My DS is conservative for the most part, and I was nervous about W&L. 
You have to be clear about what you mean as conservative. D went to W&L and is conservative, but I noticed that while most kids are conservative in general, as a whole the campus is moderate or slightly liberal on social issues. Not a huge litmus test I know, but when SC came out with gay marriage ruling, almost all Dās friends changed FB profile in support.
I agree with mathmom that I would be hesitant to encourage attendance there if you have absolutely no interest in Greek life (although one of Dās friends from HS didnāt join and had a great experience). Sophomore year is the official year of living in Greek housing and (in the past) after that everyone is off campus. While these off campus houses do tend to group in greek groups, they donāt always. Now even that is changing with construction of new dorms that will allow kids to stay on campus longer.
Few other comments - my D was in sorority and did wear jeans and sneakers - often. I consider the dress mostly to be southern which does intersect with āpreppyā. Funny thing is a friendās son is at Kenyon - wanted nothing to do with greek life, yet wears khakis or khaki shorts daily with rainbow sandals plus button down shirtā¦but very much not a frat boy in attitude or interestā¦just southern. Take a look at Scene of Campus photos on website - youāll see it all dress wise.
Yes the Mock Convention is huge and everyone is encouraged and huge % does participate but (upthread) to characterize it as a republican club is slightly misleading. Mock Con is held in every election year in spring for the party out of power. Since we have a Democratic president, it will be (and was last time) a Republican convention. If a republican president is elected, the next one will be a democratic convention. Obviously the speakers brought to campus by this reflect the convention that is being held. You can head a āstateā delegation regardless of your politics.
As far as gay population, I canāt really comment except to say some of most popular, well liked students there during Dās 4 years are gay. Now how they personally felt during the 4 years, I canāt say.
W&L does have a small number of minority students, but it is interesting to me that the ones there are included more in the greek life that at other Dās big university. AA and other minority students join the main stream frats and srats.
OP, as far as your interests, W&L does have a real business school (school of commerce) which not as many LACs have. There are lots of opportunities in music. You didnāt say what but my D took piano 3 of her years there even though it wasnāt her major and had the best teacher/student relationship she had ever had in previous 12 years of music. Great music facilities. It didnāt have a thing to do with choosing W&L, but she loved the open practice rooms with Steinway pianos!
jostri, I think you are getting some bad advice in this thread. W&L is not diverse and is conservative, but it is not intolerant. Itās conservative not because its students were trying to go to the most conservative school they could find. It just happens to draw students from more conservative backgrounds. I think you will find that sexuality is not an issue for most persons you encounter. Since there are probably less gay students there than at many campuses, you wonāt find as many students who are similar to you in that regard and wonāt have the same resources, but that does not sound like what youāre looking for. I do agree with the advice of another poster that you talk with students in gay organizations to see what they have experienced.
I come from a super liberal county (~70% for Obama in 08 and 12) so I was bracing for a political culture shockā¦I didnāt find it. College dems is very strong, liberal students are often very outspoken. The only place Iāve heard ppl really complain about the politics of our campus is on this forum.
Iām a senior.
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For the record my son is a student at W&L - there was a picture last week posted of his English class having class on the lawn. He was dressed in Athletic shorts, a tee-shirt and running shoes his normal dress for class. In fairness they do have events at the school where students ādress-upā he actually thinks it is fun!
My student is a LGBTQ recent graduate of W&L and was a Johnson Scholar. I could never never encourage any LGBTQ student to attend W&L. Yes, the academics are excellent and the campus is lovely, but it is the overall personal experience that matters. It is a very conservative campus and there is a W&L ātypeā of student. The students are polite. People may not be vocal about non traditional sexuality, but in general LGBTQ students are marginalized in many subtle and not so subtle ways. My student had friends and was involved in Greek life as well as in many organizations. However, on the day I moved my student out, at the end of four years at W&L, my student said āI never felt so unwelcome at a place in my lifeā. I think that says it all. Choose another school if you are LGBTQ or are looking for a diverse non-conservative student body.
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I realize this is a little late, but as a current W&L freshman (liberal girl) I would have to strongly disagree with the ābrandā suggested by @MYOS1634, it is just wrong. This school is a phenomenal place and though you are more likely to happen upon a boy in sperries and Vineyard Vines, I feel confident in saying that you will encounter every type of person here. As far as greek life goes, it is most definitely prevalent. However, it is not the end-all be-all for social life, I know plenty of independents who love it here all the same. I would highly recommend trying to stay here for a weekend and maybe sit in on a class, you will understand exactly what I mean when I say this is an incredibly special place no matter your political party or sexual orientation.
It should also be noted that our transfer-out rate is 6%, remarkably low when compared to the majority of liberal arts schools. The bottom line being, there is a place here for everyone and there are so many parts of this school that greatly make up for its āconservative image.ā
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" itās host to the 2016 Mock Republican Convention and College Republicans is the largest club on campus; "
Mock Convention always hosts the party that is not currently in the Presidential office. When I was an undergrad (and one of the first women to go there, by the way) the Mock Con hosted the Democrats. Bill Clinton was the (accurate) selection of Mock Con that year. Mock Convention is not a Republican mouthpiece.
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