Hi everyone!
My college decision is between a Full Ride+Honors College at Rutgers (Presidential Scholarship) and Full Ride at Washington and Lee (Johnson Scholarship).
W&L is definitely the more prestigious school, but I have a few concerns about going:
Its applied math program is weaker than Rutgers. I want to be a financial analyst, so I’m planning on double majoring in math and business.
I don’t really like the social life at W&L. I get the feeling that there are not many things to do in the town and the influence of frats is too strong. I’m concerned there is too much alc/drugs where it is hard for a person that doesn’t do that to fit in.
W&L doesn’t have many students so it would be hard to coordinate a team to do club sports, which would be easy in a school as big as Rutgers.
Without a doubt W&L. Congratulations on getting the Johnson scholarship! It’s a very special place and you really can’t compare the two. You will have a better educational experience as an undergraduate student at W&L and many opportunities as a Johnson Scholar.
There are plenty of W&L students, frat members included, who don’t do drugs or drink. You can find your group (and that group will be broader if you don’t come off as judgmental of those who participate in the party scene - some of those folks may be people with whom you otherwise have things in common).
The alumni network is strong and would no doubt be helpful for an aspiring financial analyst to tap into, which might outweigh what you perceive as a weaker applied math program.
I’d generally advise choosing based on fit rather than prestige, but since finance is an area where prestige plays a part in getting that first job, you are wise to consider both factors.
What club sport do you want to play? What other extracurricular activities appeal to you?
Thank you Mom000 and yauponredux! Your responses are really helpful. I want to play club volleyball and participate in investment/venture capital clubs.
Do you think the class is big enough to still be able to find a group that is willing to play sports like volleyball?
I’m sorry if I came off as judgmental; that wasn’t my intention. I really do want to go to W&L, but I just want to make sure that I will enjoy my four years there.
It appears that club volleyball was established and funded several years ago but is currently listed among the inactive student organizations. Email a current member of the EC to get an update.
I find it interesting that your three points were all perceived negatives about W&L and you didn’t really mention anything positive. In any event…
Unlike yauponredux, I HIGHLY recommend choosing based on fit rather than prestige, which I find to be VERY overrated. If you’re going to spend 4 years at a school, you want to make sure, first and foremost, that it’s an environment you can see yourself and WANT to be in.
With that said, I’m sure you can find your people at W&L and there’s no doubt it’s an excellent institution. But if you don’t think you can find you people, or you don’t think you would enjoy your 4 years there, then you shouldn’t go there.
Thank you for your thorough responese @eb23282@yauponredux ! Sorry that I only listed negatives; W&L is undoubtedly an incredible school and I just wanted to figure out the concerns that I had.
I’m afraid that frats exclude the students that choose not to join Greek life. I would like to be friends with all types of students there, both involved and not involved in Greek life. Do you think that this is a valid concern, or are frat members actually very welcoming toward non-frat members?
I think that you list valid concerns. I think that the concept of fit is more important at small schools. At large public flagships, there is something for everyone. It sounds like you don’t want to go to W&L.
Rutgers is the clear choice for several reasons including the stronger Applied Math curriculum & the riches that follow.
W&L social life: Either you fit in or you don’t. This is a small school of just over 1,800 students. Has the highest or second highest Greek participation percentages in the nation.
P.S. Why do you think that W&L is more prestigious than Rutgers ?
A full ride & honors college at Rutgers University (Presidential Scholarship) is very prestigious.
OP has been admitted to the Honors College at Rutgers & is a Presidential Scholar at this Big 10 University of about 34,000 undergraduate students on this main campus.
These are two very different schools. W&L is very country clubbish with 77% of females in sororities & 75% of males in fraternities. W&L has only about 1,800 students. Either you fit in or you don’t.
OP can be a big fish in a big pond, or an ill fitting, big fish in a tiny pond.
@lincolnmarkv: Rutgers University Honors College is much more prestigious than W&L. While the median SAT score for W&L is 1450 (for a class of about 460 students), the median SAT for Rutgers Honors College last year was 1530 (for a class of about 500 students). This year’s median SAT may be slightly higher.
Rutgers is a National University offering OP access to many graduate school courses & research opportunities.
Acceptance rate to Rutgers’ Honors College is much lower than the 18% acceptance rate at W&L.
One is an LAC, and one is a National University. Two different leagues.
You are comparing an Honors College to an entire school. I’m sure that if we took the average SAT or ACT of the Johnson Scholars (W&L’s full ride awarded to the 10% of the class) it would mirror a 1530 or 33 ACT. Let’s not forget the extensive alumni network that Washington and Lee has in addition to its large endowment. It’s true that an LAC is very different than a national university, but each offers a very different experience. W&L has money flowing through its veins, can the same be said about a public university?
The only Rutgers honor college full ride students I know have been Valedictorians. Have you spent time at W&L? S17’s best friend had it on. The short list but after visiting on accepted student day, turned it down. Extremely preppy, Southern private school vibe and the social life does revolve around frat parties and drinking (acknowledged openly when they visited campus). Not that their aren’t kids who don’t partake, but 1800 student population doesn’t leave a lot of wiggle room.
I think you’re going to get a great education at either school. It’s really fit. Visit both again and see how you feel. Can you do an overnight at each?
@lincolnmarkv : With respect to US News rankings, OP plans to double major in math & business. While Rutgers is clearly the better choice for a math major, US News ranks Rutgers undergraduate business school at #78 while Wash & Lee’s undergraduate business school is ranked at #128 by US News (this ranking is a year old, however).
I cannot emphasize enough that these schools are in two different leagues–especially with respect to one who plans to major in math.
Nevertheless, Rutgers raised the minimum GPA to maintain the Presidential Scholarship from 3.25 to 3.5 starting this year. Most likely OP would only take graduate school courses in his senior year, therefore scholarship retention concerns should not hinder any desire to stretch into ultra challenging territory academically.
Also, Rutgers places well into Wall Street firms. Lots & lots of alumni contacts.
@lincolnmarkv : So you want to compare 45 or 46 students to 500 students. Fair enough. However, OP is also a Presidential Scholar which may have an even higher median SAT. But a very real issue is fit. And, once again, either you fit in at W&L or you do not.
Rutgers is a member of the very lucrative Big 10 Conference. As a Presidential Scholar & Honors College member, OP will receive financial benefits well beyond that of a student at W&L despite the assertion you made that “W&L has money flowing through its veins…”.
The reality is that OP has been offered entrance into two very different, very exclusive educational clubs. The resources (especially with respect to academics) of a Big 10 University are undeniably superior to those of any LAC–including wealthy W&L.
Also, to place US News rankings in perspective, the 2019 edition of US News ranked Rutgers N.B. at #56 ahead of #59 University of Washington. This is quite impressive.
Really? D1 is responsible for her firm’s associates and analysts, I don’t think she has ever mentioned that. For all the years I have worked on the street, I haven’t seen that many Rutgers graduates, bot at front, middle or IT, maybe in the back office.