<p>I am a first-year at Washington and Lee, liberal, pre-med and will probably not pledge. Also, I don't drink very much. Ask me anything!</p>
<p>Why write off the Greek system after a month?</p>
<p>It does not really seem to be my thing. Also, it’s really expensive, and I would almost rather save the money for graduate school.</p>
<p>I am a senior in high school. My list of colleges is close to being complete. I have browsed on College Confidential until now, but I am starting the application crunch time so I want to know more about these schools. These question threads seem like they should a good place to get information. I am interested in Davidson, Washington & Lee, Williams, Kenyon, Middlebury and a few others like Wesleyan. I know it’s different from most of the others but it has a major I am thinking about. I like the inside information you see on CC but I am skeptical about these threads with ‘current students’ offering to answer questions. The answers seem like they are written by Admissions people to put the best light on the school. I want to know the good and the bad before I make my final decision on these colleges. </p>
<p>My grades are very good, top 5% of my class. 6 APs (BC Calculus, Biology, Statistics, Spanish Language, U.S. History, World History, Physics B). 4s and 5s only so far. SAT1s are 2240. SAT2s are 780, Math 1 and 750 Biology. I am a cross country runner and I sing in our chorus, volunteer and other stuff. I think these schools are all at least possible for an acceptance and some for scholarships. </p>
<p>My parents are making me look at the total cost to attend each year. At Washington and Lee, it does not appear that sororities cost that much more than just being a student living in a dormitory and being on a meal plan. I have looked and it is only a little over $2000 which will not pay much for graduate school. You may want to reconsider, but it seems like you are the kind of student the Admissions people and professors would like.</p>
<p>I want to work in college, but also want to have fun and am not political. I cant tell from these posts that look scripted whether I am getting real insight. Do I have to look at other threads to find out what is really going on? The only one with spirited discussion seems to be on Kenyons forum and it talks about why people should not go there, and then other people defend the school. I like the honesty.</p>
<p>Sensible, what kind of questions do you have? I can give some input as a parent. Sorority and Fraternity houses are owned by school so cost of living there is comparable to non-greek students with regard to food and housing. The $2000 year cost for sorority sounds about right and this is above food/housing. I’m pretty sure fraternity costs are a good bit higher. Both my kids looked at Davidson and I know the total COA is around the same, however W&L without a doubt is much more generous with merit aid. Around 40 full ride Johnsons are given out each year, which is a large percentage of the freshman class. Davidson’s full ride is the Belk and they only give out a few. However, if you know you qualify for need based aid, Davidson might end up just as generous</p>
<p>The people on this forum for W&L are not from admissions, we have an honor system and that would basically be a HV if an admissions rep pretended to be a student- I’m a bit offended that you would question that. If you don’t believe in the HS, don’t apply here. People who don’t take it seriously get expelled. Frats are much more expensive- to pay for all the booze and for the over-the-top mixers with srats. Pledgeship is also pretty brutal so I can see why some guys wouldn’t want to do it. Rush is very stressful for girls, because the pressure from rush dates for a whole semester culminates in a week long formal rush period. After it happens, no one really cares which srat or frat you are in because people here are genuine and care about more important things than your letters.</p>
<p>Sensible, that’s because the vast majority of the W&L student body loves their school and their experience there. Thats why alumni always come back, and offer such a strong network. </p>
<p>But it’s not for everyone. That’s why people will rather someone who doesn’t believe in the Honor System and doesn’t buy into the culture not come.</p>