WUSTL isn't Northwestern or U Chicago.

That said, it's an awesome school with strong programs and very successful alumni

Anonymous wrote:The school doesn't have a national reputation, despite its ranking.

Not everyone goes to the Ivy or big Ten schools or 'well-known' top 20 on the various ranking lists. Yet, the workforce continues to employ grads from the hundreds and hundreds of 'unknown' colleges. Attending Washington University is not an academic death sentence.

The school doesn't have a national reputation, despite its ranking.

Everyone I know who has attended Wash U since the mid 2000s has been a student who also applied to ivies, Stanford, and so on. They did not get admitted to those other schools, but were strong, talented students nonetheless and have gone on to top tier graduate programs and have great careers. Wash U is particularly strong in the biomedical sciences, and the medical school is extremely well regarded.

It's a great school--I think the reason it's not more widely known is the location. The top schools in the Midwest are just as good as those on the coasts, but don't get that same recognition.

Wash U, Northwestern, Rice, U Chicago, are Ivy-equivalents in terms of caliber of education. I'm sure I'm forgetting some.

Anonymous wrote:I've been baffled in the other direction -- why does WUSTL get discussed as a top school for high-achieving upper middle class kids? I recognize that people choose colleges for a host of different reasons -- academics, sports, location, job prospects, prestige, networks -- but to me, regardless of category, there seems like there's always a more appealing alternative than WUSTL. I'm not saying it's not a good college -- I just don't see it as likely to be many kids' first choice. Taking Ivies and Ivy-equivalents off the table, I'd think that USC or NYU, Northwestern or a variety of different SLACs, Johns Hopkins, Ann Arbor or Madison would all be schools that are accessible to the kinds of kids WUSTL is trying to attract and all of them seem to me to have something more going for them than WUSTL. What's WUSTL's comparative advantage? (That's not a rhetorical question -- I'm perfectly willing to believe that the school has programs or virtues I'm unaware of.)

As an alum -
1 - Did not want to go to a large state school (University of Michigan off the table)
2 - Hopkins and NYU were too urban
3 - My parents put limits on how far I could go - West Coast not up for consideration
4 - I visited Cornell the weekend before Wash U and as a 17 YO the weather played a significant part of my decision making. Went from overcast and winter coats to shorts and people out on the quad.

Recommended sidetrip for visitors -- the City Museum in Saint Louis is amazing.

Anonymous wrote:I've been baffled in the other direction -- why does WUSTL get discussed as a top school for high-achieving upper middle class kids? I recognize that people choose colleges for a host of different reasons -- academics, sports, location, job prospects, prestige, networks -- but to me, regardless of category, there seems like there's always a more appealing alternative than WUSTL. I'm not saying it's not a good college -- I just don't see it as likely to be many kids' first choice. Taking Ivies and Ivy-equivalents off the table, I'd think that USC or NYU, Northwestern or a variety of different SLACs, Johns Hopkins, Ann Arbor or Madison would all be schools that are accessible to the kinds of kids WUSTL is trying to attract and all of them seem to me to have something more going for them than WUSTL. What's WUSTL's comparative advantage? (That's not a rhetorical question -- I'm perfectly willing to believe that the school has programs or virtues I'm unaware of.)

It has some programs that are very, very good. It's in the top 10 for undergraduate business majors, undergraduate biology majors, and undergraduate social work. The graduate programs in medicine and social work are top 10.

If you want to do medicine, it's one of the places to be.

OP here. Great conversation!! Keep it coming. I will have a better feel once we visit campus, and DC with a couple of friends (whose parents are also curious) will feel the vibe (and academics of course) and give HONEST opinions.

I've been baffled in the other direction -- why does WUSTL get discussed as a top school for high-achieving upper middle class kids? I recognize that people choose colleges for a host of different reasons -- academics, sports, location, job prospects, prestige, networks -- but to me, regardless of category, there seems like there's always a more appealing alternative than WUSTL. I'm not saying it's not a good college -- I just don't see it as likely to be many kids' first choice. Taking Ivies and Ivy-equivalents off the table, I'd think that USC or NYU, Northwestern or a variety of different SLACs, Johns Hopkins, Ann Arbor or Madison would all be schools that are accessible to the kinds of kids WUSTL is trying to attract and all of them seem to me to have something more going for them than WUSTL. What's WUSTL's comparative advantage? (That's not a rhetorical question -- I'm perfectly willing to believe that the school has programs or virtues I'm unaware of.)

It is well known and respected in the Midwest. It was my top choice in high school. My HS guidance counselor on Long Island asked me if it was in Seattle or DC which speaks to the quality of the guidance on offer.

They pulled a gimmick in 1998 or so with the rankings and wound up something craZy on USNWR like no. 7 on the rankings.

Good school with top med

It has the lowest % of students who qualify for pell grants compared to 'like' schools. The wealth is obvious. An example: I had a friend who also had a sibling attending at the same time. Both had their own newer BMWs on campus.

They have a few programs in place to diversify their student body economically but it will take some significant effort for it not to feel like a place of haves and have nots.

What accolades are you not seeing? Didn't you just list them? Very few people have heard of any schools other than the Ivies and state universities

My neighbor's DD is there right now. She is a fabulous girl. She was a finalist for TJHSST, but didn't get in, so went to our average FCPS high school. Took all the highest classes (including the AP calc classes). Was thinking of being a math major, but settled on econ + Chinese at Wash U. Her parents say the campus is like a country club. It is very expensive. Their DD is having a great experience. She is also on a minor sports team. She was considering Welsley and W&M too.

Most of the kids there have plenty of $$. Their DD is rooming with 3 other girls. One is on financial aid, so she could not afford the extra expense of having her own room in the apartment-style dorms. The other girls arranged it so that the girl on financial aid could have the room that cost less -- to fit with her aid package. She was not made to feel inferior b/c she didn't have $$. But, I think the general vibe of the students re: vacations and consumption is "we have plenty of $$."

I hear wonderful things about Wash U. It's a great school academically, beautiful campus, top 20 university on several 'ranking' list, etc.

We are going to visit. Why isn't this school given the accolades it sounds like it deserves? What am I missing? I would prefer intelligent and insightful comments without political commentary, please. TIA.