<p>I have followed the board but never participated. We are fortunate that my son was admitted to almost everywhere he applied which were a number of Patriot League schools, Washington and Lee and Wake Forest. </p>
<p>I was wondering if anyone could help with a few questions. We are north of the Mason Dixon line in Pennsylvania and the school is not as well known. My son has a pre med interest but wants to major in history or government.</p>
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<li><p>Any thoughts on the reputation of WL outside of the southeast?;</p></li>
<li><p>Is the pre med program or intro classes weed out type classes? Many schools talk about a high graduate school admittance rate but ignore that they got rid of 60% of the kids who started:</p></li>
<li><p>Is it difficult to register for the classes you need?</p></li>
<li><p>I have read a lot of articles about the police and students/alumni that make me very concerned about him attending, any thoughts? One posting by an alum was most disconcerting.</p></li>
<li><p>The dorms seem on the rough side. None of the freshman dorms are air conditioned and when we visited in early August it was HOT. A fan doesn't cut it when you are trying to sleep. Also, do most of the students live in Greek houses after Freshman year?</p></li>
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<p>Again, he is our first to go to college and this is all new to us. Any thoughts are much appreciated.</p>
<p>1) Any small school, even a “national” one, is not going to be as well known as “Big(er) U.” Within professional circles though W&L is pretty well known up and down the east coast. It does have an alumni network everywhere so that helps.</p>
<p>2) Had a premed child there. Rigorous program. Did beautifully but worked hard. They do weed out during the first 2 years. Have to since 1/3 of the class upon entrance has med school on their minds. Usually about 20+ kids do med school from W&L. With one or two exceptions, kids who make it through pre-med get into med school.</p>
<p>Re the 60% you talk about, I am not sure if you mean 60% of a class that started or 60% of pre meds. If the former, no W&L graduates about 90% of students who start. If you are talking pre-med, thy probably weed out at least 60%, probably more.</p>
<p>3) Sometimes depending on the course. Means you end up taking it another semester.</p>
<p>4) I can’t tell what you mean regarding the articles you have read. W&L students are smart, work hard and play reasonably hard but are generally very nice young people. The Honor System is the school’s core and defines a lot of the activity that happens on campus. The alumni network is really strong.</p>
<p>5) The dorms are in the process of renovation with A/C. Gaines will be completed for next year. It is the more quiet freshman dorm. Graham Lee is starting this summer.</p>
<p>While most students join Greek organizations, for men sophomores live in the Greek houses. By the time your son is a junior juniors will be living on campus in apartments.</p>
<p>Thank you General 77. By articles, I meant posts concerning the Lexington police harassing kids and alumni for beer or drinking. One alum wrote a post how he was arrested after he returned and visited the school. I was trying to get a sense of town and gown relations and how prevalent this issue really is. Regarding the weed out, do most seem to drop because they realize med school is a long slog or do they design the courses to be uncomfortable and force students out who now realize their GPA is forever tarnished?</p>
<p>Town gown relations are ok. However, the police force can be over “enthusiastic” now and then. For example, they can stop a student walking form one area of town or another back to campus and ask them if they have been drinking, especially if late they are targets. The students live under an honor system and answer. The police can ask of they are of age. Student answers. If they perhaps stumble they can be breathalyzed, etc. It is not outright harassment but can seem that way sometimes. It is usually worse towards the beginning of the year when thy want to “send a message.” People want the kids to be safe but the town owes its existence to W&L and VMI. When the police get edgy everyone wonders why?</p>
<p>Kids leave the premed track for both those reasons. They don’t make especially good grades and it is a long slog. That said, you don’t have to be a science major to go to med school or take the MCATs. There are 8 required courses you need for the MCAT. You can major in Spanish or philosophy or whatever though. The “Core 8” are very tough and many (most) kids find out how rough things are about 3 or 4 courses into them. We have good friends with a child from WIlliams College who had a 40 on the MCAT (amazing score) and a 3.5 gpa. They applied to 20 schools. Only in one so far. Waiting to hear from most others and it is late in the process. Likely reason is that his “Core 8” grades were simply good not great.</p>
<p>Congrats on your son’s admission! general77 has given you good advice.</p>
<p>D is a current W&L student. She has a number of friends from PA, NY, DC, CT. W&L alumni network is very active. We live 1200 miles away and as parents are included in numerous alum events throughout the year. The ones we’ve attended have had 30-50 people there. </p>
<p>History & political science departments are strong. 4/4/1 calendar offers opportunities to take classes outside major or study abroad in the four-week “spring term”. W&L semester at St. Andrew’s is geared for premeds who often can’t fit in study abroad.</p>
<p>Sophomores who don’t live in Greek houses can live in Woods Creek apartments or special interest housing on campus. Greek system is much more inclusive at W&L than at many schools – there are many kids who would be considered too “nerdy” to rush at big universities who find a W&L frat/srat that is a good fit.</p>
<p>Yes, registration can be difficult, but students typically are able to get instructor permission to eventually get into a class. Your son will want to plan his schedule carefully from the beginning to be able to get through his premed classes before taking the MCAT.</p>
<p>Frat houses (where many parties take place) are off-campus, so students have to be careful walking back to dorms. Traveler (sober ride bus) serves areas that are not in walking distance. Anyone out on the street who is loud or stumbling may indeed attract the attention of the police. There are no doubt bigger problems the police could be addressing, but since the drinking age is 21, it’s hard to fault them for enforcing it.</p>
<p>Congrats on the admission! Adding my perspective as parent of both W&L grad (about to marry another W&L grad) and an incoming member of Class of 2018.</p>
<p>Reputation: It’s sterling among grad schools, Wall Street/Fortune 500 employers. Son got interviews/job offers while still in college, in very competitive advertising field, in midst of recession. His friends were also successful in employment/grad schools (med, law, other prof). Many heading back to b school now (Yale, UVa, etc) </p>
<p>Network: Even more important and a critical part of the reputation. W&L alums have been invaluable to our son, both in terms of information and actual hiring/promotion. They take your calls and give you time/good advice. You have to earn your spot, but going to W&L puts you in a network that plays in the big leagues.</p>
<p>Med School: Our son also went to W&L as a pre-med. Like many who take those courses along with others they never got to try in high school, he switched (to business) because he liked it better. (Not because he got bad grades.) That’s what college is for - try what you think you like, try new things, then follow your interests/talents! </p>
<p>Dorms: much needed renovations underway. Read other threads but there will be newly air conditioned rooms available for our freshman.</p>
<p>Frat houses/parties/police: There will be stories, but we found similar experiences on many many college campuses. Remember - no fake IDS on this campus and students make their own social life, which means that they are not heading out to clubs but to parties, which are generally thrown (and funded) by the frats. Take Traveller (bus or call for a car) or use a sober driver! What W&L has that very few campuses have (incl. my alma mater Wake Forest) is a GREAT safe ride system that students really can and do use. It actually goes right to registered parties (and they are all supposed to be) to pick up and drop off. Sometimes patience is necessary (and unfortunately sometimes in short supply with college students), but there IS an alternative to walking and becoming a target. </p>
<p>Thank you this is very helpful. The questions about the police came from another post on the WL board that seemed to suggest some very negative comments about the way students are treated by the police. This has been great and my son has a difficult choice. You have all made it much easier.</p>
<p>If I could ask two more questions: do you have any thoughts or experience with the Chemistry Department and what is your thought on the quality of freshman advising?</p>
<p>Freshman advising depends on the faculty advisor and the student’s willingness to take advice </p>
<p>D enrolled in a Chem class first semester freshman year because one of her new best friends (someone she had known a week or so) was taking it. D had done well in HS Chem but had only one year, while most kids in the W&L class either had an additional year of AP Chem or were premed or science majors. D was in way over her head but didn’t understand about the option to drop the class. The prof was incredibly kind and helpful, and D eventually got an upperclassman volunteer tutor, but she REALLY struggled to pass. </p>
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