<p>Hi guys! I was taken off the waitlist at W&L and was really happy about it at the time, but I need to make my decision soon and am becoming worried that the culture at W&L might be too "intense" for me. I don't care about the drinking as much as the almost non existent diversity and the rural-ness of the school. I've been thinking about engineering a lot, but also pre-law and public health. I know that BU will probably present better opportunities, but I'm really confused about which school will be a better choice, espcially for my future. The costs at both school are around the same, so I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the culture, opportunities and the engineering department at W&L. Thanks!</p>
<p>Hi, Wow, these seem like very different schools. W&L is rural (although not too far from bigger towns) and although not nonexistent in diversity surely less diverse than BU. I would weigh how important those factors are to you. I don’t know anything about the engineering program, but you can major in anything for pre-law - there is no pre-law major and I am sure students from W&L do well getting into law schools. You will be part of an extremely strong alumni network at W&L. BU probably has more varied opportunities on campus and in Boston. Tough decision for sure.</p>
<p>I agree, these school could NOT be more different in size, setting (tiny town, vs Big College City; southern conservative vibe vs liberal New England city), and variety of majors. As for intensity, W & L students work very hard, there’s no doubt about it. Many at BU do as well, but there would be a greater spectrum of…effort, shall we say, there? There will just be more of every kind of student at BU.</p>
<p>Did you visit either school?</p>
<p>I do not believe W&L has an engineering or public health department or major. Burry is right: you can major in ANYTHING and go to law school so that’s not an issue. </p>
<p>What attracted you to these two schools to apply? Really curious how these two schools might end up as the same student’s top 2.</p>
<p>I do think Washington and Lee has a physics and engineering major. I don’t know how that compares to an engineering major at a research university.</p>
<p>W&L has engineering, physics engineering, and chemistry engineering majors (there may be others)</p>
<p>It has engineering majors available in physics and chemistry but not that many students enrolled as majors in them. They are really more part of the chemistry and physics departments than pure engineering majors. I was interested in these subjects but felt W&L was stronger in more traditional liberal arts, plus business and journalism.</p>