<p>I just got back today from my visit to WUSTL. I know that there are threads that that talk about other peoples' visits but I mostly saw info for the undergrad campus and not the medical school so I thought I'd just start one for that. I'm a socal guy so I can only give my impressions from that perspective such as when I say cold or hot I understand that there are extremes everywhere but in cali extreme weather is rare.</p>
<pre><code> To make things easier I'll describe "my opinions" in dialogue form for those that have time and also in pro vs con, bullet point fashion, afterwards for those who are short on time.
I arrived at the STL airport at approx. 11pm. I bought a metrolink pass and got onto the train and headed west (only one way from the the airport) no one checked my ticket but I guess it's randomly done.
The metrolink takes you right to the medical school campus at the Central West End stop. I got off and started making my way via directions that I had gotten from the admissions coordinator. I had changed my plans to stay at a hotel by the airport and made reservations to stay at Olin Hall Residence, a dorm for graduate medical campus students.
I had directions to get to the Physical Therapy building but not to the dorm so I was screwed until I asked a security guard from Barnes-Jewish Hospital for directions. There are many big well known hospitals in the general vacinity. She seemed at first annoyed but got a little bit more friendly after I sat outside the building wondering where to go.
She ended up just calling a ride for me from campus security (I guess they do that stuff) and we chatted a bit about the weather and how it was a nice 57-60 degree evening. When I got dropped of at Olin, which by the way was just on the other side of the building I was next to, I thought it looked rather shabby. You need a magnetic card to get into most buildings in that area but the night shift guard let me in. When I tried to check in she said that she couldn't find my room arangements and said that she might have to send me to a hotel. I talked her out of that and she just put me up in another empty dorm room for the night and said that she'd let the regular watchman know and fix things in the morning.
The elevators need your room key to operate and the halls where typical small semi claustrophobic dorms. The single room, co-ed floor, had a sink and small furnishings (bed, chair, drawer, closet, lamp). The bathroom was communal with one urinal, two stalls and two showers. Goodnight.
The morning was cold, I got dressed and made my way downstairs to go to my school visit. I was stopped by the day watchman and he explained to me that they had everything ready for me and that the night guard just didn't know where to look (or lacked common sense really). I asked him for directions to the Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy building and he told me. He then said that he would just call a ride for me and they came (I guess they *do* do that stuff).
The building was very nice and looked pretty modern. It seems as though WUSTL is buying up a lot of property in that area. The school of pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, nursing and other that I forget were all in that general area. The campus doesn't feel like a campus but more like a district full of health science related buildings. The day went from cold to overcast by about 11am.
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<p>(This section for DPT prospective students only)
The admissions coordinator, Sarah, is really nice. Really big bangs but nice. Sat me down asked me question and then went over my itinerary and general admission matters. I asked for an extension on my acceptance deadline and though she seemed like she didn't want to she said she would and I was appreciative.</p>
<pre><code>Then, the director of Clinical Education walked in and said that she wanted to meet me in person because she had been one of the people responsible for reviewing my application. I thought that that was really cool of her and it made me feel like I wasn't just another number (even if it was part of the act or not). She sat and talked to me for a bit and was very candid with all her responses.
I was then paired up with a student, who was like the best person to have for me because she was from cal (albeit norcal), had gone to undergrad out of state, and chose to go to WUSTL for PT school. She was really friendly and informative. We chatted, had lunch, I got a tour of the facilities(awesome), and then the best part was that I got to sit in for part of a class. The class was pretty big and full of treatment tables that the students worked off of. There were about six flat panel screens not including the two from projectors so that everyone in the room can see the lecturer. She had a mic so everyone could hear and there was a student in the back controlking the camera that followed the instructor the whole time. The camera also zoomed into situations when the instructor would say "look at such and such on this part of the finger".
Then I was sent back to talk to the Director of Education for the program to answer my many, many questions and did so all without making it sound like it was practiced. I asked questions about differences in philosphy, and why the cost of the program was so high, and how they plan to strive towards direct access. These and many others she answered without hesitation and with full sincerity.
I was then sent to Financial Aid. Ann, is very very nice and friendly and seems like she is your best friend (as it should be). There were problems with my Fafsa and although we could not fix it right there she gave me the tools to do them once I got home and told me to call if there were any questions. I called when I got home today and finished sending my forms just to see if they got them. The craziest thing is that SHE PICKED UP! I didn't get an answering machine...wow.
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<p>GENERAL SOCIAL SCENE IMPRESSION</p>
<pre><code>The program is almost all female. When I walked into the PT floor, it was like I had walked into some sorority house because there were girls all over the place and people were talking like crazy. It was finals week and the first years were taking a practical so it is to be expected. There are only about 10-14 guys in a class of 80 or so so they seemed to be pretty close. There is pretty much NO DIVERSITY in the program. From what I saw it was mostly white students. I could count on two hands the people that I saw who were any other ethnicity besides white. I have nothing against white people and especially nothing against cute white chicks so don't get all racially heated I'm just stating observational facts. I didn't talk to too many of the students who seemed interested that there was someone male, non-white, possibly being at the school next year, but they didn't really make any effort to say hi or anything. Did I make the effort? No, but I'm the outsider and it's obvious that I'm just checking out the program. I was told that there was a skit night were the third year students and the instructors perform spoofs about each other.
I walked about on Euclid Street which is the main bar/restaurant/club locale in the CWE area. It was Wednesday night about 9pm and it was dead. I guess it was finals and everything but wow, not many people on the street or in the businesses at all really. By this time the weather had went from hot, to humid, to cool, to a light sprinkle. The area is all either white people or black people. Every now and then you'd run into an asian person or Indian(India). Hotness wise, compared to cali, the people, outside of the PT program, were a little more chubbier than I'm used to and no, I don't like skinny, anorexic looking girls. I did see a lot of cute but not a lot of drop dead gorgeous ones but then again I'm at grad school on a medical school campus and people are dressed bummy all day any way. My host was very attractive but it probably was set up that way. Who knows.
Overall, the school is freakin amazing. The buildings are all pretty much connected so you don't have to be out in the crappy weather if you don't want to. The money goes directly into the school and not to fund the undergrad or sports programs. The facilities are top notch and so are the instructors and opportunities available. People are really nice, sorta, and you see people walking around with lab coats, scrubs, briefcases which gives you a sense of being in a place of success and professionalism.
The down side is that the night life could get old real fast specially if it is student driven. The diversity is pretty much non existent. The weather is consistently changing. General public is overweight. The good things are that the metro is free for students and everything that you'd want to do is a ride away. The school, both undergrad and medical campus, is pretty far away from St. Louis City (more crime) and in St. Louis county (nicer areas). There is nothing near what you would call traffic and lots of free things to do. I went to the arch and walked into the huge museum that I didn't even know what there. I didn't have time to do anything else but sit by the riverfront on the steps but that was nice too. Students at the grad campus have access to the undergrad campus facilities too. So pretty much if, WUSTL was located in a LA, NY, type place and not be confused with other schools or have crappy weather, it would be just about perfect. The philosophy of how a physical therapist should treat is different than USC but you be the judge. WUSTL could easily be the #1 program in the country as well. If you care about that kind of thing.
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<p>Cons
-bad weather
-black people, white people, that's it
-st. louis city (supposed to be unsafe)
-gloomy weather = gloomy people?
-no campus community feel (med school)
-limited nightlife
-minimal character, industrial feel
-Olin Hall kinda crappy but hear 2nd floor had a real nice gym (didn't see it)
-hotness factor of general public(a girl who would be considered a 6 or 7 here would be average at best in cali) don't quote me on this cuz I saw only a small percent of the student body on campus. I'm sure there are those exceptions and your gf or her gf's gf is uber hot.</p>
<p>Pros
-friendly people
-great staff
-top instructors
-safe on campus and surrounding area
-can avoid weather
-wifi in campus buildings and dorms with access code
-internship/research opportunities abundant
-laid back feel of instructors (students call them by their first names)
-close knit environment (seems like they really know and like their students and vice versa)
-good public transportation
-lots of sports teams
-huge park with free things to do
-shuttle between undergrad and med campus
-metro to airport and back
-great financial aid staff(they can only give what they are allowed to)
-faculty are all approachable, brilliant, and down to earth.
-THEY DO HAVE A SNOW BOARDING PARK!!! (It's small but only 30min away from st. louis and I couldn't go three years w/o doing a couple of jibs, rails, runs, and jumps!!!)</p>
<p>I am still deciding between WUSTL and USC. It all comes down to the financial aid packet...</p>
<p>sorry it was so very long but I hope it helps those that are really interested in this great underated/lesser known university. Midwest Ivy League isn't a farfetched way to describe this school and more over their DPT program.</p>