Washington and Lee University Top Questions

There are lots of great things about W&L. I chose it because it's a small, conservative school in the south that has an excellent academic reputation. Sometimes I feel like it's too small because everyone knows everyone else's business, but at the same time I enjoy the strong community atmosphere. When I tell people from up north where I go to school, they don't know much about it unless they are familiar with southern schools. People who do know the name, however, are very impressed and tell me what a great school it is. I spend most of my time on campus in my apartment or in the sorority house. I would say Lexington is a decent college town. There are lots of places to eat and some cute shops. I do wish it were closer to a large mall though. The residents in Lex are very nice and seem to embrace the students well. I don't have a strong opinion about W&L's administration either way - I think they do a good job. The biggest controversies on campus are usually related to off-color humor or rumors. There is definitely a lot of school pride at W&L - there is a strong "good ol' boy" mentality. People often point to our Greek system as rather particular to W&L. The majority of students here are Greek and the organizations have a strong presence on campus. The best part of W&L is the strong friendships I'm developing here. People here are friendly and outgoing. I know the people I meet here will be in my life forever.

W&L has a great balanced environment. The school maintains a scholastic motivation in studying hard and learning but also students enjoy partying and having a good time. Students often to the saying, "Work hard, play hard." One of the most overlooked attributes of W&L is its incredible location in the Blue Ridge Mountains - Shenandoah Valley. Students definitely take advantage of the surrounding area through hiking, paddling, swimming, biking, etc. Lexington is a small and slow town, but it has everything to support the student body. There are very few good bars - and almost zero student bar scene. Most parties take place a student off campus houses, most of which are located in the country surrounding the city. There are also parties at the fraternity houses. The relationship between students and the locals varies. One of the largest complaints from students is with the Lexington police department. The police don't have much to do so students must more careful. There is a great relationship between students and professors. Professors are always easy to meet with and you actually get a chance to know them.

W&L is in rural Lexington, VA, so there isn't much to do besides go to frat parties, which I enjoy. There is a major gender relations problem on campus, and I think it has to do with the dynamic of Greek life, to a certain extent. Guys and girls generally don't interact outside of frat basements, and this leads to at best an awkwardness on the Hill, and at worst, objectification of women, and sexual assault. That said, I have experienced exceptions to this problem, and I do have guy friends with whom I feel comfortable. One aspect about W&L I love is the honor system. Everyone has to act like a gentleman or a gentlewoman, and lying, cheating, and stealing (an honor violation) has one punishment: expulsion. Students leave laptops, books, clothing, etc. around, and I haven't known of an instance in which anything was taken.

The size, the professors, the parties are all aspects of W&L's culture that make it truly outstanding. I love my school, despite the greek system's rigid social structure. Groups are pretty stratified yet I believe if there were no greek system, smaller cliques would form anyway and I would not benefit from the AMAZING parties and close bonds I have made with the girls in my srat. Academically and socially W&L has been incredibly enriching to my life.

w&l is very unique for the honor system in particular, which creates an environment that lets you schedule your own exams, leave valuables sitting around on campus safely, and never lock your dorm room. the students get to run a lot of the government of the school, and preside over the honor system themselves, not the faculty and admin. the propensity to dress up on campus is also rather unique, especially at football games when men wear brooks brothers jackets and bow ties and women wear bright sun dresses...which both genders also wear to class on a regular basis... w&l is also predominantly greek, which makes us all sound like uber-preps, but in reality there's a greek organization for everyone (there's a frat for the nerds and a frat for the frat lords, a sorority for girls who wouldnt otherwise be in a sorority), and even those who go independant arent left out, since all the parties are open to everyone, no matter what frat they're in.

The school is perfectly sized for intense academic learning. However, this size leads to a tightened social scene. Washington and Lee is a well-known school among the right people. It is definitely a stepping stone to financial sucess - especially from the school of commerce. However, there is much competition in this path, so I picked a liberal arts major, which has been an incredible decision. The faculty are great - all intelligent and willing to help. There is an incredible party-side to the school despite it being small. However, the administration has been strangling this social scene, including kicking off fraternities, and monitoring drinking. This has led to a conformist social scene, which although still good, has dramatically changed for the worse since I've been at the school. Overall, it is an incredible school. I have experienced great academic learning, and gained the greatest friends of my life in the best social setting of any school I've ever visited. However, the school is looking to improve its academic standing, which equals an attack on the previously untouched and free social scene. The school will not be the same 3 years from now.

The best thing about W&L is the fact that there is a sort of community. Since we are so isolated from other areas the school is very much a community where most people have at least heard of each other. If I could change one thing it would be to increase the diversity, the lack of diversity here is profound and has a negative impact on campus. I feel that the school is very small but it is nice for the reason I listed earlier, it makes it a community rather than an aggregation of students. Most people don't recognize the name W&L until you get into the business world, many of the people I have talked to that recognized the school were professionals. I spend most of my time on campus split between doing work in the science building and having fun at the greek houses. The entire town of Lexington grew around W&L and VMI so the college is the main thing in the town. The W&L administration really cares for its students and is wiling to work with and help students with whatever they need. The biggest recent controversy was something in our school newspaper called "The Bracket" in which students were slandered by other students using mysogynistic and homophobic terms. There is a lot of school pride here but it doesn't center around sports. Washington and Lee is a very unusual school as so much of the school centers around greek life, I would suggest you visit, preferably staying with a student, before coming here as its not for everyone. The one experience I will always remember is when the Dean of Students gave me a ride home from the airport. The most frequent complaints are that there is too much emphasis on greek life, not enough diversity, and that some really terrible people attend this school.

The size of the school is perfect. It's a ton of fun. The classes are really tough, but rewarding, and the teachers are really helpful. You can go to them for literally any problem you are encountering, in or out of the classroom. People in the right circles know that dubyuhnell is an extremely prestigous school to go to. I love the quote, "It's okay you've never heard of w&l, you wouldn't have gotten in." Lots of people make jokes about how no one can get the name right. It's not William and Lee, Washington and Mary, or William and Mary, and it's not In D.C. either.

I came to W&L because it was a small, prestigious private school not too close to any major cities. I enjoy the close relationships I have with my professors, who all know me by name and are incredibly friendly and approachable. Additionally, the honor system allows flexibility in exam scheduling and ensure that I feel safe and that my belongings are undisturbed on campus, which I appreciate. One unusual aspect of W&L is the spring term (currently six weeks, soon to be four weeks) during which students take 1-2 classes, study abroad or leave school early to take part in internships and summer jobs. This particular aspect of the school is a pleasant experience in that the classes, while intense and demanding as per school standards, are scheduled with a great deal of freetime to enjoy one's social life. The opportunities to study abroad during this time (an opportunity I am currently taking advantage of) are extensive. Furthermore, spring term typically lasts beyond the end date of most other schools, but with our options, we may in fact enter the area of summer jobs along side our fellow college students.

I love the small classes and getting individual attention from teachers; they really care about us. If you like knowing everyone and knowing everyone who walks by you then you would like W&L. Everyone at W&L is really nice and we always say hi to each other even if we dont know each other.