<p>This question did not come to mind until the other day when I decided to get a haircut. I was sitting on the chair, talking to the barber, when the topic of college comes up in our conversation. I mention how next year I am going to Saint Louis for college. In response, she asks me, do you have family or friends there? I have to say no, I'm going to Washington University because I like the school. I couldn't see her face, but I could tell she was thinking, why the hell is he going to this place in Saint Louis with no family or friends there? </p>
<p>If I had said I'm going to Harvard, Yale, or some college like that, I bet she would have known what I'm talking about and why I'm going there. She didn't have that reaction for Washington University, though. I don't want to goto a college based totally on perstiege, but I think it would be nice if people understood that going to Washington University is on par to going to one of the Ivies (In my mind at least, do you all agree?) Anyway, what does everyone here think. Do people not know about Washington University or is it just the small city, Louisianian barber that does not?</p>
<p>People outside of academia and those applying to college do not know about wash u by and large. It is annoying for me as well to say that it has the same acceptance rate as U Penn and that it is "better" than some ivies and schools they have definitely heard of. As much as I don't want prestige to be a factor, one cannot deny it would be nice to have at least in small doses.</p>
<p>Thats exactly what I'm thinking too. Hmm...well, Washington University has grown tremendously in just a little time so I expect that it will continue gaining. In a little while I bet most people will know of Wash U. Does anyone actually know why Wash U started picking up in the first place?</p>
<p>They send out tons of mail to prospective students. I guess that by publicizing themselves, more students apply, so their acceptance rate goes down, which helps their ranking.</p>
<p>So are you saying that Wash U is becoming popular because of its publicity? Hmm...I was hoping because its actually a good school. But then again, good schools do not always equal popular schools, so who knows. I just hope Wash U is a great school acadmeically, but also one I will enjoy being for the next four years.</p>
<p>I must have received over ten mailings from WashU in a year. I never really had an interest in the school because their engineering program isn't very good and the sports scene isn't big, but one of my friends went there. I do think a factor in the acceptance rate is the number of students applying, because WashU seems to present itself to the students as a very good option. Therefore, more students apply. It is a great school, but still relatively unknown outside of academic circles.</p>
<p>they send out enough mail to be known. I put myself on their mailing list about two years ago, and I still get mail. I have about 5 applications now.l</p>
<p>Nakane, I would have to say Pre-Med because everyone there seems to be on the path to become a doctor. I think its because of their amazing medical school. I could be wrong, but I guess Biology or Chemistry would be some of the more popular majors at Wash U.</p>
<p>Dartmouth (tied with Columbia for the #8 spot in terms of national universities) is pretty much unknown to most people...some high school students i've talked to actually thought it was the name of a company</p>
<p>Some schools just don't get enough recognition...WashU is one of them</p>
<p>It's certainly very well known in the midwest - I live near Chicago and everyone knows about Wash U. But when I was talking to my cousins who live in Texas, they had never heard of it. I would say, though, that the people you would want to know about it (future employers, grad schools, etc) know about Wash U and regard the university highly.</p>
<p>I see, and your probably right. I've heard the same thing about Rice University. My uncles in New England never heard of it, but I'm sure employers and grad schools would have. Wash U is probably in a similar situation.</p>
<p>Wash. U. is very well known in academia. It would have been much more popular if it was not in the midwest. Their medical school is one of the top 3 in the country.</p>
<p>They are "on the rise" because they are actively pursuing top students by offering some very attractive merit scholarships.</p>
<p>Interesting...and I'm hoping to get one of those merit scholarships although I doubt I'll get one. Plus I'm already in so I'm going no matter what.</p>
<p>it all still seems that WashU upped its ranking by increasing applicants and decreasing acceptance rate? I mean, I head that four years ago it was fairly easy to get in. So is WashU really all that good, prestige-wise and quality-wise? I visited it, and it was beautiful. The academics are pretty rigorous too. Any thoughts??</p>
<p>Same thing happened to me yesterday....though with Cornell....somewhat surprised that she didn't know what it was but whatever....I'm not going for the prestige</p>
<p>I hope not to offend anyone, but I believe that Wash U is overated. It seems very unlikely that a school can move up the rankings as Wash U did. How could you even compare Wash U to any of the Ivys academically? I would put Wash U on par with Emory and Vanderbuilt (excellent universities).</p>
<p>I disagree about WashU being overrated. I just graduated and am now in grad school - washu prepared me really well, especially compared to other new grad students. A lot of people belive that washu's ranking is influenced my the med school, ranked #1. Having the med school and barnes hospital is an amazing resource for undergrads, epecially those in the sciences. And obviously it attracts some top professors and researchers. The name is still not well known, but that's changing. I wouldn't say that the ranking has changed based on # admitted at all. And I definitely feel that WashU is just as good as the other top 10/15 schools... even the Ivys. And yes, washu is ranked above some of them.</p>
<p>Sirwebber,
We have the same problem with name recognition of Wash. U and we live in Minnesota. My son is a sophomore at Wash U and we still get the exact same questions you get. And no one ever remembers the name. They mix it up with all the other Washington schools. </p>
<p>I don't agree that Wash U is overranked and I don't even understand how people make those generalizations when they haven't even attended the school. Rankings are based on more than just selectivity and Wash U has had a huge building campaign along with a capital campaign to raise money to hire highly qualified profs. They may not be on par with the top 5 but it is still an excellent school.</p>