Why the Wash U haters? (Washington University/St. Louis)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s an Ivy League back up and it’s expensive as hell. Anybody living in VA who’s good enough to get into Wash U but not an Ivy is far better off going to UVA.

+1

- Missouri resident growing up, Virginia resident now

Nahhhh, my kid picked WashU over a few ivies & UChicago. It was truly the best fit for them, without the dog eat dog grind of UChicago and the snobbery of the ivies.

Beyond strong academics and opportunities outside of the classroom, my kid was impressed by the collaborative culture of both the staff and students.

WashU definitely leans more liberal. I’m wondering if the MAGAs are targeting WashU this week because Sonia Sotomayor is scheduled to speak there tomorrow.

As for the location, St. Louis isn’t much different than DC. The campus is in Clayton, a suburb comparable to Bethesda, but also like Bethesda it’s near a city like DC that has some less safe areas. The area around WashU is much safer than UPenn, Yale and UChicago.

Name the Ivies. You named Chicago. So name the Ivies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. I don’t hate WashU. My observation from our visit there, conversations with students and parents, and my kid’s view, is that it often isn’t a first choice because kids really, really love it, but rather (a) their counselor tells them it is their best shot for ED and/or (b) it is the best school they got into in RD.

That makes for a campus (albeit beautiful) without much enthusiasm. Not what my kid (and others I know) wanted for their college experience.

Very good point. I don’t know anyone who had it as their first choice

Tell me more about this. WashU doesn’t offer Early Decision?

[Anonymous]

We visited WashU. My kid absolutely loved it--in particular what resonated was the vibe and set up of the freshman dorms (IYKYK) and how modern and new all the buildings felt in a community square type approach. I hated St. Louis however and the airport and getting there totally sucked coming from DCA. But the school/campus itself- beautiful, new and academics seemed top notch and they have some unique aspects that other T25 don't seem to have. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by the school but underwhelmed by the city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. I don’t hate WashU. My observation from our visit there, conversations with students and parents, and my kid’s view, is that it often isn’t a first choice because kids really, really love it, but rather (a) their counselor tells them it is their best shot for ED and/or (b) it is the best school they got into in RD.

That makes for a campus (albeit beautiful) without much enthusiasm. Not what my kid (and others I know) wanted for their college experience.

I think that students come to Wash. U. thinking it’s below places like Harvard.

Then they see that the professors are easy to talk to, the students are normal people, St. Louis is cheap and gorgeous, and Wash. U. is doing everything it can to do right by them, and they realize that what they really needed was right there at Wash. U. all along.

That’s great to hear. Sincerely. I do think the administration is making some great decisions, including the great dorms, buying housing near campus for upper class students, good food, and keeping kids engaged in the school community. I really do love schools that love their students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s an Ivy League back up and it’s expensive as hell. Anybody living in VA who’s good enough to get into Wash U but not an Ivy is far better off going to UVA.

+1

- Missouri resident growing up, Virginia resident now

Nahhhh, my kid picked WashU over a few ivies & UChicago. It was truly the best fit for them, without the dog eat dog grind of UChicago and the snobbery of the ivies.

Beyond strong academics and opportunities outside of the classroom, my kid was impressed by the collaborative culture of both the staff and students.

WashU definitely leans more liberal. I’m wondering if the MAGAs are targeting WashU this week because Sonia Sotomayor is scheduled to speak there tomorrow.

As for the location, St. Louis isn’t much different than DC. The campus is in Clayton, a suburb comparable to Bethesda, but also like Bethesda it’s near a city like DC that has some less safe areas. The area around WashU is much safer than UPenn, Yale and UChicago.

Name the Ivies. You named Chicago. So name the Ivies.

When I was applying, I ranked Stanford first and Wash. U. second.

But I took all Ivies off my list after going to an Ivy League’s summer program for high school students.

The program was great, but about half of the students were mean prestige chasers.

I thought that a school like Wash. U. or Rice would be much less likely to attract those sorts of students than an Ivy League school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s an Ivy League back up and it’s expensive as hell. Anybody living in VA who’s good enough to get into Wash U but not an Ivy is far better off going to UVA.

+1

- Missouri resident growing up, Virginia resident now

Nahhhh, my kid picked WashU over a few ivies & UChicago. It was truly the best fit for them, without the dog eat dog grind of UChicago and the snobbery of the ivies.

Beyond strong academics and opportunities outside of the classroom, my kid was impressed by the collaborative culture of both the staff and students.

WashU definitely leans more liberal. I’m wondering if the MAGAs are targeting WashU this week because Sonia Sotomayor is scheduled to speak there tomorrow.

As for the location, St. Louis isn’t much different than DC. The campus is in Clayton, a suburb comparable to Bethesda, but also like Bethesda it’s near a city like DC that has some less safe areas. The area around WashU is much safer than UPenn, Yale and UChicago.

Name the Ivies. You named Chicago. So name the Ivies.

When I was applying, I ranked Stanford first and Wash. U. second.

But I took all Ivies off my list after going to an Ivy League’s summer program for high school students.

The program was great, but about half of the students were mean prestige chasers.

I thought that a school like Wash. U. or Rice would be much less likely to attract those sorts of students than an Ivy League school.

But you didn’t go to an Ivy League’s summer program because you were a prestige chaser. Ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s an Ivy League back up and it’s expensive as hell. Anybody living in VA who’s good enough to get into Wash U but not an Ivy is far better off going to UVA.

+1

- Missouri resident growing up, Virginia resident now

Nahhhh, my kid picked WashU over a few ivies & UChicago. It was truly the best fit for them, without the dog eat dog grind of UChicago and the snobbery of the ivies.

Beyond strong academics and opportunities outside of the classroom, my kid was impressed by the collaborative culture of both the staff and students.

WashU definitely leans more liberal. I’m wondering if the MAGAs are targeting WashU this week because Sonia Sotomayor is scheduled to speak there tomorrow.

As for the location, St. Louis isn’t much different than DC. The campus is in Clayton, a suburb comparable to Bethesda, but also like Bethesda it’s near a city like DC that has some less safe areas. The area around WashU is much safer than UPenn, Yale and UChicago.

Name the Ivies. You named Chicago. So name the Ivies.

When I was applying, I ranked Stanford first and Wash. U. second.

But I took all Ivies off my list after going to an Ivy League’s summer program for high school students.

The program was great, but about half of the students were mean prestige chasers.

I thought that a school like Wash. U. or Rice would be much less likely to attract those sorts of students than an Ivy League school.

But you still applied to Stanford.