How would you describe the students at Wash U?
Judging by my student and their friends, they are pretty awesome! I have to admit that I am a bit biased! : )
Seriously – hard to respond to such a sweeping question without painting with a broad brush – take 7200 individuals from across the nation and around the world and put them in any location. It is hard to answer beyond generalities.
Would you say the campus has a warm, friendly vibe from the students? Are the students very stressed? Earthy? Fancy? Civic-minded? Cliquey? I understand that its hard to talk in generalities, but in visiting various campuses you usually can get a general vibe. Any information would be helpful.
The students are highly collaborative instead of competitive, building each other up instead of tearing each other down. In general, the student body has a strong interest in service.
I really liked the atmosphere at WashU when I visited. People are always watching out for each other. For example, my family and I had gotten food in the dining hall and were looking for a place to sit, but all of the tables were full. One of the students saw us walking around, called us over to her table, and moved her own work somewhere else so we could eat. I was very thankful; moreover, I got the vibe that this was not an unusual act of kindness for the WashU campus.
Now, from the tour guides, I picked up the sense that everyone here has a drive to be great. Having three majors is pretty common at the school, especially in unrelated subjects. Despite this, one thing I loved is that students are also very real and act their age; they don’t act like they have a PhD in mathematics when they’re only a sophomore in multivariable calc. They have fun, too, and it’s evident. There’s something soothing about walking across campus and watching a group of students throw a frisbee on the lawn or hearing your tour guide talk about all of the free food on campus like it’s the best thing ever (hey, I’m not disagreeing).
Does this mean the students aren’t stressed? No; I’m sure that stress is there. But I visited Columbia, and WashU was nothing like that. Actual quote from my Columbia tour guide: “No, the dorms aren’t air conditioned, but you’ll never notice because you’ll spend all of your time in the library anyway!”
If you are a smart, driven, kind student looking to have fun and get a great education at the same time, you will fit right in with the student body community.
Thanks so much. This is exactly the kind of information I was looking for. It’s great to hear that students are collaborative with their school work. What about socially? Are they friendly and inclusive of others? Cliquey? Down to earth? Snobby? Easy to make friends there compared to other schools? Hard to make friends? Any more info would be helpful!!
@JemmaSimmons – I think you captured it quite well! I agree totally.
@hardworking99 – Our student is a Sophomore and has made a wide range of friends and is engaged in a range of activities – from supporting research at the Medical School and volunteering in local hospitals to participating in an off-campus interscholastic club sport. Students are hardworking and driven – but very collaborative and supportive to each other. They also do know how to relax and have fun while engaging with the community, participating in a wide range of activities, doing social service projects, etc. For example, after a rigorous week of exams, a group of friends went to the St. Louis Cardinals game on the light rail last night and had a great time. Today our student has a Science lab all morning and then will spend the afternoon at the Medical Center doing research. Friday brings another full day of classes and a session with academic counselor.
Definitely a down-to-earth group and not cliquey. Engaged – definitely interested in what is going on in the community around them (becoming more so each year I think – and the Gephardt Center is very central in that). Our student has been involved in community tutoring, Habit for Humanity (Spring Trip to MS), Greek Life, and a wide range of fun activities – Walk In Lie Down (WILD) concerts, LouFest (concerts in Forest Park), Mardi Gras, etc. Loves St. Louis – so much to do and many neighborhoods to discover. Gets off campus almost every weekend (beyond the Loop).
Greek life is there if you want it – but is by no means dominant. If you are interested, it offers a great social and public service framework. If you are not interested, so be it. Our student has many friends inside and outside of Greek organizations and is very happy with the decision to join but also recognizes that it is only part of Wash U.
Wash U is a nurturing environment and has been very positive for our student. Loves the range of classes available although it makes it a challenge to decide upon major/minors (in a positive way).
I will add more as I think of it! Definitely worth a visit!
What JemmaSimmons said^^^^. My son is a Sophomore at WashU currently. My wife and I have been there several times and we find that everyone is really nice over there. Words are not enough to describe how cool the university is. Having said that, it is quite challenging academically of course, but anyone that is admitted is capable and should be able to make it if they put in consistent work. Socially the kids are great – they are always looking out for each other, unlike some other schools that we visited where they are cut-throat like Johns Hopkins – which BTW had some dorm buildings with no A/C.