 a month in rent and you can expect to pay $6 or $7 for the convenience of buying a box of cereal on campus. In its defense, the administration has begun to address some of these issues by bundling some fees into room and board. Increasingly, however, the people in charge seem slow to respond to the issues students have with current policies. This spring, for instance, the Chancellor refused an offer from Barack Obama to speak on campus for free on the weekend before Super Tuesday on the grounds that doing so would be a costly distraction and require the school to host any presidential candidate who wished to speak here. A lot of students thought this was a pretty flimsy excuse, especially in light of the fact that the College Republicans brought Mike Huccabee on campus last spring and paid Alberto Gonzales $35,000 for a half-hour speech this winter. For the most part, however, students are really happy to be at Wash U. The size of the school is perfect; intimate enough to see people you know everywhere you go, large enough to constantly meet new people. And despite all of the facility improvements and stellar academics, it’s the people that make Wash U a stellar place. True assholes are a rare breed on campus. Almost everyone is approachable and friendly in a Midwestern sort of way. School spirit is difficult when you play DIII sports and you share part of your name with a dozen other schools, but people bond easily enough through their freshmen floor, mutual friends, extracurriculars, and Greek life.

The great thing about Wash U is that it is the perfect size- it leaves room for diversity without making the campus impersonal or run-of-the-mill. A lot of the activity revolves around campus wide events and takes place on campus property, however there are many opportunities to get off of campus and find involvement within the Saint Louis community. One issue is that it is difficult for freshman to leave campus, and it is often necessary to use cars to get around the city. The school administration is attentive to students needs and the quality of life on campus, however it does not seem to emphasize issues of financial assistance. Students exhibit pride in the school, but more in terms of the academic opportunities and less in reference to sports or other traditional forms of "school spirit." Campus security has been a recent hot topic due to infiltrations of non-students and several isolated incidences, however it seems that the university is taking drastic measures to prevent the recurrence of these issues.

The best thing about Wash U is the people; everybody is so smart but so nice and always willing to help. I wish WashU had more of a sports environment and was on the East Coast. I feel the school is just right; I know lots of people but there are many that I haven't met yet. Most people have not heard of it, however, the people that do know about Wash U give high praise. The name might not be Harvard but the school is just as good. I spend most of my time on campus, there are not many things to do in the city. The administration is very friendly and willing to listen to your concerns. One of the biggest controversies on campus was the Dean of Engineering, she was making radical changes that many people did not agree with. She has since decided to resign at the end of the semester. There is not a lot of school pride. The alcohol policy is unique. WashU treats its students as adults and allow them to make their own decisions. The most frequent complaints are about the weather, St. Louis weather is sporadic and can go to extreme cold to heat.

The best part of WashU is the South 40. The South 40 is forty acres south of main campus where every freshman and most sophomores live. There are also some juniors and seniors as well. There are new dorms and old (traditional) dorms that are in the process of being replaced. In the middle of the 40 is “the swamp” which is a grass quad complete with picnic tables, basketball court, and playground. One of my favorite activities is watching the Belegarth group battle with foam swords in the middle of the swamp. There are also two dining places, a mailroom, and a supermarket on the 40. With lots of students living on campus, housing is the hardest part about being at WashU. While there is plenty of room for people to live on campus, and as far as I know most people stay in WashU housing the entire time, the housing application process is arduous. Every student gets a lottery number and groups of students form petitions for where they want to live. Rarely is everybody satisfied by living arrangements, although ResLife tries to give you your first choices. The campus itself is beautiful. Often you will see top care workers planting new flowers in the dead of winter, all in the name of keeping the campus pretty. Every building looks the same, made out of the same Missouri Limestone. If that’s your cup of tea, then you will fall in love; the buildings are gorgeous and there is a great mix of old buildings and brand new buildings. But beware: the school is ALWAYS under construction. St. Louis as a town is great, featuring plenty of nightlife in many different places all over the city. The school is located in University City, home of Nelly and Chingy. Also the campus is on “the loop,” a very trendy section of the city featuring restaurants, concert venues, boutiques, and tattoo parlors. Another added benefit is the school is situated across the street from Forest Park, the third largest urban park in the country. Everything inside the park is free, including the zoo and many museums, much to the delight of college students everywhere. Speaking of money, St. Louis is very reasonably priced. Apartments are cheap and so is food. WashU is expensive. And, the tuition has risen every year I have been here. It also seems that the administration spends money on poor choices as well. Recently, Alberto Gonzales was paid 30K to speak on campus. The event caused much controversy in the way the university is spending money. Also, there were a few campus events that were expensive recently that nobody came to.

The most popular shirt on campus says, "Wash U Pride, it's in St. Louis dammit." That pretty much sums up the reaction we have when we try to tell other people where we go to school. I am from FL and the first response I usually get is "O, Wash U, is that in Seattle?" kindly responding, "No, in St. Louis..." only get a more disappointing response of "Why the hell would you move to Missouri!" Wash U is a good mix of really focused academic students, and well, the more social students. The environment is way more relaxed than some other campuses I visited and people are pretty friendly. The campus is beautiful, including historical collegiate Gothic architecture and brand new similarly designed facilities that are up to date with 21st century technology. The students here complain a lot about the food, but in the grand scheme of things, I think Wash U is rated among the top schools for food. It's always a topic of conversation, as I am sure dining is on every campus. More recent hot topics here revolve around the political world. Alberto Gonzales came to speak on our campus, Barack Obama was turned away from speaking directly on campus (though he came to the Edward Jones Dome for a rally anyhow), in effort to stay neutral before Wash U hosts the VP debates next fall. Students are gathering to discuss these controversial issues, igniting political activism. It is a wake up call and I think everyone is learning more about what's going on in our government and country in effort to be educated voters. I am looking forward to more speakers and debate coming to campus in the near future. St. Louis, not the most exciting city I have ever been to, but a good place to explore and experience different flavors of culture around town. There are a ton of different places to eat and a few different areas to go out in. I think many people think it is a much more 21 and up friendly town, though. With our graduate schools, SLU and Fontbonne campuses nearby, there are a lot of college students to be found, though St. Louis would definitely not be classified as a "college town." I could go on forever about how I love Wash U and probably only complain about the ridiculously random weather we get here. If you would like more of my opinion I'd love to speak more with you on the phone.