Washington and Lee University Top Questions

The part of the stereotype about the students being rich an greek and southern is true to a large degree, although there are of course a handful of people who don't have a lot of money and actually a lot of people from the north. The part about them being snobs is probably only true for about a third or less of the school though. There are definitely some people who look down on people less fortunate, but I have also seen a greater number who look out to the community and even the world and try to make a difference. There is actually a large number of students who devote a majority of their free time after school to volunteer work or raising funds for wonderful causes.

All are true.

That's not true. There are a few students who are rich, white and northern ...

Like in most places, there are definitely cases where stereotypes hold true on personal levels, but looking at the student body as a whole I think that W&L provides a very welcoming and comforting environment.

Absolutely. Binge drinking and drugs dominate the fiercely structured social scene, and your worth as a person is determined by the Greek letters you wear.

The first three are. Southern is sometimes.

Definitely more "white and loaded" than the average school, but there's definitely still socioeconomic diversity

pretty much so. obviously there are people from the north and who aren't as wealthy, but the Greek scene does dominate the social scene and there is plenty of alcohol available at parties, but students also work hard in general. GPAs are high.

Although many students fit this mold, some of these characteristics would make it seem that most students here are snobby or that there is no diversity, which I think is completely untrue. The vast majority of people I have met here are incredibly friendly, kind, and down-to-earth and are willing to work hard to achieve their goals. Before I got here, I was under the impression that I would meet hardly any international or minority students, but I have met and become friends with a large number of them. I think people make too big of a deal of the supposed homogenous nature of this school, because now that I'm here, I don't even think this is true. W&L doesn't emphasize diversity for diversity's sake, but I don't think they should be expected to do so just to meet some kind of quota.

Only to a certain extent. The stereotypes give the school a definite character, but not everyone is like that-- far from it. You can find all sorts of people, but a lot of the clothing does tend to be similar.