We get it. The college search
process is overwhelming. How do you choose the right school for you? Ultimately it comes down to confidence — confidence that your college choice will not simply prepare you for a dynamic future, but also transform your path. At Washington and Lee, we have a long tradition of educating smart, ambitious students who have the ability and the desire to make a difference in the world. The paths our students take are varied, and they are rarely straight or narrow. But they are all shaped by our common commitment to a few big ideas.
Education is not a spectator sport.
#1
History is a great teacher.
Few colleges are older than the nation itself. W&L is. Since our founding in 1749, the world has seen some major changes. The boring machine (which is more interesting than it sounds). The telegraph. The iPhone. Trains, planes and automobiles. What’s our point? What we’ve learned over time is how the world keeps changing. Society is complex. W&L has been mindful — and intentional — about preparing problem solvers, leaders and citizens for almost 270 years.
A world-class education extends far beyond the walls of the classroom. Our students’ passions are wideranging. At W&L we reward ambition with opportunity, both in and out of the classroom. Dive deep into a single topic — in Lexington or abroad — during our immersive, four-week Spring Term. Spend a summer conducting research with a professor, and be prepared to go to New Zealand, Belize or Denmark to do so. Manage $10 million of the university’s endowment in the stock market. Host your own art exhibition. Captain the soccer team. Chair a Mock Convention state delegation. Take center stage in a musical. Lead an orientation trip hiking the Appalachian Trail. Help a local nonprofit improve its business. Get off the sidelines. Get in the game.
STUDYING THE LIBERAL ARTS PREPARES YOU FOR ANYTHING.* Town criers. Switchboard operators. Milkmen. The careers of the past are different from those of today. And future careers? Who knows? But rather than prepare you for a specific job, your liberal arts education prepares you for life. What makes W&L’s approach to the liberal arts different? Perspective. As in, the more perspectives the better. Our programs in business, journalism and law were among the first in the United States, and they are an essential part of our curriculum whose relevance has never been greater. So at W&L, you will study the professions alongside the liberal arts. Think humanities, languages, science and math. Throw in ethics, poverty studies and entrepreneurship. Ideas come first. Connections are made. You can choose from 69 majors and minors across the
curriculum and tailor your education to your interests. And regardless of what you study at W&L, you’ll develop versatile skills — like analysis, reasoning and communication — that prepare you not only for a first job after college, but also to make an impact in our world. *Except maybe encounters with bears. But our Outing Club does offer a wilderness survival course.
#4
THE WORLD IS YOUR CLASSROOM.
A modern education demands a global perspective, and international education is integral to the W&L experience. Attend a Japanese tea ceremony in our on-campus tea room. Participate in a year-long interdisciplinary symposium on borders and their human impact. Learn Arabic. Study the science of cooking in Italy (really). Excavate ruins in Athens. Intern at an NGO in India. Partner with an international student on a summer service project in his or her home country. You’ll find an abundance of opportunities here, and the resources to support them are readily available. Just bring your passport and an open mind.
Community matters. When we talk about community, we mean it in all senses of the word. The Outing Club. The chemistry lab. The Campus Kitchen. The sorority house. The Sustainability House. The IQ Center. The natatorium. Hillel House. Students quickly find their home on campus. In fact, they often find many homes. Our students are service-minded, and many are involved locally through volunteer work and community-based research. Their work in Lexington makes a real difference for our neighbors and provides hands-on experience and invaluable perspective for post-graduate lives.
Speaking of post-graduate lives, W&L’s alumni community is engaged and loyal. Our 30,000 graduates live around the world, and they will be eager to help you get your start in whatever city, country or career you choose.
Honor is a modern value. We are a community of individuals with diverse opinions and backgrounds. Our student-run Honor System is the common thread that connects us and creates a trusting environment where a thoughtful exchange of
#7
THE SKY IS THE LIMIT.
Our faculty are world-class scholars, and they have a passion for teaching. Our students are busy leaders, artists, athletes and volunteers, and they are here for a world-class education. Our graduates are Ph.D.s and M.D.s. Rhodes Scholars and Fulbright winners. Teachers and researchers. Community activists and corporate executives. Entrepreneurs and innovators.
ideas is the norm rather than the exception. When you leave here, you’ll do so with a well-honed sense of personal integrity that will continue to guide your actions and distinguish you as a graduate of Washington and Lee.
Our faculty and staff are invested in your success. Our alumni network opens doors around the globe. And our generous financial aid guarantees to meet the demonstrated need of all students, without loans, so that you can graduate debt free. At W&L, you’ll work harder than ever, and you’ll have the support and encouragement to succeed in whatever you choose to do.
Washington and Lee University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran’s status, or genetic information in its educational programs and activities, admissions, and with regard to employment. See complete statement at go.wlu.edu/eeo.
your
visit
Come and see our big ideas in action. A visit to campus can go a long way to learning whether Washington and Lee is right for you. As a bonus, you’ll discover the vibrant college town of Lexington and the beauty of the Shenandoah Valley. You may never want to leave. Schedule your visit at go.wlu.edu/visit QUESTI O N S? CALL T HE OFFICE OF A D M ISSION S AT ( 5 4 0 ) 4 5 8 - 87 1 0 O R E M A I L A D M I SS I O N S @ W LU. E D U.
204 W. Washington St. | Lexington, VA 24450-2116
1,850 UNDERGRADUATES
from
48
U.S. states and territories
52
countries of student citizenship
8:1 69 PASS
77,000+ annual hours of service by students
24
Varsity athletic teams
:
Financial aid awards include
student-tofaculty ratio
majors and minors
$0LOANS 93%
OF GRADUATES employed full time or in grad school within six months of graduation
60% 1,250 students who study abroad
courses offered
4-4-1
MAY
calendar with immersive four-week Spring Term
admissions.wlu.edu