Washington University in St. Louis Reviews

"Washington University in St. Louis altered the course of my life. The community of diverse students enriched my view of the world and connected me to friends, mentors, and teachers that make up a strong support system even after graduating from the undergraduate program. The community at WashU is unique, because everyone is there to challenge themselves academically. However; what sets it apart is the collaborative work environment. Everyone is there to pursue truth and knowledge, they are open-minded, and want to know you "by name and story". The student resources at WashU are extensive, from fantastic residential college dorms to on-campus gym facilities, world-renowned research buildings and outstanding faculty exposure.Read Less"

"Don't expect a 5 star review from me. Online students are treated MUCH differently. If you're looking for an online graduate program, stay far away from this school; their online process is a nightmare. After receiving an acceptance letter I went through the "process" of receiving pertinent login information in order to register for classes, view/pay a tuition bill, etc. I received all of this information in the middle of the first week of class!! (Another reviewer has labeled this as "political" - if that's what you want to name it to sugar coat the craziness, so be it. The school's admissions office, student advising office and financial aid office lack communication. You are assigned a "team" that will hound you during the first registration into your cohort - by hound, I mean call incessantly. Be aware, these phone calls aren't meant to actually see how your classes are going, but intended to ensure you're locked into a deficient and frustrating online program. For online students, the school's financial aid office will not release ANY information regarding your portion of payment. They do not release information regarding scholarships you may be eligible for, or point you in a direction to apply for scholarships. They do not release information regarding student loans and whether you've been awarded a financial aid package until AFTER you have shown your commitment to the school by registering for classes. Even after this point, you are left in the dark. There is an apparent issue with transparency and accountability! After thorough digging, I discovered the school, in all departments combined, had more that 1,800 complaints in the 2017-2018 school year for IT support related incidents. This is ridiculous! And they couldn't even get my account unlocked after 45 days of not being able to register, on my own, for classes. It's a very frustrating process. I would highly recommend considering an alternative to Washington University. I selected a program only to discover that in comparison to their peers, they're not appropriately ranked. Perhaps the school itself has been ranked #19 (by what metrics?) but I assure you this program needs to up the ante. If you're looking for an MLS, consider these other options: Arizona State University-Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law Master of Legal Studies California Southern University Master of Science in Law California University of Pennsylvania Master of Legal Studies Drexel University Thomas L. Kline School of Law Master of Legal Studies Purdue University Global Master of Legal Studies Loyola University Chicago-School of Law Beazly Institute for Health Law and Policy Master's of Jurisprudence Michigan State University-College of Social Science School of Criminal Justice Master of Science Degree in Judicial Administration Pepperdine Law Master of Legal Studies Seton Hall University School of Law Master of Science in Jurisprudence University of Dayton School of Law Master of Studies in Law University of Illinois-Springfield Legal Studies Master’s USC Gould School of Law Master of Studies in Law Wake Forest University School of Law Master of Studies in Law West Virginia University School of Law Master of Science in Legal StudiesRead Less"

"WashU is an incredible place to meet smart, driven students and to learn from top tier professors. The business program does a fantastic job preparing you for a career, and focuses on opportunities to create local impact. The curriculum is diverse and the University does a great job bringing in guest speakers and partnering with local business to provide experiential opportunities. The facilities are top-notch and you will have every resource available to succeed. The only area that could be improved is career services. Relative to other schools with similar rankings and prestige, the career service does not offer as robust opportunities for on-campus recruiting. While some top banks and consulting firms recruiting there, WashU is less of a target school for recruiting than schools that are in the same "peer-group". While opportunities are still readily available the career services should push to become a target school for more prestigious opportunities to catch up with other schoolsRead Less"

"Overall I had a great experience at Washington University in St. Louis (Wash U). I started my bachelor's degree as a civil engineer and eventually switched to the business school in my sophomore year. In the civil engineering department, the first semester was very structured in that there was no flexibility to take courses outside the core requirements. I did not enjoy this because the reason I had chosen the civil engineering major was due to its design aspect which was a course not offered until senior year. It was this reason that led me to change my major to finance and international business in the Olin School of Business. Overall, this was a better experience but in hindsight I think the business school would have been more practical if I had pursued an MBA instead of a BSBA (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration) degree. The classes were too theoretical and did not provide many real-life case studies or hints into the real world environment. Other than the business school, I enjoyed taking courses in other departments. I took a course called History of American Cinema which was a mixture of American history and the film industry. I still remember it to this day and it helped me connect major occurrences and political events to specific movies such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and Top Gun. Another awesome class I took was in the art history department. Cubism was a very specific, niche course dedicated to the Cubism art movement. Classes like these helped me broaden my interests which I think is especially important as an undergraduate student.Read Less"

"The Performing Arts Department offers many opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in Drama, Dance, Design/Technology, and Film. Over the past two decades, the film department has grown considerably. The coursework is designed for a liberal arts education, but each discipline has several upper-level classes which are done conservatory-style. In addition to two dance shows, one musical, and several plays, student groups such as All-Student Theatre and Thyrsus create their own productions. Student may also take advantage of studying Acting and Directing Shakespearean Text for three weeks at the Globe Theatre in London. Master classes with artists such as Jane Lapotaire, Anne Bogart, and Zoe Caldwell occur frequently on campus. Projects allow designers, directors, and performers to learn leadership and collaboration skills.Read Less"

"First, I absolutely love WashU. Not only does it have an incredible family atmosphere, with incredibly smart and driven students, but is an incredible institution. I made a lot of my best friends while earning my bachelors and was able to take on multiple leadership roles across campus. The professors are world class and help you to succeed at whatever your career aspirations may be."

"WashU is a great school with great resources. Unfortunately, they perpetuate a lot of structural inequalities - they are active participants of gentrification and complicit in a lack of diversity in faculty and student body. However, they appear to be working on these issues. Also, although they were really helpful with financial aid situations, the student body overall is extravagant and ignorant to these issues, which can make experience here as a low-income student lonely. I think the Anthropology department has a lot of really fascinating faculty who are eager to work with students, and I can't imaging choosing a different major.Read Less"

"the blend of theory and practical knowledge plays a vital role in the field of architectural education. I believe this is a perfect place to study architecture among some of the finest professors in the country. I believe this school is a blend of old-school teaching techniques of hand make basswood models with the modern era of 3D printing. I have had opportunities to work in Italy and India. I find that I have been given a good amount of knowledge and the confidence to work and face the real world.Read Less"

"This was a wonderful place to go to business school. I was surrounded by bright motivated students and taught by brilliant and engaging professors. It doesn't hurt that the campus is beautiful as well!"

"The school was amazing. The engagement of the faculty was instrumental in me getting the most of my education."

"College is a worthwhile investment if you have an idea of what you want to do, which is hard to know at 18. Don't be afraid to take some time to figure out what you want before you dive into it."

"I returned to Washington University in St. Louis, Brown School of Social Work, after an initial career as an attorney. As a second-career student, a few key items were incredibly important to me, and motivated me to choose Brown. First, Brown is one of the top programs in the country, and while ranking does not always translate into a quality education, I knew that there were strong leaders in my chosen areas of study (clinical mental health) and other sub-areas of interest. Being a top university also meant that Brown was able to provide me with greater financial assistance than any other school to which I had been offered admission. I also appreciated that, despite the fact that I could not make admitted students weekend, the Admissions Office went above and beyond to ensure I could get a personalized visit and have all my questions answered before making my final decision to attend the school. This personalized attention and willingness to meet with students by Brown administrators, particularly the Financial Aid Office and Career Services, has continued now as a student. That being said, because Washington University is a top research institution, there are certain professors who seem to focus more on their research than on their teaching, but overall I feel these are in the minority. Most professors I have had thus far have been willing to meet and make themselves available to address student needs and concerns. While not actually relevant to the education itself, it is also worth noting that the facilities, particularly the newly constructed Hillman building, provide for a nice atmosphere in which to learn, work, and study. A key area that should be highlighted is the school's Office of Field Education. There have been a number of changes in the OFE over the last year, and their process has gotten better in terms of communication with students and preparation for field education. Generally, you can get the support you need, but will have to use self-advocacy, research, and management of your field education as the office works out some of its prior challenges and revises its processes to better serve students.Read Less"

"WashU is a very prestigious college set on a beautiful campus. The quality of life is high with incredible dorms and unparalleled food choices, and the courses will set you up for a successful career in the future."

"The school is amazing. The fact that it is a private school means there is quite a bit more in funds than you'll find in a public school. If you are going to pay tuition though, that might not be the best idea."

"I loved my school and got an excellent education. I would recommend it to anyone looking to get their Master's in Social Work."

"Washington University in St. Louis overall is a great school. Just like any place there are politics and you just have to be aware of this."

"Choose your advisor very carefully. Ask for a list of most recent publications or check sci-finder. Demand to know what your face-time with that advisor will be and what their process is for writing papers. I think this program has the potential to be quite good, and I have oscillated between being satisfied and very disappointed with my experience. I have never felt like the department was particularly cohesive - there are groups that certainly don't get along. Choose your advisor very, very carefully.Read Less"

"An amazing school with great support for its students. They constantly work to make sure that students are supported and afforded all of the opportunities to have an incredible undergraduate experience. I would not be who I am today if I had gone anywhere else."

"WashU was a fantastic school to connect with classmates who pushed me to challenge my beliefs. As a premed student, my classes prepared me well for the MCAT and for medical school (I am currently a medical student). Most professors were very eager to support their students and provided outside support when needed."

"I have been thrilled with my experience at Wash U's Olin Business School. Classes have been challenging and growth oriented, professors have been caring and insightful, and the administration has been focused on raising the ranking of the Business School. When I arrived at the university I had quite a few special needs that the school quickly and without push back accommodated. I would recommend anyone interested in business or finance give the Olin Business School at Washington University a serious consideration.Read Less"