Day in the Life at WashU

Introducing Me 

Hi everyone! My name is Crystal Gamino and I am a rising junior at Washington University in St. Louis, otherwise known as WashU, majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Spanish. I am from the South side of Chicago, IL and had an unweighted GPA of 3.88 and weighted GPA of 5.17 along with a 90th percentile score on the SAT my junior year of high school. My scores from junior year, abundance of extracurricular activities and volunteering were especially important because I applied to the Early Decision I application.

Overview of WashU and Computer Science 

Washington University in St. Louis is a prestigious private research university that also provides a liberal arts education. WashU was founded in 1853 and has several campuses throughout the St Louis and Clayton area. Students can apply to Arts & Sciences, Business, Architecture, Art, Engineering, or Beyond Boundaries. The Computer Science major is located in the McKelvey School of Engineering and it is one of the most common majors and minors. 

My Morning Routine 

On a typical Tuesday from fall semester of 2021, my first class of the day was a Calculus III subsection at 10:00 am. While I was usually awake an hour before class, it was very common for me to lay in bed for a while before actually deciding to get up. My morning routine consisted of getting ready in a hurry, getting a small morning snack from my kitchen and running out the door. I lived in a university owned off campus apartment, so the walk to campus was at least 12 minutes, but many used bikes or scooters to get there faster.
My class was finished by 10:50 am; however,  since I had another class at 11:30 am, I would usually just go to Whispers Cafe and get a small iced lavender oat matcha latte with whatever pastry that was available (this was my breakfast nearly everyday). Whispers Cafe is located in Olin Library, so it is the perfect spot to get some rest and refresh on your readings before class. 

My Afternoon and Evening 

On Tuesdays I had 2 more classes in the afternoon from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, which were a Sociology class called The Roots of Ferguson: Understanding Racial Inequality in the Contemporary U.S. and Introduction to Computer Science. While I enjoyed these classes, by the time they ended there were limited food options for lunch so I would either go to the on campus Subway, walk back to my apartment and cook something, or head to the DUC to see what they had for food. 

After classes, I usually find somewhere to relax or lay on the grass for a while. I, then, go study somewhere on campus. My favorite places are Hillman Hall, Brauer Hall, McKelvey Hall (which has a Starbucks now), and the Brown Library. All of these places are on the East End of Campus, which is typically more empty in the afternoon and evening so there is always space to find the perfect study spot. For dinner, I either catch up with friends, my roommates, or use it as a time to Facetime family. One of the most relaxing things I do during the week is just sit outside on campus and watch the sunset. 

I tend to leave most of my fun activities and socializing for the weekends, so I can remain focused on my academics during the week. It is important to remember that everyone’s schedule looks different, so often what works for you will not work for another. Regardless, it is important to find a balance between your academics, social life, and sleep to make the most of your time. 

A Weekend at WashU 

The weekend is the perfect time to catch up with friends and do fun things at WashU or in the surrounding neighborhoods. Many students visit Delmar Loop located in University City right by campus to go out and eat, get boba tea, or visit the shops located there. You can also go to Forest Park, visit the Arch or catch a Cardinals game. Many students, like myself, go visit Chicago for the weekend. I typically go to visit family or go visit family. WashU has students with diverse taste in everything!

Written by Crystal Gamino, PathIvy Washington University Ambassador