Finding Your Best Fit School Spotlight on Washington University

These Are a Few of our Favorite Things... This week, one of our awesome interns shares what she loves about attending Washington University in St. Louis. Though she (and her parents) were originally considering mostly Ivy League schools, extensive research and campus visits proved that this Missouri university was her best fit school: My favorite thing about "WashU" is the countless events held on campus and in the greater St. Louis area. From rocking out at concerts by Passion Pitt and Augustana on the quad, to arriving to class in a horse-drawn carriage during George Washington Week, to listening to Joseph Gordon-Levitt discuss his work with HitRECORD, there is always something on campus to excite and entertain students. And while I love WashU’s programming, I also have some fantastic memories from my times off-campus (Parking Transportation Services distributes a free Metro pass to everyone in the WashU community at the beginning of each semester). Many students use the Metro to get to Lambert Airport, but I most often use the Metro to venture to downtown St. Louis, the Clayton business district, and the residential Central West End. Downtown St. Louis is perhaps most notable for housing Busch Stadium, the home of our beloved St. Louis Cardinals. At the start of baseball season, many students will head downtown for gelato at the Gelateria or a fresh blueberry scone at the Tea Room before a Cardinals home game. As an added bonus, the WashU Student Union will occasionally release free or discounted tickets. During the 2012 World Series, I even had the opportunity to be at Busch when hometown hero David Freese clinched the win in Game 6 and the Cardinals became 2012 World Series Champions in Game 7! Off-season, my friends and I love spending weekends at the City Museum — there are few other places where young adults can climb across several levels of monkey bars before going down a 10-story swirly slide that ends in a massive ball pit! As a self-proclaimed foodie, I also spend a fair amount of time exploring Clayton and Central West End for new restaurants. After three years in the St. Louis area, I can confidently say that there is always a place to find whatever food you may be in the mood for. Dreaming of a white chocolate, raspberry crepe and a spiced chai latte? Look no further than the City Coffeehouse and Creperie! Thinking of cupcake frosting that epitomizes sweet and creamy perfection? Meet up with your roommates at the always-delightful Cupcakery! And for those of you who love food but don’t know where to start, Clayton holds Clayton Restaurant Week several times each year, where about 15 restaurants will offer a sampling of their five best dishes for $30. Insider tip: WashU is consistently recognized for its excellent food, but most of its dining areas close by 1:00 a.m. For those of you seeking a snack post-dining hall hours, check out John Donut! This famous donut shop opens at midnight and closes at 1:00 p.m., so you can be sure to satisfy that late-night craving. Everything is scrumptious (and made fresh!), and the chocolate cinnamon rolls and apple fritters are particularly notable. Not a donut-aficionado? No worries! The Midwest’s beloved Steak ‘n’ Shake is also open late (24 hours) and boasts some of the best chili cheese fries and burgers around.