Avoid this institution at all costs. This "college" relies heavily on unpaid student labor to keep its operations running. My experience with staff such as Tacci Smith made learning here especially difficult. She frequently used incorrect pronouns for students and contributed to an environment that felt exclusionary and insensitive, which negatively affected the campus climate. She encouraged a student to harass me through text many times. Tuition is inflated so they can offer a supposedly "generous" financial aid package--most of which is simply compensation for the work students are required to perform. Academically, the campus falls short. Many professors lack true depth of knowledge in their subject areas, which is evident in programs like computer science, where instruction is consistently inadequate. I didn't learn how to write in MLA or APA7 until I transferred out of this "college". It is also concerning that this school offers degrees such as outdoor leadership but lacks any programs leading to licensure, including education or nursing. Students end up paying more than $25,000 a year for a liberal arts degree with credits that often do not transfer, pressuring them to remain at WWC to finish. In addition, the campus lacks ideological and ethnic diversity. The environment fosters a performative student body more focused on appearing loud and "socially aware" than on making meaningful change. Overall, WWC is definitely a degree mill where students learn nothing for a big price. read more

While I have good memories here and the students are very LGBTQ centered, the school does very little to put effort into accommodating their students and also are not very good at organization. Hurricane Helene definitely has a bit to do with it but they also had issues before. If you want to go to this college, I'm not sure I'd recommend it. Limited class options, the dorms are not nice and honestly I've never seen a college with worse dorms than Warren Wilson. There's no parking and you walk a lot. They put a large emphasis on in person learning so if you're sick or have an emergency basically you're screwed. read more

Back in 2016, Camp Talisman had me and my groupmates tour this place. Outside the gorgeous scenery and nice tour guide, there was no reason for me to ever set foot. Even my sister toured it and she thought it was bad. I know Warren Wilson is a private college, but I cannot understand why Camp Talisman ever had me set foot in the first place (I was 19 when this all happened). Mind you, Talisman is the same camp whose BRCC tours always ended up scrapped. They are the same camp whose UNC Asheville tour meant arriving on a Sunday with nobody there. read more

A beautiful college for nature-centered education. It is a warm and welcoming college with excellent academic opportunities.

Is this for real? I can't believe I'm the first to review the college on yelp. God must really love me. Infact there must be a god! Pros: Small campus, strongest service learning office I've ever seen, large number of passionate activists on campus, room to roam in the wilderness, one of the most environmentally friendly campuses in the country, plenty of crazies to hang with, plenty of normal folks. Cons: Little minority presence political, cultural, racial, and economic, rising tuition cost, outside community thinks wwc are a bunch of weirdo hippies, small campus means small course offering, frustration dealing with divisive issues that even liberals won't address, professors not as involved in service and activism as one would like, low retention rates This is a hard place to review. Anyone will say that. It burns to some and sooths others. But I wasn't happy here, as I look back maybe I didn't give it enough of a chance, maybe I am too harsh in my judgments. Until I make my triumphant return for its final judgment. It gets three stars. read more

Warren Wilson will always hold a special place in my heart. I have a shirt from decades ago that says "Warren Wilson College - We're not for everyone, but hey, maybe you're not everyone", or something along the lines of that... I understand that. For me, this was the most gorgeous, loving, inspiring college I have ever visited, attended, or taught at. For others, it's not their cup of tea, and that's completely cool; We're all individuals with different aspirations, values, styles, whatever. I believe this is a very special place that has ample opportunity to positively encourage their students, but I also believe that this is a school that a prospective student really needs to take time for self-reflection. One thing that has bummed me out is that it seems to have been revving up on students who may not be there for the right reasons; I've heard ample jokes about how they should implement "How to Tie-Dye 101" or "Phish 101" as courses to accommodate this shift. Don't get me wrong - I've loved Phish for decades and have taught my toddler how to tie-dye since I do it so often and she loves it. It just seems there may be a decline in the authenticity of newer students which has been a slow, gradual movement, but not an ideal one. It is also crazy expensive. But other than that, if you're like me and look into what the school is about - If it resonates with you, I don't see how there could be anything but a five-star review. read more

I did not realise how beautiful this college campus is till I visited My friends had gone to college here and it was good to have a former student to show us around and tell us about the history of each part of the campus The students work on the land for three hours every day and the overall ambience and feeling when you visit is one of introspection, calm, reflection. There is a meditation hut as well not far from the arts department The Swannanoa river runs through the campus adding to the rustic philosophical atmosphere It's proximity to Asheville is great of course if you want a liberal, progressive and sizeable city experience. Even James Franco earned an MFA from here Visit its campus and you'd probably want to go back to college :) read more

I like to visit the WWC farm when I come to Asheville. When I went in the spring, there were piglets and they were so cute! The chickens, horses and cows are also cool to check out. There are some trails that go along the river that's fun to walk along, as well. read more

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Took our daughter for her first college visit today at Warren Wilson. Everyone there was super friendly and courteous. The campus is like non other I've seen. They have a triad system where the students are required to do studies, work study and volunteer work in their field. Class size is about 12 students which is absolutely crazy. My daughter sat in on 2 psych classes and loved them. The campus is super eco friendly and sustainable. read more

WWC: you either love it or hate it...and I hated it. So, bear that in mind while you read this review. Also bear in mind that 2 of my oldest friends remained at WWC, graduated, and it really worked well for them. I really regret turning down scholarships (Lewis & Clark and Hollins U) 2 attend WWC. IMO, the ave WWC student is a naive or bratty trust-a-farian who preached "peace, love, & harmony" & "acceptance and tolerance" but truly lacked boundaries, basic manners, friendliness, edu, basic hygiene, work ethic, & Real World experience. There's Granola, Dirty Hippie, and there's WWC scuzzy. Academic standards R easy sleazy. When I read about WWC's environmental activism, feminism, green farm, organic garden, tree crew program, eco-dorm, and wilderness location, I just fell in love with the school...ON PAPER. In hindsight, I was looking for a WHOLESOME college experience and a great undergraduate challenge. When I arrived, I loved the campus but grew worried over the course of my first day. I'll never forget the look on my mom's face as she drove away. There I was in the midst of many of the strangest people I'd ever met in my life. I decided to give it a chance and see how I felt by the end of the semester. I quickly fell n2 a depression. Ultimately, I wish I had spent more time figuring out what I really wanted out of coll before attending WWC Fall 00. I should have gotten to know myself & WWC better. I assumed many things about college--like, for one, it would be more challenging than high school. At the time, obtaining a great undergraduate edu was important 2 me as was the "romantic" side of going to college: location, setting, student body, uniqueness. I never did a campus visit, which was stupid but my mother couldn't afford to send me on campus visits. I grew up on the FREE breakfast and lunch program in public sch. Going 2 college Fresh yr was a one-way ride. Had I visited the school, I probably would not have attended. My background included 2 summers at Philmont Scout Ranch on a backpacking trek and a 28-day Trails Crew. I also attended a college-prep residential H.S. for 2 years...on full scholarship. When I enrolled at WWC, I declared an Outdoor Leadership major and considered double-majoring in English. I think I was trying to re-capture the Philmont & res HS feeling by attending WWC, as they advertise the Triad (living, learning, and working). We had the same idea at my res H.S. Ironically, I had my first real job at age 14 as an underpaid nanny, and didn't need to learn how to work like the mostly trust-a-farians at this college. While at WWC, I became the target of 2 male students, separately, who would both eventually be kicked out of the college for sexual assault. Neither were ever arrested despite the brave girls who filed reports. WWC knew about their reputation at the time and let it go for so long that it eventually caused an investigation into the school, as they had a "sexual assault problem." I was also pressured by a several lesbians and bisexuals who lived in my dorm to experiment with them. I know that this could have happened anywhere, but seriously, never in my life before (res HS/camps) or since (multiple housing situations) has anyone ever been that aggressive n trying 2 get me 2 try things I didn't WANT 2 do. I have nothing against sexual experimentation, lesbians or bisexuals, but, seriously, "Thanks, but no thanks" means "No!" Given my personality, especially at that time in my life, that REALLY bothered me. It also bothered me that the (Freshman) dorm and my hallway were co-ed even though this was illegal in the State of NC. Not cool. As a survivor of abuse in my own home, when I first reached out for help sparked x depression, I reached out 2 a counselor at the school. B4 my appt, she was a guest speaker n 1 of my courses where I found out she and her family were members (incl children) of a nudist club. I was not OK with this then--or now--and never went to my appt. In my mandatory Freshman English course, that they wouldn't let me test out of, 1/2 my classmates couldn't define a noun and thought writing outlines for papers was a waste of time. (Like, for real?) I could speed thru assignments the night before in every one of my classes and still make A's. One day in the dining hall, a female student let out a nearly deafening belch--and it phased no one else in the room---except 4 me. To top it off, my roommate made fun of my clothes and dorm decor because I didn't seem "the WWC type." (R U Serious?) I recall how a girl volunteered her time in front of the cafeteria before holidays (Fall & Winter Break) to cut guys' hair b4 they went home 2 see their mothers. You have to do that in front of the cafeteria? And they all thought it was funny. Finally, it bothered me that the professors would smoke pot WITH STUDENTS at the weekend "Bubba." The Bubba was a bonfire party with booze & pot that was located just yards off of the campus/cow pasture property line. read more

Love this college. Great education, stunning campus. It's definitely its own little world. read more

Warren Wilson College - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Swannanoa, North Carolina

This review is for the MFA in Creative Writing Program. One thing I found really strange about Warren Wilson's MFA program is that you sign up for this very personal exchange with another writer/teacher, and you have no idea who your faculty will be until you are already at the residency. It was that way every semester. You arrive on campus and then they assign you to a writer they think is suitable (I heard from one faculty whom I was friendly with that the process is overseen by E. B. Voigt, whom she said is a bully). Then your assigned faculty, who is also likely teaching live people in a classroom full-time somewhere else, writes you letters about your work. Some of the letters I got from my faculty were so unhelpful that I actually couldn't believe it. I recycled them as soon as I graduated. Seriously, I have learned more in a weekend writing workshop, compared to a whole semester of those letters. One thing I did gain during the Warren Wilson residencies was a crash course on how the "famous" writing world works. Some of the faculty were, in my opinion, not the most dynamic writers, and yet they kept winning prestigious prizes. Hmmm.... It was a mystery to me until one day at a residency I decided to go to the library and look at the fine print of a mediocre writer's latest prize-winning book. Guess who judged the book's prize? The exact same guy he sat with at lunch every day at the residency, laughing and carrying on with, so chummy. As I really looked around within the program, I realized that it is actually a pretty brilliant design to employ writing faculty who need some extra side work. They get to hobnob and work the social literary scene twice a year in a big group of other writers, making connections and lubricating their positions. All they have to do is not cross the boss in charge. Don't believe any rhetoric about this program mirroring some kind of mentorship. It is a business. It cranks out graduates by the dozens every year, raking in the tuition, fostering the very nepotism that will make it difficult for you later on as a new writer. The Warren Wilson website brags that they have students who've gone on to win big prizes. Don't fall for that. Statistically, it is a certainty to have a few successful graduates when you have thousands of alumni who are trying to make it as writers. One other thing. The website and marketing of Warren Wilson plays up the "community of supportive writers" that you're joining. Really? I am a very quiet person by nature and many times I had other students approach me in the dining hall (students whom I barely knew) to vent and rank and evaluate the other students in our seminar groups, behind their backs. For example, I had one student say to me, "There are only three real writers studying here: [X, Y, Z]." So unkind. I also heard snarky and mean things said from students about other students: the clothes they wore, their hair style, their backgrounds, even their parenting. Does this sound like the supportive community that the Warren Wilson marketing copy talks about? Perhaps this is just the way writers are when in the company of other writers, in a fishbowl for a week? Maybe it's a nervous expression of anxiety. But if it is, then clearly the program's structure is not supportive for the sensitive or self-conscious. I know that I never really felt safe there. I have an MBA from another college and I never experienced that kind of feeling in my other graduate program. I am writing this review because I wish someone had told me these things before I wasted my time and money on Warren Wilson. If you want to get an MFA in writing, I suggest that you choose a program where you can definitely work with the teachers you want to work with, and where you aren't just a side business for your faculty. If you're going to go through all that it takes to get a Master's, you should at least be the main focus of those who are teaching you. In my opinion, if you're going to spend tens of thousands of dollars getting help with your writing, a much better (and cheaper) option is to go to a lot of writing seminars and workshops where you are sure to be able to work with the writers you admire and like. I wish I had spent my MFA money that way; it would have been a much better use of my time too. read more

We hadn't heard of this college until a friend told me about it and while it wasn't even on our radar, we decided to attend their JR Open House anyway. We were pleasantly surprised. The campus is one of the most beautiful campuses we'd seen. We also really like the concept of the college. This college requires service learning and working on campus. All classes spend some classroom time actually in the field of their major. The proximity to Asheville is ideal. read more