<p>Hi,
Can someone tell me something about Washington and Lee University? I have recieved a lot of mail from them and a teacher recommended I look into it- just said it was a good school. I saw them listed in US News rankings (which, I know, evidently means nothing) and from the pictures I have seen anyway it is a beautiful campus. How are their Journalism/Int'l Relations programs especially? Are they considered conservative? Do they offer much fin aid?
ANY info would be GREAT! thanks.</p>
<p>Hey, I took a tour there recently. It does have and amazing campus, everyone seemed to know weveryone because it is very small and almost all are in thyr greek program. The surronding town, however, is extremley boring. I don't see what happens outside the greek system, VMI is close by but no entertainment. It has a great history and is rooted in traditions of the deep south. Modern classroooms but externally red brick and beautiful. As for Conservatism- I would say 100% yes from what I saw, which is great. THere are plenty of Dubya and L shirts and the attitude was far from liberal. The tour guide even noted that it was mainly republican. I would give it alot of consideration, exept it seems to have a very mundane, sleepy town atmosphere. Hope this helps</p>
<p>Thanks! It does</p>
<p>There's also a lot of booze, liquor, partying going on.</p>
<p>Lack of minorities.</p>
<p>Being a Democrat in W&L is like being a hardcore American Patriot in North Korea</p>
<p>Are they still really serious about academics (as I have heard they are) or more partying? (not good to hear! :(</p>
<p>one of my good friends goes there and she loves it. she is ultra liberal and also a minority but still finds that she is comfortable there. the kids are very intelligent and do well in school but they do party very very hard, which isnt a bad thing lol. the kids work hard and they make sure they are awarded for it through an amazing social life</p>
<p>lol. anyone know about journalism/ int'l relations there?</p>
<p>I remeber my guide noting their exellent journalism program. Also I saw that they were in the process of building a brand new Journalism Building that is supposed to be extremly high-tech. Another thing to mention is they have an oath you take your freshman year (as some other schools) where you sware that you will not steal or cheat it is taken extremly serious. Take home test and even semester exams are very common I heard and students are trusted not to look up answers. As for the stealing part I was in the library on a Saturday afternoon and saw over 5 personal laptops, PDA's, cell phones, wallets, everything just sitting on tables while the students went to lunch. I was amazed but would not try that at a public state school.</p>
<p>Statistically, W&L may be the whitest, wealthiest college in the country with the highest percentage of fraternity membership. It has long been known as the last bastion of the southern gentleman, who can hold his liquor and is damn proud of it.</p>
<p>It's an excellent school for pre-professional oriented academics, but you should make sure that you are comfortable with a very dominant campus culture before considering W&L.</p>
<p>my friend just left there a week ago! she tells me everyone is spoiled and she wonders how a lot of people got accepted. She also says her calc class is a joke so the academics are pretty weak.</p>
<p>girlfriendmb-Students at W & L just checked in last week and classes only started on Thursday, 9/8. Was your friend attending a summer program?</p>
<p>no she got there a week ago to settle in her dorm and she went backpacking in virginia before classes. What i heard about her 1st days of classes made me laugh so hard from her own words "i WAS worried about the academics"</p>
<p>From one day of classes, your friend concludes that all academic programs at W&L are weak? You may wish to suggest to her that she stay away from any symolic logic classes, since she will surely fail those.</p>
<p>haha shes on there on a full ride and a standing sophmore. shes prolly smarter than you will ever be.</p>
<p>she may possibly be the most brilliant person in the academic world but street smart she is not. She failed to research the school and how she would fit into its scene--meriting an F for due diligence.</p>
<p>W&L- CONSERVATIVE, mostly republican, mostly upper-class, strong academics (despite what people have put on here), they do party and there is a greek scene but if you're not into it you don't have to go to it. The way I see it is that its an extension of the upper-class preppy private highschools where either the smart or reallly reallly rich kids from those schools go. In short, if you like preppy, smart (or super rich), sometimes partying places its good for you. I might sound like i'm down on the people but i'm not trying to be i'm just trying to tell you my impression of the school. The campus is really pretty and that part of Virginia is really pretty as well. its a good school.</p>
<p>well money is an issue for people like me and her so shes doing very good coming from a depressing place here. Its like that ^, what she has told me, and refers to every girl in the dorm as the ugly girl lol.</p>
<p>If your friend hates it so much, then leave. To me, money saved cannot make up for wasted time or what is perceived as wasted time. Why spend 4 years at a place she dislikes just because it is a free ride?
I think she and the W&L community would both come out ahead if she left. W&L certainly wouldn't want to waste money on someone who is dissatisfied with the school and would much rather spend on someone who is happy being there and a student shouldn't waste their time at a place they feel is beneath them.</p>
<p>i never said she hates it there. jeez stop jumping to conclusions</p>
<p>True aspects of W&L;</p>
<p>Generally southern aristocrats
Specifically conservative
Thoroughly strong academically
Minimal ethic minority population
Lexington not a student town but Shannadoah Valley is gorgeous</p>
<p>W&L undergrad is what you make of it. For folks who are not wealthy or who won't go greek, it may take some adjusting to. But it is generally described as a place where non-conformists are not shouted down and allowed to express themselves in and out of the classroom. The school did have a problem with co-ed education, something which they may have remedied in recent years. When the admission of women was proposed in the mid-1980s, the student body protested. Also, while there is an pervasive honor code (a good thing) there have been disturbing incidents wherein it appeared that status allowed the perpetrator to avoid responsibility. For example, some years ago a male student killed a woman student in a fatal hit-and-run auto incident on campus, covered up his crime and only came forward after [his lawyer] demanding a plea deal. I don't believe the university ever suspended or otherwise punished him.</p>