Impactful Experiences
Bringing Learning to Life
While our distinctive curriculum gives students academic options not available at other schools of our size, the full W&L experience extends beyond the classroom. It includes opportunities that have been proven to have significant educational impact, including internships or field experience, service-learning, research with faculty, and capstone projects.
Internships
81%
of students in the Class of 2024 completed at least one internship.
Student Research
44%
of students in the Class of 2024 conducted research independently or with a faculty mentor.
High-Impact Practices
90%
According to the 2023 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), 90% of the W&L Class of 2023 participated in two or more high-impact practices, compared to an average of 83% at peer schools.
Spring Term Abroad
17
W&L offered 17 different faculty-led Spring Term Abroad courses in 2024, taking students to destinations including Portugal, Ireland, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Cuba, Nepal, Taiwan and South Korea.
Community Service
73%
of the Class of 2024 participated in volunteer service.
Study Abroad
65%
of the Class of 2024 studied abroad, either for a Spring Term, a semester, or a full year.
Internships
81%
of students in the Class of 2024 completed at least one internship.
Student Research
44%
of students in the Class of 2024 conducted research independently or with a faculty mentor.
High-Impact Practices
90%
According to the 2023 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), 90% of the W&L Class of 2023 participated in two or more high-impact practices, compared to an average of 83% at peer schools.
Spring Term Abroad
17
W&L offered 17 different faculty-led Spring Term Abroad courses in 2024, taking students to destinations including Portugal, Ireland, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Cuba, Nepal, Taiwan and South Korea.
Community Service
73%
of the Class of 2024 participated in volunteer service.
Study Abroad
65%
of the Class of 2024 studied abroad, either for a Spring Term, a semester, or a full year.
The Full W&L Experience
Whether it is immersion in another culture and language, a rigorous internship or an eye-opening research opportunity alongside a faculty expert, opportunities to apply classroom learning to a real-word setting are a defining part of W&L’s academic experience.
Tools and Techniques
Undergraduate Research
Undergraduate research is an increasingly popular way for students to explore their academic interests and prepare for graduate study, allowing students to become familiar with tools, techniques, and methodology through work with faculty mentors on- and off-campus. These projects may continue throughout the academic year, fostering close student-faculty relationships and providing undergraduates with opportunities to get the kind of hands-on experience often reserved for graduate students.
Bridging Classroom to Career
Internships
Summer internships are a great way to see how classroom learning applies in a real-world setting and serve as an entry point for future careers. In addition to the professional advising provided by the Office of Career and Professional Development, W&L has a variety of internship programs that connect students with opportunities to explore their interests and gain valuable professional experience. The university also provides generous funding that makes these experiences possible.
International Experiences
Study Abroad
W&L students are encouraged to gain international perspectives through internships, volunteer service or study abroad, with options ranging from a year, a semester, or a four-week, faculty-led Spring Term course. Some students also seek out summer opportunities, including our popular London Internship Program. Our Center for International Education offers over 700 approved programs, and funding is available to make international experiences possible.
Hands-On Learning
W&L students have a wealth of opportunities to gain hands-on experience that puts their classroom learning to work.
The Rockbridge Report
The Rockbridge Report is a weekly newscast and website produced by journalism students in W&L’s in-house newsroom, TV studio and control room. Regularly recognized for excellence by professional journalism organizations, it provides the community with fair, accurate and accountable news coverage and in-depth analysis of local issues in Lexington and Rockbridge County.
W&L Student Consulting
Washington and Lee Student Consulting is a student-led organization that provides pro bono consulting services to businesses and not-for-profit community organizations. Past projects have required teams to produce everything from marketing plans to human resources audits, community surveys to new accounting software systems. The range of work that students produce makes them especially marketable as they look for internships and jobs in the consulting industry and beyond.
Mock Convention
One of W&L’s most beloved traditions, Mock Convention is the most accurate and realistic mock presidential nominating convention in the nation. Since 1908, W&L students have endeavored to predict -- with uncanny accuracy -- the party out of power in the White House. It’s an exercise fueled by rigorous research and non-partisan student leadership that involves over 90 percent of the student body as state delegates and in leadership roles ranging from research to fundraising, logistics to public relations.
Why W&L?
Across the curriculum, our students have ample opportunities to translate knowledge into practice and gain insight into potential careers.
Nona David ’25
Morgantown, West Virginia
MAJOR: English
MINOR: Education Studies and German
“I help lead the Burish Internship program through the Education Studies department at W&L. As someone who wants to go into teaching, classroom experience is the most valuable tool to use in developing your own teaching style and building connections with other educators. I have been able to work with incredibly talented teachers at multiple schools as a way of developing my craft and serving my community.”
John Williams ’25
Baltimore, Maryland
MAJOR: American History and Business Administration
“Entrepreneurship is an area of been interested in since I was young and started several small businesses of my own. When I arrived on campus I applied for and joined the Connolly Entrepreneurship Society and continued to pursue this interest. Working closely with our faculty advisor Jay Margalus and the rest of the student executive team, we are working to give students real experience in developing business ideas, prototyping websites/apps/physical designs, and raising money to grow their startups.”
Zanita Akinkugbe ’25
Lagos, Nigeria
MAJOR: Neuroscience
MINOR: Education Policy and Poverty and Human Capability Studies
“I aspire to work in the medical field, specifically as a pediatric oncologist. During my freshman year, while searching for summer research opportunities, I came across Dr. Kim’s lab, Developing Safer Chemotherapeutics, which focuses on treatments for pediatric brain tumors. The following semester, I finally joined her lab — and I’ve been working with her ever since. The work we do is beyond incredible, and I’m grateful to explore pathways to my future career at the undergraduate level.”
Chris Smith ’26
Fayetteville, West Virginia
MAJOR: Philosophy
MINOR: Poverty and Human Capability Studies
“My most impactful experience at W&L was my SHECP internship at the Roanoke City Public Defender’s Office. Having the opportunity to work with impoverished people in situations where they needed help the most made me more compassionate and outspoken on the issues that affect everyone who lives in poverty, and it solidified my path through college to become an advocate for those without voices.”
Paige McBoyle ’26
Short Hills, New Jersey
MAJOR: Neuroscience
MINOR: Entrepreneurship
“As a neuroscience major, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside professor Paul Cabe in his lab, studying crayfish. The lessons I’ve learned in his lab have translated to other research opportunities beyond W&L. For instance, I conducted research at the Hospital for Special Surgery, where I applied skills I honed at W&L, such as writing scientific articles and data extraction. Our research was recently published in the Journal of the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America — a proud moment shared with my co-authors.”
W&L’s Lily George ’25 Selected for U.S. Teaching Assistantship to Austria
George will teach English in Austria before attending medical school.
Eight W&L Students Awarded Gilman Scholarships to Study Abroad
This round of recipients marks a record-setting Gilman Scholar cohort for W&L.
W&L’s Katie Wagner ’25 Earns U.S. Teaching Assistantship to Austria
Wagner will teach English in Austria before pursuing a career as a German language educator.
W&L’s Anshika Patel ’26 Receives Davis Projects for Peace Grant
Patel plans to expand the reach of Wings of Women, the community-driven initiative she founded in her home country of India.
Annual Spring Spotlight to be Held on Campus May 23
Students and faculty will summarize and display their Spring Term research and coursework.
W&L’s Jack Evans ’25 Named a Grand Strategy Fellow by the Hertog Foundation
Evans will spend four weeks in an intensive learning experience focused on the most pressing national security challenges facing the U.S.
‘Unlikely Pairings’ Ignite Curiosity at Science, Society and the Arts Conference
The interdisciplinary conference gave students the chance to share original research that integrated their academic interests and personal passions.
W&L’s Katalyn Denby ’26 Awarded Goldwater Scholarship
Denby’s funded research will focus on erosional river processes.
Four W&L Students to Study Abroad with Critical Language Scholarship
The Critical Language Scholarship Program funds a summer of overseas language and cultural immersion.
A group of students passionate about research has been working tirelessly to make this year’s Science, Society and the Arts 2025 conference an event to remember.
Helen Ezgo ’25 and Maina Shodmonbekova ’25 traveled across the world to expand their horizons at W&L thanks to the John M. Gunn International Scholarship.
After fighting societal norms in India, Rima Kumari ’26 champions education for other women.
Positivity Meets Personal Connections
Mariam Drammeh ’25 has approached research, internships and campus involvement with an eye toward a future rooted in service to others.