Basics

Medical school is an exciting time, but it can also be stressful at times. Many students travel far from home to attend school, often for the first time. The pressure to do well, even in a pass-fail system, can still feel overwhelming. Whether or not you’ve experienced mental health issues in the past, you may find that medical school places additional strain on your mental wellbeing. Luckily, WashU has numerous resources in place to ensure that you have the support and care you need. “Wellness Wednesdays” hosted by Student Support Services provide students with a variety of relaxation and self-care activities, including yoga, pickup basketball games, and mindfulness meditation. Intramural sports teams and fitness-centered student clubs provide opportunities to maintain fitness and reduce stress. Additionally, Washington University has several wonderful, compassionate psychologists on staff who are trained to help students manage the unique stresses that come with medical education. You can easily schedule an appointment with one of them at any time, or get a referral to see the staff psychiatrist. Above all, your professors and the administration are completely understanding of the many stresses that medical students can face, and are willing to make accommodations to ensure that all students have the resources and support they need to thrive in medical school.

If you didn’t know, WashU’s rec facilities were ranked as one of the top three in the nation! The Danforth Campus recently built new state-of-the-art fitness and recreation facilities, the Sumers Recreation Center, that all WUSM students can access for free. They offer free classes that run the gamut from meditation to power yoga to spin! There is an indoor pool, furnished relaxation spaces, massage therapy, and a health promotion suite. Did I mention towel service as well?

At the WUSM campus, there is the gym at the Core, our on-campus housing that is a three-minute walk from the FLTC — super convenient! It has most of the gym equipment that you need, and it’s open 24/7 (if you want to work out at 3 a.m., you can!) So really, it’s easy to keep up a healthy exercise routine at WUSM!

I understand that perhaps some of you had previously heard horror stories of St. Louis before coming here — I did too. But the safety and coziness at WashU have frankly blown away all my preconceived notions.

WUSM is located in one of the most beautiful neighborhoods of St. Louis, the Central West End, which is filled with restaurants, bars, shops, and apartment buildings. And the streets in the CWE are ridiculously walkable! (Okay, the one thing you might have to watch out for is a particularly reckless Lime scooter zooming down the sidewalk.) As in any city, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and take common-sense precautions.

If I want to go to another part of the city for extracurriculars, community service, or a delicious dinner at a restaurant, public transportation has not disappointed me. The MetroLink light rail has a stop right on campus and is clean, convenient, and safe, especially during the daylight hours. The bus system is somewhat less efficient than the train but will still get you where you need to go. And yes, public transportation is free for all WashU students!

WashU itself has consistently put in the effort to ensure the safety of the surrounding area. WashU has its own dedicated Protective Services unit that will escort you on foot or by vehicle. There’s also an Afterhours Neighborhood Shuttle program from the medical campus to six neighborhoods in the city. And just recently, WashU gave us free registration for the Noonlight phone app. If I am ever walking around at night and feel unsafe, or even just nervous, all I have to do is hold down the button in this app. Upon releasing the button, the app will silently call the police, or I can cancel the alarm by entering a previously set passcode. As in any city, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and take common-sense precautions.

And like every other aspect of the school, WashU is continuously improving the safety and comfort of its students. Your time here will likely be even safer than ours!

There are many shopping malls in the St. Louis area. The closest one to campus is the St. Louis Galleria, which has all the necessities: Nordstrom, Dillard’s, Apple Store, Sephora, etc. This is pretty much your average, go-to mall. There’s also Plaza Frontenac Mall, which is a little further out from campus. It is smaller, but has more high-end stores: Saks, Neiman Marcus, Lululemon, Madewell, Athleta, Brooks Brothers, etc. If deal-hunting is more your style, there are also two outlet malls nearby! Chesterfield Outlets and St. Louis Premium Outlets both have great deals on stores like Banana Republic, J. Crew, Ann Taylor, Clarks (go-to for comfy clinic shoes), Cole Haan, and many more. Happy shopping!

Student Health Services (SHS) is excellent. We are all seen by the same doctor, Dr. Winters, who is wonderful. I once emailed her on a Sunday night with an urgent concern, and she responded within a few minutes and immediately called a prescription in to the local Walgreens for me because SHS was obviously closed. During business hours, it is simple to call and make an appointment if you have any health concerns. You can even drop in anytime if you just want to consult with the nurse. If your problem is urgent or causing you serious anxiety, and you need the doctor (because you need an exam and/or a prescription), you should tell them that on the phone so they can try to get you an earlier appointment. Lastly, if your medical problems are interfering with your schoolwork, Dr. Winters is great about helping you manage that problem, even communicating with your professors if necessary.