Wash U vs. Columbia: HELP!

[JemmyLegs]

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After two years of applying, then getting waitlisted x4, I finally got a call from Wash U two weeks ago. Yay! Last week, I zip uptown to Columbia to talk to Andrew Frantz, the dean of admissions, to set my mind at ease about giving up my spot on the waiting list there. Instead, he offers me admission right on the spot. Yikes!

While I am thrilled to have a decision to make, especially between two schools at which I'm sure I'd be happy, I am still freaking out about this decision.

If it weren't for the fact that it's in St. Louis, I think I'd jump on Wash U straight up. Having grown up on the East Coast and lived in Brooklyn for two years, though, it would be great to stay in NYC near friends & family. Also, not to be snobbish, but St. Louis strikes me as a bit of a cultural waste land. I'm very much into the music scene in NY and love a lot about the culture and the community.

Speaking of culture, though, I've heard some nasty (or at least negative) things about the student culture at Columbia. If anybody has any insight about either school, or about St. Louis, or about whether it even matters where a school is physically located, I'm all ears.

 

[Sparky Man]

Hey congratulations JemmyLegs! That's a great position to be in. Sounds like you would really like Columbia. If you would hate St. Louis, then definitely stay in NY. I'm going to Wash U. For me, St. Louis is more like the town I grew up in. I don't think getting an MD from Columbia is a step down from Wash U. Congrats again. I don't know abou the atmosphere at Columbia, but it seems really great at Wash U.

Sparky

 

[doc05]

if you want to stay in NY, go with Columbia. Regardless of what you might find as far as "student culture," remember that NY is one of those few places where you can do anything and go anywhere, which makes "student culture" irrelevant. That's probably not the case in St. Louis.

 

[tennisnr]

After two years of applying, then getting waitlisted x4, I finally got a call from Wash U two weeks ago. Yay! Last week, I zip uptown to Columbia to talk to Andrew Frantz, the dean of admissions, to set my mind at ease about giving up my spot on the waiting list there. Instead, he offers me admission right on the spot. Yikes!

While I am thrilled to have a decision to make, especially between two schools at which I'm sure I'd be happy, I am still freaking out about this decision.

If it weren't for the fact that it's in St. Louis, I think I'd jump on Wash U straight up. Having grown up on the East Coast and lived in Brooklyn for two years, though, it would be great to stay in NYC near friends & family. Also, not to be snobbish, but St. Louis strikes me as a bit of a cultural waste land. I'm very much into the music scene in NY and love a lot about the culture and the community.

Speaking of culture, though, I've heard some nasty (or at least negative) things about the student culture at Columbia. If anybody has any insight about either school, or about St. Louis, or about whether it even matters where a school is physically located, I'm all ears.

I'm from MO so take this with a grain of salt but regardless STL is not a bad city at all. There are many things to do and culturally it is not a wasteland. You have many things including the orchestra, fox theater, jazz clubs, etc.
Forest park is an incredibly awesome area to work out, relax, or anything else. STL is also a sports town as evidence by the Cardinal, Rams, and Blues fanatics. I'm not pushing WashU i'm just saying that you should take the cultural waste land idea out. Ofcourse no city can offer what NYC has but STL is still a great city to live and learn in for the next 4 years.

 

[emusibay]

Having attended Columbia as an undergrad and later as a graduate student up at the medical campus, I can attest to the undesirable student culture at the medical school. The main campus (undergrad, business, law), however, is much friendlier.

The faculty at P&S can also have rather large egos (some deservedly), and many do not know how to interact properly with students or even colleagues. Depending on your learning style, unsupportive students as well as faculty can effect your overall education. I, for example, learned a great deal while in the graduate program, but found it difficult to be happy in such an environment. Also, Washington Heights sucks, and you will spend a lot of time there. I have never been to Wash U, so I cannot give you a comparison.

Good luck!

 

[SarahGM]

After two years of applying, then getting waitlisted x4, I finally got a call from Wash U two weeks ago. Yay! Last week, I zip uptown to Columbia to talk to Andrew Frantz, the dean of admissions, to set my mind at ease about giving up my spot on the waiting list there. Instead, he offers me admission right on the spot. Yikes!

While I am thrilled to have a decision to make, especially between two schools at which I'm sure I'd be happy, I am still freaking out about this decision.

If it weren't for the fact that it's in St. Louis, I think I'd jump on Wash U straight up. Having grown up on the East Coast and lived in Brooklyn for two years, though, it would be great to stay in NYC near friends & family. Also, not to be snobbish, but St. Louis strikes me as a bit of a cultural waste land. I'm very much into the music scene in NY and love a lot about the culture and the community.

Speaking of culture, though, I've heard some nasty (or at least negative) things about the student culture at Columbia. If anybody has any insight about either school, or about St. Louis, or about whether it even matters where a school is physically located, I'm all ears.

Hi there -- I'll be a second year at P&S. I've never noticed anything nasty, nor heard anything either, about our student culture. What's this about?

If anything, I'd say we have a really cohesive student culture. Many folks live on campus, and our many student organizations (Bard Hall Players, Rugby, Musician's Guild, Wine Tasting Society, Outdoors Club, etc) further allow students here to hang out w/ each other and get to know each other outside the classroom. Plus... we're pass/fail first year... so there's no throat cutting or anything like that.

 

[JemmyLegs]

There are many things to do and culturally it is not a wasteland.

Yeah, I know that characterization was harsh, but I was hoping it would get proponents of STL to stand up and defend it (Thanks!).

My impression is that the faculty and staff at Wash U are more willing to hold students' hands and provide a lot of structure and guidance, whereas P&S expects students to take initiative, do their own thing, and seek out opportunities on their own. In general, I think Wash U is a more student-oriented place. Does that sound right?

 

[chocolate-e]

Interesting how admission to Wash U sometimes seems to produce instantaneous admission from other waitlists.

 

[doozenberg]

Interesting how admission to Wash U sometimes seems to produce instantaneous admission from other waitlists.

so there are other instances of this wash u phenomenon occurring with other people? very interesting.

op- if your story is true, it's pretty amazing that you went from having nothing a year ago needing to reapply to having acceptances at two top-10 schools. congratulations man.

 

[JemmyLegs]

op- if your story is true, it's pretty amazing that you went from having nothing a year ago needing to reapply to having acceptances at two top-10 schools. congratulations man.

In the space of a week, no less. My head's still spinning. Thanks!