<p>RUF is one on the larger religious groups on campus, helped I think by the fact that there is a full time and assistant chaplin. Lots of kids involved even if not Presbyterian by background. There is large group on Tuesday night and then separate girls and boys bible studies. A big group goes to the local church on Sundays and RUF sponsors parties and dropins for Christmas, Halloween, exam breaks, etc.</p>
<p>I am a first year Johnson Scholar and am sooo happy at W&L! It has far exceeded my expectations. There is honestly something here for everyone, and I am able to do so much on campus. I am an athlete, in the school play, a member of RUF, and in a sorority, and yes I do go out and have fun every weekend. Time management is key, the academics are challenging, but the professors are superb. This place is a school for students who want to take advantage of every opportunity possible, and are willing to work as hard they play. SOOOO AWESOME!</p>
<p>Sorry for the long hold up, things have been hectic only two weeks into winter semester. </p>
<p>@Delial: You’re right, I’ve seen some friendships change already and I’ll wait to comment further on this, as you suggest. Nevertheless, on the note of friendships, I’ve found that, friendships can be preserved and prosper given enough effort.</p>
<p>@creativecrew and anyone who is freaking out about johnsons: Not sure if letters have arrived yet but there were 207 finalist letters sent out and I’m not sure of the averages this year but last year the average class rank and ACT score was 2% and 34 respectively (and I believe around 2280 for SATs). A little bit of advice for those who care to listen, the school refers to the event as a “competition”. Don’t think of it as a competition and don’t view everyone as your enemy. Be yourself, make friends, be charismatic and be the person that admissions saw in you. Either way, as a finalist, you’re guaranteed some grandiose sum of money so think of that three day trip in March as just that, a little vacation to the little bubble of Lexington.</p>
<p>Edit: Just for clarification’s sake, if you’re a Johnson Finalist, you’re accepted to W&L (unless you do screw up royally during the visit ie. getting wasted) with, as stated above, a large sum of scholarship money even if you don’t get the Johnson.</p>
<p>@Esquette and FLVADA Thank you for your kind words, they reflect that the time that I’m spending in writing out these messages are helpful to others rather than written in vain.</p>
<p>Anyone with questions that I can address?</p>
<p>Hearing a lot about RUF. Does anyone know much about the Hillel and Jewish student life on campus? Visited this summer before school was in session but saw the beautiful new, alumni donated Hillel building. Wondering if there is an active Jewish student life on campus.</p>
<p>I have about five friends who are active in the Jewish student life at W&L-they love the activities and Hillel House. I love the food at the Hillel House, and go there often to eat with them, plus it is a fun place to see people!</p>
<p>Brand new Hillel house…go to W&L website and read about it. Seems to have lots of community support. Every weekend schedule I’ve seen for events like parents weekend include Sabbat (SP?) gatherings.</p>
<p>Also potential Johnson candidates, my daughter went to the competition last year and met friends she kept up with throughout the year and one is now her best friend there. The interviews are varied and one involves a group interview where the group must work together so getting to know people is a great idea.</p>
<p>I just graduated this past May, and I was extremely active in Hillel. The new house is supposed to be beautiful (and I’m hoping to see the finished product when I go back down for this year’s graduation.) Hillel offers tons of activities which draw large numbers of the student population, as well as the Lexington community. Lots of food and fun! Last year we went on a service trip to Uruguay during our Feb break, and this year the students are going to New Orleans. Every year Hillel puts on a (student-led) community Passover seder which is a very popular event. Also plenty of opportunity to take on leadership roles within the organization. Furthermore, W&L is guaranteed Birthright trip spots, if you have any interest in going to Israel. </p>
<p>Any further questions, feel free to PM me!</p>
<p>I have to just say one thing about the conformity thing. I’m in a sorority, and I’m by no means a conformist, and not very many people are. The way they dress has nothing to do with who they are. There are so many people that have these interesting facts about them and little quirks, you just have to get to know them. Let’s talk about close-minded, shall we?</p>
<p>georgeandbob…love your user name. 
and I couldn’t agree with your post more! I can’t believe I hesitated about coming to W&L due to some of the stereotypes I read about. When I won the Johnson scholarship, it tipped my decision, but I can’t imagine having a better experience anywhere else.<br>
I have met so many different types of people here, we have 476 in our freshman class from 400 different high schools. I may be self identifying, but I have to emphasize one of the advantages of going to a school like W&L, is the excellence and availability to so many extra curricular activities, I am a varsity athlete, heavily involved in the performing arts, and in a sorority. I love my quirky non-conforming, genuine friends, from every activity. Just my two cents. :)</p>
<p>My daughter is a freshman at W&L. She went to a selective private high school and was very much into academics. She loves the small class size and the individual attention she receives from her professors. However, she feels it is very much like high school and that there are so many “mean” girls at the school. Very rude, unfriendly and loud. She went through rush and pledged which is a very unusual rush program. Alot of drinking. Could not believe all the drinking I saw at parent’s week-end. Said she would not have gone there had she known the type of students at the school. She did visit the campus 3 times and stayed in the dorm and applied early decision and got in.</p>
<p>My daughter is a freshman at W&L. She graduated from a selective private high school. She was very much into academics and varsity athletics, being a two sport varsity athlete for all four years. She loves the small class sizes at W&L, and the fact that her professors get to know her. She feels that W&L is nothing like high school. She has made many new friends, and recently completed an incredible sorority rush, having her pick of three sororities; any of which she would have been glad to pledge! In fact, she is part of a group of eleven great friends who all pledged the same sorority! We attended Parent’s Weekend and had a blast- dancing to Doug Clark and the Hotnuts (their fifty-first year at W&L Parent’s Weekend!!) and yes, we drank, partied, and pretended we were back in school. In other words, we had fun!! We are greatful that our daughter was accepted off the waitlist to her dream school, one that she thoroughly enjoys.</p>
<p>happygolucky, will your daughter be transferring? I’m sorry our school has made her so miserable. Most of us have the experience that dukewis daughter is having.</p>
<p>Dear Seniorgeneral . . .</p>
<p>You sound like one of the mean sorority bullies at Washington and Lee. I do not agree that a girl should transfer from an otherwise perfect school just because she is not picked by the mean upper class girls to be in one of their so called top greek houses. The school is actually an outstanding academic institution and most students can have a wonderful four years there as long as they do not let a few mean sorority girls ruin their experience.</p>
<p>My daughter is a junior and loves W&L. She could have gone to just about any school in the country. She went to a top prep school and was a top athlete and outstanding student. She is very beautiful has all the right clothes . . . but did not get picked by the top greek houses. The top sorority girls did not like her or did not know her. However, she has always been very popular and is still popular with the guys at W&L . . . so she has a great social life without being in one of the so called top sorority houses. </p>
<p>Guys do not have the same problem since there are so many frats that compete for them. They can actually pick their frat.</p>
<p>Whoa there, parentconf. Seniorgeneral wrote a mere three sentences, and your accusation seems incredibly unfounded. Sg wasn’t suggesting that the student transfer, but simply asking. Nowhere in dukewis’ post is there mention of these “top sororities” that you’re bashing – for all you know, your own child could be in one of the three that dukewis’ daughter loved/that Seniorgeneral is referring to. </p>
<p>As far as sorority rankings go, it’s almost ridiculous to speak of the “top Greek houses.” Every single organization boasts members who are leaders of other campus clubs, organizations, and teams. Yes, there are “mean girls” – in every.single.sorority. There are also really nice girls (a majority, in fact) – in every.single.sorority. That’s life. </p>
<p>I’m glad that your daughter is enjoying her time at W&L. When I was at the school, I wasn’t a member of what you seem to deem a “top sorority”, but I absolutely loved my Greek experience, and felt that there was no better house for me. A lot of it is what you make of it. I can comfortably say that I had friends in every single house. It’s a pity to rule out all members of a large organization simply because a few bad seeds have discolored your view.</p>
<p>Thank you house_elf for your comment. I think you have the correct perspective on the Greek system and how it works. The “top tier sororities” are all a mind set. The reality being that all the sororities are about the same it is just how the sororities want to project themselves as well as how the frats talk about them. The idea that only certain frats will mix with certain sororities is so closed minded. It really limits them to meeting really nice girls from all the sororities. It seems that once you are a junior you outgrow this small minded behavior and get to know people for who they really are, not by their greek letters. My daughter really loves the academics at W&L and will continue her education there because that is her priority.</p>
<p>Yes, I am in a sorority. No, I will not tell you which one, or if it is “top-tier” or “bottom-tier.” Parents, every girl who ends up in a sorority is there because the ladies in that sorority wanted her. Whether it is “top” or “bottom,” she can be comfortable with the knowledge that she was selected because of her attributes and will be welcomed into her new sisterhood. Every year, there are some girls who are offered a bid to a sorority that is not the one they had set their sights on, but in the end, their experience is what they make it. Hopefully their parents have raised them well enough so that those girls will not make everyone in the house feel bad because they know they are not what Franny Freshman wanted. A girl who wants to join ABC but gets a bid to XYZ can either wallow in self-pity and bitterness, or she can meet her new sisters and make new friendships that she otherwise would not have had. Pledge classes are large enough that every sorority has girls who party, girls who don’t drink, girls who are very focused on school work, and athletes. It is unfair for anyone- parents, students, or anyone else- to make blanket statements about who is the best house. Besides, sorority and fraternity distinctions lose much of their impact by junior year, as people just don’t care as much any more.</p>
<p>So how does the social and academic scene compare at W+L vs. Wake Forest, and Davidson?</p>
<p>Davidson has virtually no social life. Wake is fun, but Washington and Lee probably is strongest it that category. Academically, Davidson and W&L are pretty much on the same level, with Wake being good, but a step or so below.</p>
<p>What do you mean by Davidson having no social life??</p>