Warren Wilson College

Date: Jun 18 2013
Major: Other (This Major's Salary over time)
Warren Wilson College is Summer Camp for 20-somethings. If you enjoy being outdoors, eating good food, and having tons of volunteer ops, this school is for you. If you want to trick your parents into thinking you are actually going to school instead of living in a commune, this is for you.

I spent one glorious year at Wilson. I met some of the coolest most down to earth folks there and now have friends all over the U.S. that I will be able to visit. Some of the things you can look forward to are : Skinny dipping in the Swannanoa River, watching the birth of cows and pigs, drinking craft beers around the bonfire while all the bluegrass musicians jam, fire spitting dorm neighbors, a in school circus, contra dancing, art everywhere in all forms, meditation hut/pond, miles of beautiful hiking trails along the river, a sustainable farm/garden on campus that you have access to, a free store where you can take as many things as you want (student donated items), a fantastic recycling program, vegan cafe, non vegan all you can eat cafeteria, and a fantastic community of artists and musicians and weirdos and hipsters and hippies.

I'm a bright student. I got sick with the Swine Flu and missed the first three weeks of class because I was quarantined. My professors were not understanding and I never got the chance to catch up or do makeup work. Almost all of my professors were total jerks except Sebastian Matthews. If you go here, make sure to take a class with him. Our first class he had us all stand in the middle of the river. He misses class a lot but when he shows up finally he'll surprise you every time.

So all in all, Wilson is the greatest place ever.. Just not the greatest school ever. You will end up in debt even if you qualify for financial aid. $5,000 loans in one year with what would be a full ride at another university. It was well worth the life experience but I couldn't imagine $40,000 debt by the end of my degree.

People do drugs and drink there.. But they do that in all colleges, and there is usually only a small group of druggies who eventually drop out after the first year. Sure there are snobby hipsters who think they are "greener than thou" and think their untalented indie band is going to make it, But there are also genuine hippies coming straight from homeschooling or straight from the farm/commune.

It's what you make of it really. If you go in with an open mind and the ability to express yourself without judging everyone you will make a lot of friends. If education is the reason you are attending Wilson you would be better to go somewhere cheaper.

Just some advice!