Washington & Lee University challenges its students at a high academic and moral level. The student-run Honor System is truly a very unique way of maintaining honesty and integrity on campus. The social scene on campus is lively and widely varied, with something for every kind of student and person!
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Even if the price tag looks a bit big, apply! W&L is excellent at giving good financial aid.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
This is a very high-level school that WILL challenge you. The professors are there to help you and provide office hours to ask questions, but no course is truly a free A. However, the courses are incredibly rewarding as well.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
Spacious and well-furnished dormitories and rooms with plenty of personal space. Options for loft beds, and rental microwaves and refrigerators are available. Common areas are very comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
The main cafeteria is hit or miss when it comes to lunch and dinner, but I have found breakfast to be consistently good. Other food options on campus are generally good, and food in town is fabulous. Freshman meal plans provide for more than you will ever need.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
Anything you want! There are parties on most Wednesdays and weekends during warm months, plenty of clubs to join, intramural sports to play, and great natural scenery to explore!
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
W&L has a fantastic financial aid program, meeting all demonstrated need of accepted applicants. The Johnson Scholars program is also an excellent way that W&L awards highly-achieving students. In short, this school makes a way for students to get here despite financial shortcomings, and provides the same world-class courses and community.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Robert E. Lee is buried on campus, and our chief meeting-place is the scenic Lee Chapel, built by the former general when he served as president of the university. The spirit of of Lee's horse, Traveller, is rumored to roam the campus, and is also the namesake of a sober-ride bus service run through campus to several party scenes around town.
One of dormitories, Graham-Lees Hall, has a tunnel going through it with columns at one end of the tunnel. It is said that if one walks through the center two columns, where the widest gap or thoroughfare is, that person will fail his/her next exam. This tradition is so well-observed that the concrete between the outer columns on either side is worn down because everybody walks to either side instead of going through the middle two columns.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Social, hard-working, honest, talented, versatile, skilled, achieving, etc. This school requires high effort and high integrity of its students. The ever-lively and widely varied social scene allows students of all backgrounds and social preferences to find a niche.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
Huge variety. This place has something (several things really) for everybody! There are no shortage of ways to get involved and be active on campus. Speaking as a member of our Old Dominion Athletic Conference Champions swimming team, our athletics are very competitive and perform well at our level of competition. As other examples, we have one of the best Outing Clubs in the country and our Mock Convention organization has predicted the presidential winner 19 out of 25 times since 1908, including the most recent election. In short, W&L clubs and activities are very versatile, with no wrong choices!
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
Not your stereotypical big-school rowdy party boys and girls (well, the partying part does happen). Greek Life is an incredible way to join a whole new family on campus, and have a group of people you can always rely on. The fraternity and sorority houses are huge and gorgeous, with lots of space for social events and privacy, and there are also plenty of off-campus housing opportunities for seniors.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
Incredibly safe! Public Safety Services are a big help in a lot of ways (unlocking dorm room doors and such), and the Honor System is so effective that I could leave my laptop, wallet and smartphone sitting on a table in the library, walk away for two hours, and when I come back it will all be there.
Washington & Lee University challenges its students at a high academic and moral level. The student-run Honor System is truly a very unique way of maintaining honesty and integrity on campus. The social scene on campus is lively and widely varied, with something for every kind of student and person!
Even if the price tag looks a bit big, apply! W&L is excellent at giving good financial aid.
This is a very high-level school that WILL challenge you. The professors are there to help you and provide office hours to ask questions, but no course is truly a free A. However, the courses are incredibly rewarding as well.
Spacious and well-furnished dormitories and rooms with plenty of personal space. Options for loft beds, and rental microwaves and refrigerators are available. Common areas are very comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.
The main cafeteria is hit or miss when it comes to lunch and dinner, but I have found breakfast to be consistently good. Other food options on campus are generally good, and food in town is fabulous. Freshman meal plans provide for more than you will ever need.
Anything you want! There are parties on most Wednesdays and weekends during warm months, plenty of clubs to join, intramural sports to play, and great natural scenery to explore!
W&L has a fantastic financial aid program, meeting all demonstrated need of accepted applicants. The Johnson Scholars program is also an excellent way that W&L awards highly-achieving students. In short, this school makes a way for students to get here despite financial shortcomings, and provides the same world-class courses and community.
Robert E. Lee is buried on campus, and our chief meeting-place is the scenic Lee Chapel, built by the former general when he served as president of the university. The spirit of of Lee's horse, Traveller, is rumored to roam the campus, and is also the namesake of a sober-ride bus service run through campus to several party scenes around town. One of dormitories, Graham-Lees Hall, has a tunnel going through it with columns at one end of the tunnel. It is said that if one walks through the center two columns, where the widest gap or thoroughfare is, that person will fail his/her next exam. This tradition is so well-observed that the concrete between the outer columns on either side is worn down because everybody walks to either side instead of going through the middle two columns.
Social, hard-working, honest, talented, versatile, skilled, achieving, etc. This school requires high effort and high integrity of its students. The ever-lively and widely varied social scene allows students of all backgrounds and social preferences to find a niche.
Huge variety. This place has something (several things really) for everybody! There are no shortage of ways to get involved and be active on campus. Speaking as a member of our Old Dominion Athletic Conference Champions swimming team, our athletics are very competitive and perform well at our level of competition. As other examples, we have one of the best Outing Clubs in the country and our Mock Convention organization has predicted the presidential winner 19 out of 25 times since 1908, including the most recent election. In short, W&L clubs and activities are very versatile, with no wrong choices!
Not your stereotypical big-school rowdy party boys and girls (well, the partying part does happen). Greek Life is an incredible way to join a whole new family on campus, and have a group of people you can always rely on. The fraternity and sorority houses are huge and gorgeous, with lots of space for social events and privacy, and there are also plenty of off-campus housing opportunities for seniors.
Incredibly safe! Public Safety Services are a big help in a lot of ways (unlocking dorm room doors and such), and the Honor System is so effective that I could leave my laptop, wallet and smartphone sitting on a table in the library, walk away for two hours, and when I come back it will all be there.