Does the Lee in W & L ruin it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in NYC and had heard of it — though as a small safety school that would give money to get northerners there.

It isn’t a safety school for anyone except those who have no business applying to Ivies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t ruin it, but when I encounter a white, male (and some females but not all) W&L grad I do make certain assumptions.

That tells us a lot about you and being close-minded.

[Anonymous]

I am hoping that W&L will start to change over the years. It has such a large endowment and a president who came from Williams. It's just a matter of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD has been selected as a Johnson scholarship finalist. If DD wins the scholarship, it is a free ride for all 4 years, plus additional opportunities. While we are able to afford to send our DD to college, saving this much money on their education would be incredibly beneficial.

We have been concerned about the stereotypes of the school and told our DD that if she is accepted to a college she prefers more, she should go where she wishes.

Due to covid, we have been unable to visit W&L (or pretty much any colleges). But a visit will be imperative before DD decides.

I was a Johnson Scholar and graduated a few years ago.

It’s an opportunity that I would not pass up. Many students are there for the quality education, not for the fraternities. The professors are mostly excellent and the opportunities on a campus of its size are unparalleled.

And that all may be true. But, there’s a reason they have to buy talent with such a high ranking. The white male frat boy stereotypes aren’t wrong and are probably fine in white male frat boy fields. Would I send one of my kids? No. Not even for free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Few people outside of Virginia and maybe a few of its neighboring states have ever even heard of Washington and Lee.

And yet, W&L appears quite high on the USNWR and other national lists that people in California, Illinois and New Jersey read. However can this be? Could it possibly be your liberal bias shining through here?

Really, if you agree with PP's take, then it's only intellectually honest to have the same opinion -- 'nobody's heard of it' -- about several of the DCUM-sanctioned darlings of this forum:

Carleton
Grinnell
Macalaster
Claremont McKenna
Bates
Hamilton

and so on. You know, tiny little schools in low-density zip codes.

The translation of PP's comment is actually "I wouldn't send my kid there and neither would my neighbors in Chevy Chase Sec. 5." The business elite of Dallas probably say the same about Bowdoin.

Which is the point. My kid’s life goals do no include being a Southern “business elite”.

I think the issue with W&L vs Hamilton or Carleton is that you have to be in a very niche place to be able to say except “strong LAC”. With W&L, it’s string SLAC with douchey frat boys. We are literally sitting here as a family planning spring break college visits (aka, wander around campus and see what the buildings look like from outside). And I said very neutrally 3 minutes ago, “maybe we could see W& L since it’s nearby.” To which DH promptly said “so we can send out daughter there to be rape. No.” DD just rolled her eyes and said “Pass”.

The stereotype about who goes there is there in a way it just isn’t for most SLACs.

[Anonymous]

I don't know about "ruin," but the association with Lee doesn't help. I would have thought they would have changed their name in 2020, along with everything else that was either renamed or taken down in 2020, if they were going to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have visited several times and it is gorgeous but has such an Old South feel you’d think it was in a state like Alabama. Last time I was there it still felt extremely white. The students who like this have a great experience and feel like they’re getting a great education. It is an acquired taste in that the things to do are very limited to dressy, drinky Greek life.

I know this was meant as an insult, as snobby DMVers love to use random Southern states as stand-ins for "uneducated" and "closed-minded." But the Honors College at the University of Alabama actually has quite a bit in common with W&L. Both are filled with brilliant, highly competitive students, but ones who desire a fun, vibrant college experience and an active social life on a campus that isn't steeped in woke SJW culture. My kid took a hard look at both schools, and I'd have been happy for him to attend either one, but the larger student body, chicks, and SEC football game day atmosphere at Alabama — not to mention the nearly-full-ride scholarship he was awarded — won him over. But they're both incredible places to get an education and have a blast doing it. Roll Tide and Go Generals!

Yeah. Calling women chicks isn’t making anyone want to Go Tide! Or W&L. But I’m sure you’re drunk frat boys kids where right at home. Maybe they could marry my husbands cousin who started Alabama as a 120 lbs brunette and left as a 95 lbs blonde with raging ED. But her parent rave about it too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have visited several times and it is gorgeous but has such an Old South feel you’d think it was in a state like Alabama. Last time I was there it still felt extremely white. The students who like this have a great experience and feel like they’re getting a great education. It is an acquired taste in that the things to do are very limited to dressy, drinky Greek life.

Yeah. I was raised in the rural South. When we visited, I had PTSD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know about "ruin," but the association with Lee doesn't help. I would have thought they would have changed their name in 2020, along with everything else that was either renamed or taken down in 2020, if they were going to.

+1. They had the chance to rebrand and they don’t want to. Because they are as proud of that brand as Roll Tide is of his. The Lee signals who and what they stand for. And they don’t want it to be any different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t ruin it, but when I encounter a white, male (and some females but not all) W&L grad I do make certain assumptions.

That tells us a lot about you and being close-minded.

And a horrible human being.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Few people outside of Virginia and maybe a few of its neighboring states have ever even heard of Washington and Lee.

And yet, W&L appears quite high on the USNWR and other national lists that people in California, Illinois and New Jersey read. However can this be? Could it possibly be your liberal bias shining through here?

Really, if you agree with PP's take, then it's only intellectually honest to have the same opinion -- 'nobody's heard of it' -- about several of the DCUM-sanctioned darlings of this forum:

Carleton
Grinnell
Macalaster
Claremont McKenna
Bates
Hamilton

and so on. You know, tiny little schools in low-density zip codes.

The translation of PP's comment is actually "I wouldn't send my kid there and neither would my neighbors in Chevy Chase Sec. 5." The business elite of Dallas probably say the same about Bowdoin.

I mean I don't know what you're trying to claim. Few people have probably heard of those schools, either, except for people from those regions, those who are unusually invested in American colleges, or those who went to an LAC.

[Anonymous]

Is it hard to get into? In my day 20 years ago it wasn't, really - especially if you could pay for it, but I know a lot has changed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD has been selected as a Johnson scholarship finalist. If DD wins the scholarship, it is a free ride for all 4 years, plus additional opportunities. While we are able to afford to send our DD to college, saving this much money on their education would be incredibly beneficial.

We have been concerned about the stereotypes of the school and told our DD that if she is accepted to a college she prefers more, she should go where she wishes.

Due to covid, we have been unable to visit W&L (or pretty much any colleges). But a visit will be imperative before DD decides.

I was a Johnson Scholar and graduated a few years ago.

It’s an opportunity that I would not pass up. Many students are there for the quality education, not for the fraternities. The professors are mostly excellent and the opportunities on a campus of its size are unparalleled.

And that all may be true. But, there’s a reason they have to buy talent with such a high ranking. The white male frat boy stereotypes aren’t wrong and are probably fine in white male frat boy fields. Would I send one of my kids? No. Not even for free.

What frat fields? Many of the fraternities have closed, gone off campus, lost their houses, and have been hemorrhaging members past freshman or sophomore year for years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know about "ruin," but the association with Lee doesn't help. I would have thought they would have changed their name in 2020, along with everything else that was either renamed or taken down in 2020, if they were going to.

+1. They had the chance to rebrand and they don’t want to. Because they are as proud of that brand as Roll Tide is of his. The Lee signals who and what they stand for. And they don’t want it to be any different.

That’s due to 5 people who live in SC and donate to the school. Most people there are not like this at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD has been selected as a Johnson scholarship finalist. If DD wins the scholarship, it is a free ride for all 4 years, plus additional opportunities. While we are able to afford to send our DD to college, saving this much money on their education would be incredibly beneficial.

We have been concerned about the stereotypes of the school and told our DD that if she is accepted to a college she prefers more, she should go where she wishes.

Due to covid, we have been unable to visit W&L (or pretty much any colleges). But a visit will be imperative before DD decides.

I was a Johnson Scholar and graduated a few years ago.

It’s an opportunity that I would not pass up. Many students are there for the quality education, not for the fraternities. The professors are mostly excellent and the opportunities on a campus of its size are unparalleled.

And that all may be true. But, there’s a reason they have to buy talent with such a high ranking. The white male frat boy stereotypes aren’t wrong and are probably fine in white male frat boy fields. Would I send one of my kids? No. Not even for free.

You’re “sending” your kids? They don’t choose their own colleges? Yikes.