Why Wash U Can Work for You

Located between the charming suburb of Clayton and the revitalized, urban University City, Washington University in St. Louis provides variety in academics as well as location. Renowned for its undergraduate science programs as well as its medical and law schools, Washington University has been getting some well-deserved press of late. Here’s what you should know about the school its students affectionately refer to as “Wash U,” and why you, or your children, should attend.

Ranked the eleventh best university in the nation by US News, Washington University offers not only excellent quality education in the sciences, but in humanities courses as well. While science courses are often held in large lecture halls, students often have smaller assigned study groups or peer-led tutoring sessions. The vast majority of humanities courses are small and provide ample room to interact with and converse with professors. Teaching assistants are happy to assist students, but professors also go out of their way to make themselves available to students, regardless of class size. In addition, much of the faculty contributes to on-going research and academic discussion. The academic environment at Wash U is challenging, but support is provided at every level to enable students to succeed.

The student body is exceedingly diverse, racially, culturally, and socially. With 6,000 undergraduates, there’s room for every tudent to find his or her niche, but the number of students is small enough to ensure no one gets lost in the crowd. Most students are active in a wide of array of campus activities, from research to team sports to clubs. Partying is prevalent, but there are plenty who prefer to study or spend their time in other ways. As for housing, students are required to live on campus their freshman year, and many continue to do so afterwards – the dorms, although expensive, are luxurious by dorm standards and in great repair.

As for location, Washington University is located in a nice, safe area, with plenty of transportation: a new MetroLink train station will open next to the campus on July 1st, giving students easy access to the greater St. Louis area, and buses run over the immediate area (Clayton and University City). Nearby Forest Park features the St. Louis Art Museum, Zoo, and the Muny theatre. The Hilltop campus is near several shopping areas, grocery stores, and the Medical Campus is situated in the Central West End, which has many delightful restaraunts and the Moolah theatre. The four seasons are all in full swing in St. Louis, and only the summer is unpleasant to experience. While St. Louis has many areas which are not very safe, these are at quite a distance from either of the school’s campuses and students are not likely to encounter them. In addition, the urban revitalization of St. Louis in areas like University City has greatly improved both safety and interest in many places.

Overall, Washington University in St. Louis is an excellent place to get an education. Whether you’re looking for a strong academic environment, an involved and friendly student body, or just some Midwestern charm, this university – and St. Louis as a whole – is where you’ll find it.