<p>I've learned A LOT about the school over the past few months and as I prepare to write my essays for transfer I am looking for any other resources (besides actually visiting the school) that will help me to learn more about the school.</p>
<p>Websites are preferred. </p>
<p>I ask as, in the case of UChicago, there is a whole book printed online about life at Chicago. It would be great to find something like that for WashU, but anything that can help a prospective student is appreciated.</p>
<p>I can try to help you....if you have any specific questions about certain aspects of social life, i'll be happy to answer them</p>
<p>yeah that would actually be great - the only hard part is thinking of questions off the top of my head :D </p>
<p>What is your typical day like? I read that 75% of students live on campus, and the rest live in university apartments nearby, so practically everyone lives in the general area. Does it feel like that - that is to say, is there a lot of activity on campus or do people primarily go into St. Louis to have fun? Not to be personal, but was it easy to make friends? How big of a presence do fraternities have? I know it's hard to generalize the student body, but what is your average student like? Are study abroad opportunities as abundant as the website claims? </p>
<p>How's the food? I assume the area immediately around the university is safe, but have heard St. Louis is quite dangerous. Have you had problems with security? Does it seem like transfer students are easily integrated into the community? How liberal is the campus in your opinion? How politically active is the student body? </p>
<p>You obviously don't have to answer all of those - but whatever you can is helpful. Thanks alot.</p>
<p>I have no problem answering questions. I know its difficult to think of specific things to ask, but if you ever have any questions that come up at anytime, feel free to ask them. I will always be around to answer. But as far as the points your just brought up:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Residential Life
75 percent is the official statistic of students that live on campus, but I feel like more do. Freshman and Sophomores generally live on the South 40. The 40 is comprised of all the residential colleges, another student center, student run businesses, athletic facilities, open courts/fields, etc. The 40 is becoming more and more popular and a lot of upperclassman want to continue to live there. Therefore, you see a good number of juniors and seniors who will live on the 40. Some will be RAs, while some will just live there. Aside from the 40, there is a housing complex called The Village. It is right next to frat row. Mostly juniors live in the village (transfer students as well). I?n order to live in the Village, you have to live in whats called a BLOC, which is basically just a group of people that have share a common interest (i.e film students, transfer students, etc...you can really use any theme). If students don't live on the 40 or in the Village, then the off campus apartments are really a 5-10 min walk away, so they are really close. This year, the university just opened Lofts(they are amazing). The downside to those is that they are further away from campus. Mostly sophomores live there (they got a sweet deal to do so) and some juniors. There is a joke that the Class of '09 is lost in the Lofts because they aren't on campus as much anymore since they live in the lofts this year.</p></li>
<li><p>Campus Activities
There are always things happening on campus. The Frats usually have events on weekends. People mostly plan activities within their own group of friends. For example, I just came from a potluck that some of the students in my class put together. People do go into STL for fun though. We all get free UPasses so we ride the buses and trains for free. They will take you all over the city, and even into illinois. This opens STL up to do pretty much anything. I like to go bowling, so I go to this alley that is 5 mins away on the bus a lot. Downtown STL isn't too far away. There is also this area called the Loop that is 5 mins from campus. The Loop has a lot of ethnic resteraunts, movie theaters, bowling alleys, etc. Its a nice place to eat and hang out. Forest Park is also at the front of WU (literally, right across the street). Forest Park has a slew of attractions. Museum, Zoo, Golf Course, Ice Skating...there is so much stuff I can't even name it all, google Forest Park and you'll see what all is there, lol. I'd say that one can be perfectly content with the activities at WU, but it is really easy to "burst the WashU bubble" and get out into STL for some variety.</p></li>
<li><p>Making Friends
It is very easy to make friends. Everyone here is really friendly...this is the friendliest place I've ever been. All the people here that I've encountered are all very smart, social, active and always willing to have a conversation with you. Granted, I don't know the entire school, but I think my group of friends is very representative of the WU population as a whole.</p></li>
<li><p>Frats
Abut 25 percent of students will rush. The frats are a nice place to party, but they don't dominate the social scene. All frat parties are open to everyone, so a lot of people just go to party, but they won't join the actual frat. A friend of mine (as a freshman) actually threw his own personal party at one of the frat houses, and the frat helped him with the expenses. He didn't join the frat, he just wanted to throw a party. </p></li>
<li><p>Average Student
Lol, the joke about the average WU student is that he or she is taking 18-20 credit hours, and is in at least 5 different activities. In general, WU students are highly motivated and active both academically, socially, charitably, and in activities. Also, a lot of WU students are athletic and take IM sports seriously. Most WU students were the really smart people in high school that knew and were friends with all the popular athletes, cheerleaders, etc.</p></li>
<li><p>Study Abroad
Its very easy to study abroad. From day one, if you think you want to study abroad, you're given a study abroad advisor. About half the juniors study abroad each semester, that shows how easy it is. A couple of freshman are doing some study abroad stuff this summer (Italy, Spain, etc). </p></li>
<li><p>Average Day
Well, I have class at 9:00. I get out of my last class @ 1:00. Afterwards, I'll usually go to Whispers Cafe (located in the Olin Library) to just sit and have a bagel or chat with friends. If I don't go to whispers Ill go to have lunch in the food court or subway. Then I have to go to WUTV for an hour or two to edit some footage for a show or fill out expense reports for the station. After I'm done with WUTV stuff, I try to go to the rec gym with some of my friends to play basketball if I have time. If I don't, I usually take a nap. Depending on the day, I have a number of meetings to go to (Orientation Exec Board, SAC, ABS, etc). I head back to the South 40 around 6:00. I go to Bears Den to grab a bite to eat and everyone is there. Bears Den is the place you'll eat the most, and the place where most people will come to just sit and talk over a meal. After that, I head to my dorm to try to do some homework or help people with their homework. A lot of times, my friends and I will end up watching a movie for a while, then we'll finally start to work at around 11:00, staying up until about 2, lol. </p></li>
<li><p>Food is great...seriously. There are like 14 different dining locations. Bears Den has steak, lobster tail, salmon, shrimp, tilapia, ribs, and other things like that on a daily basis. It is also really easy to create your own dish at Bears Den. The cooks are really nice and friendly. Ursas and Center Court are also located on the 40. Center Court is an all you can eat buffett. Ursas has great ice cream, shakes, wraps, and crepes. There is a grocery store (well kinda) on the 40 called Bear Mart, its overpriced, but convinient if you want a quick snack. Main campus has subway, a bunch of a cafes, a food court, a bakery and other options. The Village has great food. They have stir fry and a different fish special every day. Once the new university center is finished, there will be another food court, and a sit down resteraunt where you will be waited on.</p></li>
<li><p>I haven't had secruity problems. One of my friends got mugged downtown at the arch before. The area around WU is very safe. There are bluelights everywhere, you can press a button and the police will immediately respond. Since WU is technically is three different cities at the same time (Clayton, St. Louis and University City) there are 4 different police departments patroling the area. Those three and WU's own police department. </p></li>
<li><p>Liberal
The campus is pretty liberal political. It is very liberal in the sense that it isn't strict on the rules. The alcohol policy here is, well, its very far from a dry campus. Underage drinking occurs and WU has a policy of not interfering with responsible adults and their decisions. Basically, you can drink and if the WU police see you with a drink, they won't ask to see ID or interfere, as long as ur drinking responsibly. Also, all dorms are co-ed by room (meaning there are boy rooms/suites right next door to girl rooms/suites on the same floor).</p></li>
<li><p>Political Activism
The students here are pretty politically active. There are several political groups (College Dems, College Republicans, etc). I always here people having political debates.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>hoped you got the answers you needed. If you have any more questions, just ask!</p>
<p>wow that's so much great deatiled information seriously thank you I've learned how much more I love the school now! It's really hard to find that kind of first-hand information on a school.</p>
<p>If I can think of anymore I will definitely come to you - thanks so much!</p>