The city is your classroom

At WashU, the learning extends far beyond the campus’ stone buildings. The knowledge and resources of this city are yours for the taking.

You can do anything from tutoring young students at area schools, to conducting research at the School of Medicine, from learning history at our museums to learning about human interaction as you help strengthen a community, from finding an internship with a Fortune 500 company to starting your own small business.

Around the Neighborhood

Some of the best things in St. Louis are just steps from the WashU campus. So when you feel like a change of scenery, simply step across the street to Forest Park, recently named the Best City Park by USA Today. Within its 1,300 acres lies an abundance of free attractions and activities – including a zoo, an ice-skating rink, and museums. Or head to Delmar Loop, only five minutes by foot from campus. The Loop is a diverse area offering eclectic shops, ethnic restaurants, theaters, cultural attractions, and more.

In the Lou

St. Louis is a vibrant region with many stories and places to explore. Check out the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement’s online guide to being an engaged member of the St. Louis community, and start your civic journey at WashU.  

Opportunity Awaits

St. Louis is a great place to find your first summer internship or other work experience. Not only has the city been deemed the fastest-growing city for technology jobs, but the network for every profession is expansive. Plus, St. Louis offers a vibrant startup scene. Entrepreneurs will find collaborators, supporters, and a plethora of resources at their fingertips.

Offering Time and Talent

When you move to St. Louis, we welcome you as one of our own. St. Louisans are also well known for embracing our community through philanthropy and service work. We build houses, tutor young students, pack food boxes, plant gardens…the list goes on and on. WashU offers a number of resources when it comes to involvement within the community. The Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement is an excellent resource for students, as it helps to foster student learning, engagement, and leadership in civic life.

Music to Your Ears

St. Louis’ music scene is extremely active and diverse. On any given evening, you can choose from jazz or blues in intimate settings to rock or country in huge arenas…to everything in between. Musical theater is alive and well in St. Louis, as are hip-hop, open mic nights, and African drum circles.