Some Thoughts on W&L

Hi all,
I just wanted to update you all on how much my 1st year son is really loving this school and the town. Yauponredux - your advice was so appreciated!
He has had to study a lot so it’s been a bit of adjustment. It’s still up in the air as far as if he will go Greek, but he’s visited some fraternities when he’s been invited. He likes the ones he’s visited. There are options for everyone but he says the independent scene is growing. We’ve met his friends and they are sharp, incredibly bright young adults. There’s a free coffee house scene in the basement of the old SAE house ( Now the ARC residential house) on Friday nights- this is the 2nd year and it’s well attended.

A big surprise has been Lexington. Internet land said how boring and lame the town is. We are from a city that’s about 200,000 population in the city, and we think Lexington is awesome. I never feel I get enough time here. He didn’t bring his car and he can get anywhere he needs. He’s gone to some nearby concerts with friends at UVA. You really cannot beat the scenery around here. We’ve come for Parents Weekend and really enjoyed it. Tried to get reservations in town for 2017 and the Robert E Lee was already booked. So far we’ve stayed in Airbnbs outside of town and really enjoyed it.

One thing that I thought was fun was how the fraternities sponsor parties during Parents Weekend. Then there are state sponsored parties (also by the senior frat members) which is a great way to figure out how to get your student home if you can’t fly them home.

I also wanted to say how great the school has been for small opportunities and just genuine helpfulness. He’s going on a school- sponsored trip during Spring Break for fun and then he’s going on another (somewhat subsidized by the school) weekend trip to study something that’s important to him. He had another weekend trip into a nearby large city completely paid for by the school since it was part of his work study. He’s been very into acting in the school plays, although his schoolwork has been brutal. He had to nix a play opportunity due to school work. That’s ultimately why he decided to not do a fraternity this year although he found a great one he liked. We just cannot lose his scholarship because he can’t attend otherwise. I don’t see how there is that much partying happening with the level of work they do. For instance, he had to miss out on Fancy Dress because he had too much work to do. That’s the only thing I’m annoyed by- the professors seem to pile it on during weeks like that- Parents Weekend, etc. Also annoyed they require a 3.3 for his scholarship, not a 3.0, but we did sign up for all that.

@downtowndoll very well said!

@MamaLala Yes, my daughter just finished up her 1st year at W&L. She absolutely loved it! She ended up joining a sorority and now loves that! The school is beautiful and has great professors! It is a work hard, play hard school. We heard terrible stereotypes but she hasn’t come across any problems! She cannot wait till August to head back to Lexington, VA!

@MeddlingMotherOY congrats to your daughter!