Very brief WashU visit report

Parents Forum
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<p>D and I visited WashU last week and we were very impressed. Starting with St. Louis itself, I had no idea that Clayton was virtually next door to my Aunt's old community of Brentwood. Small world.The area around WashU is beautiful old homes, gated streets , large park with a zoo and golfcourse. Very safe feeling location for a campus. In fact the area around campus felt like a series of small towns. Clayton's "downtown" was tiny and clean, the Loop area was little shops and what-nots. It's really walking distance from campus and I don't walk. The Hill was a small Italian neighborhood, and Central West End was for the trendies. More shopping and eats in Creve Couer area. Lots of opportunities to spend money and time. My daughter will have none of the former, maybe some of the latter. The campus itself really seemed to have plenty of opportunities itself (check out "students against gravity"). </p>

<p>The campus is well integrated and relatively compact and "walkable". The buildings are done in a stone that is not my favorite but D liked it. Brookings from any angle is an impressive first glance. Lots of $ being spent. New life sciences building, new art center, really nice BME building. New dorms, too. </p>

<p>D loved the tour. Her guide was from Ft. Lauderdale. Loved her interview (student), enjoyed her conversations with professors and coaches, best info session yet (of course the bar wasn't set very high) . The Vice -Dean of Engineering , Professor Darby was a speaker at the info session and he was a wonderful man, and very funny. I want to take his class. (Enviro-Engineering I think. Could be Advanced Sanskrit or Phonebook Reading , I'd still take it.)</p>

<p>Adcom was a pro. Staff was very helpful. Students looked sane-ish. Always a good sign. </p>

<p>Only truly exciting thing (other than the research being done in Neuroscience) was the coming addition of a light rail stop that will further diminish the need for a car (which we determined with the shuttles and the light rail stop at Forest Park was close to nil as it was.) You really can get around quite easily to most things the students are likely to be interested in, and the shuttles appeared to frequent the med and law schools quite often as well as all of the off campus U owned apartments, and the shopping areas around..</p>

<p>D said the dorms were the nicest she has seen. Again, not a high bar there either.Food service at the South Forty grill/food court thingy was average but they did have a great fruit salad that was very hefty for $4.15. Burrito sucked, but hey-we're from Texas, a burrito probably wasn't a smart choice to begin with.;)</p>

<p>Any questions you have about our one day visit I'll try to answer but in a nutshell ,D's fears of city life were assuaged somewhat, she liked what she saw and is excited about applying. It will be interesting to see how these next several months play out for her. I think it will be 50/50 whether she stays enamored with small LAC's or falls increasingly more in love with medium sized research institutions. Right now she just glares at me if I ask.</p>

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<p>Always wondered about student diversity at Wash U. It seems they get heavy enrollment from NY, esp. Long Island. What was your impression?
Post script: have heard many terrific things about the school, esp. its pre-med opportunites, as well as all the nice aspects of the campus and surrounding areas you mentioned.</p>

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<p>Lots of East coast hands went up at the info session. Easily the largest group. Maybe somewhat telling , when they were going thru the regions represented-they left out "south". LOL. Second largest was west coast, followed by midwest , then south, then Rocky Mts. D kept her hand down. I think she was expecting Texas to be asked about individually.;) Diversity is apparent geographically. Racial? Better than any of the LAC's we have visited, better than Emory appeared to us to be. They are trying. We met and spoke with a diversity scholarship adminstrator and discussed what progress they are making and the effort seemed to be there. Still overwhelmingly white. </p>

<p>Interestingly enough , and this may be a summer thing, I didn't see any Richies. Not one, now that I think about it. Huh. That's intriguing. I'd say economic diversity, SES diversity has been accomplished at least in the students we encountered.</p>

<p>Maybe the lack of Richie Rich's stems from the dearth of local Missouri kids. I really have no explanation but I'll think on it. (I've asked myself a question I can't answer. There goes another night of sleep. LOL.)</p>

<p>As far as the locale, really couldn't be better. Major city, but feels like a small community, or series of small communities each with a personality. They call it a "city of neighborhoods". When the light rail is finished a student can go straight from the airport to the campus for $1.75. And to Laclede's Landing on the Mississippi for that same rate. (It is $1.50 but it's going up. Light rail extension is supposed to be finished 2006.)</p>

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<p>Thanks..its good to hear that they're moving in the right direction.</p>

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<p>When the offer a student interviewer, is there something you should do to get an adcom?</p>

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<p>Curm - great review....our last chick flies the coop this Sunday, but I think I'll stick around CC awhile for the further adventures of Curm and D of Curm on the college circuit.</p>

<p>BTW, we have extended fam in the Clayton area - raisedd 4 pretty high-achievers...college-age roughly 1992-2002. All raved about WashU and checked it out, but in the end felt it was just not worth the $$. They all got nice merit aid offers from the schools they did attend. Perhaps WashU is not very generous with merit/financial aid to local students?...maybe that's good news for D of Curm, being from Texas!</p>

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<p>Thanks, Cur,
There's a good chance that S will be applying there, too. He flies there on a diversity weekend in September. </p>

<p>Wash U has a good reputation for doing things to attract URMs. I don't personally know students at Wash U, but I do know a middle aged black alum who is married to a black alum. Both enjoyed their experience and have encouraged S to apply.</p>

<p>In addition, I know parents of students who are at Wash U, and the parents say their students have had wonderful experiences there. The students were stellar, very high scores, excellent ECs, passionate about learning. One is a white male, the other a Hispanic female who is majoring in environmental sci.</p>

<p>I've read, too, that Wash U students are among the happiest in the country about their college experiences, and that bodes well, too.</p>

<p>My husband and I can't afford to visit Wash U and S does not tend to be good at giving lots of details, so I'll be relying on posts here by people like you. Thanks for the info.</p>

<p>Where else is your D considering?</p>

<p>What's the research in neuroscience? S is considering majors ranging from engineering to double majoring in psych and biochemistry or physics or neuroscience, if it's available.</p>

<p>Glad to hear about the light rail! Great to hear that a community is concerned about transportation and the environment.</p>

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<p>Sounds like a great place Curmudge - could not get daughter to even consider it, despite much prodding from my office colleagues - one Wash U residency grad, one Wash U parent from about 10 years ago - both with nothing but high praise for the school and St. Louis.
The residency grad lived in the general neighborhood of the medical complex, and said it was a great place to live as well.</p>

<p>Good luck - I, too, am staying here for the further adventures of Young Mudge.</p>

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<p>Cur- My old boss used to say, "No Mexican or barbeque north of the Red River!"</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Burrito sucked, but hey-we're from Texas, a burrito probably wasn't a smart choice to begin with.

[/quote]
Did you try their barbecued brisket?</p>

<p>MOWC - former Californian here <em>bristles</em> at the north of Red River criterion. No allowances for Baja California Norte? :D</p>

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<p>Thanks for the review, Curmudgeon. D has expressed an interest in visiting Wash U as well as William & Mary, Davidson and Hendrix. We thought we had pretty much gotten all the college visits out of the way, so we're trying to think of a good plan that will allow us to visit said schools by the time early applications are due. </p>

<p>I so understand your comment, "Right now she just glares at me if I ask." We're going through the same thing. Just the other day, DH, DD and I went out for lunch and DH and I asked DD a few questions regarding the college search. She said she didn't really want to talk about it. We're trying to be understanding, but now is the time to be talking about it. Where is the child who went out and purchased all kinds of college books last year? Where is the child who had previously been so excited about college visits and could speak of nothing else? Maybe the reality of it all is finally hitting home with her.</p>

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<p>MOWC, LOL. I have no idea why I thought "burrito" was an acceptable choice in St.Louis.</p>

<p>Suze, all of the interviews that time slot were performed by students. I, like you , was making a value judgment but I don't think it was a correct one after hearing about the interview. It appeared to be "professionally done" by the student.</p>

<p>Beachy, with the numbers of instate kids so low, it does make you wonder.</p>

<p>NSM, that sounds very exciting for your son. I think he'll be impressed. Did he ever make it to Rhodes for a visit? Still very high on D's list. D is still looking at Ole Miss Honors , Hanover, Centre, Rhodes, Furman, Bowdoin, Scripps, Hamilton, and Rochester. Quite the list,huh? You should have seen the loooong one.</p>

<p>I can't do the research that intrigued D justice but it had something to do with the idea of a "clock" , I'm thinking diurnal, or nocturnal clock, that exists in an organism retaining that clock even on the cellular level and the neurological impact of that clock but I was a history major so I've probably goofed that horribly. PM me if you are interested and I'll make D explain it to me or show me which prof was doing the research.</p>

<p>Edit:O.K.. D gave me this synopsis-"In mammals,the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus is the master circadian pacemaker. This brain region continues to keep daily time when cultured. We are now asking which cells generate this rythmicity, how do they synchronize to one another, and what makes them unique in their ability to keep time?" It thrilled D to no end. "Cool."</p>

<p>Erik D. Herzog is doing the research.</p>

<p>cangel, I'm just hoping I can make it through. Since you are on the other side now, can you pull on me once in a while to help me through? I think I'll need the help.</p>

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<p>Have visited with one son who liked it and the other did not. Friends there all have positive reviews. I sense it is a wealthier crowd than curmudgeons impression...
Diverse at least religion wise...large Jewish population.
Oldest son who is at UVA found it too academic and wanted bigger sports scene.</p>

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<p>There is a very nice building housing the Hillel directly across from campus. Oldman, as to the "wealthier" crowd, I thought their absence was strange ,too and I expect the full student body may have it's share. Maybe richies don't frequent in August. I don't know the reason they weren't visible. Summering on the Costa del Sol, perhaps?</p>

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<p>Glares, huh? I only get a roll of the eyes and shoulder slump. Must be the difference between F-D and M-S relationships....:D</p>

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<p>I get glares and he walks out of the room. In his defense I'm a nudnik/pest.</p>

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<p>We are broke due to unexpected major house repairs, so S hasn't been to visit any place this year but U Maryland Baltimore County and our local public university. </p>

<p>I am not sure what S is still considering as he tends to turn deaf when I ask. When others ask, he tends to remember one or two colleges, then looks at me for information about what he's interested in. This will be a long fall.</p>

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<p>


ROTFL, "long fall" ain't that the truth! We'll be counting on our friends to yank us through the porthole, won't we?</p>

<p>As far as the finances or lack thereof, D has had to experience some choices herself due to unexpected "situations" this summer. Maybe it will help them understand what financial issues mean to this process. Maybe not.</p>

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<p>Casa Dilla is THE most amazing delivery place at WashU...</p>

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<p>Mudge, sounds wonderful. I talked and talked and talked to try to get my D interested in Wash U. Won't have any of it. She wants OUT of the midwest. Why is the grass always greener, except when it isn't?</p>