Willamette University

Statistics

Students Say - Academics
A friendly liberal arts school with a mellow Northwest attitude, Willamette University offers "serious academics without the snobbery." In both its educational and extracurricular offerings, "Willamette is very focused on learning in a team environment," and the school "cultivates a strong feeling of community" throughout its academic programs. Students are encouraged to work together, and there is a "designated 'hearth' (common area) for every department where students can go for tutoring, group project collaboration, or just to do homework with classmates." Willamette's "knowledgeable" professors are "dedicated to what they teach and genuinely interested in helping students learn." Students warn, however, that, "Classes are demanding and instructors expect you to come to class prepared to discuss, not just listen." A sophomore agrees, "Professors expect the most out of us as true adults instead of as 'students,' thus I do my best to live up to that high expectation." Beyond academics, Willamette promotes a well-rounded lifestyle, and professors are "always checking to make sure that everything is going well both in the class and outside." In fact, "many professors socialize with students outside of class," and "It's not unusual to be asked to dinner at a professor's house." Located in the capital city of Salem, Oregon, co-curricular opportunities are abundant. Through the school, there are many "community service options, internship options, [and] on-campus job options," and students praise the "ease of getting state government internships" at the Oregon State capitol-just across the street!

Students Say - Campus Life
Work and play go hand in hand at Willamette. In fact, "The library on Sunday nights is a great merging of social and academic worlds-[you're] practically guaranteed to find a table of people working on assignments for your class or in your department." In addition to schoolwork, "There is a huge population that is involved in clubs on campus, anything from soccer club to juggling club or knitting club." In particular, "Lots of people are involved in sports," whether varsity or intramural, and many socially-minded students "do a lot of community volunteering." Laid-back and casual, at Willamette "parties do happen but they're low-key compared to larger schools." There are also "two substance-free dorms" for those who don't like to indulge. For fun, students hit "the local bars on the weekends, or stick around campus and go to an a cappella night, a movie being shown on campus, or a Greek event, such as a dance." Surrounding Salem is a sleepy town, and "most everything off campus closes early"; however, there are "tons of coffee shops" in the local area, as well as "a mall easily within walking distance." Taking advantage of everything Oregon has to offer, "Students take trips to Portland and the ocean, and also head out to the mountains for skiing as well as hiking along paths decorated with waterfalls (weather permitting)."

Students Say - Student Body
Personifying the Pacific Northwest, Willamette students are "smart, politically-focused, interested, social, outgoing, [and] athletic or outdoorsy in some way," as well as "environmentally conscious." The community is varied, "open-minded," and mature: "Though there are many communities on campus (i.e., community service groups, Greek houses, clubs, sports teams, etc.), nearly every student is involved in more than one community and thus float freely between groups, eliminating cliquishness." A student adds, "Regardless of if you're a football player, or environmentalist, or bio-chem double major, everyone fits in because we are all very open and inclusive people." Willamette students are committed to the community and "involved in many campus activities, including classes, clubs, and on-campus jobs." Outside the classroom, they are "active in leadership, eager to volunteer, [and] interested in a well-rounded education instead of primarily a 'book' education." Almost 70 percent of Willamette's undergraduates are from the West Coast, and students admit, "Our campus is not very culturally diverse." However, through a partner program with Tokyo International University, about 100 Japanese students come to Willamette each year to study English and liberal arts.

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