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Washington and Lee University, one of the oldest colleges in the country, has a longstanding tradition of giving students the "unique opportunity to customize my academic path," which one student declares a perfect example of how the school encourages an individualized and dynamic learning experience." W&L not only offers "some of the best educational opportunities," but it also provides ample "resources when it comes to studying abroad, conducting research, finding internships, and personal projects." The "career center is one of [the school's] strongest resources," along with the "elaborate alumni network of successful professionals that are enthusiastic to advise, recommend, and offer opportunities to current students." That support extends into the classroom with a student-to-faculty ratio that "is awesome. You get the chance to understand the concepts taught in class way better than in a huge lecture hall." It helps, too, that professors ""are so helpful and want to build genuine connections with their students,"" which also means that they ""like to see students succeed and push them academically." Many courses have a flipped classroom model: "Readings and assignments are completed before class so that class time is dedicated to peer discussions and clarification from the professor." In the much-loved four-week Spring Term, students take only one deep-dive course that affords students various opportunities as "often these courses involve travel, either domestically or abroad, and almost always include unique experimental opportunities." All this makes for a "very positive" overall academic experience, driven by "broad and interesting" class selections and professors who are "all very smart and interested in their subjects."

W&L is home to "a really talented group of friendly and respectful students." The university "has a way of making students come out of their shells," and "most people are very interested in specific topics, but end up well-rounded because of our liberal arts philosophy." As one student notes, "Many of my peers are creating combinations of majors I would never have thought of and pursuing careers that fit [a blend] of their interests, not just one." The honor system "is prevalent and impactful every day:" Students are responsible and "the school fosters a community of trust." Students at W&L "come from various socioeconomic backgrounds" and "are friendly and polite in a way that uniquely reflects Southern hospitality." The "say hey" tradition "is a vow we take to acknowledge the value in each and every person we see on and around campus," and most are "always excited to introduce you to whatever activities or events they are involved in." As one student sums up, "Everyone here is brilliant, and you'll likely never be the most intelligent person in any given class, which I think is a good thing."

The community and traditions at W&L "[make] our students eager to come back in the fall." These traditions include Mock Convention (a simulated presidential nomination every four years) and Fancy Dress Ball as particular highlights. "You can usually find [at least] three club-hosted events such as dances, dinners, university guests talks every month to attend," and "everything is open to everyone...you can walk into a room not knowing anyone, and know that someone is going to come introduce themselves and start a conversation." Many students "are greatly invested in Greek life," which "is so much more than a social sphere; rather, many people contribute to the philanthropy of their fraternity/ sorority and support their peers." The Outing Club is also popular, "they take you on hikes and backpacking to explore the beauty of the area." The region is known for its "beautiful mountains and trails" and "people love to get outside" and explore. Students also "like to spend time in the small town of Lexington, VA, and the cute local coffee shops or bookstores." As one student puts it, the school is "full of opportunities to get involved and stay busy, no matter what you're into."

Students at Washington and Lee University stand by what they were told when they first spoke with the school: “You’ll never be without a job.” With a high employment or continuing education placement of 96 percent, that’s largely accurate, and students credit the university for offering “many opportunities for one to explore their interests and find good career prospects.” One feature in particular that they highlight is the Career Fellows program, which helps students learn vital résumé, job search, and professional skills by doing: “It’s a great way to gain leadership experience while helping your peers.” The Office of Career and Professional Development (CPD) also gets top marks for being “amazing” and that it “really prepares students well for entering the workforce after college.” Whether students need step-by-step guides for building digital portfolios or are seeking tools for help preparing for a big interview, CPD has them covered. Atop that, there’s also an “elaborate alumni network of successful professionals that are enthusiastic to advise, recommend, and offer opportunities to current students.” Impressively, about 80 percent of alumni report that they’re in fields directly or somewhat related to their majors and are pulling in early career median salaries (according to PayScale) of $80,300.