For the love of art.
The Senior show for Studio Art majors is up in the Staniar Gallery in Wilson Hall in the Lenfest Center of the Arts, and let me tell you, it is incredible! The works of five Senior students are featured, and the mediums vary from photography to painting to sculpture and ever video art. For students who live in the C-School or the Science Center, getting over to the Lenfest Center is not a daily event. But the short walk over is definitely worth the effort to see the exhibition!
Taking a deep breath (or two)
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is facing a hard battle.”
You will find Plato’s inspiring words on each of our Peer Counselor posters across campus. I love seeing this quote around the hill, whether I’m walking into the fitness center or grabbing coffee in the co-op. With end-of-the-semester stress levels cranking up, this quote couldn’t be more appropriate.
I hope all of the high school seniors out there will take Plato’s words to heart. While many of you may be over-the-moon with excitement over your college acceptance(s), some of your friends and peers may be disappointed or unsure of what to do next. Should I keep my name on the waiting list? Should I go ahead and pay the deposit for the school I wasn’t originally that interested in? Unfortunately, there’s no right answer to these questions. But the reason that there’s no correct answer is because this is your college decision. Up until this point, you might have been like me. Your parents enrolled you in a prep school since before you could add or subtract, and there you have stayed until your senior year. But now, you get to decide where you go next, where you will live, make life-long friends, and pursue your passions.
No pressure, right? My point exactly. For the students who got into their first choice schools and have already adorned their car with their college bumper sticker, congratulations! It’s an incredible feeling, and you’ve earned it! But don’t forget to be considerate of your friends and peers who will be weighing their options these next few weeks. For the students in this boat, take a deep breath.
Now take a deep breath again. Because if you’re like me, you ignore this phrase every time you hear it because your mother has said it to you so many times that you automatically roll your eyes instead of actually doing it. There’s no rush to make your decision. I know you’re dying to change your facebook status to where you’ll be attending college this fall, but this will come in due time. If there was ever a time when patience is a virtue, this is it. For right now, contact any friends you might have at the schools you’re considering. Ask them questions about everything from their favorite courses to the dorm situation. Explore the university’s website. (I continue to discover more about W&L each time I visit the good ol’ wlu.edu!) And if you can, visit the campus. Immersing yourself in the environment will give you the best answer.
And just to keep the inspiring words coming, remember that “life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” (Apologies to any of the athletes out there rolling their eyes. Don’t worry, my tennis coach loved to remind me of this one!) Bottom line, no matter which college or university you attend, it’s up to you, and only you, to make the most of it…which I know you will! Good luck!
Wait List Advice
With the month of March coming to a close and admission decision letters out in the mail, I’m sure there are a number of students with questions about being offered a spot on the waiting list. I know that it was disappointing news to hear, but the reality is that we receive too many applications each year, so while we think many of the applications we read would make great students at W&L, there are only so many acceptances we can offer each spring.
First off, I should make it very clear that in many ways the academic profiles of the students we admitted and the students we wait listed are quite similar. Case in point, the average ACT was exactly the same, 31.
So, what happens now? Tony made a great post a couple of years ago, so be sure to check that out for some advice.
As an update for this year, we normally do not recommend that students on the waiting list make visits to campus to try to plead their case for admission. In part, this is due to the busy nature of April and the fact that current students will be in exams or on break. Also, it is much more efficient to write a letter to your counselor detailing your interest in W&L.
So, not getting admitted and being offered a spot on the waiting list…tough news, right? Absolutely, but you better believe that the reason all of us work in admissions is that we want to help you find your best fit for college, as place that you will love four years growing and learning. That may indeed end up being W&L (as many years we do take students off the waiting list, most likely in the month of May), but rest easy knowing that not matter where you end up this August/September, with the right attitude, I promise you will find success. Please feel free to send your counselor an email to let us know about your interest.
Nice one, Washington Post!
Jonathan just forwarded on an excellent article from The Washington Post, detailing how college visits don’t have to be cookie cutter. I’d recommend checking out the article for yourself, but I thought it appropriate to take a moment this morning to give visitors some tips based on the major points put forth in the article.
Quality, not quantity – Many students visiting W&L seem to be either on the way to or coming from our big brother up in Charlottesville, so I’d encourage you to spend either an afternoon/evening or evening/morning in Lexington. If you can make it a full day, even better! Experiencing a morning fog here in town or taking in a double-feature at Hull’s Drive-In can be pretty unique!
Plan ahead – There are various weekends when things book up quickly around town, mainly do to events at the Virginia Horse Center or special weekends at W&L or VMI. April is an odd month for us as the first week is the last week of classes, the second week is exams, the third week students are gone from campus and the fourth week is the start of Spring Term.
Research, research, research – @wluadmissions and @georgeandbob are good starting points on Twitter with Admissions, but our University Communications office really does an excellent job in keeping up with what is going on around campus on this News & Media page.
Do it on a student budget – Pure Eats is a student favorite dining option in town, along with Blue Sky Bakery. I’m also a huge fan of the E. Cafe at the Hillel House.
Ditch your parents – Mom and dad, check out some of the local flavor.
Stay somewhere cool – We don’t arrange overnight visits for students until they are admitted, but odds are there is someone here from your high school or hometown, so get right into the Speaking Tradition to get in touch with a friend or make a new one!
Work out on-site – I teach a spin class every Wednesday at 5pm as a part of Group Exercise, but being Foursquare mayor of the Fitness Center, I can attest that there is good equiptment here. Also, ask someone about the Woods Creek Trail, Chessie Trail and cross country trails on the back part of campus.
Avoid trouble – I tell students all the time…make positive life choices.
Bag the souvenir t-shirt – I’m sure the bookstore would have something different to say about this, but if making a purchase to support the economy and remember your visit is important, why not visit one of the interesting shops in town?
Hope this helps a little with anyone planning to visit campus in the coming weeks and months! I’m expecially happy the the weather has started to warm up a bit and for anyone visiting this summer, I’ll put in a shameless plug for the Fridays Alive concerts that the Jaycees, a community service organization I’m a part of, puts on each year.
An Affair in Red Square
Can you believe it? Tomorrow night marks W&L’s 105th Fancy Dress ball! The FD committee has been hard at work since last September, and it’s all about to pay off! Since they revealed the Russian theme, “An Affair in Red Square,” two weeks ago, the campus has been all abuzz. Lots of girls have been trying on the dresses they ordered from the popular website, Rent the Runway, seeing if they want to “go long” or “go short” since both cocktail and floor-length dresses are appropriate. Tuxedos have been flying out of Alvin-Dennis for the guys renting their Saturday evening attire. Many students have made dinner reservations at local favorites like Southern Inn, the Bistro on Main, and brix for tomorrow night before they head to the Warner Center for the grand ball. Students (both undergraduate and law students), faculty, and alumni will dress to the nines tomorrow night for the grand “Affair in Red Square.” This is truly an event that brings the W&L entire community together. I always loved hearing about the annual Fancy Dress ball from my grandfather, who graduated from W&L in 1951, so I cannot wait to give him the full report on my third Fancy Dress experience on Sunday!
Tony
jratzel
Robert
vmama
Jonathan
Sarah
Camie
Chris
Ali
