How to pick between UVA and W&M

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is trivial, but I was so disappointed in W&M’s library. This is one of the oldest colleges in the U.S., I was expecting something very different. Their library looks like any public library in a Midwest suburb.

I haven't been to their library, but isn't supposed to be one of the best? I thought it was one of the things that W&M is proud of. But again, I have not seen it for myself.

Nope. Super mundane and generic looking

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this is trivial, but I was so disappointed in W&M’s library. This is one of the oldest colleges in the U.S., I was expecting something very different. Their library looks like any public library in a Midwest suburb.

It is pretty typical of modern buildings built in the 1960s. Rockefeller Library at Brown and Van Pelt at Penn are from the same period and are also modern rectangles.

I think students like the W&M library because it is central, relatively comfortable and spacious inside after the renovation, providing good space for study and group projects, and it has a nice, capable staff and open stacks.

[Anonymous]

Bumping this so I don't get yelled at for starting another W&M thread.

Realistically, what does an in-state, unhooked, white public school kid need to get into W&M these days? Is it truly just as difficult as UVA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bumping this so I don't get yelled at for starting another W&M thread.

Realistically, what does an in-state, unhooked, white public school kid need to get into W&M these days? Is it truly just as difficult as UVA?

Their stats of admitted students are really very close, but percent admitted is tougher for UVA. So kids have really similar GPA/test scores, but the odds are a bit better at W&M. I would also say it's a hair less difficult to get into W&M because you can get with a touch more unevenness--e.g. a high SAT and a smidge less GPA and get in, whereas UVA it's a super high GPA as the primary determinant. Also, if said kid is male, there's a bit more of a bump in admission rates (though not much in average scores).

[Anonymous]

William and Mary US News says is mediocre!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:William and Mary US News says is mediocre!!!

DH and I are alums. I really feel like it is hard to fit it into any classification boxes. Its not a big research university, nor is it a SLAC. Its a weird hybrid. Anyway, it was a wonderful experience for us and all of our friends and I really feel like it will be a great fit for one of my children in particular who is not as outgoing socially. My other child really wants UVA or another larger school and prefers not to go to W&M due to size and lack of sports culture.

As good as the VA public college system is, there is a huge dropoff after W&M if a kid wants a smaller school. If my one child does not get in, I'm not sure what her backups should be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:William and Mary US News says is mediocre!!!

DH and I are alums. I really feel like it is hard to fit it into any classification boxes. Its not a big research university, nor is it a SLAC. Its a weird hybrid. Anyway, it was a wonderful experience for us and all of our friends and I really feel like it will be a great fit for one of my children in particular who is not as outgoing socially. My other child really wants UVA or another larger school and prefers not to go to W&M due to size and lack of sports culture.

As good as the VA public college system is, there is a huge dropoff after W&M if a kid wants a smaller school. If my one child does not get in, I'm not sure what her backups should be.

It would be Mary Washington

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:William and Mary US News says is mediocre!!!

DH and I are alums. I really feel like it is hard to fit it into any classification boxes. Its not a big research university, nor is it a SLAC. Its a weird hybrid. Anyway, it was a wonderful experience for us and all of our friends and I really feel like it will be a great fit for one of my children in particular who is not as outgoing socially. My other child really wants UVA or another larger school and prefers not to go to W&M due to size and lack of sports culture.

As good as the VA public college system is, there is a huge dropoff after W&M if a kid wants a smaller school. If my one child does not get in, I'm not sure what her backups should be.

It would be Mary Washington

LOL. Reinforcing the huge drop off point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:William and Mary US News says is mediocre!!!

DH and I are alums. I really feel like it is hard to fit it into any classification boxes. Its not a big research university, nor is it a SLAC. Its a weird hybrid. Anyway, it was a wonderful experience for us and all of our friends and I really feel like it will be a great fit for one of my children in particular who is not as outgoing socially. My other child really wants UVA or another larger school and prefers not to go to W&M due to size and lack of sports culture.

As good as the VA public college system is, there is a huge dropoff after W&M if a kid wants a smaller school. If my one child does not get in, I'm not sure what her backups should be.

Why not Virginia Tech? Or JMU? They’re large enough where you will be able to find your people. I’m not in VA anymore, but envious of your choices!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:William and Mary US News says is mediocre!!!

DH and I are alums. I really feel like it is hard to fit it into any classification boxes. Its not a big research university, nor is it a SLAC. Its a weird hybrid. Anyway, it was a wonderful experience for us and all of our friends and I really feel like it will be a great fit for one of my children in particular who is not as outgoing socially. My other child really wants UVA or another larger school and prefers not to go to W&M due to size and lack of sports culture.

As good as the VA public college system is, there is a huge dropoff after W&M if a kid wants a smaller school. If my one child does not get in, I'm not sure what her backups should be.

It would be Mary Washington

After CWM, Radford would be next by size, then Christopher Newport. MaryDub and Longwood around 3,500 undergrads.

[Anonymous]

Which school did your kid pick?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My concern with CS at William &Mary is that it is not well established, as it is a new program. I think they are building their own school, but that won't happen until next year.

CS at W&M has been a thing since at least the 90s. It's definitely very established, although I would also make the argument with a fast moving field like CS that being newer is not a detriment.

I went to grad school for CS at UVA in the early 90s and there were quite a few W&M CS students in grad school with me.

[Anonymous]

Get in first (both are tough admits) and then we can discuss realistically

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:William and Mary US News says is mediocre!!!

DH and I are alums. I really feel like it is hard to fit it into any classification boxes. Its not a big research university, nor is it a SLAC. Its a weird hybrid. Anyway, it was a wonderful experience for us and all of our friends and I really feel like it will be a great fit for one of my children in particular who is not as outgoing socially. My other child really wants UVA or another larger school and prefers not to go to W&M due to size and lack of sports culture.

As good as the VA public college system is, there is a huge dropoff after W&M if a kid wants a smaller school. If my one child does not get in, I'm not sure what her backups should be.

+1
Did I write this?
W&M’s ranking is seriously hurt by the changes to the USNWR metrics of not counting class sizes anymore and not focusing on factors related to the undergraduate experience ( vs graduate resources / focus).

It remains a great school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this is trivial, but I was so disappointed in W&M’s library. This is one of the oldest colleges in the U.S., I was expecting something very different. Their library looks like any public library in a Midwest suburb.

It has an overall satisfaction rate of 98% among students and a large, impressive collection. It’s incredibly spacious, well-lit, and well-staffed. I’m not sure what you were expecting, but you really couldn’t do much better.