Warren Wilson College

Love this college. Great education, stunning campus. It’s definitely its own little world.

I like to visit the WWC farm when I come to Asheville. When I went in the spring, there were piglets and they were so cute! The chickens, horses and cows are also cool to check out. There are some trails that go along the river that’s fun to walk along, as well.

WWC: you either love it or hate it… and I hated it. So, bear that in mind while you read this review. Also bear in mind that 2 of my oldest friends remained at WWC, graduated, and it really worked well for them. I really regret turning down scholarships (Lewis & Clark and Hollins U) 2 attend WWC.
Ultimately, I wish I had spent more time figuring out what I really wanted out of coll before attending WWC Fall 00. I should have gotten to know myself & WWC better. I assumed many things about college – like, for one, it would be more challenging than high school. At the time, obtaining a great undergraduate edu was important 2 me as was the «romantic» side of going to college: location, setting, student body, uniqueness. I never did a campus visit, which was stupid but my mother couldn’t afford to send me on campus visits. I grew up on the FREE breakfast and lunch program in public sch. Going 2 college Fresh yr was a one-​way ride.
Had I visited the school, I probably would not have attended. My background included 2 summers at Philmont Scout Ranch on a backpacking trek and a 28-​day Trails Crew. I also attended a college-​prep residential H.S. for 2 years… on full scholarship. When I enrolled at WWC, I declared an Outdoor Leadership major and considered double-​majoring in English. I think I was trying to re-​capture the Philmont & res HS feeling by attending WWC, as they advertise the Triad (living, learning, and working). We had the same idea at my res H.S. Ironically, I had my first real job at age 14 as an underpaid nanny, and didn’t need to learn how to work like the mostly trust-​a-​farians at this college.
When I read about WWC’s environmental activism, feminism, green farm, organic garden, tree crew program, eco-​dorm, and wilderness location, I just fell in love with the school… ON PAPER. In hindsight, I was looking for a WHOLESOME college experience and a great undergraduate challenge. When I arrived, I loved the campus but grew worried over the course of my first day. I’ll never forget the look on my mom’s face as she drove away. There I was in the midst of many of the strangest people I’d ever met in my life. I decided to give it a chance and see how I felt by the end of the semester. I quickly fell n2 a depression.
While at WWC, I became the target of 2 male students, separately, who would both eventually be kicked out of the college for sexual assault. Neither were ever arrested despite the brave girls who filed reports. WWC knew about their reputation at the time and let it go for so long that it eventually caused an investigation into the school, as they had a «sexual assault problem.» I was also pressured by a several lesbians and bisexuals who lived in my dorm to experiment with them. I know that this could have happened anywhere, but seriously, never in my life before (res HS/​camps) or since (multiple housing situations) has anyone ever been that aggressive n trying 2 get me 2 try things I didn’t WANT 2 do. I have nothing against sexual experimentation, lesbians or bisexuals, but, seriously, «Thanks, but no thanks» means «No!» Given my personality, especially at that time in my life, that REALLY bothered me. It also bothered me that the (Freshman) dorm and my hallway were co-​ed even though this was illegal in the State of NC. Not cool.
As a survivor of sexual abuse in my own home, when I first reached out for help sparked x depression, I reached out 2 a counselor at the school. B4 my appt, she was a guest speaker n 1 of my courses where I found out she and her family were members (incl children) of a nudist club. I was not OK with this then – or now – and never went to my appt. In my mandatory Freshman English course, that they wouldn’t let me test out of, ½ my classmates couldn’t define a noun and thought writing outlines for papers was a waste of time. (Like, for real?) I could speed thru assignments the night before in every one of my classes and still make A’s. One day in the dining hall, a female student let out a nearly deafening belch – and it phased no one else in the room — except 4 me. To top it off, my roommate made fun of my clothes and dorm décor because I didn’t seem «the WWC type.» (R U Serious?) I recall how a girl volunteered her time in front of the cafeteria before holidays (Fall & Winter Break) to cut guys’ hair b4 they went home 2 see their mothers. Really? You have to do that in front of the cafeteria? And they all thought it was funny. Finally, it bothered me that the professors would smoke pot WITH STUDENTS at the weekend «Bubba.» The Bubba was a bonfire party with booze & pot that was located just yards off of the campus/​cow pasture property line.
IMO, the ave WWC student was/​is a naïve or bratty trust-​a-​farian who preached «peace, love, & harmony» & «acceptance and tolerance» but truly lacked boundaries, basic manners, friendliness, edu, basic hygiene, & a work ethic. There’s Granola, Dirty Hippie, and then there’s WWC scuzzy. Not worth the $ 2 me

We hadn’t heard of this college until a friend told me about it and while it wasn’t even on our radar, we decided to attend their JR Open House anyway. We were pleasantly surprised. The campus is one of the most beautiful campuses we’d seen. We also really like the concept of the college. This college requires service learning and working on campus. All classes spend some classroom time actually in the field of their major. The proximity to Asheville is ideal.

On our way back to our hotel from the tiny but lovely town of Black Mountain Lake Tomahawk we visited Warren Wilson College (WWC). We could not step out of the car to walk around because of the heavy raining but we did drive around the campus. it is a small four year private college in the Swannanoa Valley, North Carolina, United States near Asheville.
The campus is so beautiful and the buildings are not far away from each other. I felt like being in nature with the greenery around and one thing I found interesting was that they have not removed most of the bushes and the trees so walking around the campus one feels like walking in the nature.
As I read the brochure and stopped one of the students in the rain and talked for a while, the college is known for its curriculum of work, academics, and service, called «the Triad,» which requires every student to work an on-​campus job, perform at least one hundred hours of community service over four years and complete a requisite course of academic work in order to graduate.
I liked the college and I wish I could have actually visited inside and had seen the classes and offices.

Is this for real? I can’t believe I’m the first to review the college on Unilocal.God must really love me. Infact there must be a god!
Pros:
Small campus, strongest service learning office I’ve ever seen, large number of passionate activists on campus, room to roam in the wilderness, one of the most environmentally friendly campuses in the country, plenty of crazies to hang with, plenty of normal folks.
Cons:
Little minority presence political, cultural, racial, and economic, rising tuition cost, outside community thinks wwc are a bunch of weirdo hippies, small campus means small course offering, frustration dealing with divisive issues that even liberals won’t address, professors not as involved in service and activism as one would like, low retention rates
This is a hard place to review. Anyone will say that. It burns to some and sooths others. But I wasn’t happy here, as I look back maybe I didn’t give it enough of a chance, maybe I am too harsh in my judgments. Until I make my triumphant return for its final judgment. It gets three stars.