Washington and Lee University Top Questions

The faculty and academics here are exceptional. Professors are always helpful and available, and classes are challenging and rewarding. The social system is at times highly dysfunctional, and gender relations are many times lackluster. Despite it's flaws, W&L is an excellent school, filled with friendly, hard-working students and amazing professors. Any shortcomings are purely social, and the overall college experience is unequalled.

I think you get the point.

I highly recommend embracing the town. Some people argue that it's boring ... and it does entirely shut down at 5:00pm. However, don't miss out ... My pharmacist knows my name, my prescriptions, and my medical history. I know every barrista at both coffee shops, and they all know my name and my order. I know the owner of almost every shop in the downtown area. I've been actively welcomed by so many families to both churches I've regularly attended. Walking down the street, you're constantly waving at everyone you pass -- your roommate, your friend, your professor, the sheriff, your favorite waitress, the postman, your church pianist, your Spanish t.a. -- it's like Mayberry, you know and trust everyone. On Wednesday mornings, around 8am, random characters will show up at the coffee shop. A kid with an electric guitar. An old man with his banjo. A professor with his saxophone. A local artist with her fiddle. A couple of people who happened to bring harmonicas. They pick a key and start improvising together over their coffee. A girl starts singing along in the back corner. Pleasantly surprising experiences like this are hidden all over Lexington. I can't say that W&L embraces them, which is why I think a number of people take too long to realize the lovely quirks of the town. My friends seek these gems out and will greatly miss this precious town.

Going to Washington and Lee is almost like going to two universities. There's the academic one, where the students are savvy and well-read, intelligent and engaged. The girls are in their madras skirts and rainbow sandals, the boys in their pastel polos and khakis. The one where no one cheats on tests even if they are unmonitored, and everyone talks about how much work they have to do and how they'll be spending yet another night in the library. And then there's the nightlife one, where the girls dress like prostitutes and the boys spend all night on the dance floor grinding against any girl within 6 inches. Everyone is blackout drunk, some are high on coke or rolling on x, and the entire goal is to go home with that lacrosse player you've been eye-ing in chem and have meaningless sex and then take your "walk of shame" home to your dorm or srat house in the early hours of the morning. The dichotomy between the two school is absolutely surreal. You find yourself wondering how it is humanly possible for that girl in your English class who the professor always uses as an example of how to write a A paper is the same girl in the corner of an off-campus fraternity house drenched in beer and sweat, making out with a guy who, 2 seconds ago, was grinding on her friend.

I love W&L.

People at this school hold their beliefs and opinions VERY passionately, whether they're about politics, religion, or something else. Yet many people are not mature enough to discuss differing opinions with others without getting angry. So if you share your opinions, don't be surprised if some people get mad at you. The Greek system is the worst thing about W&L, and the Honor System is probably the best. Overall people here are so friendly and kind, and I've been able to make good friends here. In spite of the few things I don't like, I love W&L and would very highly recommend it to anyone. If I hadn't gotten accepted on my first try, I would have applied here every year up through my senior year and then transferred if I got accepted. I would absolutely make the same college choice if I could do it again. Also, the food in the dining hall is really good and the freshman dorms are fine. This is also, in my opinion, the most beautiful college in the United States. Also, if you want to get involved in extracurricular activities, expect to have to try out/ apply for almost ALL of them, and they are competitive! It would be nice if more extracurricular activities didn't require applications and interviews.

W&L is an awesome place to be. The professors are great, the students are fun and interesting, and the administration actually cares about the students as well as the bottom line. If your not willing to work, you either won't like it or won't be able to last, but all the work is worth the effort. W&L teaches you to think. You learn to have oppinions and how to support them. You learn honor and integrity.