Just here to answer any questions to the best of my abilities about Wash U (dorm life, work load, classes, social scene, etc)!
*As a standard policy, CC does not allow threads to be closed to any member that wants to answer a question. So this thread is open to all that want to ask and answer questions about WUSTL. - Fallenchemist *
How are the premed freshman classes?
Well, taking the new MCAT into account, required pre-med courses during the Freshman year can include Gen Chem w/Lab, Physics w/Lab, Biology w/Lab, Intro to Psych, and some other humanity courses.
These classes require a lot of time commitment beyond just studying. Labs take up to 3 hours and are attributed an entirely separate grade. Courses like Gen chem will include additional lecture hours for Lab and a group subsection. The tests for Chem and Bio are based on a pre-set curve. So for example, if you receive a a 75 for example, and the cutoff for an A is a 75, you will get an A instead of a C. This is nice because you won’t be competing with the rest of the class, which means not only 20% will get an A and only 20% get a B etc.
They are hard, which isn’t surprising for an institution like Wash U. They are seen as “weed-out classes.” Getting a solid grade is possible in all these classes if you put in the work for it. I say a good 2 hours of studying for every hour of lecture is going to definitely put you above a lot of the students here.
I will say that first semester Chem is brutal and many pre-meds drop out, but the second semester follows more of the AP Chem material, so it becomes incredibly easier.
Tips: Take Physics 197/198. Although they require higher level math such as Calculus 2, they are much easier than the counterpart 117/118. Trust me… A LOT EASIER. Intro Psych is very nit picky and incredibly hard at Wash U. If you end up taking it, follow the readings and look at past quizlets or make your own. It’s all about application of your knowledge, not regurgitate some obscure definition.
Hope this helps!
Edit: I mention “can include” because I’m taking a very unorthodox approach to fulfilling pre med reqs. I’m actually doing Chem over the summer, which is actually going to be slightly easier as I’m only focusing on one class rather than say 4 others. Also do note, Gen chem does cover many physics topics and I did not have a strong physics background at all.
Edit 2: I should have said this, but I am an Undeclared pre med as it stands!
Anyway, greek life won’t make or break your social life on campus. There will be parties at frats most weekends, whether they’re closed or open, and if you’re in one of these chapters then you will find that you’ll be spending a lot of time with your brothers/sisters. Mixers and social gatherings are large parts of greek life. But this doesn’t define a social life here. You can find anyone who shares your interests. If you’re not one that drinks, you will find people who will just like to hang out or go down to the Delmar Loop for food.
There are also a ton of other student organization parties and clubs that go on, so joining a fraternity/sorority shouldn’t narrow you into a choice.
Events that Wash U hosts generally have great turnouts and people are very excited for them. WILD being one of them, a night long concert. There’s also Residential College Olympics which is an entire day when all the dorms participate in competitive events to see who does the best. Students absolutely love showing off their skills :)! Also, getting involved with College Council was the best decision I made here. You get to host a ton of events, like bringing RJ Mitte from Breaking Bad to speak, which students appreciate, especially since these are run by their peers.
Hope this helps! Feel free to ask any other questions you might have!
@Shah95 Thank you so much. So helpful.
What are the different attributes of a traditional versus a modern dorm?
Do you know how the intro B-School classes are? Workload for bschool students?
Thanks.
@2015ct11
Here are the main differences between traditionals and moderns:
-Traditionals cost less
-Traditionals have communal bathrooms
-Moderns will typically have their own bathroom or is shared with a suite. So usually, 2-4 people per bathroom
-Moderns have room service that cleans the bathrooms, sinks, and showers, twice a week.
-Traditionals have their communal bathrooms cleaned about every other day
-Moderns are much larger in terms of the size of the halls, common rooms, and study spaces.
-Some moderns like Koenig/Lien, which are the dorms used to show students who tour, have many facilities like music rooms, pianos, foosball tables, etc.
From what I know, the typical intro classes will include Management 100, Accounting, Intro to Microeconomics (BSchool micro is different that art/sci micro). B-school students have to take at least Calc 2 I believe. There are obviously more that you can choose from as well. The workload is probably going to be a bit more manageable than if you were pre-med or an engineer, but that really depends on your schedule. The classes still aren’t any more easier, however. B-school students also have to participate in Case Competitions which count towards your grade as well.
Hope this helped. I’m not as knowledgeable about the B-school, since I’m not in it.
How challenging are the psychology and PNP majors?
Not that you can request a dorm, but which modern freshman dorms are considered to be the best?
I got in ED…should I pick a roommate out of the ED pool or wait for the RD accepts to sign up for RoomSurf?
Are there any people/is it socially acceptable at Wash U to party and not drink?
@
Psychology and PNP are both difficult majors. Psychology is much more challenging here than at other institutions where it is seen as an easy science major for a high G.P.A. Unless you really enjoy the field of Psychology, don’t major in it expecting to coast through it. PNP varies based on the track you take with it. By this, I mean you choose a primary focus from Psychology, Philosophy, and Neuroscience. While you interact with all three subject matter, you base a lot of your time around one of these. Once again, this is going to be subjective in difficulty, although neuroscience focuses are typically seen as much harder.
The “best” modern is probably Umrath, followed by Koenig and Lien.
Well, unless you’re going to decide on your roommate based on someone you know from your school or someone you meet on the Facebook page, you’re probably going to be doing a random assignment, so it really shouldn’t matter.
Yes! You can have a great time at parties and not drink! There is little to no direct pressure from other peers to drink. While most parties do have alcohol, I have plenty of friends that come out with me and are always sober and still manage to have a great time just socializing, dancing, etc.
Congrats on getting in, you’re going to love it here! Feel free to ask any more questions!
Thank you for the response dude, got in ed to b school and couldnt figure out the answers to some of those questions.
thanks so much!
Is it possible to study abroad if you’re double majoring? What’s the social scene like, are there things to do besides partying? I never really partied in high school, not because I had something against it, it just didn’t happen for me, so I’m kinda nervous about it. There are people who go to parties and stuff some weekends, and some weekends do other things, and some weekends just chill out, right? It seems like such a stupid question but I kinda see myself in the middle of the spectrum. Also, how accepted is the lgbt community?
how is the wifi at WashU?
What would you recommend doing to get in to WUSTL? Are there any major tips you have? What was your personal application experience like? I’m a junior in high school and WUSTL is my ultimate dream school. Thank you so much!
@ibcr98 - Yes it’s usually not a problem. The double major usually allows you to skip the intro level courses so that you don’t need to waste your schedule times. Also, it’s imperative to talk to your advisor before going abroad and making sure you have the necessary credits and core classes taken. The social scene is very active. There’s something to do every day of the week. There are many student run activities and parties. The Ursa’s building has a great night life where there are programs like ‘Hangout Fridays’. I’ll be honest, a lot of people at Wash U started partying here or drinking here. As long as you go with a group of friends, you shouldn’t be nervous about exploring the multiple social scenes here. It’s not that difficult to go out and maintain a strong academic standing if you plan your time and have your priorities straight. Wash U is very friendly towards the LGBT community and there is an organization for it as well. Obviously, there are some people who will, internally, not see the same perspective, but no one is openly against it. Don’t stress out about fitting in!
@Elwildcat11 - The wifi sucks.
@BoarderGirl4422 - The only thing I can recommend other than the whole do well in your classes and standardized testing is to show interest. Visit the school if possible and do local interviews or interviews on campus. If it is your number one school, and you are able to get financial aid or know you can afford it, apply early decision. People who apply E.D are binded if they get accepted and Wash U likes to keep a competitive yield percentage. If they feel at all, that you won’t take an application, they’ll likely waitlist you. Also, join activities that you’re genuinely interested in. It’s better to join 2 clubs where you deeply care about the framework of the organization versus joining 10 clubs just to pad up your application. My personal experience? I pretty much just did the above! Just give it your all and if it’s meant to be, you will go here!
Sorry it took me so long to get back to you guys! Midterms are really stressful the weeks before spring break. Let me know if you have any other questions or need more clarification.
@Shah95 do you know anything about the rodriguez scholars program? I love wash u and I was selected as a finalist so I’m super nervous about doing well in my interviews. Also, how do you like the area? Do students go out into the city a lot? Are there a lot of different events going on or do you usually find yourself doing the same thing every weekend?
How would you describe the engineering program (specifically mechanical)? Is there a good emphasis put on it at the school or is it mostly liberal arts based? Also, how are the facilities for engineering?
How is the greek scene in comparision to other schools (specifically frats)?