WUSTL vs. Emory

Colleges and Universities A-Z Washington University in St. Louis
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<p>I was accepted to both WUSTL and Emory and am trying to decide between the two. I am planning to be a pre-med and know that both schools are very good for pre med students. I have heard that Emory weeds out their pre meds. I was wondering if this is true, and what exactly that means? Does WUSTL do anything like this? </p>

<p>For classes, i have heard that Emory does not grade on a curve; that there is no limit on As or Bs so if you earn the grade you will get it. Does WUSTL have the same policies? </p>

<p>I was also wondering about the cooperation among the students at both schools. From what I have read, WUSTL pre med students work together and are generally not cut throat. Is this true? I have not found much on Emory pre med students, but was wondering if this is also the case at Emory. </p>

<p>I have visited both colleges, and feel that both cities are big. I would like to know if there is truly enough to do in both cities? And if students have enough time to get off campus and into the cities?</p>

<p>Finally, how happy are students on campus? I visited during the summer when there were not many students, so I couldn't get a good vibe on how student life is and the happiness of the students who attend both universities. </p>

<p>Thank you for all of your help.</p>

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<p>Based on what you want, I’d definitely say WashU. Although Emory’s got a great campus and stuff I think you’d be happier at WashU + it’s got a badass premed program…</p>

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<p>I’ll answer the question regarding off-campus destinations and how often students leave campus. There is enough information on the Wash U forums about how laid-back, friendly, and supportive Wash U is. That’s something Wash U is really known for. I’m sure Emory is probably pretty similar in that regard, too. </p>

<p>WUSTL has more to do in the immediate vicinity than Emory, and has a better location in terms of accessing the rest of city. Emory is in a VERY suburban location, with next to nothing to do in walking/biking distance. I don’t believe that Atlanta’s transit system goes to the Emory campus. If you do a Google Maps directions from Emory to downtown Atlanta or midtown Atlanta, it would take 45 minutes using two separate modes of public transit. </p>

<p>WUSTL has the Loop in 10 minutes walking distance. The Loop is a long street and has an independent movie theater, concert venue, loads of restaurants and coffee shops, clothes shopping, music stores, etc. Also appealing is that Forest Park is right across the street from the front of campus. Forest Park has the free art musuem, free history museum, free plays at the MUNY, the free Zoo, ice skating rank in the winter, golf courses, paddle boats, free events, and lots of other things. I LOVE THE ZOO and you can go whenever you want for free :)</p>

<p>St Louis’s transit system is called the Metro, and there are two Metro stops on Wash U’s campus. It’s completely free to use for anyone who attends Wash U. It goes downtown (15 minute ride) and to all the cool neighborhoods in between Wash U and downtown. Also to the airport. The Central West End is another popular neighborhood… more upscale things to do (it’s on the other end of Forest Park and also contains the Med School). The Central West End is a 5 minute Metro ride. We also get free Metro Bus passes at Wash U. The Metro Bus is pretty convenient, especially when it’s colder out. </p>

<p>The Loop is probably the most popular and convenient option, because of the sheer proximity to campus. With the Metro lines and with the Metro Bus routes, Wash U is extremely accessible to anything you need to do that isn’t in walking distance. It’s easy to go to dinner on a weeknight, see a Cardinals game on a weekend and explore downtown stuff, and spend a Saturday in Forest Park. </p>

<p>I would argue that Atlanta as a city has more to do than St Louis, and is certainly a lot bigger. However, in college, you’re going to spend like 95% of your time on campus. Unless you go to NYU or Columbia. The other 5% of the time, you’ll probably want to access off-campus things like restaurants, malls, shopping, parks, museums, in a convenient and hassle-free manner. If you go to any medium-sized or large-sized city, you’re not going to be able to do every single thing there is to do in a city. I think that in terms of college location, you should look for a place with enough to do to keep you busy, and make sure that accessing those things will be relatively easy. </p>

<p>St Louis is actually an amazing city and I’ve been really surprised with the amount of things to do. The area where Wash U is located is a very very nice (and wealthy) residential area, so it’s actually somewhat surprising that it’s so close to places like the Loop and Forest Park and is on a direct Metro line to downtown.</p>

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<p>I was accepted to both schools, but I decided on washu because i don’t think emory fits for me. That’s really what it comes down to.</p>

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<p>^^and that’s what it SHOULD come down to</p>

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<p>Emory has an add/drop/swap period with your classes. Does WashU have that?</p>

<p>vbball that was so helpful! I can’t actually find those other threads that talk about the laid-back atmosphere and such, do you think you could please expand on that? I am really curious about the vibe/atmosphere of the student body! Thank you so much!</p>