A Quick Break from Freshman Life at WashU

Hi everyone! If you’re new here, welcome—and if you’ve been following us, welcome back!

These days, we’re buried in exams almost every other week—it’s non-stop. But this crazy schedule actually reminded us of what we were doing a year ago: college applications!

This post is a little different. Around this time last year, we interviewed one of our senior friends, who had just started his freshman year at the University of Michigan. We asked him about college life, homesickness, and his first impressions. Now that we’re freshmen at WashU, we thought it’d be fun to answer the same questions ourselves. We took turns being the interviewer and interviewee and made sure to cover all the questions.

How do you get around campus?

Craig: WashU’s campus is big, but it’s basically one large area divided by a main road—class buildings on one side, dorms and dining on the other. It took me a few weeks before I felt comfortable knowing where all the buildings are.

Thomas: Same here. Google Maps saved me during the first month! I have classes in Engineering, Business, and Computer Science, so I’m literally walking across campus every day. It’s a great workout, though.

What are you studying?

Craig: We don’t declare our major until sophomore year, but I applied for Biomedical Engineering and plan to stick with it. I’m taking Calculus III, Physics, Chemistry, and Intro to Biomedical Engineering. The pace is fast, and Chemistry requires serious memorization, but it’s manageable.

Thomas: I’m taking five classes—Calculus III, Physics, Microeconomics, Computer Science, and Intro to Chemical Engineering—and honestly, it’s a lot. I’ve never studied this hard in my life. I applied as a Mechanical Engineering major because I love building things, even if my old dream of becoming an architect has shifted along the way.

Why Biomedical Engineering, Craig, and why Mechanical Engineering, Thomas?

Craig: Biomedical Engineering is such a versatile field. It connects engineering and medicine, which means you get to work with people from all kinds of backgrounds. I’m especially interested in the pre-med track, but I’m keeping my options open.

Thomas: I applied for Mechanical Engineering, but honestly, I’m still figuring out where my real interests lie. That’s why I’m taking classes in business, computer science, and engineering—I’m exploring different areas to see what truly excites me. Hopefully, I’ll find my direction soon.

How’s the workload?

Craig: Manageable, but intense. Everything moves faster than high school, so keeping up is key.

Thomas: Definitely challenging. I might’ve been a bit too ambitious this semester—three of my five classes are completely new to me, so I feel like I’m constantly catching up.

Any surprises at WashU?

Craig: Not many, but the class sizes are bigger than I expected—around 80 students compared to 15 in high school.

Thomas: The campus is huge! It takes about 20 minutes to walk to my farthest class. Some people use bikes or scooters, but we stick to walking—it’s our daily cardio.

What clubs are you in?

Craig: I joined the soccer club, the pre-med association, and the Japanese Student Organization (JSO). We’re hosting a Studio Ghibli movie event this weekend—it’s one of the most popular events on campus!

Thomas: I’m helping with that, too! Setting up the event and managing the crowd will be a nice break from studying. I also joined the soccer club, though finding time for practice is tough.

Do you miss home?

Thomas: Not too much—in a good way. We live close enough to go home for meals, and our mom’s cooking is unbeatable. Plus, Craig is my roommate! I can imagine that sharing a room with a new friend would be an interesting experience, but with Craig, my brother, there aren’t any surprises or excitement.

Craig: Cafeteria food just can’t compete. We have a rice cooker and a fridge in our dorm, but even cooking rice feels like work sometimes. Laundry days at home are the best!

What’s a typical day like?

Craig: I get up an hour before my 9 a.m. class, head out about 15 minutes early, and spend most of the day in class or the library. I hit the gym or soccer practice after dinner and usually go to bed around midnight.

Thomas: I’m more of a night owl—usually up past 1 a.m. My workload is heavy, but I’m learning how to balance study and downtime… maybe next semester.

Any advice for your high school self?

Craig: Try more new things. I focused so much on soccer that I missed other opportunities. College has shown me how important it is to explore. And spend as much time as you can with your friends—it goes fast.

Thomas: Same here. Enjoy high school, but stay mindful of what’s ahead. Our school prepared us well, especially with research and writing. I’d tell my past self to keep working hard—but have fun, too.

That’s it for today!
If you’re curious, check out the post we wrote last year when we interviewed our friend at Michigan. We’ve come a long way. If you’re curious, check out the post we wrote last year when we interviewed our friend at Michigan — the link’s below! (↓👇)