<p>Both pretty much have the same ranking. Marshall has the really nice LINC program for freshmen (and GLP, but one has to get into that first!). WashU has a higher students going to Grad school rating. I am from South California myself- and I am hoping to have an academically fullfilling and social college experience. </p>
<p>Can someone from WashU tell me about the student life? What do students do for fun? Are there any parties/dances? </p>
<p>Is there a good gym/athletic facility on campus? </p>
<p>What is a typical day of your life like at WUSTL?</p>
<p>Are the teachers nice, helpful, and readily available?</p>
<p>You are from SoCal. There are very few opportunities in life to go somewhere completely different and this is one of them, so I would take it. You can always go to USC for graduate school if you miss the sun! That was the advice we gave our son who is going to Olin. He had met with the Dean at USC and was pretty much assured of getting accepted into the Leadership program at Marshall. The Dean gave him a tour of the campus on a golf cart, he sat in on one of his leadership classes, and my son was very impressed with Marshall. So it was a hard choice. Both programs are great, both schools are great. But we too are from SoCal and we encouraged him to try something new (and WUSTL is great), and I would encourage you to do the same!</p>
<p>Speaking as a parent - D1 went to USC; D2 to WashU. Both went to a private SoCal high school with about 100 in graduating class. From what I can glean from my kids (ha), the party scene is MUCH different at WashU than USC, with USC being more intense (although USC is trying VERY hard to temper their reputation in that regard). Read this forum for social life at WashU - seems very balanced and varied. </p>
<p>Somewhat echoing 2flipper2 - D2 said that if she stayed in SoCal she would never learn to be independent (from us) - WashU has truly helped her grow in that regard. The teachers, students, administrators are ALL nice, helpful, and readily available. D1 had “problems” at USC with almost everything she needed to do administratively-would be shuffled from office to office for the simplest of requests. D2 switched majors/schools the first day of classes - all was finalized 2 days later. That being said D1 feels like USC really prepared her academically (neuroscience & bio double major); as does D2 (Bio major; finance & psych minors).</p>
<p>As a parent, the inclusiveness I feel from WashU is amazing - although living within 20 miles of USC, I never felt that I was part of the school. I have done college fairs and volunteer to answer questions for incoming parents/students with WashU - no one ever asked me to do that for USC. If your parents have any angst about sending you out-of-state, they shouldn’t worry.</p>
<p>Not only are teachers nice and helpful but for many of the freshman classes upper classmen provide individual and small group assistance (many of these students have “office hours” in their dorm). It seems like a very supportive environment in every respect.</p>
<p>There is a gym.</p>
<p>USC is in a sketchy area, though I imagine you’d commute, so that isn’t likely an issue. </p>
<p>Parties center mainly on the frats. I’m not really into that, but alot of people are (ie. most). There are various frat/sorrority related dances. </p>
<p>My views of the gym are mixed. It has a good weight room. Racquetball courts suck (I used to play hardcore…). Cardio equipment is decent (gym on the 40 has better cardio stuff). Gym is rather ugly though. Gives me vibes of a prison, though no one said a gym has to be pretty.</p>
<p>I’m a BME, so I doubt my typical day would really help you. </p>
<p>Teachers are almost all very nice (I had a mean math teacher once).</p>