Washington University in St Louis Top Questions

I graduated college with so much more than a diploma in my hand and a few fun facts in my brain. Most importantly, Washington University in St. Louis provided me with tools to develop into the successful adult that was buried somewhere deep inside my nervous, 21-year-old, graduating self. These tools came in several different forms. The first is represented by the structure my mind applies to a variety of problems, be they academic or every day. The first tool was the gift of methodological and logical--but creative--thinking. The second tool was more tangible: a career counseling service that could work compassionately and realistically with me on all my strengths and weaknesses. Third, during my time at Wash U, I accumulated many friends (and friends of friends). This group consists not only of my emotional support network, but also of an extended, professional network. Finally, Wash U provided me with a standard. I use this standard to set the bar for the graduate programs to which I apply, the researchers for whom I work, the friends with whom I keep company, and, most importantly, the high standard to which I hold myself.

I went in to this experience with an open mind and few expectations. I wanted college to be what it was, not what I imagined it was going to be. Thus, I tried to take off the rose-colored glasses when I walked through the doors. Each day is a new challenge. I have never been pushed so hard academically, in my personal life, or professionally--and I love every minute of it. I have taken an intense sense of self-confidence from my time here at Washington University. I know that when I walk into a difficult situation that I am capable of not only shouldering burdens, but of moving mountains. I trust myself to be able to work hard and flourish in a harsh environment. This will be extraordinarily useful in my future career as a physician. Additionally, I have made friends that will be a part of my life indefinitely. I have nothing but positive feelings for the university I have chosen, and I would encourage others to try to find the sense of home that I have found in Washington University.

After high school, you think you've learned a lot. Enter college, and you realize that you have only skimmed the surface of knowledge. College has been a valuable experience for me because I have been able to explore the subjects that interest me in greater depth. In chemistry, I have had the opportunity to participate in and facilitate a study group, creating a community of scientists that are eager to discuss their ideas. This kind of collaborative learning not only helps me understand the material better, but it has also given me the confidence to present my ideas, even if they may be incorrect. College is preparing me for the real world where there are still many unexplored topics and no definite answers to questions. It has made me into a thinker who is excited about learning and eager to begin changing the world.

College has taught me about what it really means to be a leader and not a follower. Moving from a 2 year college to a 4 year university has provided some challenges that I would not be able to master without leadership abilities that I gained at my 2 year institution. Without college I do not believe I would have the best opportunity to succeed or provide for a family one day. College has and will be one of the most important endeavors of my life simply because there is no other experience quite like it. Learning to rely on yourself instead of others is the foundation of college and simply put the best lesson to learn. When you follow and don’t lead yourself, you end up in a terrible position to not succeed. Every successful college graduate, I believe, learned how to lead and succeed from their time spent in college.

Quiet, antisocial, passive. Ask any student in my high school and these would be the three common words used to describe me as a high school student. Throughout my high school career, I was looking for my niche. I found it, however, a little too late when I finally began to open up in my Senior year. But just like that, months flew by and I was hugging my recently discovered friends good-bye as they left for their colleges and I left for mine. Just like that, I was at the beginning. The days preceding WashU were anxiety-ridden and fearful. It took me years to open up in high school; would college be a repeat? As I greeted my floormates and classmates on the first days, I made a choice to try harder. I realized college was an opportunity to throw myself into a new environment and either sink or swim. I swam. In my first semester, I surprised myself by joining karate and obtaining a job after only three weeks. WashU set the field to my future friends and goals. Attending WashU has taught me not to sit back, but rather freestyle through the uncertainty.

My college experience has taught me to challenge the norm. For example, having only men's and women's restrooms seems normal, acceptable. But what if a transgender woman needs to use the restroom and she doesn't quite fit the profile of a woman or a man? If she walks into the men's room she will be ridiculed. But if she walks into the women's room she will likely be called a pervert and even arrested. How is this fair? It is not, and our society systematically attacks people like this fictional character daily, but people don't realize it. What college has taught me is to not simply accept what I've always known. It's taught me to be an independent thinker. An individual!

I have gotten several major things out of my growing college life, including a higher education, which is the most important, connection with mature people and the surroundings, as well as becoming closer to my community as a whole through different factors. This first semester of college I have achieved a 4.0 for 16 credit hours. I hope to maintain that high GPA all the way through my college life, which will be at least a Master's Degree worth of education in either chemistry, meteorology, or engineering. College has taught me to not give up, to strive for my best, and to never look back on the negative aspects of life by just looking toward the future and all of its potentials it has in store for me, as well as my friends and fellow classmates. Together, if we all strive to go as high as we can, we can all make the community a better place and offer the best for our children, inspiring them to reach their potential by showing that we all can make a difference if we just strive to be the best we can be.

Choosing WashU is one of the best decisions of my life. The academics here are stellar, especially for a pre-med and while it is tough, professors, advisors, TA's are always there to help. Class sizes are reasonable and I never have to worry about not graduating on time because of overcrowding. The school is the perfect size- not too small to feel claustrophobic, but not too big to be unable to spot friends at the DUC or while walking across South Forty. As a WashU premed, I have found the curriculum challenging, but luckily without intense competition between students-Cooperation is more prevalent and the drive to succeed is internal. For someone into science, research opportunities are numerous- I was able to start doing research at WashU Medical School my freshman year. Even as a top 15 university there is no pretentiousness-I have met some of the nicest, laid back people and have spent many nights up till 5 in the morning having amazing conversations and making friendships of a lifetime. St. Louis can be boring, but we have fun-frats, dorm/house parties are popular party destinations. When I say, "I love WashU," I mean it.

College is the place where you start to manage your own life and your own schedules for real. It's a place where you learn your own responsibilities in the choices that you make. You will learn to pace yourself and you will understand yourself more in terms of how much work you can pull in one night, how much social interactions you might need, or what kind of people you hang out with. It's also a chance for you to do or learn whatever you want. I've learned magic, hypnosis, and singing in about 4 months since I got here. Those were the things that one would never be able to learn in high-school classes.

Attending Washington University has really shown me how much I love to learn. I went to a tiny prep school so being able to take classes in a range of subjects from engineering to writing and music to archeology has been a much welcomed change. I love the university setting and access to libraries so much that I want to get my PhD and become a professor myself. Above all, however, I believe the most important thing I have gotten out of WashU are my friends. I had a tough time in high school with finding friends who would be there for me through whatever, but I've had absolutely no trouble here finding great friends. My freshman floor, sorority sisters, and fellow mechanical engineers are the best friends and best support group I could ever ask for, and I'm so thankful to have them.