Reputation

Colleges and Universities A-Z Washington University in St. Louis
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<p>Do people (academics, recruiters, business leaders, coworkers etc) know about WashU? Or does it suffer in the same way as UPenn (Penn State)?</p>

<p>I don't want people to think I'm at UWashington (State). How's this working out for current students or alums?</p>

<p>Also, anyone gone through the study abroad program?</p>

<p>How's grading here? If I'm gunning for at least a 3.7+ every semester will that require an inordinate amount of work (Econ major)? I want to experience campus/city life definitely.</p>

<p>How is campus spirit?</p>

<p>Is it a party school?</p>

<p>What happens on weekends?</p>

<p>How's campus food?</p>

<p>How...is St. Louis?</p>

<p>Thanks for the answers to any of these questions. I applied to WashU on the strength of its academic departments and didn't research the social aspects as much. Now, as I anticipate deciding between Cornell and WashU, I want to have as much info as possible before choosing.</p>

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<p>Anyone...?</p>

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<p>If you were accepted to UPenn, would you turn it down because the average person confuses it with Penn State?</p>

<p>If your answer is no, then you have the answer to your WashU prestige dilemma.</p>

<p>You should watch the sample videos on theu.com if you haven't done so. They're kinda informative and you can buy the whole ones for $5.</p>

<p>As for your other questions, I only know answers based on what I've read:</p>

<p>Grading - pretty tough, though kjane (a recent transfer) has never gotten below a B and I believe she came from a state school in Michigan (not UMich)...though I could be wrong about that last part.</p>

<p>Campus spirit - I think most people that go there turned down great schools in the process; i.e. they love the school and its atmosphere.</p>

<p>Parties - I hear frats have most of the parties, and WashU has its share, but it's not a party school in the typical sense.</p>

<p>Food - I think WashU is ranked in the top 10 for best food by PR.</p>

<p>St. Louis - I hear the Loop is similar to the area around Berkeley...full of interesting characters and potheads. My kinda place. ;) Coffee shops...movies, looks like a nice clean city, apart from the reported crime.</p>

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<p>WashU is ranked number one for food. When I visited last year, however, they were working on the main gas line in the kitchen, so they couldn't really cook anything. I guess I just had the bad luck of going there on the one day that the food really sucked.</p>

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<p>Regarding the food:
I'm eating some soup right now, and let me tell you, I've never had better "cafeteria" style food in my life.</p>

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<p>WashU kind of has this whole Bible Belt thing going on, so if you're into that religious stuff, you would probably like the school, and if you're not, you will be completely turned off like I was.</p>

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<p>...Wait, seriously?
Hahaha, if you think St. Louis (uh, let alone the WashU community? It's a college campus, people) is an example of the religious right... just, no. No. The only intensely religious people I know here are still very open, very well-grounded, very awesome people. Please remember that St. Louis basically swung the stem cell initiative away from the religious right and elected Claire McCaskill just a few months ago.</p>

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<p>I'll have to see it with my own eyes before I'll believe WashU is overly religious. I've heard the opposite from most students.</p>

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<p>Yeah....no. WashU is definitely not a bible-belt school. Sure, there are religious groups on campus, but the school is definitely welcoming to a non-religious student. Perhaps you somehow got confused by Fontbonne or SLU, which are religious schools? (That's the only thing I could think of....)</p>

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<p>I don't know where you got that impression of Wash U, Silver. Are you sure you're talking about the same school? It actually seemed really liberal to me. I see you're headed to Princeton...I'd say Princeton is more traditionally WASPy/Christian...and even that is an old stereotype, probably pretty far from the truth nowadays.</p>

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<p>washu is mos def an extremely liberal school</p>

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<p>
[quote]
washu is mos def an extremely liberal school

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yay!!!!!!!!!</p>

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<p>As a current student I thought I'd take a stab at a response.....</p>

<p>WashU does suffer from name recognition especially outside of the midwest. In the midwest however they seem to carry a well known sense of prestige. The way I rationalize things though is when applying for a job/graduate school those who will be hiring you, which are the important ones, will in fact know about WashU. Its not as important to impress all the general population then as to get the respect when it really matters.</p>

<p>The study abroad program is amazing. I am a freshman this year and I have a friends already who have study abroad set up in China, Italy, and Spain. If you want to go abroad, you can make it happen.</p>

<p>Grading.... Oh..... Well classes are HARD. We just finished up midterms and spring break is starting, and trust, there are a lot of people that are beyond ready for break. As far as grades go, many people come here and do comparable to how they did in high school, however there are a large amount of people who do worse. Econ specific, I am an econ major, Generally the classes are pretty difficult especially if you haven't taken any econ in high school. Its manageable though and if you really put in the time, you will get the grade. Aparantly though "Price Theory" which you will take later as an econ major is damn near an impossible class. All I keep hearing is "Just stick through the class if you really want to be an econ major." Rumor has it that it is among the hardest classes offered at WashU.</p>

<p>As far as parties go, WashU lives by the work hard play hard mentality. Because of the hard work it takes during the week, people let loose on the weekends. The frats are good for having parties every weekend, and if you branch out quickly you can find off campus parties associated with the University frequently. Also on Thursday nights and I think friday nights, the school has Busses leaving the school at night and running all night to take students to the club. Whenever you go to these you always find a dominating WashU population in the club, so essentially they become campus parties.</p>

<p>And to wrap up, the foods great, ranked among the best college campus foods in the nation, campus spirit is not that which I would have wanted (sports at what not) but its getting better. I boys and girls basketball did VERY well this season which helped boast support...</p>

<p>In the end, just visit. THats how I made my decision. There's something about the atmosphere of this place that just draws people in.</p>

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<p>Does anyone know the average GPA of WashU students?</p>

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<p>Wash U a religious school? Haha. At least 50% of the people I know are atheist/nonreligious/agnostic. Probably closer to 75%. </p>

<p>There are free condoms in manila envelopes in the hallways.</p>

<p>We just had "sex week." One of the guest speakers was that old lady with a sex show on the oxygen network.</p>

<p>On WU TV, I've seen shows where students call in for sex advice (to other students and a rabbi).</p>

<p>I'm from Arkansas, the real bible belt, so I was pleasantly surprised how liberal everyone here is.</p>

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<p>"I've seen shows where students call in for sex advice (to other students and a rabbi)."
Isn't there a priest on there too? I think it's called "Missionary Positions," but I might be thinking of something else.</p>

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<p>that's it.</p>