Anonymous wrote:So many are jealous because the typical WashU student comes from an upper middle class or upper class background, is smart, grounded, and will set themselves up for continuation of the lifestyle provided by their parents. A lot of envious haters here.

Anonymous wrote:Homelessness, racial tensions, Ferguson, gun violence, drugs, rich underachievers who couldn’t get in anywhere better

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My *perception* is that it is a fine school with some good/great programs, but it isn't tippy top known for anything.

Personally I agree with a lot of what the OP wrote. The campus beautiful and contained with a great view of downtown. Adjacent to an Olmsted design park, on a street car line from the airport to downtown. It has a lot going for it.

But compared to other schools that it competes with, there isn't those one or two programs that really get kids excited. It is a strong D3 sports school, but that doesn't give rah-rah culture, so to me, it is one of those schools that is good in every area but not superlative in any area.

You can go down the list of peer schools:

Northwestern: Journalism/Theater/Sciences/Econ
Chicago: Econ, hard sciences
Carnegie: Strong sciences, theater
Georgetown: SFS

Other schools have that one or two things that make them stand out. I don't know what that is with WashU, though I would have been more than happy for any of my kids to go there. I personally loved it.

There are very, very few schools that are "tippy top known" in one particular area - for obvious reasons. I would argue that a college being more generalized but good in many different fields is actually better than being just tippy top in one or two fields (unless perhaps that particular field is what you plan to do for the rest of your life and then even so). Perhaps that would apply more in grad school. Getting a well-rounded liberal arts undergraduate education, no matter what your field of study, is actually very important. it will make you a better engineer, computer scientist, mathematician, whatever. Anddon't forget many college students that change their major, some more than once. Being a more well-rounded person is actually a good thing. At the very least, it gives you perspective as you go on in life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My *perception* is that it is a fine school with some good/great programs, but it isn't tippy top known for anything.

Personally I agree with a lot of what the OP wrote. The campus beautiful and contained with a great view of downtown. Adjacent to an Olmsted design park, on a street car line from the airport to downtown. It has a lot going for it.

But compared to other schools that it competes with, there isn't those one or two programs that really get kids excited. It is a strong D3 sports school, but that doesn't give rah-rah culture, so to me, it is one of those schools that is good in every area but not superlative in any area.

You can go down the list of peer schools:

Northwestern: Journalism/Theater/Sciences/Econ
Chicago: Econ, hard sciences
Carnegie: Strong sciences, theater
Georgetown: SFS

Other schools have that one or two things that make them stand out. I don't know what that is with WashU, though I would have been more than happy for any of my kids to go there. I personally loved it.

I disagree. WashU is amazing in the biomedical and related sciences and has a top-notch med school. It is a lot like a slightly lesser-known Hopkins without as much grind.

A step below Hopkins for sure though

Same name recognition out west but a step below here.
Georgetown is clearly a more recognized name than Hopkins there too. People wouldn't know "JHU" and may not even know just "Hopkins."

Lol or they think it is John

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My *perception* is that it is a fine school with some good/great programs, but it isn't tippy top known for anything.

Personally I agree with a lot of what the OP wrote. The campus beautiful and contained with a great view of downtown. Adjacent to an Olmsted design park, on a street car line from the airport to downtown. It has a lot going for it.

But compared to other schools that it competes with, there isn't those one or two programs that really get kids excited. It is a strong D3 sports school, but that doesn't give rah-rah culture, so to me, it is one of those schools that is good in every area but not superlative in any area.

You can go down the list of peer schools:

Northwestern: Journalism/Theater/Sciences/Econ
Chicago: Econ, hard sciences
Carnegie: Strong sciences, theater
Georgetown: SFS

Other schools have that one or two things that make them stand out. I don't know what that is with WashU, though I would have been more than happy for any of my kids to go there. I personally loved it.

I disagree. WashU is amazing in the biomedical and related sciences and has a top-notch med school. It is a lot like a slightly lesser-known Hopkins without as much grind.

A step below Hopkins for sure though

Same name recognition out west but a step below here.
Georgetown is clearly a more recognized name than Hopkins there too. People wouldn't know "JHU" and may not even know just "Hopkins."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My *perception* is that it is a fine school with some good/great programs, but it isn't tippy top known for anything.

Personally I agree with a lot of what the OP wrote. The campus beautiful and contained with a great view of downtown. Adjacent to an Olmsted design park, on a street car line from the airport to downtown. It has a lot going for it.

But compared to other schools that it competes with, there isn't those one or two programs that really get kids excited. It is a strong D3 sports school, but that doesn't give rah-rah culture, so to me, it is one of those schools that is good in every area but not superlative in any area.

You can go down the list of peer schools:

Northwestern: Journalism/Theater/Sciences/Econ
Chicago: Econ, hard sciences
Carnegie: Strong sciences, theater
Georgetown: SFS

Other schools have that one or two things that make them stand out. I don't know what that is with WashU, though I would have been more than happy for any of my kids to go there. I personally loved it.

I disagree. WashU is amazing in the biomedical and related sciences and has a top-notch med school. It is a lot like a slightly lesser-known Hopkins without as much grind.

A step below Hopkins for sure though

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WashU is for kids who can’t get into Ivies. Washed Up.

And Yale and Princeton are for Harvard rejects.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My *perception* is that it is a fine school with some good/great programs, but it isn't tippy top known for anything.

Personally I agree with a lot of what the OP wrote. The campus beautiful and contained with a great view of downtown. Adjacent to an Olmsted design park, on a street car line from the airport to downtown. It has a lot going for it.

But compared to other schools that it competes with, there isn't those one or two programs that really get kids excited. It is a strong D3 sports school, but that doesn't give rah-rah culture, so to me, it is one of those schools that is good in every area but not superlative in any area.

You can go down the list of peer schools:

Northwestern: Journalism/Theater/Sciences/Econ
Chicago: Econ, hard sciences
Carnegie: Strong sciences, theater
Georgetown: SFS

Other schools have that one or two things that make them stand out. I don't know what that is with WashU, though I would have been more than happy for any of my kids to go there. I personally loved it.

I disagree. WashU is amazing in the biomedical and related sciences and has a top-notch med school. It is a lot like a slightly lesser-known Hopkins without as much grind.

Anonymous wrote:WashU is for kids who can’t get into Ivies. Washed Up.