<p>I would post this in the Washington & Lee section but I feel that I would probably get a biased opinion, so I'm posting it here.
When I first read about Washington & Lee I loved the sound of it, read more, and made sure to plan a trip to Lexington. I visited on the first day of their spring break so unfortunately not a lot of students were around, but the ones that were seemed very friendly. Lexington seemed nice, small, and safe (just what I'm looking for).</p>
<p>At first my main concern was the very high percentage of students involved in the Greek system but that doesn't really bother me as much now (if I were to go there I would join a sorority).<br>
Diversity of ethnicities is nice but frankly not one of my main priorities so a lack of that (if there even is one) doesn't really bother me.</p>
<p>Now that I'm a rising senior and people are asking me where I'm looking at, I'm starting to get concerned about the rather negative opinions a lot of people seem to have of W&L. My best friends are pretty liberal (fiscally I'm conservative but socially I'm left of center) so they've been warning me that W&L is "very conservative". My orthopedist is Catholic (as am I... kind of) and he said that he could not go to W&L or live in Lexington because Lexington is so Southern and there are so many Bible-thumpers.</p>
<p>So basically I get the feeling that the general perception of W&L is "very Southern, very conservative, very wealthy". I'm from NJ and I know there are a number of students from NJ at W&L, so that doesn't bother me at all. But how socially conservative is W&L and the surrounding area? I don't really mind conservatism but religious zealotry irks me, and that is what many people tell me abounds in Lexington and around W&L.
And also, how much does Greek life dominate daily life? Is it possible to be good friends with many people outside of your frat/sorority? </p>
<p>For those that have negative opinions of W&L (besides "lack of diversity"): why? what is it specifically that bothers you about it? </p>
<p>My parents lived in Lexington for many years. My father was involved with the Marshall Foundation which has direct ties with VMI, but my parents socialized with W&L professors quite a bit. W&L profs tend to be quite liberal - probably more so than the student body. We had a pretty negative view of the frat scene as every Sunday morning the area around the frat houses looked like garbage dumps. I love Lexington - it's a pretty town, some nice arts and crafts store, a very good bookstore, a friendly public library and decent though not outstanding restaurants. The surrounding area is also very nice for hiking and such. Lexington did not strike me as a hotbed of Bible thumpers though my mother enjoyed scandalizing people who asked her where she went to church that she was an atheist. So there are my impressions - I'd go ahead and ask the W&L board if you want a more inside view.</p>
<p>In all honesty - I think you have talked to the wrong people!!!! </p>
<p>Bible thumping??? Religious zealots??? - in Lexington??? uuuummmm - not in the least - conservative - yes on that one - only to a point tho - workable and very open to the diversity of your political choices/views. </p>
<p>Southern - again yes on that - but in a good way - very accepting of students from all over the world - and there certainly is such a thing as 'southern charm and hospitality'. Probably a bit more upper cut than alot of schools - they do dress up for football games - bring your cow bell!!</p>
<p>Greek life - since about 80% or so of the students at W&L are involved - there is a good social system between the greeks and independants. Great student organizations - something for everyone pretty much.</p>
<p>Wealthy - uuummm - I disagree in a way - it may appear that way - but there are many students at W&L who are from your regular and ordinary $$ backgrounds. Yes - there certainly are quite a few from wealthy families - but not all - believe me.</p>
<p>Sorry I have not been able to provide negative feedback to you - but I think ou have been hearing things that just don't jive.</p>
<p>And why not post this at the W&L board - positive/negative feedback is always welcome - and would be interesting to see/hear what you find out there.</p>
<p>I can't speak about W and L specifically but I have found that people in the North, including New Jersey, have surprisingly narrow and therefore negative views about a number of excellent southern schools, which they often have trouble either acknowledging as excellent or have never heard of in the first place. Don't go by secondhand or thirdhand rumor at home--if it felt right to you then it probably is a good choice. (You might want to try to visit when more students are around to feel more confident about this.)</p>
<p>Yes, I'd have to agree with you about the narrow-mindedness. My parents would not even let me look at Vanderbilt because "people in Tennessee are weird." (umm... oookkayyy....)</p>
<p>I'm definitely going to visit again (hopefully overnight) when school is in session.</p>
<p>Yeah, preppyness and wealth don't bother me because my HS is super preppy and offers financial aid to something like 1 or 2% of our students, so I'm sure W&L is more financially diverse than this.</p>
<p>Most people in towns like Lexington go to church on Sunday. It does not make them ultra-bible thumpers--it's just the way life is there. It's part of the social fabric and customs.
Lynchburg which is nearby is the same way.</p>
<p>Yeah, I go to a Catholic school run by nuns now so religious people aren't really anything new to me, but I don't like to be around people who make a big deal about their religion to those of us who don't have similar beliefs (or even those who do).</p>
<p>You won't have that problem in Lexington - believe me LOL - it is a respectful situation there - no bible thumpers - tho I am sure there are church goers - no matter where you are.</p>
<p>I don't know too much about it, but a friend has a daughter there from Westchester County NY and felt very comfortable there. No culture shock or anything that I know of.</p>
<p>barrons- you have redeemed yourself! I did not know you could be so insightful and sensitive. Your response to southern church-going was wonderful! :)</p>
<p>My niece is an upperclassman there (and plays a sport). Her parents are New Yorkers (one upstate, one LI) though they moved when she was in middle school to a southern state where she went to a private high school. She's not a bible thumper, I'm guessing middle-of-the-road politically, not Greek (though she did go through rush), very grounded, really outgoing, and is very happy there. She's not any of the things you describe and she has plenty of friends and is doing just fine. One very small sample, obviously, but I hope that helps.</p>
<p>barrons- You may be right about that, but the thread was started by my son, so for the sake of family peace....LOL)
(Although I still think "idiot" is a rude word. Also, not too original! LOL! :) Lets forget it!)</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies everyone! W&L seems like such a great school and a great fit. I think my parents and some close friends just think it'd be a huge culture shock for me, and after hearing it so many times I started to get a little concerned. Thanks again :)</p>
<p>I was at the Summer Scholars program of W&L just a week ago. The faculty is absolutely great!! I've met great professors there. But I don't think that the students would be too welcoming for diversity. At least that's what the professors told us. And actually, I've met some people who memorized some Bible lines and quoted it, which was pretty awkward for me for the first time. But there was also the other extreme, who went around -almost- naked and smoke marijuana. Unfortunately it was hard to find a healthy midway between those two groups. (But those people I met were only from Summer Scholars, all of whom are planning to attend W&L.)
But Lexington really is a cute town. Even though before I only wanted to attend a school in an urban area, after seeing W&L and Lexington now I want a college in the rurals or the suburbans.<br>
And the food in the cafeteria was AWESOME!</p>
<p>Wow the professors actually said the students wouldn't welcome diversity? (I know I said diversity isn't exactly a priority for me, but I certainly wouldn't want those that add to the diversity of a school to feel unwelcome).</p>
<p>Actually all of the W&L students looked so cute and friendly and bright. So even though I found the general atmosphere quite conservative, I'm still gonna apply there =)
But this idea of being "unwelcome" scares me. Cos I'm an international too.</p>
<p>40% of the students come from public high schools. </p>
<p>Not qualifying for FA is most definitely not the equivalent of being wealthy. Our EFC is too high primarily because we've been good (too good I'm finding out) savers and don't have an extravagent lifestyle. </p>
<p>My D is a member of the class of 2010. She considers herself a pro-choice fiscal Republican (her phrase, not mine). Basically she's fairly centrist.She will be participating in intercollegiate sports, she wants to be involved in Greek life come recruitment time. She is a practicing Roman Catholic as are many of the students. </p>
<p>Come visit and stay overnight with a freshman. Take a class or two the next morning. Contact the coach/faculty advisor of activities that interest you. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. W&L is a school that truly looks at the whole student not just one area.</p>