by Dave Best – Galin Education College Counselor
Located in Lexington, VA, Washington and Lee University was founded in 1749. This small private liberal arts school is named for two men who played pivotal roles in the University’s history: George Washington, whose generous endowment of $20,000 in 1796 helped the fledgling school (then known as Liberty Hall Academy) survive, and Robert E. Lee, who provided innovative educational leadership during his transformational tenure as president of Washington College from 1865 to 1870.
Academic
A Washington and Lee education combines the best aspects of both college and university life. Featuring small classes and close relationships with professors, students are free to choose from a variety of majors and minors and take advantage from a wide array of options usually found only at large universities.
W&L students all are enrolled in the College freshman year which is the home of twenty-one departments, four interdepartmental majors, and seven interdepartmental programs in the humanities, natural sciences, mathematics, computer science and in certain social sciences. Students may earn either the B.A. or B.S. degree in forty different majors, and may also pursue one or more of fifteen minor programs, including creative writing, Latin American and Caribbean studies, environmental studies, and museum studies.
The Ernest C. Williams School of Commerce, Economic, and Politics offers both a B.A. and a B.S. degree, with majors in business administration, business administration and accounting, public accounting, economics and politics. Within the major areas, students can design a program of study from over 85 courses offered and participate in a variety of co-curricular opportunities. Additionally, students majoring in other disciplines may take elective and/or general education requirement courses in the Williams School as a means of complementing their work in the arts, sciences, humanities and languages.
The most popular majors at W&L include management, accounting, economics and political science.
Social Life
Washington & Lee students come from 40 states and 11 foreign countries. About 14% of students are from Virginia, and the other top states are Texas and North Carolina. There are 21 national fraternities and sororities.
Washington and Lee offers 24 varsity sports, 12 for men and 12 for women. All sports compete at the NCAA Division III level, and most participate in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). This 14-team Virginia-based conference features schools such as Roanoke and Lynchburg.
Environment
Washington and Lee has a 430 acre rural campus and is in Lexington, Virginia. The campus is about three hours Southwest of Washington, DC and two hours west of a Richmond.
The Washington and Lee campus consists of about 415 acres in the city of Lexington and Rockbridge County. The academic campus of Washington and Lee contains many historic structures including the colonnade, Lee Chapel, and the Lee House where Robert E. Lee lived while president of Washington College. The chapel, colonnade and front campus are listed as a National Historic District. There are also two historic restoration gardens in front campus area. The developed part of the campus consists of approximately 90 acres traversed by Woods Creek and the Woods Creek Trail.
The back campus area of approximately 275 acres on the western side of the campus is mostly wooded. The ruins of Liberty Hall part of the predecessor Washington Academy is located there as well as the Campus Garden, the Fechnay Ropes Challenge Course, a disc golf course, back campus trails and 5, 6 and 8K cross country courses.
And one more thing…
A popular tradition at Washington & Lee is called the “Speaking Tradition.”
Simply put, you should say “hi” to people you pass around campus. It dates back to after the Civil War when General Lee was President of the school. He insisted that civility should prevail in our community.
However, between classes and at other busy times you don’t have to say “hi” 150 times on your way from one place to another. But at other times, participating in the Speaking Tradition is one of the little things that makes W&L a home away from home.
By the Numbers
Undergraduate Population: 1,854
Acceptance Rate: 24%
SAT / ACT (25/75 Percentile) scores: SAT (1330-1440), ACT (30-33)
Student-faculty ratio: 8:1
4-year graduation rate: 88%
US News Ranking: 11 National Liberal Arts Colleges (2017)
Tuition: $48,267 (2016-17)
