This is one of the two universities you need to tour if you're in the Lexington area. (The other one is VMI, and it's right next door.) Washington and Lee University is a historic campus, and it's worth a visit if you're into southern history. Washington and Lee was founded in 1749 and named after George Washington and Robert E. Lee. At this liberal arts school, you'll want to check out the University Chapel & Museum, where you'll see the 500 seat chapel, the Lee family mausoleum, and Lee's office when he was president of the university from 1865 to 1870. Also check out the Reeves Museum of Ceramics, which houses the 4th largest collection of ceramics in the U.S. I love walking around university campuses when I'm in a new area, and I'm glad I explored this one. read more

Washington and Lee University is beautiful. It's a small, extremely exclusive, private university nestled lovingly into the old town of Lexington. It's original buildings were designated National Historical Landmarks in the 1930s and Lee Chapel is the resting place of Robert E. Lee who is entombed within. This university is immaculately kept, with expansion of any kind thoughtfully completed in order to seamlessly blend in with the historical feel. I spent a summer here at a program during high school 20 years ago and absolutely loved it. It's small and cozy and home-y and the small town of Lexington has plenty of shops and restaurants within a 5 minute walk of the school. Visiting this summer I easily found my way around like old times, after 20 years not much has changed. It's still beautiful, I saw a few updates, but essentially felt like I had stepped back in time. read more

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These are just my honest impressions, based on my experiences, but I have no personal doubts about their accuracy. And lest you believe this review is merely a result of sour grapes after being denied admission to W&L, let me hasten to say that I am a student at another top tier university. But let us begin. We enter the admissions process with good faith, spending countless hours and pieces of our sanity filling out the FAFSA, the Beta FAFSA, the Common App, Naviance, tax paper forms, forms and procedures up the wazoo. We visit college counselors, do Zoom interviews, attend open houses, all believing in good faith that we'll get a fair shot at a seat. Our good faith is vastly, vastly, vastly misplaced, in my opinion. Let's examine what another Yelp reviewer wrote about this esteemed school: "Haven't heard of W and L? Don't worry -- you wouldn't have gotten in. Stay away if you are adverse to mimosas, popped collars, Vineyard Vines, and croakies -- this place isn't for you. This, my alma mater, is the finest of the Southern schools." -- Will Y. In just four sentences, the reviewer sets the snot-nosed tone for this toney institution. What he doesn't tell you is that about a third of the admitted student body doesn't fit into his Abercrombie and Fitch ad, and it is my distinct impression that this one-third often also fails to meet the school's "elitist" admission criteria mentioned by "Will Y." What then do most of this group bring to the table? I believe I have discerned it without much difficulty: the desperately sought after magical benefits imparted to the world of academia by........wait for it.........Melanin. You ask how this might be, considering that the Supreme Court has outlawed university selections based on race and ethnicity? No matter, you need simply attach a photo to your application, or include pertinent biographical data, or write about how you've been injured by the evil white patriarchy. A hint here, an unsubtle hint there. It is not necessary to make much of an effort; most of America's lords of academia have no intention of complying with something as mundane as the law. Yes, let us dare say it. If you are melanin deficient, for countless numbers of us it matters not how many appendages you're missing, or how many charities you started in your basement during high school. It will not matter that you grew up with six siblings in a single-wide. What often matters most profoundly is whether you can meet the requirements to further a university's "diversity goals." I believe this condition pretty much exists throughout most of the world of academia, no matter how indignantly they may pretend otherwise. And who does this kindly largesse most screw over? The answer: working class and middle class whites, who will be designated as mediocrities at a monstrously faster rate than applicants who can present pigmentation. As a lesbian Eskimo in a wheelchair, do you have qualms about finding your place in an institution that has slave owners' and white supremacists' names emblazoned on its gate? Does it worry you, to have Massa Lee's carcass moldering just steps away from your dormitory? Not to worry, just tell them you're an illegal alien; that's sure to get you another 20 bonus admission points. Is this enough encouragement for you to enrich them with your presence? No matter, also, that you'll have people like Will Y. around you, still comfortably basting in a perceived elite status. No matter, because even so you need not worry that they will ever focus in on you to fetch their mimosas for them. No matter, also, because -- whatever pretense is made -- neither the fetchers nor you will ever, ever be a part of the mimosa crowd, whatever pretenses are made to make you think otherwise. You're present so the school can pretend to meet its moral obligations to the unwashed who are peering in through its gates. Actualizations that in the end are as morally deficient in their construction as the sins of the past which are supposedly being remedied. So much, then, for "fairness in admissions." So much, then, for pretended elitism. Both are frauds of a similar variety, aren't they? read more

If you're a parent, this school choice is without a doubt unbeatable! And if you're looking for a career, it can most definitely start at this amazing environment! read more

A must see if you're in the area with grounds that are just what you'd expect for a small southern college with lots of history.. Be sure and check out the Lee Chapel where you can take a tour and learn (among other things) that every college student who has even taken an elective owes a thank you to General Lee. He was apparently the first one to allow electives in college studies, at least according to the tour. read more

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We were visiting a friend nearby and it was suggested that we go to see this awesome campus. The campus grounds are just beautiful and on a delightful day it is so pleasant to stroll around and see the old buildings that are steeped in history and tradition. It is a must see if you are in the area. Lee Chapel is also located here and you can go inside and see General Robert E. Lee's tomb. It is very nicely done. read more

Washington and Lee University - Robert E Lee Tomb - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Lexington, Virginia

There is no place on earth that could ever come close to attaining the magic that this school has. There simply is no better university anywhere else. The campus is more than gorgeous, unique and pristine. The atmosphere is laid-back, happy, friendly and determined. read more

I am guessing this institution will come under attack in the foreseeable future. If so, the battle may not be waged on Yelp. If there is a struggle coming, it will likely be in reference to the so-called marble man that lies recumbent at Lee Chapel. Regardless of what anyone thinks of the Civil War, I would be sorry and sad to see the name of Lee removed from the school title. Even if the cause was wrong, Robert E. Lee was in his time a model for individual integrity, as he followed his beloved Virginia towards the path of destruction. It is easy for us to judge some 150 years later, but the historical context does matter. Sadly, Americans in their infatuation with the modern moment sometimes lose site of that. read more

Haven't heard of W and L? Don't worry- you wouldn't have gotten in. Stay away if you are adverse to mimosas, popped collars, Vineyard Vines, and croakies- this place isn't for you. This, my alma mater, is the finest of the Southern schools. This year we took 15%. Booyahshaka. read more

Although I graduated from W&L in 1986, I am still in contact with a couple of my professors; that's the type of school Washington and Lee is. Most of my classes were small in population (that is, number of students in the single digits), and I had plenty of classes with three or four students. The campus and the town of Lexington are beautiful. W&L is known as one of the biggest 'party-schools' so you have to be disciplined enough to be a responsible student first, but if you can balance school and play, it's a great place to be. read more