An Alum's Parent perspective of W&L

Colleges and Universities A-Z Washington & Lee University
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<p>After reading the posts here about W&L - I really am amazed at the attitudes of some of those who are applying and/or commenting about this school. I think you really need to do some homework in regards to what this school is really representative of and has to offer to each of you.</p>

<p>To those of you who are lucky enough to be accepted and attend W&L - you have alot to learn!! What a fantastic road you are about to travel. It is a unique place to be and you will experience opportunities and traditions that you could not even imagine. Yes - it is a small community in Lexington, but you will be surprised at what lies ahead for you there. You haven't even begun to skim the surface of what your 4 years there will encounter and where it can take you.</p>

<p>Politically - republican or democrat - pick your place and stand by it - you will have the opportunity at Mock Convention - held every 4 years - to see how this system really works. Choose to participate or not - you will still be a part of a system that makes a difference - so dont fight your wars politically until you have a better understanding of what/where you really stand - take the middle of the road if you need to - until you are really able to make your best choice and stand by your convictions.</p>

<p>Educationally - you could not ask for a better education - W&L offers you what ever YOU want and make of it there. The opportunities are there for the taking - be resourceful and find the ones right/best for you. W&L is highly reguarded and recognized where ever you go. You will make the choices at W&L that will direct your lives in the future. Here in New England, W&L is somewhat considered the Dartmouth of the South - so don't doubt the level of education you will receive there - believe me - study hard - it is not an easy ride thru 4 years there. If you look at statistics of where successful W&L grads are now - they are very successful in all walks of life. The network of W&L alum crosses many borders - so reach out whenever you are able to - you will be surprised at the opportunities that are out there.</p>

<p>Greek Life - Yes - W&L has one of the highest ratios - 80/20 - of frat/sor membership in the country - but........all the houses are physically owned by the school itself - governed by W&L also - all houses have live-in house MOM's and most have their own cooks also - and they are also student/frat housing/dining for many members - since W&L has a 2 year on-campus housing rule - so frat/sor members can reside in houses after freshman year - for sophmore year at least if not after that too - the room/board paid to W&L covers residence in frat/sor houses. There is also the ability to remain as an Independant - don't be forced to join Greek life if it is not for you.</p>

<p>Every frat has a different personality - so consider your options with an open mind - there is a place for all who want Greek memberskip - and yes - your frat brothers will be your network for life - the sor personality is an experience for young ladies like few others. Don't pre-determine what the Greek system has to offer (or dump on it either) until you actually experience it - and at W&L it will be a bit different from what you see on Animal House - for sure. The Greek life there is great - and this from a parents point of view - and yes it does make up a large portion of the social life there - but they are self governed and do provide a great social outlet for students (and parents when we are around). FYI - there have been incidents where frats have been put on probation/closed - it happens often enough but the school has a great relationship with the Greek system and only seems to impose its presence when circumstances require it.</p>

<p>One of the things we found out about W&L - as parents - it is a community of sorts - they really do care about each and every student - are willing to help and support their students like most other schools do not. We found this out thru experiences of our own. It is true that there are many students at W&L from very affluent families - but there are many there also who are not - but all students are very qualified to be there - learn from each other.</p>

<p>Some things to keep in mind - W&L is based on being a 'Gentleman's' school - and has traditions that actually make it one of the friendliest campuses I have ever steped foot on - the 'speaking' tradition truely makes it that way. Being on a first name basis with professors and staff makes all the difference in the world. The honor code of W&L is held in very high regard among all national colleges - and the student government will speak for itself once you get there. So, pack your khaki's and with an open mind - enjoy the best 4 years of your lives at W&L.</p>

<p>As the parent of a 2000 grad of W&L - who couldn't have imagined spending those 4 years any other place - I even found that W&L is a school where I would have definitely been happy and comfortable!! And as a parent who attended many of the social things just for us - we had a blast - and would do it all again in a heart beat!!! </p>

<p>P.S. - FYI - just be aware of the legal aspects in and around Lexington also - the school does have some pretty rigid rules when it comes to 'getting caught' when it relates to any alcohol incidences - and ya - parents do find out about it if it happens - the local police, ER and the school have a pretty good communication standard - so be forwarned - but otherwise - have a great time!!!</p>

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<p>Thanks a lot, JeepMOM. Again, like when others post these tributes to the quality and atmosphere of W&L in response to comments they've seen, I do feel badly. I know I was one of the people worrying about, commenting on and questioning the opinions. So, while it is very humbling, I appreciate this post very much.</p>

<p>"Here in New England, W&L is somewhat considered the Dartmouth of the South"</p>

<p>It really is no mistake that these two schools are the two that I absolutely love. There are so many great things about both places, and they share many similarities-- the thing that makes both schools stand out is that there is a unique, bold feeling that comes to one's mind when one thinks of living and attending the university (or college, in Dartmouth's case).</p>

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<p>Thank you very much JeepMOM,</p>

<p>and willywonka, I hope you are accepted to Darmouth but choose to join me at W&L instead.</p>

<p>It does get uncomfortably cold in NH, trust me, I'm from St. Petersburg Russia and New York City.</p>

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<p>willywonka - I have to chuckle at history - my son would have also considered Dartmouth - but he ONLY applied to W&L - ED at that - it was his ONLY choice and was VERY determined - tho Dartmouth would have run a very close second if it was needed. He had the opportunity to spend a weekend at W&L in October of his hs senior year - came home and announced that he was applying ED to W&L and had 1 week to get it all done - that was it for him - done deal. (fyi - his best friend/frat bro had been wait listed at Harvard and chose W&L even after taken off the wl - and never looked back - now in grad school at Stanford - and the placement for med school is exceptionally high at W&L also.)</p>

<p>You will make the best choice for you tho - but just wanted to hopefully enlighten you about W&L as some postings seemed a bit skewed - but just my humble opinion tho and admittedly from a parent may be a bit different than from a students perspective. I would go to W&L in a heartbeat!!!!!</p>

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<p>Wow, JeepMOM, that's exactly like me.</p>

<p>Dartmouth was my second choice but I was accepted ED to W&L, thanks to spending a weekend there in October (Columbus Day), actually handed in part one of my app that weekend. </p>

<p>I'm really looking forward to heading down to Lexington in August.</p>

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<p>Dima, hopefully you'll be there in March for the GWHS finalists weekend!</p>

<p>Thanks for the words, you two. I won't count my chickens (acceptances) before they hatch by trying to decide between them already, so I put it out of my mind.</p>

<p>"It does get uncomfortably cold in NH, trust me, I'm from St. Petersburg Russia and New York City."</p>

<p>But I love snow! If it didn't snow more at W&L than it does at my house (it does), I'd be a little put-off.</p>

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<p>Well the great thing about W&L is that it's nestled between mountain ranges, so you can have a completely different climate just a short drive away. If it gets too hot, go hiking in Shenandoah Nat'l Park (I love hiking there, it's amazing). In the winter, go skiing. In the summer, there's also rivers nearby to go kayaking and canoeing.</p>

<p>It's a sportsman's paradise (I absolutely love sports), but at the same time, it's Division III so there's no worry about being surrounded by jocks with no brains like at Div. I schools.</p>

<p>Every day makes me look forward more and more to starting my life at W&L.</p>

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<p>"Well the great thing about W&L is that it's nestled between mountain ranges, so you can have a completely different climate just a short drive away. If it gets too hot, go hiking in Shenandoah Nat'l Park (I love hiking there, it's amazing). In the winter, go skiing. In the summer, there's also rivers nearby to go kayaking and canoeing."</p>

<p>Oh, I know. My entire family (except my immediate one) lives in the same mountains, but further north in western Maryland. :)</p>

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<p>Having had the W&L experience (along with another, undergraduate, school), I have a few points to make. </p>

<p>Message boards are horrible places to learn the downsides to a school. The school newspaper is worse. The first is because people who have NO IDEA of what the school is like frequent these things and comment about their third cousin's ex-girlfriend's teacher's son's experience at the college. Said TCExGTS also dropped out of there after partying too much. ;) The campus newspaper is a forum for teenagers to complain; I admire how well run W&L is (compared to my undergrad), but was astonished to see how much the student newspaper complains about things that will happen at any school (such as alcohol policies). </p>

<p>Best 3 ways to find out about a school: talk to current/former students about their experiences; walk around the campus and see how happy people look, how stressed they look, if people are in the library or playing badmitton on the frat lawn; and check out the cars in the campus parking lot. See the bumper stickers (rough guesstimate of political leanings of student body), the quality of cars (rough guesstimate of wealth of students), and whether or not they are there (i.e. how much campus life is there?). </p>

<p>After spending some time in Lexington, I realize that I would have loved to go here undergrad. When I first visited on a Sunday in April, it seemed as if everyone was outside - I'm really serious about the badmitton/volleyball thing on the lawns of the frats. Everyone looks and you and greets you. Contrast MIT, where people almost look through you if their eyes are even off the floor. It's a phenomenal place.</p>

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<p>JeepMOM and ariesathena: Thank you so much for posting. I live on the west coast and I have not been able to visit the W&L. My parents were quite bewildered that I would apply to a school rated by the Princeton Review as "number 1 hard liquor campus" and "number 1 party school." Undoubtedly, your comments may help in convincing my parents that the Princeton Review has it all wrong. Nonetheless, I do have to admit that W&L is not my first choice. Again, thanks. Your views are much appreciated.</p>

<p>(I love the fact that you can there is an Honor System at W&L.)</p>

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<p>If you are an outdoors-type person, you will LOVE the area. Think kayaking, nature trails, running, lots of intramural teams, and hiking in mountains. It's also 60 degrees out now.</p>

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<p>I personally think that the Princeton Review is way off base - but who am I?? - just a parent - and FYI - my daughter presently goes to the supposededly #1 party school - ranked by Playboy also - hahaha - it is all in the perspective of which it is looked at - but seriously - EVERY school is a party school - but that is my own humble opinion.</p>

<p>The academics at W&L are suburb - as are ranked by several ''reviews'' nationally - The schools atmosphere is unique yet far outweighs the ''party'' rep that some give it - academics are of a very serious issue there - pull your weight and be responsible or you will be gone - it competes in this arena with the Ivy's and all top schools. I would not rule out W&L for your college experience based on frivilous rankings that do not tell the true story - it needs to be measured on ALL levels - for the merits it is intended - education!!!</p>

<p>No matter where you attend school - the party atmosphere will be there - wether it be on or off campus - it exists. It is up to each student there to make their experience their own.</p>

<p>The Honor Code at W&L is uniquely its own - one of the strongest in the country - and they take it VERY seriously - there is NO tolerance for lying, cheating or stealing - and being student managed instead of completely school managed - gives it it's strength to stand above others in this area. This should give you a real good of what I am talking about - check it out -
<a href="http://www2.wlu.edu/web/page/normal/84.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www2.wlu.edu/web/page/normal/84.html&lt;/a> - spelled out very nicely!!!!!</p>

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<p>Being ranked by US News in the top 8th to 13th LAC's - consistently over the past 10 years should say alot about it's academic standing - even better it is ranked at the top of the pile as ''One of America's best buys in education''!!! And if you look at the Princeton Review rankings - put the party rep aside - it is also ranked very near the top of the heap also!!! Nuf said.</p>

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<p>The Princeton Review also ranked Cal Tech, possibly the best technology school in the nation (with apologies to #2), as #2 in worst proffesors.</p>

<p>For it's student polls, PR just has students fill out a short survey online, they don't do any research whatsoever. For their alumni polls, they don't even have you prove you ever went to the school, you can log in and say Yale has the worst academics and it will get counted.</p>

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<p>Good, I always knew something wasn't right about those damn polls. At least U.S. News is based on real research.</p>

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<p>I should clarify something about my allusion to the Princeton Review ranking of Washington and Lee. The President of the W&L provided information that the Review's rankings do not require students to show proof of attendance to the university (which I believe Dima referenced to).</p>

<p>I did not intend to state that W&L was what the Princeton Review said it was.</p>

<p>JeepMOM: Thanks for the Honor Code link. It is much appreciated.</p>

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<p>Well - there is a lot of partying. It's a rural school, and, sorry to say, most rural schools have a lot of parties. There isn't much else to do. However, it's not a school where the party scene dominates. </p>

<p>Honour code is, by the way, phenomenal. It's great to know that you can trust the people around you. Undergrads are allowed to schedule their exams whenever they want and take them unproctored. You can get up in the middle and wander to the bathroom, clear your head, and return - without explaining yourself. It makes for a great quality of life.</p>

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<p>JeepMOM: thanks for explaining your perspective. I've applied to W&L, but I was a bit worried by the rumors about drinking and political predjudice, etc. Anyway, your view was comforting. Because I live relatively far away (Texas), I've been unable to visit W&L so far and evaluate it for myself, but naturally if I'm accepted I will.
thanks!</p>

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<p>Wow, kareelily16, you are young! January, 1988! I visited the campus and absolutely loved it-- I am applying EDII. Shoot me an IM at imahomosapiens if you get in and decide to go! Too bad you have to wait 'til March/April to find out.</p>

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<p>Wow, I get so excited about W&L sometimes. I can't wait the ~20 days to find out about the GWHS finalists.</p>