Academics
Washington & Jefferson College is a small school known for its “academic rigor” and “prestigious reputation.” In addition to two conventional semesters, the college also features a unique two-week intercession period in January, which allows for “focused learning on a topic that is often much different than something … offered during a semester, including travel and topics of specific interest to professors.” Students feel that there is a very “open learning environment,” and that “as the class levels increase, so does the amount of open discussion.” The professors “want the students to learn” and “are willing to meet with students at any point to discuss how to better their education.” “They are very knowledgeable and are very accessible outside of class,” and personal connections with professors “oftentimes leads to internships or research projects” for undergraduate students. In general, the college is excellent at providing students with ample opportunities to prepare for their futures. It boasts “a great reputation for graduate school preparation” and has an “impeccable record at placing students in medical, graduate, and law schools.” Additionally, there are “so many opportunities with alumni relations.” The study abroad office is also excellent, and there are “tons of grants to do a research project abroad or to do internships across the U.S” or overseas with funding from the Magellan Project.
Student Body
At Washington & Jefferson, “while every student is generally friendly and will help you, interaction between different kinds of people is still limited and at times, the student body can be cliquish,” and some describe the average student as a “white upper middle class Republican Christian,” although there is a “growing number of international students.” While many students are “truly good, smart, open-minded people,” there are “a few religious bigots who are rich and feel elite.” Some feel that the overall vibe trends toward students who are “athletic, sporty, smart,” “well-off financially,” and “relatively preppy.” However, students are also noted for being very social, as well as “extremely friendly and helpful.” The typical student at W&J is focused on his or her course work; he or she is “also involved outside of the classroom in clubs, athletics, Greek Life, or one of a variety of other things the school has to offer.” The students here “have a common goal to be successful in life,” and with this goal in mind, everyone works together to form a tight-knit community and “gets along pretty well.”
Campus Life
Life at Washington & Jefferson College is a “good balance of schoolwork, athletics, and fun.” The “beautiful, small campus” is home to a “friendly, warm,” “family-like environment,” where the emphasis is placed on the well-being of the students. It is “easy to get involved and be active in campus organizations.” Students “study hard during the week, but party hard on the weekends,” however, the school also “provides multiple activities over the weekends— especially for students who do not drink.” “There are always music, art, speakers, and events” on campus. Some students complain, “There needs to be more to do on campus on the weekends”; and the school is trying to respond to this demand by “working hard to produce more student activities, such as bringing in great bands for concerts.” A few students also feel that the Greek life on campus is a bit too prevalent. Some students suggest that Washington & Jefferson’s home city of Washington “isn’t ideal” for their desired getaways, but student services provides a shuttle to and from nearby Pittsburgh on the weekends, which can be “a great escape from the close-knit campus community.”
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