Students find time to relax, create
The faculty and administration of Washington University are extremely proud of the school’s medical students. They meet the highest academic standards in the country and also possess many talents and interests outside of medicine including visual arts (painting, drawing, sculpture, photography), writing, dancing, music, literature, singing and athletics. Each class is diverse; current students come to the school from all 50 states plus the District of Columbia and multiple foreign countries.
Although the medical curriculum is rigorous, our students still find time to relax and have fun. “Study hard, play hard” is their unofficial motto, reflecting the intensity, energy and sense of exploration they share.
Most students fulfill their creative drives through participation in student-initiated, student-run groups that are strongly supported by School of Medicine administration.
Wellness
Living a balanced life is imperative. Our students are able to achieve and maintain a healthy balance by participating in our student wellness programs, administered by the Office of Medical Student Affairs.
Fun and friendship
Our students forge deep, lifelong friendships among their classmates. Camaraderie is an overriding quality of the school; classmates provide a built-in source of personal support and make each endeavor and accomplishment that much more meaningful and enjoyable.
Medical campus environment
The School of Medicine is located in the city’s Central West End, an eclectic neighborhood that is a favorite among our students. Adjacent to the medical campus is Forest Park which, at over 1300 acres, is one of the nation’s largest urban parks. The park is home to cultural institutions including the Saint Louis Zoo, the Saint Louis Science Center and McDonnell Planetarium, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, and The MUNY, an outdoor musical theater.
Tennis and basketball courts on campus are used day and night. Forest Park’s golf courses, jogging and bike paths, athletic fields and pickleball courts are just across the street. The university’s athletic facilities, located across Forest Park on the Danforth Campus, are accessible by the MetroLink light-rail line (free to full-time WashU students). The athletic complex includes an Olympic-size pool, an indoor track and complete training equipment.
Around the neighborhood
The medical campus is located at the intersection of some of St. Louis’s liveliest neighborhoods and districts.