Anyone else surprised by a lack of interest in William & Mary?

[Anonymous]

I’d be very happy if dc wound up at Richmond Law

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone do a side-by-side comparison between William & Mary and University of Richmond? As a parent, I like both schools.

They are two of the prettiest schools I've seen, but that's probably not what you are looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:W&M is one of the top desired schools at my kid's FCPS high school--basically it's UVA and W&M. I'm glad to hear this isn't the case everywhere so it may be easier for DC to get in. It seems like most of the high achieving kids are either doing WM ED and UVA EA or UVA ED and WM EDII.

Not being snarky here I'm really asking... No Ivies or other Top 20 schools for these top students? Can you elaborate? Have the top kids realized what a crap shoot T20 schools are and saving their early pics for schools they have a better chance at, and will be affordable? My DS graduated two years ago (NOVA public) and most of the top kids did ED/EA top 20 school, and then an early action to either UVA or VT or UWM (maybe those didn't have EA but that was the general plan). I'm wondering with DC#2 if we should just skip the whole top 20 thing, and it seems like I'm not the only one thinking this. Of course it will be DC's decision, but still a family discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because the parents remember when it was a pressure cooker and had an extremely high suicide rate.

This is a rumor which has had no basis in fact when use actual data and rates. From an article in the local paper (Virginia Gazette) when William & Mary opened its new student health and wellness center a year ago:

Tracy Cross, a psychology professor at the university, has studied suicidal behavior among gifted students for almost 25 years. He said that while it may be easy to connect high stress and suicide, research shows the two are not directly related. Stress may cause unhealthy habits, but it doesn’t lead people to end their lives. Cross said William and Mary is sometimes labeled as a “suicide school,” but their numbers are no different from the national average.

Well most parents graduated 30 years or more ago. It seemed like every week someone from w&m killed themselves. I would never encourage anyone to go there.

DP: But what it "seemed like" is not held up by the numbers--now or back then. Suicide on college campuses is a real concern but no more at W&M than elsewhere. So you're deciding not to encourage someone based on a faulty perception.

https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2015/04/16/william-and-mary-faces-fourth-suicide-year

https://www.thecollegefix.com/surge-in-deaths-leaves-william-mary-battling-suicide-school-rep/

http://solano.networkofcare.org/mh/news-article-detail.aspx?id=54602

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W&M is one of the top desired schools at my kid's FCPS high school--basically it's UVA and W&M. I'm glad to hear this isn't the case everywhere so it may be easier for DC to get in. It seems like most of the high achieving kids are either doing WM ED and UVA EA or UVA ED and WM EDII.

Not being snarky here I'm really asking... No Ivies or other Top 20 schools for these top students? Can you elaborate? Have the top kids realized what a crap shoot T20 schools are and saving their early pics for schools they have a better chance at, and will be affordable? My DS graduated two years ago (NOVA public) and most of the top kids did ED/EA top 20 school, and then an early action to either UVA or VT or UWM (maybe those didn't have EA but that was the general plan). I'm wondering with DC#2 if we should just skip the whole top 20 thing, and it seems like I'm not the only one thinking this. Of course it will be DC's decision, but still a family discussion.

VT and W&M have ED only. UVA brought back ED for the first time in a decade this year. UVA also offers EA. Ivies don’t have merit aid, only need based aid. If you are a top performing kid from a doughnut hole family, you aren’t getting any aid from any highly selective school. Our EFC for Penn was $50K+. We could pay that for our daughter to go to college, but not without wiping out savings, mortgaging our house, or forcing her to take out a jumbo loan. We are in state for Virginia so we have top rated schools that are well priced. Our daughter and her friends are a pragmatic bunch. They are all focused on getting the best education they can without burdening themselves with excessive student loan debt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W&M is one of the top desired schools at my kid's FCPS high school--basically it's UVA and W&M. I'm glad to hear this isn't the case everywhere so it may be easier for DC to get in. It seems like most of the high achieving kids are either doing WM ED and UVA EA or UVA ED and WM EDII.

Not being snarky here I'm really asking... No Ivies or other Top 20 schools for these top students? Can you elaborate? Have the top kids realized what a crap shoot T20 schools are and saving their early pics for schools they have a better chance at, and will be affordable? My DS graduated two years ago (NOVA public) and most of the top kids did ED/EA top 20 school, and then an early action to either UVA or VT or UWM (maybe those didn't have EA but that was the general plan). I'm wondering with DC#2 if we should just skip the whole top 20 thing, and it seems like I'm not the only one thinking this. Of course it will be DC's decision, but still a family discussion.

What is UWM? Not being snarky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d be very happy if dc wound up at Richmond Law

why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wake forest and W & L are heavily Greek and big party schools.W & M is quite the opposite.

Absurd characterization. Both are superb institutions filled with extremely bright students who also have fun. WVU is a big party school.

Wake Forest and Washington and Lee are popular with rejects from better schools, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our oldest (sophomore) has already ruled out W&M and UVA. She's an honors student, and could be on track for both. She thinks W&M is a pressure cooker and UVA is too snobby. She's going with Virginia Tech.

In other words, she can't get into UVA. Cool story tho.

Neither could you.

It's amazing how many people "rule out" UVA right after they realize they can't get in. Like you.

I went to Penn decades ago. My college search is finished. Enjoy your George Mason degree!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because the parents remember when it was a pressure cooker and had an extremely high suicide rate.

You appear on virtually every William and Mary thread ti say this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W&M is one of the top desired schools at my kid's FCPS high school--basically it's UVA and W&M. I'm glad to hear this isn't the case everywhere so it may be easier for DC to get in. It seems like most of the high achieving kids are either doing WM ED and UVA EA or UVA ED and WM EDII.

Not being snarky here I'm really asking... No Ivies or other Top 20 schools for these top students? Can you elaborate? Have the top kids realized what a crap shoot T20 schools are and saving their early pics for schools they have a better chance at, and will be affordable? My DS graduated two years ago (NOVA public) and most of the top kids did ED/EA top 20 school, and then an early action to either UVA or VT or UWM (maybe those didn't have EA but that was the general plan). I'm wondering with DC#2 if we should just skip the whole top 20 thing, and it seems like I'm not the only one thinking this. Of course it will be DC's decision, but still a family discussion.

What is UWM? Not being snarky.

Sorry William and Mary. Is it W&M then? I saw UWM on another thread and assume that was how to write it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W&M is one of the top desired schools at my kid's FCPS high school--basically it's UVA and W&M. I'm glad to hear this isn't the case everywhere so it may be easier for DC to get in. It seems like most of the high achieving kids are either doing WM ED and UVA EA or UVA ED and WM EDII.

Not being snarky here I'm really asking... No Ivies or other Top 20 schools for these top students? Can you elaborate? Have the top kids realized what a crap shoot T20 schools are and saving their early pics for schools they have a better chance at, and will be affordable? My DS graduated two years ago (NOVA public) and most of the top kids did ED/EA top 20 school, and then an early action to either UVA or VT or UWM (maybe those didn't have EA but that was the general plan). I'm wondering with DC#2 if we should just skip the whole top 20 thing, and it seems like I'm not the only one thinking this. Of course it will be DC's decision, but still a family discussion.

VT and W&M have ED only. UVA brought back ED for the first time in a decade this year. UVA also offers EA. Ivies don’t have merit aid, only need based aid. If you are a top performing kid from a doughnut hole family, you aren’t getting any aid from any highly selective school. Our EFC for Penn was $50K+. We could pay that for our daughter to go to college, but not without wiping out savings, mortgaging our house, or forcing her to take out a jumbo loan. We are in state for Virginia so we have top rated schools that are well priced. Our daughter and her friends are a pragmatic bunch. They are all focused on getting the best education they can without burdening themselves with excessive student loan debt.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because the parents remember when it was a pressure cooker and had an extremely high suicide rate.

You appear on virtually every William and Mary thread ti say this?

PP here. I’ve never posted about this before. I’m sure there are a lot of people with the same perception.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W&M is one of the top desired schools at my kid's FCPS high school--basically it's UVA and W&M. I'm glad to hear this isn't the case everywhere so it may be easier for DC to get in. It seems like most of the high achieving kids are either doing WM ED and UVA EA or UVA ED and WM EDII.

Not being snarky here I'm really asking... No Ivies or other Top 20 schools for these top students? Can you elaborate? Have the top kids realized what a crap shoot T20 schools are and saving their early pics for schools they have a better chance at, and will be affordable? My DS graduated two years ago (NOVA public) and most of the top kids did ED/EA top 20 school, and then an early action to either UVA or VT or UWM (maybe those didn't have EA but that was the general plan). I'm wondering with DC#2 if we should just skip the whole top 20 thing, and it seems like I'm not the only one thinking this. Of course it will be DC's decision, but still a family discussion.

VT and W&M have ED only. UVA brought back ED for the first time in a decade this year. UVA also offers EA. Ivies don’t have merit aid, only need based aid. If you are a top performing kid from a doughnut hole family, you aren’t getting any aid from any highly selective school. Our EFC for Penn was $50K+. We could pay that for our daughter to go to college, but not without wiping out savings, mortgaging our house, or forcing her to take out a jumbo loan. We are in state for Virginia so we have top rated schools that are well priced. Our daughter and her friends are a pragmatic bunch. They are all focused on getting the best education they can without burdening themselves with excessive student loan debt.

Thank you.

Yes, the Top20 are a crapshoot and expensive and W&M and UVA are so strong and competitive that it seems better to lock in whichever of these is more preferred. I think the kids with no financial constraints might throw their hat in for an Ivy especially if there's legacy or a hook of some kind but what I've seen is that kids who want more of a SLAC environment go for W&M and those who want a bigger U go for UVA. If they don't get in to either, the kids who want a SLAC often go for mid-tier SLACs as well (think ranked 40-80) where there's a lot of merit aid for high achievers. Kids who want a bigger U either go to a VA school (JMU, VT, GMU...) or an OOS U with not too bad costs or known aid for OOS kids with good stats. Many donut hole families in FCPS seem to set their own bar of total cost of attendance at 40k and they can only get that via these strategies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because the parents remember when it was a pressure cooker and had an extremely high suicide rate.

You appear on virtually every William and Mary thread ti say this?

PP here. I’ve never posted about this before. I’m sure there are a lot of people with the same perception.

ok, troll.