<p>Hey, sorry for another one of these comparison threads, but I just got off the waitlist at Wash U and was wondering if anyone can help me decide. </p>
<p>I want to study science, somewhere along the lines of chemistry or neuroscience, and while I loved the facilities at Wash U, it seems like the students there might be too competitive towards each other. I've heard mixed things about research opportunities at both and honestly I'm not sure where I would have a better experience academically.</p>
<p>As far as the social aspects go... I am very social, though not a huge partier. I'm not super artsy like many would describe the stereotypical wesleyan student, but I'm not particularly "preppy" either.</p>
<p>I really loved Wes (after all, I sent in my deposit there), though I was offered slightly more money at Wash U. I would really love reasons to validate my original decision to go to Wes. However, all opinions are welcome!</p>
<p>Science majors have the most lopsided faculty/student ratios at Wesleyan. You could be giving poster presentations your freshman year (it’s happened.) I can’t imagine WUSTL gets better than that.</p>
<p>Also, WUSTL is just outside of St. Louis. Switching there would be like trading one very manageable, if somewhat cranky, host city (Middletown) for what would, in essence, be a very swanky gated community for the next four years. You’d be missing a lot of local color by going to WUSTL.</p>
<p>I don’t know a ton about Wash U, but one of my close friends applied there and she said that while the campus was gorgeous, the social life on her visit revolved mostly around the Greek scene, which she didn’t like (and I’m guessing you wouldn’t like).</p>
<p>She also found the students kind of pre-professional and “polished”. She ended up at Wellesley, so she doesn’t have a particularly low tolerance for that kind of stuff, so I think it says something that she found it more annoying (or whatever) at Wash U. She used the word “whitebread” as an adjective to describe the student body – not with racial undertones, just kind of bland I think she meant.</p>
<p>I could be wrong, since I’m not interested in the sciences, but I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about the research opportunities available for undergrads at Wes. I think if you go to a university instead of a liberal arts school you give a lot of that up – professors will spend their time with grad students instead of with you.</p>
<p>I’m obviously biased, but I’d say stick with your original decision :)</p>
<p>thank you for the opinions! i’m taking everything into consideration =)</p>
<p>hey, there. i hope this isnt too late… my father worked at the medical school at wash. u. for 10 years so i basically grew up on campus. Wash. u. is excellent in all the sciences. it has a great reputation for chemistry, engineering, and radiology. It’s in University City, which is probably the most happening area in St. Louis. There’s a cute indie theater (the tivoli), a concert venue (the pageant), and countless restaurants, bars, and little shops. there’s a lot to do there besides party. I used to go to lectures and plays with my dad when i was younger. it’s an absolutely delightful place. there’s probably more of a mix of students at wash. u. than there is at Wesleyan, but I don’t think you’ll find that the people are terribly uptight.</p>
<p>You really can’t go wrong with either choice. As johnwesley already said, the sciences are still something of a hidden gem at Wesleyan. Most of the major departments in the science offer PhDs, which means the faculty are active researchers, but undergraduates have amazing access to the profs and the facilities. The departments are not oversubscribed.</p>
<p>Wesleyan had one of the first and now strongest neurocience departments. It’s not just a combination of faculty from other disciplines. They have neuroscience appointments.</p>
<p>Wesleyan is NOT pre-professional. The kids do what they do out of a genuine love of learning. Science students have no problem integrating with the rest of campus. It’s not unusual to find a bio-chem/dance double major. So if you do go, bring your leotard -;)</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>haha thanks for the advice! in the end i went with my gut and stuck with wesleyan (and have no regrets whatsoever). anyway just want to thank everyone for making me feel better and be much more excited about my decision :-D</p>
<p>excellent decision!</p>