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Washington and Lee University

204 West Washington Street, Lexington, VA 24450

http://www.wlu.edu/

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Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia
Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia
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School Description

Provided by Washington and Lee University

Washington and Lee University provides a liberal arts education that develops students' capacity to think freely, critically, and humanely and to conduct themselves with honor, integrity, and civility. Graduates will be prepared for life-long learning, personal achievement, responsible leadership, service to others, and engaged citizenship in a global and diverse society.

Founded in 1749, Washington and Lee University is named for two of the most influential men in American history: George Washington, whose generous endowment of $20,000 in 1796 helped the fledgling school (then known as Liberty Hall Academy) survive, and Robert E. Lee, whose presidency and innovative leadership brought the University into the national limelight.

Washington and Lee is composed of two undergraduate divisions, the College and the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics; and a graduate School of Law. The undergraduate institution offers 39 majors and more than 1,100 courses-an enviable curriculum for a school of only 1,770 undergraduate students. W&L also features the only fully-accredited business school and fully-accredited journalism program among the nation's top-tier liberal arts colleges.

As one of the nation's best teaching colleges, W&L places a high priority on recruiting and retaining a top-notch faculty. Virtually all of the University's professors hold the Ph.D. degree or equivalent earned doctoral degree, and all faculty members are active in continuing self-development as scholars and teachers. There are no teaching assistants. The average class size is 16 students, and nearly one-fourth of all classes have no more than 10 students. The student-to-faculty ratio is 9:1.

W&L is also notable for its national and international student body. The class of 2012 includes students from over 40 states and 11 foreign countries. About 14 percent of undergraduates come from Virginia, with large numbers of students arriving from Maryland, Texas, Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania and California.

Once on campus, W&L students are highly involved in student government, athletics and student activities. The University fields 23 NCAA Division III sports, including the reigning national champions in women's tennis. Students can also participate in over 120 clubs and organizations, including two student newspapers, a broadcast radio station, and cable television station.

Perhaps the most distinguishing characteristic of the University is its student run Honor System, and the environment that it creates on campus and in Lexington. Students at W&L enjoy unparalleled academic and social freedom. Undergraduates typically schedule their own final examinations, all students take their exams unsupervised, personal property is generally safe on campus, most University buildings remain open twenty-four hours per day, and a student’s word is accepted and respected both on campus and in the community.

Since its inception, the Honor System has fostered a sense of community and trust that continues to enhance the lives of Washington and Lee students, during enrollment at Washington and Lee and in their later personal and professional lives.

The University is located in the historic city of Lexington (population 7,000) in the Great Valley of Virginia about three hours southwest of Washington, D.C. W&L’s 35 principal buildings include the picturesque Washington College group forming the Colonnade facing Lee Chapel, where Robert E. Lee is buried. The Colonnade and Lee Chapel are National Historic Landmarks. New or recently renovated buildings include the John W. Elrod University Commons, the journalism department's Reid Hall, the Doremus fitness center and Wilson Hall, the fine arts and music center.

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Washington and Lee University

From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.

The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of revolutionary fervor. The academy moved to Lexington in 1780, when it was chartered as Liberty Hall Academy, and built its first facility near town in 1782.

In 1796, George Washington endowed it with the largest gift ever given to a college (at the time): $20,000 in stock, rescuing it from near-certain insolvency. In gratitude, the trustees changed the school's name to Washington Academy; it was subsequently chartered as Washington College. Dividends from Washington's gift continue to pay about $1.87 a year toward the cost of each student's education. Robert E. Lee was its president after the Civil War until his death in 1870, after which the school was renamed Washington and Lee University.

Washington and Lee's motto is Non incautus futuri, meaning "Not unmindful of the future." It is an adaptation of the Lee family motto.

One quarter of W&L's undergraduates participate in varsity athletics, three quarters in club or intramural programs. There are more than 120 student organizations and publications, and approximately 80 percent of undergraduates belong to fraternities or sororities.

W&L is a member of the Associated Colleges of the South.

Campus

The row of brick buildings that form the Front Campus, which trace to 1824, is a U.S. National Historic Landmark named Washington and Lee University Historic District. Separately, the Lee Chapel is also a National Historic Landmark.

The noted British writer John Cowper Powys once called W&L the "most beautiful college campus in America." The poet and dramatist John Drinkwater remarked, "If this scene were set down in the middle of Europe, the whole continent would flock to see it!"

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Read the full entry on Wikipedia

Quick Facts

Chance of Admission:
Location:
Mid-Atlantic
Setting:
Small Town Setting
Type:
Private
Size:
Small (Under 2,000 Undergrad)
Mascot:
Generals
Nickname:
W&L

Students & Campus Life

Undergraduate Enrollment:
1,740
On Campus Housing:
Available
Full Time Students:
100%
Athletic Programs:
Available
> More Students & Campus Life

Expenses

Average Tuition:
$ 28,635
Students Receiving Aid:
58%
> More Expenses & Financial Aid

Admissions

Application Fee:
$ 40
Selectivity:
Most Selective
> More Admissions

Degree Programs at Washington and Lee University

Bachelor's Level Programs

  • Arts & Humanities

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    • English Language and Literature See more schools with programs in English Language and Literature
      • English Language and Literature
        A general program that focuses on the English language, including its history, structure and related communications skills; and the literature and culture of English-speaking peoples.
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    • Film and Theater See more schools with programs in Film and Theater
      • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts
        A program that focuses on the general study of dramatic works and their performance. Includes instruction in major works of dramatic literature, dramatic styles and types, and the principles of organizing and producing full live or filmed productions.
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    • Foreign Languages See more schools with programs in Foreign Languages
      • Classics and Languages, Literatures and Linguistics
        This general program focuses on the literary culture of the ancient Graeco-Roman world and the Greek and Latin languages and literatures and their development prior to the fall of the Roman Empire.
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      • French Language and Literature
        A program that focuses on the French language and related dialects and creoles. Includes instruction in French philology, Metropolitan French, Canadian French, African and Caribbean Creoles, French regional dialects, and applications in business, science/technology, and other settings.
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      • General East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
        A general program that focuses on one or more of the Sino-Tibetan, Japanese, and Korean languages of East Asia. Includes instruction in philology, linguistics, dialects and pidgins, literature, and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
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      • General Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
        A general program that focuses on one or more of the Romance languages of Western, Central, and Southern Europe. Includes instruction in philology, linguistics, dialects and pidgins, literature, and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
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      • German Language and Literature
        A program that focuses on the German language and related dialects as used in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, neighboring European countries containing German-speaking minorities, and elsewhere. Includes instruction in German philology; Old, Middle, and High German; Plattdeutsch and other regional dialects; and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
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      • Spanish Language and Literature
        A program that focuses on the Spanish language and related dialects. Includes instruction in Spanish philology, Modern Castillan, various Latin American dialects, regional Spanish dialects, and applications in business, science/technology, and other settings.
        See more schools with programs in Spanish Language and Literature
    • History See more schools with programs in History
      • History
        A program that focuses on the general study and interpretation of the past, including the gathering, recording, synthesizing and criticizing of evidence and theories about past events. Includes instruction in historiography; historical research methods; studies of specific periods, issues and cultures; and applications to areas such as historic preservation, public policy, and records administration.
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    • Music See more schools with programs in Music
      • General Music
        A general program that focuses on the introductory study and appreciation of music and the performing arts. Includes instruction in music, dance, and other performing arts media.
        See more schools with programs in General Music
    • Philosophy See more schools with programs in Philosophy
      • General Philosophy
        A program that focuses on ideas and their logical structure, including arguments and investigations about abstract and real phenomena. Includes instruction in logic, ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, metaphysics, symbolism, and history of philosophy, and applications to the theoretical foundations and methods of other disciplines.
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    • Religion/Religious Studies See more schools with programs in Religion/Religious Studies
      • General Religion/Religious Studies
        A program that focuses on the nature of religious belief and specific religious and quasi-religious systems. Includes instruction in phenomenology; the sociology, psychology, philosophy, anthropology, literature and art of religion; mythology; scriptural and textual studies; religious history and politics; and specific studies of particular faith communities and their behavior.
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    • Visual Arts See more schools with programs in Visual Arts
      • Art History, Criticism and Conservation
        Students of Art History study of the historical development of art as a social and intellectual phenomenon. Art History programs include the analysis of works of art, and art conservation, art history research methods, connoisseurship, the preservation and conservation of works of art, and the study of specific periods, cultures, styles, and themes.
        See more schools with programs in Art History, Criticism and Conservation
      • Fine/Studio Arts
        A program that prepares individuals to generally function as creative artists in the visual and plastic media. Includes instruction in the traditional fine arts media (drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, CAD/CAM) and/or modern media (ceramics, textiles, intermedia, photography, digital images); theory of art; color theory; composition and perspective; anatomy; the techniques and procedures for maintaining equipment and managing a studio; and art portfolio marketing.
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  • Business

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    • Accounting & Related Services See more schools with programs in Accounting & Related Services
      • Accounting
        An accounting program provides the tools to practice accounting and to perform related business functions. This program includes instruction in accounting principles and theory, financial accounting, managerial accounting, cost accounting, budget control, tax accounting, legal aspects of accounting, auditing, reporting procedures, statement analysis, planning and consulting, business information systems, accounting research methods, professional standards and ethics, and applications to specific for-profit, public, and non-profit organizations.
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      • Accounting and Business/Management
        An accounting and business/management program is a combined program that prepares individuals for careers as accountants and business managers.
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    • General Business See more schools with programs in General Business
      • Business Administration and Management
        Generally, this program prepares individuals to plan, organize, direct, and control a firm or organization. To aid them in taking a leading role in business, individuals in this program study management theory, human resources management and behavior, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making.
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  • Communication & Media

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    • General Journalism
      A program that focuses on the theory and practice of gathering, processing, and delivering news and that prepares individuals to be professional print journalists, news editors, and news managers. Includes instruction in news writing and editing; reporting; photojournalism; layout and graphic design; journalism law and policy; professional standards and ethics; research methods; and journalism history and criticism.
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  • Engineering

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    • Chemical Engineering
      Chemical Engineering applies the elegance of mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems employing chemical processes, such as chemical reactors, kinetic systems, electrochemical systems, energy conservation processes, heat and mass transfer systems, and separation processes; and the applied analysis of chemical problems such as corrosion, particle abrasion, energy loss, pollution, and fluid mechanics.
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    • Engineering Physics
      A program with a general focus on the general application of mathematical and scientific principles of physics to the analysis and evaluation of engineering problems. Includes instruction in high- and low-temperature phenomena, computational physics, superconductivity, applied thermodynamics, molecular and particle physics applications, and space science research.
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  • Interdisciplinary Studies

    See more schools with programs in Interdisciplinary Studies
    • Medieval and Renaissance Studies
      A program that focuses on the study of the Medieval and Renaissance periods in European and circum-Mediterranean history from the perspective of various disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, including history and archeology, as well as studies of period art and music.
      See more schools with programs in Medieval and Renaissance Studies
    • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
      Any instructional program that is derived from two or more distinct programs to provide a cross-cutting focus on a subject concentration that is not subsumed under a single discipline or occupational field.
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    • Neuroscience
      A program that focuses on the interdisciplinary scientific study of the molecular, structural, physiologic, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of the brain and nervous system. Includes instruction in molecular and cellular neuroscience, brain science, anatomy and physiology of the central nervous system, molecular and biochemical bases of information processing, behavioral neuroscience, biology of neuropsychiatric disorders, and applications to the clinical sciences and biomedical engineering.
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  • Life Science

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    • Biology See more schools with programs in Biology
      • Biochemistry
        Study the chemistry of living systems in these four, six, or eight year programs. Students of biochemistry learn the intricacies of the chemistry of living systems and their chemical pathways and information transfer systems. This program includes instruction in bio-organic chemistry, protein chemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, bioseparations, regulatory biochemistry, enzymology, hormonal chemistry, calorimetry, and research methods and equipment operation.
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      • Biology/Biological Sciences
        Students in this program study general biology at an introductory level. This major provides students with a broad overview of biology and includes instruction in general biology and programs covering a variety of biological specializations.
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  • Mathematics and Statistics

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    • General Mathematics
      A general program that focuses on the analysis of quantities, magnitudes, forms, and their relationships, using symbolic logic and language. Includes instruction in algebra, calculus, functional analysis, geometry, number theory, logic, topology and other mathematical specializations.
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  • Natural Sciences

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    • Chemistry See more schools with programs in Chemistry
      • General Chemistry
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of the composition and behavior of matter, including its micro- and macro-structure, the processes of chemical change, and the theoretical description and laboratory simulation of these phenomena.
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    • Geology See more schools with programs in Geology
      • Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
        See more schools with programs in Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
      • Geology/Earth Science
        A program that focuses on the scientific study of the earth; the forces acting upon it; and the behavior of the solids, liquids and gases comprising it. Includes instruction in historical geology, geomorphology, and sedimentology, the chemistry of rocks and soils, stratigraphy, mineralogy, petrology, geostatistics, volcanology, glaciology, geophysical principles, and applications to research and industrial problems.
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    • Physics See more schools with programs in Physics
      • General Physics
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of matter and energy, and the formulation and testing of the laws governing the behavior of the matter-energy continuum. Includes instruction in classical and modern physics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanics, wave properties, nuclear processes, relativity and quantum theory, quantitative methods, and laboratory methods.
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  • Social Sciences

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    • Anthropology See more schools with programs in Anthropology
      • General Anthropology
        A program that focuses on the systematic study of human beings, their antecedents and related primates, and their cultural behavior and institutions, in comparative perspective. Includes instruction in biological/physical anthropology, primatology, human paleontology and prehistoric archeology, hominid evolution, anthropological linguistics, ethnography, ethnology, ethnohistory, socio-cultural anthropology, psychological anthropology, research methods, and applications to areas such as medicine, forensic pathology, museum studies, and international affairs.
        See more schools with programs in General Anthropology
    • Area, Ethnic, Cultural, and Gender Studies See more schools with programs in Area, Ethnic, Cultural, and Gender Studies
      • East Asian Studies
        A program that focuses on the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of one or more of the peoples of East Asia, defined as including China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Taiwan, Tibet, related borderlands and island groups, and including the study of the East Asian diasporas overseas.
        See more schools with programs in East Asian Studies
      • Russian Studies
        A program that focuses on the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of one or more of the peoples of the Russian Federation and its Soviet, Czarist, and medieval predecessors and related borderlands.
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    • Economics See more schools with programs in Economics
      • General Economics
        A general program that focuses on the systematic study of the production, conservation and allocation of resources in conditions of scarcity, together with the organizational frameworks related to these processes. Includes instruction in economic theory, micro- and macroeconomics, comparative economic systems, money and banking systems, international economics, quantitative analytical methods, and applications to specific industries and public policy issues.
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    • International Relations and Affairs See more schools with programs in International Relations and Affairs
      • General Political Science and Government
        A general program that focuses on the systematic study of political institutions and behavior. Includes instruction in political philosophy, political theory, comparative government and politics, political parties and interest groups, public opinion, political research methods, studies of the government and politics of specific countries, and studies 0f specific political institutions and processes.
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    • Psychology See more schools with programs in Psychology
      • General Psychology
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of individual and collective behavior, the physical and environmental bases of behavior, and the analysis and treatment of behavior problems and disorders. Includes instruction in the principles of the various subfields of psychology, research methods, and psychological assessment and testing methods.
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    • Sociology See more schools with programs in Sociology
      • Sociology
        A program that focuses on the systematic study of human social institutions and social relationships. Includes instruction in social theory, sociological research methods, social organization and structure, social stratification and hierarchies, dynamics of social change, family structures, social deviance and control, and applications to the study of specific social groups, social institutions, and social problems.
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  • Social Work

    See more schools with programs in Social Work
    • Public Policy Analysis
      A program that focuses on the systematic analysis of public policy issues and decision processes. Includes instruction in the role of economic and political factors in public decision-making and policy formulation; microeconomic analysis of policy issues; resource allocation and decision modeling; cost/benefit analysis; statistical methods; and applications to specific public policy topics.
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  • Technology

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    • Information Systems Operation and Management See more schools with programs in Information Systems Operation and Management
      • General Computer Science
        A general program that focuses on computers, computing problems and solutions, and the design of computer systems and user interfaces from a scientific perspective. Includes instruction in the principles of computational science, and computing theory; computer hardware design; computer development and programming; and applications to a variety of end-use situations.
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Master's Level Programs

Students

General

Full-Time vs. Part-Time
Full-Time 100%
Part-Time 0%
Men vs. Women
Women 51%
Men 49%
Race/Ethnicity
Caucasian 88%
African-American 5%
Asian 4%
Other 3%
Hispanic 0%

Geography

In State vs. Out-of-State
Out-of-State 83%
In-State 17%
Top States for Incoming Freshman
Virginia 17%
Texas 9%
New York 6%
New Jersey 6%
Maryland 6%
Percent of Students International: 3%

Housing

On-Campus Housing Available: Yes
Percent of Students Living On-Campus: 58%
Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: Yes

Athletics

Member of: NAA, NCAA
Sports Include: Football (Old Dominion Athletic Conference)
Basketball (Old Dominion Athletic Conference)
Baseball (Old Dominion Athletic Conference)
Track (Old Dominion Athletic Conference)
Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) Expenses  
Published Tuition and Fees:
 $ 28,635    
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads:
 $ 27,960    
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads:
 $ 675    
Financial Aid Avg. Amount Received % of Students Receiving Aid  
Federal Grants:
 $ 3,264 3%  
State and Local Grants:
 $ 2,249 14%  
Institutional Grants:
 $ 19,987 34%  
Student Loans:
 $ 3,966 21%  
Any Aid:
   58%  

Selectivity (Undergraduate Only)

Acceptance Rate: 29% (Most Selective)
Test Scores  
SAT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting SAT Scores: 80%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Verbal: 660, Math: 660
Top 75th Percentile: Verbal: 730, Math: 720

Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)

Application Fee: $ 40.00
Formal Demonstration of Competencies: Recommended
High School Diploma or Equivalent: Recommended
High School GPA: Required
High School Rank: Not Required
High School Record: Required
Recommendations: Recommended
TOEFL: Recommended
Test Scores: Required

College Advice

Yahoo
Rnewyorker
Rnewyorker

Question: Help me chose which college to go?

Wellesley College UVA Washington & Lee University Want to pursuit career in i-banking, businss or finance field after graduation
22 months ago
Kathy
Kathy

Best Answer

washington
Rnewyorker
Rnewyorker

Question: Is Washington and Lee University a highly respected school in South?

How good is It? Is it at the same level as Bates, Colby or Bowdoin?
22 months ago
xo379
xo379

Best Answer

Yes, it is respected, both in the South and the North (though more in the South) A lot of people haven't heard of it, this is true, but a lot of people also haven't heard of Davidson or Pomona--two very prestigious colleges. It's not on the same level as Bowdoin...it's ranked right around Colgate, Hamilton, Vassar...ranked behind Bowdoin and ahead of Colby and Bates.
Avon
Avon

Question: College ranking?

Please list the following schools in the order from best to worst. Just do what you think off the top of your head, no need for research. If you have never heard of one of them, just leave it our of the list. They are listed randomly below: Sewanee: The University of the South Wesleyan University Davidson College Washington & Lee University
34 months ago
kered628
kered628

Best Answer

Washington & Lee University (Good school for studying and partying alike) Davidson College (Overall good college with strong academics, accesible profs, and a smooth collegate experience) The University of the South Sewanee (Beautiful Campus) Wesleyan U (Very Liberal)
tickledpink11111
tickled...

Question: Should I apply early decision to Washington and Lee University?

It's perfect! I'm preppy, used to live in VA, love community service, LOOOOVE good 'ole southern hospitality, believe manners are very important. It's a great match!
36 months ago
allegra
allegra

Best Answer

I don't know. I wouldn't really recommend early decision to anyone because I don't understand its benefits. Anyway, I had to comment 'cause my 60-year-old thesis advisor (I'm in grad school in Minnesota) taught for some years at Washington and Lee back in the day. He said the students there were significantly more motivated and talkative than the goofy Minnesotans he now teaches. Good luck with it. Community service will definitely get your application some consideration. :o)

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Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA 24450
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