<p>Perhaps the "chill" facade will drop closer to the decision date....:)
Good luck, guys!</p>
<p>I guess the nice thing about living in Illinois is that everyone here knows WashU. They know it's prestigious here, unlike people from other states who just think "where?"</p>
<p>CONS:
1) Gen Chem...why are we learning quantum physics so early when everyone else is doing normal stuff?</p>
<p>2) STL is...well not that exciting. I lived in Houston and I thought it was boring. I feel like I've done almost everything in STL. Also, if you're into shopping, you will find that St. Louis has nonexistant shopping...</p>
<p>3) As at any top university, socially awkward people.</p>
<p>4) THE CONSTRUCTION ON THE 40. It doesn't ever stop. I live in Koenig and I have been woken up due to construction or hearing ridiculous stuff hit the concrete near my room. It starts at 6am every day! They are building a new cafeteria-esque thing, tearing down the old one, and trying to build a new dorm. Plus they blocked off the street. It's not probably ever gonna be finished...</p>
<p>PROS:
1) Good teachers. Very willing to help.
2) Academically challenging
3) Food is ranked 12 best in the country
4) Free metro passes</p>
<p>Just a comment on St. Louis. If you are going to college looking for a true "city experience", Admittedly, St. Louis simply can't compare to New York, Chicago or Boston. However, if you are looking for a balance between a beautiful campus with a rich campus life that has easy access to a city, there aren't lots of top tier schools or cities that offer what WashU and St. Louis offer. WashU isn't a true "city school". It has a georgeous campus in an upscale suburban area. Kids spend alot of time on campus and can and do easily get to the Loop area, the super hip Central West End, downtown Clayton, Forest Park, and all the big malls and shops that you see in and around every city in the US. (Not sure what the previous poster was referring to about shopping, because it is all there from Gucci and Prada to Macy's and Walmart)</p>
<p>Lots of the great "city schools" have much less campus life and the kids spend their time in the cities. It's really a very different college experience. We felt that our daughter had only one time in life to experience "college life" and a whole lifetime to live in a city if she chooses. But at the same time, my D didn't want to be in a school "in the middle of nowhere" where you basically spend your whole four years on campus. I think that WashU and St. Louis offers a great balance and have found that St. Louis certainly has enough to do for a student for four years.</p>
<p>very well said, nervous!</p>