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Thoughts re how many and how they adjust to Midwest/St.Louis are appreciated.

By Leftcoast (Leftcoast) on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 06:10 pm: Edit

bump

By Jpmom (Jpmom) on Monday, August 30, 2004 - 02:56 am: Edit

We live in Orange County (the OC). We just got back from dropping off my son at Wash U. It was my first visit to St. Louis and I have to say I was so impressed with the campus and surrounding area. I feel really good about the experience he's going to have. The Parent Orientation lasted 3 days. We left on Friday, but there were orientation meetings and receptions on Saturday too. The orientation for students goes until Tuesday and includes advisement sessions.

We made it to the Loop for dinner. We went to Brentwood for shopping. It had everything we could have hoped for: Bed, Bath and Beyond, Target, Best Buy, and even a Trader Joe's is being built. There's a large mall called the Galleria that has many department stores. Wash U has shuttles that go to all the shopping areas. Clayton, the area around Wash U is a beautiful, upscale residential area.

As far as adjusting to St. Louis, my son was having a great time despite some very hot and humid weather. Most of the students are from the Chicago area or back East. My son is the only Californian we came across. The kids and parents we met were very nice. I think it will be a good match for him. The kids are bright, but not intense. The chancellor said 90% of this year's freshmen came from the top 5% of their classes.

I had heard very good things about how nice everyone is and I'd have to agree. I was very happy with the friends my son has made so far. They're smart and down to earth.

By Map (Map) on Monday, August 30, 2004 - 09:00 am: Edit

I just returned from dropping off my daughter at Wash U and want to second the positive sentiments expressed by Jpmom. I was very pleased by the organized, warm welcome extended to both parents and students at orientation and by the friendliness of everyone I encountered both at Wash U and in the surrounding community. My daughter seems extremely happy, despite being sweaty and sleep-deprived.

Since we are from New England, I wasn't on the alert to noticing how many students were from California. Nevertheless, I met at least a half dozen Californians in my very limited sample. The geographic distribution on my daughter's dorm floor was pretty varied (including two international students), reflecting the president's remarks that every state except Wyoming is represented in the freshman class.

By Missmolly (Missmolly) on Monday, August 30, 2004 - 11:39 am: Edit

I too just got back from dropping off my son at Wash U. I loved the school, and the orientation for students and parents was was wonderful. The convocation was also well done....As a parent, it felt good leaving my son to the care of Wash U.
Wash U deserves its grest reputation!!!!

By Missmolly (Missmolly) on Monday, August 30, 2004 - 11:48 am: Edit

Thoughts about adjusting to the midwest. I think there is such a wide variety of students, from all over, at Wash U that adjusting to the midwest will be easy for the west coast students. The midwest is a bit more conservative than the west, but midwesterners are really quite nice. I speak from experience because I moved to St. Louis from Oregon many years ago, and now I live in Des Moines, Iowa.