WashU vs UCLA vs Hopkins

Colleges and Universities A-Z Washington University in St. Louis
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<p>It's actually UCLA vs WashU vs Hopkins</p>

<p>I'm looking to major in sciences so I would like a school with</p>

<p>-great/many research opportunities
-great professors who care
-a lively campus, clubs, friendly people
-great academics, i don't want to study 95% of my free time (maybe 80% lol)</p>

<p>UCLA
pros: In LA!, lots of people/clubs, not too far from home, west coast weather, nice campus, great academics, school spirit, beautiful people :P
cons: worried about standing out, competition, size, BUDGET cutbacks</p>

<p>WashU
pros: great education, profs, research opps, friendly people, lots to do on campus, good food/dorms
cons: st. louis is sketchy, don't really like downtown st. louis, don't know what else there is to do besides schoolwork., how are the girls at WashU?</p>

<p>Hopkins
pros: academics are good, research opportunities, probably most prestigious out of these 3.
cons: students spend too much time studying, not a lively campus, am i wrong here?, extremely far from home, large pre-med population. How are the girls there btw?</p>

<p>Any input is appreciated!</p>

2

<p>Nooob-I don’t know if you have been to WashU or not, but the Danforth campus is surrounded by the nicest areas in the city. The Loop is within walking distance of campus and as you said, there’s lots to do on campus (where you will most likely spend most of your free time anyway). Forest Park is right across the street and the trendy Central West End (lots of good restaurants) is a metro ride away. So you don’t need to go all the way to downtown St. Louis to find things to do. I agree, besides Cardinals Games and some theater stuff, there isn’t a whole much to do downtown compared to say, LA–but they’re beginning to change it. </p>

<p>As for Hopkins girls, I have heard of male Hopkins students developing “Hopkins goggles”…don’t know if that’s a rumor or not.</p>

3

<p>Nooob, looking at the criteria you laid out in your post, WashU sounds like a perfect fit.</p>

<p>"I’m looking to major in sciences so I would like a school with</p>

<p>-great/many research opportunities
-great professors who care
-a lively campus, clubs, friendly people
-great academics, i don’t want to study 95% of my free time (maybe 80% lol)"</p>

<p>Also, I am confident that if you go and spend time in the area around WashU, your concerns about St. Louis would be alleviated. First of all, WashU is in a beautiful suburban area abutting Forest Park (a huge park with museums, the zoo, a lake with boats, hiking trails, skating rink…etc). WashU is very far away from the “sketchy” part of St. Louis which is over the river and technically in Illinois. (most cities have “sketchy” areas, think LA and Baltimore. The issue is how close to the school are they and do kids need to go there. Hopkins, for example, is right near a “sketchy” area of Baltimore.) The WashU kids rarely if ever go into downtown St. Louis. There is no need to and there are lots of great areas and things to do closer to the school.</p>

<p>Coming from the NYC area, we were so surprised to see how much there was to do in the areas around WashU. The area called the Loop is walking distance and filled with funky stores, restaurants and a famous blues club. The Central West End, near the med school ,is filled with clubs and restaurants and is very hip. Downtown Clayton with its beautiful shops and restaurants…etc. The kids often go out clubbing on Thursday nights,when buses come and pick them up on campus. Near the school are a number of malls filled with every store from Gucci to Target. </p>

<p>There is plenty to keep you busy for four years. Particularly given the fact that you will probably be spending most of your time on campus anyway. WashU has a beautiful campus with lots going on. The reality of college life for most kids is that unless they are attending a true “city school”, such as NYU or BU with no real campus and where the city becomes your campus, most of students’ time is spent on campus no matter where the school is. The great thing about WashU is that it has a wonderful, rich campus life but also offers you access to a city and all the activities that come with it.</p>

4

<p>I’d choose Wash U (and I say this as someone who’s not a fan of St. Louis either). </p>

<p>It will offer a lot more intimacy/closer relationships with profs than UCLA and, to a lesser degree, Hopkins. Social life will be more diverse and active than Hopkins with a lot more on-campus bonding than at UCLA. Academics will be of similar quality to Hopkins but likely feel less stressed. Reputation is not really a significant factor. UCLA will probably suffer more than most privates from the economic downturn with even larger classes and more registration frustration on the horizon.</p>

5

<p>Agree with windy & nervous but…ummmm… “how are the girls”? </p>

<p>I say get thee to UCLA, you cad! Far away from my D (who is LA born & bred)! haha</p>

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<p>^ haha, thanks to all for your comments, they have been pretty helpful.
and @palmalk, i just asked that as a joke :P</p>