Uni in the USA: A British Guide to American Universities and Colleges > All New: Colleges and Universities Added in 2009 > Washington University In St. Louis (new review!)
St. Louis, Missouri
Undergrads: 6,100
Grads: 6,300
How many Wash U students does it take to change a light bulb?
3 – one to pay too much for it, one to bring it from the East Coast, and one to put the great experience on his CV.
***
There’s only one university currently ranked by US News and World Report in the top 15 which is not a household name, and it’s Washington University in St. Louis. But despite not (yet) enjoying the same nation-wide recognition as, say, Ivy League Cornell, which is ranked below it, Wash U more than deserves it’s spot among the stars. A middle-sized institution with tremendous academic prowess, fast-paced campus life and an ample endowment, Wash U attracts some of the finest minds from all over the country as a lesser known alternative to the all-star colleges. Though you may never have heard of the city of St. Louis (or even Missouri, a mostly unremarkable state bang in the middle of the country), it is a fantastic place to live, vying with Chicago for the best Midwestern college town award. The only reason to hesitate before applying here is financial concerns – this is one of the most expensive schools in the world, and not just in terms of school fees – but with huge numbers of scholarships and bursaries available, this hurdle to a supreme education can be vaulted.
The Campus
Occupying a prime location at one end of the largest (and most beautiful) urban park in the US, Wash U’s campus is a splendid “old-stone buildings arranged around pretty quads” affair, reminiscent of an Oxbridge college.
Like all top universities, the administration is good at keeping the campus renovated and up-to-date. New buildings and facilities abound; many (like the state-of-the-art environmental engineering department) with an increasingly energy-conscious design. Students frequently compliment the “accessibility” of the campus, and its optimal size. “You don’t have to stress about half hour hikes to your next class,” said one, “but it never feels claustrophobic either.”
The on-campus dorms available to freshmen and sophomores are as fabulous as they come, but upperclassmen are normally more than happy to move off campus for the last two years into the equally enviable university-owned apartments nearby. Campus dining is also top-notch, if pricy, with plenty of choice in where one finds one’s grub. The library system is excellent, and houses more books than any in other library in the state.
The Wash U Student
Folks at Wash U are involved and active, diverse and friendly, hard-working and heavy-drinking. Brits might describe the student body as a tad “public school”, with a large percentage hailing from affluent East Coast families, but this is easily counterbalanced by the multi-cultural aspect of the university, which is prevalent and very inclusive. Though there is a solid party-culture as well as the usual contingent of “high-strung workaholics”, students are mostly interested and engaged in their studies and campus life.
“Everyone’s either outwardly a nerd or a closet nerd”, said a modest junior. Individualistic groups like jocks, punks, and goths are rare. "A lot of people look exactly the same. This isn't really the best place to explore your education or figure out what you want to do with your life," reflected a senior.
Students claim that the “openness and friendliness” is such that “making friends has never been easier”. Tellingly, Wash U recently gained the Princeton Review’s prestigious top place in the “Quality of Life” ranking. There is a “solid community” here, meaning lots of security and extra confidence for the socially awkward.
It is worth noting that Wash U has hosted more Presidential Debates (during the election season) than any other location in the country, and has held either a Presidential or Vice Presidential debate every election since 1992. If you’d been here in 2008 you could have seen Sarah Palin talk about mavericks with Joe Biden. However, the school as a whole is not particularly politically active (by US standards).
Hitting the Books
Big endowments and a massive reputation (at least, for those in the know) mean that Wash U can attract some of the finest professors in the world to teach undergraduates. “I got to learn genetics from the guy who wrote the book”, said one enthusiastic freshman. Professors have done real field work, and try hard to pass on what they’ve learned from their own experiences. As well as this, teachers are accessible and attentive, and class sizes are normally contained to a minimum, meaning lots of time for close contact with the experts.
Be prepared for a heavy, challenging work load, and also for fast-paced classes. Wash U might be located hundreds of miles from anywhere you’ve ever heard of, but it’s full of the same brainy intelligentsia that populate the very top schools in the country. One chemistry major told us that “it’s incredibly hard work, especially for us science students…but not so you feel you’re drowning.”
Students here are famous for their ambitious breadth of study (according to the college newspaper, “students acquire majors about as readily as free T-shirts.”) which means that if you find it difficult to narrow your interests to just one subject, you’ll be in good company. The curriculum is especially designed to accommodate indecisive types, with plenty of cross-majoring and interdisciplinary opportunities available.
With the sixth largest federal research grant of any higher education institution, research plays a big part at Wash U, and undergraduates profit accordingly. Almost 60% of the undergraduate body is engaged in research at some level; uniquely among universities of its kind, Wash U has a policy of including undergraduates into research programs as much as possible. Moreover, research also frequently cuts through department lines and allows students with interests in several areas to engage in the kind of high-flying, in-depth study that is usually only available for those focusing on the minutiae of a single discipline
Anthropology, business and art are considered some of the best-taught subjects at Wash U, but prospective pre-med students have a good time of it too, with high-quality labs on campus and the even better off-campus medical school, one of the finest in the country, offering unparalleled opportunities for undergraduates.
Social Life
Most of your social life will centre on campus, especially for your first two years at Wash U. Students throw lots of energy at all the activities going on, the student groups, the Greek life, the events, and of course the alcohol-soaked parties.
Some of the best events are organised by the on-campus ethnic groups, fuelled by the large numbers of ethnic minority (and overseas) students and the multi-cultural atmosphere of the student body. Diwali (2-day Asian/Indian celebration, which sells out within hours), the Latin-American-themed “Carnaval”, Chinese New Year and African-American “Black Anthology” performances are all good examples of this. Non-ethnic, but equally popular is the “Vertigo” dance party put on by the engineering department, who design incredible light displays and dance floors to impress non-engineers.
Apart from such events and the fun to be had in the myriad, well-funded student groups that cover every imaginable interest, students like “going-out” and enjoying the neighbourhood, known to St Louis locals as “the Loop”, where excellent artistic, culinary and vintage delights are to be found, including great music venues (Chuck Berry’s own joint is here), independent cinemas and restaurants and cafes of every variety.
On campus, students find that dorms are good places to socialise, as is the “DUC” student centre, where many great campus coffee shops and diners are located. There’s also “the Gargoyle” student bar which frequently hosts concerts by fantastic up-and-coming bands, though to see gigs from big name groups (Black Eyed Peas, Ben Folds) you have to go to the debaucherous and semesterly “WILD” (Walk In, Lay Down) event.
Outside Those Ivory Walls
As upperclassmen, Wash U students are more prone to moving beyond the bubble-like environment of the first two years and exploring all the delights of their lovely city. Whether you’re cheering at a Cardinals baseball game, slurping “frozen custard” (much yummier than how it sounds), catching a free concert under the iconic Gateway Arch, munching toasted ravioli over a game of bocce in the Italian district, or taking a stroll in the gorgeous Forrest Park, it’s hard not to love St. Louis, even if “it’s no Chicago”, as one Wash U student put it. It’s certainly worth getting to know the town and its friendly citizens properly, especially since the university provides free transport.
Getting In
Wash U has a holistic application system similar to most US colleges, where test scores, reputation of secondary school, commitment to extra curricular activities etc are all scrutinised. Although interviews are not required, they are recommended (by us and the university) and can be arranged with overseas alumni. Similarly, it is a very positive sign to the university if you are able to schedule a visit to look around the campus before you apply, but they will understand if this is impractical.
Financially, the bad news is that not only are the basic costs of attendance incredibly expensive, but everyday expenses are also bizarrely high (probably due to some kind of micro-inflation caused by the large number of wealthy kids on campus). The good news is that help is available. Wash U awards both needs-based and merit-based aid (and sometimes both) to international students, sometimes covering full tuition or more.
Famous Grads
William H. Webster – Director of FBI and later CIA
Peter Sarsgaard – actor (Garden State, The Man In The Iron Mask, Orphan)
Harold Ramis – actor and director (Groundhog Day, Ghostbusters)