Washington University in St. Louis Reviews

"Pros: Good school with many resources, including talented and knowledgeable faculty and staff. Cons: even with so much resources, the school does not help students grow in a personal level."

"The ability to specialize and individualize is a great benefit. I particularly appreciate the growing number of internationally focused classes that are being offered. Students are active in the life of the school to enhance our peer learning. I think my biggest complaint has been the quality of some of the adjunct instructors I've had. I'm paying top dollar for this education and I expect good quality in my classes."

"The feild education office is the weakest department within this program. This will cause your grades to not be turned in on time and the associated paperwork to be a much bigger burden than it has to be. In order to finish this program by May of your second year, you will be stressed ALL THE TIME. If you can, complete your concentration practicum in the summer after graduation. The best part about this school is the dean and faculty really care about the students."

"The graduate program in Occupational Therapy is great and is well rounded and the faculty wants you to succeed. It is a bit intimidating, though, and there is a new curriculum and not sure the kinks have been worked out yet."

"WashU is a very competitive and also expensive graduate program. The physical therapy program is great and once you are accepted, the competition ceases and the class becomes very cohesive. The faculty is always available for assistance."

"Great School. Great People. Great Neighborhood."

"With its generous financial aid policy, Wash U is one of the best values in legal education. The faculty is one of the best respected faculties in the business and has some real advocates for reform in legal education. St. Louis is one of the most affordable cities in the developed words. It still has everything you might want (except Zara or IKEA, for some reason...) Teachers are accessible if you reach out to them and seem universally happy to befriend students and help them with their career searches. Socially, the school is wonderful. Wash U is competitive, but not cutthroat. I have never had someone refuse to share their notes for a class. The students have a communitarian, we're-all-in-this-together kind of approach. We don't go out of our way to compare grades and tend to shun those people who enjoy bragging about them. There are at least two SBA-sponsored social events a week that support this culture. The three drawbacks I can think of are diversity, transportation, and career services. Wash U is not as diverse as other law schools. I attribute this to the difficulty of attracting minority students to a Midwestern city. That doesn't mean you'll be the only member of your minority group on campus. It just means there isn't a large LALSA group, for example. As an LGBT student, sometimes I feel as though it would be nice to have more LGBT students, but I certainly feel welcome here. The second is transportation. As public transit goes, Wash U is about as well served as it could be in St. Louis. Wash U Law is on St. Louis's light rail 'network' and is served by a bus line as well. Other busses are available five minutes away on the other side of campus. That said, public transit tends to limit where you can live. It might actually be cheaper to have a car. The vast majority of students have cars, but several do not. You can make it work. People will offer you more rides than you know what to do with. Finally, our Career Services office seems to be in a moment of transition, although things are getting better. If you go to Wash U, be prepared to put substantial effort into your career search. Our CSO is best used as a sounding board that can tell you what ideas you may be leaving out. That said, more employers seem to be joining our On-campus interviewing process each year, so things are looking up."

"The instructors are available via email whenever I have a question. University College is open late to accommodate for those students who aren't able to call or visit the office during normal business hours."

"Pros: fantastic reputation, affordable city, great stipend, non-competitive environment once you get in. Cons: Some classes can be an afterthought for the research oriented professors who teach them,"

"Pros: The PT program provides the one of the best educations in the country, the clinical experiences start right away, guest experts speak Cons: St. Louis is not the safest place to live, you stay in one classroom for a year"

"I love Wash U and I am incredibly happy with my graduate school program choice!"

"I've found Brown School faculty to be very accessible. My professors have shown interest in my academic and professional development. The school is dedicated to creating a cohort of social workers with the knowledge and skills to be effective and innovative leaders."

"Being part of a big University and an interdisciplinary MFA Program offers endless occasions to learn and develop. Graduate students are provided with all the theoretical, critical, technical and human resources necessary to push their art work forward. Professors and Lecturers are very demanding, but also available for help. They are open to new ideas and ready to support projects coming from the students. The art critiques are challenging, inspiring. The University Libraries are huge, they can cover any need, and the librarians are absolutely helpful. Also, Video and Photo equipment is rich and easily accessible. TAing is encouraged, and this offers a further enrichment to the graduate experience. Overall, the experience at WashU is invaluable. Many people, included me, found their true voice in art during the MFA Program. The drawback of this Program is that very little help is offered in searching for a career after graduation. Many graduates have founded it difficult to earn a living, and they had to compromise with day jobs that are way below the intellectual and economical efforts that the Art Program requested them for two, unforgettable years."

"Outstanding program which well deserves its rating as the top graduate program for social work in the US. Programs for mental health, social and economic development, and administration all are very strong. Faculty and staff is committed to student success (no grading on a curve that I've noted, so it's not unusual for an entire class to receive As and Bs). School has a 97% graduation rate. Only con to the program is that it could stand more diversity."

"Excellent medical education with faculty who are committed to us learning how to best care for patients. My classmates are some of the greatest people in the world - competent, compassionate, and fun to be around. Coming from the East Coast, I didn't expect to like St. Louis as much as I do - actually a wonderful place to be a medical student"

"WUSM is a great school and the biggest academic challenge I have ever faced. The students are intelligent and motivated. The faculty are talented and leaders in their fields. St. Louis is centrally located (so it's easy to fly anywhere domestically) and a friendly environment. There are always improvements that can be made in academic institutions, but WUSM seems willing to meet these challenges."

"Great Med school that, like most, have its pros and cons. Pros: academic and research focused with ample opportunity to easily participate in research, even if for the first time. The hospital docs have a strong evidence-based approach and there is a general cognizance of the current literature. Associated hospital ranked this year 5th. Faculty/Administration is very supportive and encouraging of a diversity of career paths and well as diversity among the medical students themselves; LGBTQ friendly. A fair number take a year off for research/other progrmas, and a decent percentage of the class is Md/PhD already, with opportunity for a few to enter the Md/PhD program after 1st year. Cons: Less focus and opportunities for primary care, save Peds/OB/Gyn. The first two years of classes can become a little esoteric at times with some faculty going on about research or nuisances that is not appropriate for that stage in learning, and some lecturers are here because they are good at research or in their field, but not teaching. Hence, self-motivated learners that can sometimes teach themselves would do better here. Associate hospital Barnes Jewish is a large tertiary center and you see a variety of interesting things, which is a pro, but it doesn't have the same volume and diversity as say a hospital in Miami, NY City, or LA would have, which may be good or bad. The city St Louis itself can be pro and con. It isn't the largest city, and some feel as though the social opportunities are lacking, but the city is in general cheaper to live and play in, and there are many gems to be found such as the symphony. Overall it is a great institution for self-motivated students seeking an education that is very research and evidence based centered. It is a great institution in the center of the US that attracts students from all parts of the US and outside countries, which makes for diverse classes."

"School is beautiful and people are nice in our school. I am trying to adapt myself to the new environment, but everything just makes it easy. I like being here."

"One of the strongest points of Wash U is that the graduate program really takes care of their students individually. Moreover, they do not neglect any issues that can help graduate students' career (ex. Lab safety, career counseling). The financial support of school is fabulous, and you will feel it as you enter the school."

"WashU is a good place to be. The faculty and resources are great, and the education is excellent. My housing/food services rating only applies to the med campus, which is a bit lacking in those areas."