The meaning of that line is more rooted in urging current students being welcoming to incoming students and having incoming students think of themselves as part of a broader community. It isn't about a specific type of person. It is about welcoming different types. |
Every type is represented. My son is what could be described as 'broish'. Serious athlete, funny kid (but very smart/academic/enjoys talking to professors, etc) and there are many boys just like him. They find their niche. |
The most recent incoming class was 50/50 per the CDS. |
Exactly. I’m not sure if they’re just UVA boosters or some other groups that seem to need to believe that WM kids are a whole different type from other kids. Despite personal reports from people who actually go/went there. It’s really odd. Of course the school isn’t the right fit for everyone. No school could be. That doesn’t mean that there is something unique about the student body or that all types of kids aren’t significantly represented among the 6500 people on campus. I can only assume that some of these people got highly insulted on another thread when discussing whether UVA is too “bro-y.” |
I don't understand why and how this stereotype of W&M even exists. My kids and I have visited the school on at least 3 occasions over the past year, including DFAS and I still cannot figure out what people are talking about. The students seem similar to those we met at UVA, Univ. Of Michigan, GW, VA Tech, UMD and many others. We have only had positive interactions with the kids there. |
My kid will be deciding between UVA and W&M. Appreciate this! There is such weird social pressure around UVA and it’s been that way for a long time. |
UVA and UVA alums have always thought they were 'so special'. They embrace the 'bro-y, prep' reputation. They like to think anyone who doesn't go there from VA, it's simply because they didn't get it because who would ever turn down UVA in-state . You have to remember, most of these reputations were made 30-40 years ago and stuck. It's like Brown--everyone thinks of them as the 'weirdo' school, too hippy, strange kids, too liberal---when we were there the kids were very straight-laced, Jcrew prep looking---while Yale, on the other hand, had many more 'alternatives' that wouldn't look you in the eye and they now are more like Brown's former reputation. |
This is also an old image & mindset. Current seniors at DC's school heading to VT, UVA and W&M all happy for each other and their choices. |
This is one reason I had no desire to go to UVA 20 years ago. |
+100 As a Virginian, I think the gap among the VA schools has gotten smaller and smaller and so many kids do in-state that they are viewed pretty equally. Most kids I know that got into one got into the other 2. My son only applied to WM and UVA and is in at both and currently undecided. As parents, we liked the smaller size and faculty and Monroe scholar program at WM- but it's his decision in the end. |
There are bro types, quirky types (I still don't exactly understand what that means) and basically all types of kids at every school. The only thing that really sets the student body apart of one school v. another might be some level of academic motivation and/or accomplishments. However, even when you look at a school ranked 150, you will see some very academically stellar kids (most likely because they were offerred a full scholarship or something similiar). |
Exactly - who determined these stereotypes? Most people I know who have actually been the W&M (myself included) do not see it either. |
The W&M admissions rep who visited my kid's school earlier this year spoke about TWOMPs (typical William & Mary people)--so I think they are self-describing as different. Their essay question is about how students are quirky/unique. They have a less rah-rah, more intellectual vibe than UVA or VT which really helps round out all the state of VA college choices--there is something for everyone which is a good thing. Don't think anyone should be insulted about the different vibe. |
That's a misrepresentation of the question. There are a lot of colleges that ask kids what make them unique so they can show some personality. Not "quirky." Most colleges want kids to use the essays to set themselves apart from the thousands of others who are applying. That's hardly a self-description of quirky. |
Sure - but even now, the 50/50 ratio at VT is FAR more balanced than all the other VA schools, unless there's a school I have forgotten about. |