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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Like every school but one, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:William and Mary graduate here. I loved my time at William and Mary. But I will say this... things may have changed since I graduated a while ago...

- the campus is beautiful
- the campus is historic but the college has invested in dorms, the library, the theatre, and most buildings on campus
- it has a small community feel
- most professors are fantastic ... every single professor I had was fantastic
- class sizes are small even the 100 lectures
- students encouraged to take senior seminars as juniors or sophomores
- safe campus
- really down to Earth people

- not much to do on weekends besides hang with friends
- no major sports teams
- harder grading/ more work
- career counseling/placement is lacking
- some segregation among diverse communities (not a lot of mixing outside of class)
- not too many options for social clubs/ intramural sports
- conservative leaning

The school is rigorous but prepares you well for the world outside of college because you are expected to perform at a higher level.

You need to know your child well before you decide if they will be
happy at W&M.

Huh. I graduated in 2000 so maybe things have changed a lot but I didn’t get the conservative leaning feel at all. Off the top of my head, I recall there was a vocal Republican student group and an evangelical Christian student group, but I knew just as many kids in theater and the arts, environmental activists, working on campaigns for Democratic candidates, working for the student radio and newspaper, etc that more than balanced them out.

Actually, the kids who went to W&M from my high school were much more liberal, and ones who picked UVA were conservative, e.g Southern Baptist, involved in Young Life, members of the local country club, etc. Tech was the non-preppy version of UVA, and JMU was the most common in-state alternative to W&M. Small high school in SE VA so it was pretty easy to see how people lined up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Like every school but one, no?

Perhaps two, one starting with an "H" and one starting with an "S".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a good place for brainy kids who aren't into getting drunk several times a week. My Kid who went there liked to go hiking and camping, went to parties occasionally but preferred hanging out with friends, playing games or watching movies. I think my kid wished Williamsburg was more of a college town, like Charlottesville, but he was turned off by the fratty UVA culture.

W&M has a greater no. of students participating in frats than UVA. Also, you can go to UVA for four years and never once step into a greek house - they are all off campus.

I am curious if anyone really turned down UVA to go to W&M if admitted to both?

Yes. UVA is very large and extremely competitive. Not everyone loves UVA contrary to popular opinion.

I literally don’t know anyone who has turned down UVA for W&M. Not. One.

[Anonymous]

Ah well now you know someone. I did it - albeit 15 years ago now. Never once regretted the decision. W&M is a fantastic school and I am so glad I went there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ah well now you know someone. I did it - albeit 15 years ago now. Never once regretted the decision. W&M is a fantastic school and I am so glad I went there.

I did as well. Thinking back to my friends, I would say most did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a good place for brainy kids who aren't into getting drunk several times a week. My Kid who went there liked to go hiking and camping, went to parties occasionally but preferred hanging out with friends, playing games or watching movies. I think my kid wished Williamsburg was more of a college town, like Charlottesville, but he was turned off by the fratty UVA culture.

W&M has a greater no. of students participating in frats than UVA. Also, you can go to UVA for four years and never once step into a greek house - they are all off campus.

I am curious if anyone really turned down UVA to go to W&M if admitted to both?

Yes. UVA is very large and extremely competitive. Not everyone loves UVA contrary to popular opinion.

I literally don’t know anyone who has turned down UVA for W&M. Not. One.

My DS did it 2 years ago as did many of his current classmates. UVa is a fine school, but not for everyone. I know it's hard for some to imagine that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a good place for brainy kids who aren't into getting drunk several times a week. My Kid who went there liked to go hiking and camping, went to parties occasionally but preferred hanging out with friends, playing games or watching movies. I think my kid wished Williamsburg was more of a college town, like Charlottesville, but he was turned off by the fratty UVA culture.

W&M has a greater no. of students participating in frats than UVA. Also, you can go to UVA for four years and never once step into a greek house - they are all off campus.

I am curious if anyone really turned down UVA to go to W&M if admitted to both?

Yes. UVA is very large and extremely competitive. Not everyone loves UVA contrary to popular opinion.

I literally don’t know anyone who has turned down UVA for W&M. Not. One.

My DS did it 2 years ago as did many of his current classmates. UVa is a fine school, but not for everyone. I know it's hard for some to imagine that.

Yea what a silly and factually inaccurate comment. Obviously many students apply to both schools, and while more who are accepted to both choose UVA many many many do not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a good place for brainy kids who aren't into getting drunk several times a week. My Kid who went there liked to go hiking and camping, went to parties occasionally but preferred hanging out with friends, playing games or watching movies. I think my kid wished Williamsburg was more of a college town, like Charlottesville, but he was turned off by the fratty UVA culture.

W&M has a greater no. of students participating in frats than UVA. Also, you can go to UVA for four years and never once step into a greek house - they are all off campus.

I am curious if anyone really turned down UVA to go to W&M if admitted to both?

Yes. UVA is very large and extremely competitive. Not everyone loves UVA contrary to popular opinion.

I literally don’t know anyone who has turned down UVA for W&M. Not. One.

My DS did it 2 years ago as did many of his current classmates. UVa is a fine school, but not for everyone. I know it's hard for some to imagine that.

Yea what a silly and factually inaccurate comment. Obviously many students apply to both schools, and while more who are accepted to both choose UVA many many many do not.

Yes, they appeal to very different students. I don't think someone who wants to go to W&M would be happy at UVA and vice-versa. According to Parchment's data, when choosing between the two, most do pick UVA but about a quarter pick W&M.

https://www.parchment.com/c/college/tools/college-cross-admit-comparison.php?compare=College+of+William+and+Mary&with=University+of+Virginia


FWIW, my DD wants a smaller school where she can have more exposure to science research as an undergrad (wants a PhD). She'll be applying to other SLACs too to see what merit $$ she can get but W&M is her first-choice for in-state. Not interested in UVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a good place for brainy kids who aren't into getting drunk several times a week. My Kid who went there liked to go hiking and camping, went to parties occasionally but preferred hanging out with friends, playing games or watching movies. I think my kid wished Williamsburg was more of a college town, like Charlottesville, but he was turned off by the fratty UVA culture.

W&M has a greater no. of students participating in frats than UVA. Also, you can go to UVA for four years and never once step into a greek house - they are all off campus.

I am curious if anyone really turned down UVA to go to W&M if admitted to both?

Yes. UVA is very large and extremely competitive. Not everyone loves UVA contrary to popular opinion.

I literally don’t know anyone who has turned down UVA for W&M. Not. One.

My own kid and several of her friends did (both male and female).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a good place for brainy kids who aren't into getting drunk several times a week. My Kid who went there liked to go hiking and camping, went to parties occasionally but preferred hanging out with friends, playing games or watching movies. I think my kid wished Williamsburg was more of a college town, like Charlottesville, but he was turned off by the fratty UVA culture.

W&M has a greater no. of students participating in frats than UVA. Also, you can go to UVA for four years and never once step into a greek house - they are all off campus.

I am curious if anyone really turned down UVA to go to W&M if admitted to both?

Yes. UVA is very large and extremely competitive. Not everyone loves UVA contrary to popular opinion.

I literally don’t know anyone who has turned down UVA for W&M. Not. One.

My DS did it 2 years ago as did many of his current classmates. UVa is a fine school, but not for everyone. I know it's hard for some to imagine that.

Yea what a silly and factually inaccurate comment. Obviously many students apply to both schools, and while more who are accepted to both choose UVA many many many do not.

Yes, they appeal to very different students. I don't think someone who wants to go to W&M would be happy at UVA and vice-versa. According to Parchment's data, when choosing between the two, most do pick UVA but about a quarter pick W&M.

https://www.parchment.com/c/college/tools/college-cross-admit-comparison.php?compare=College+of+William+and+Mary&with=University+of+Virginia


FWIW, my DD wants a smaller school where she can have more exposure to science research as an undergrad (wants a PhD). She'll be applying to other SLACs too to see what merit $$ she can get but W&M is her first-choice for in-state. Not interested in UVA.

I disagree. I did undergraduate at W&M and graduate at UVA. My impression is many would be actually happy at either if they give it a chance, but one is going to be a better fit than the other depending on what they are looking for and prefer.

What seems to get lost in these tit for tats is how unique W&M and UVA are. I've always thought graduation rates and percentage of alumni donating to the school are pretty good indicators of student satisfaction. Not too long ago when I looked (USNWR has the data), UVA was #1 in graduation rate and W&M was #2 among national universities. In alumni giving rate, W&M was #1 and UVA I believe was #3. The UCs, which are often cited as great undergraduate schools on this thread, were nowhere close, particularly on alumni giving.

I recall a number of freshman who had another school they thought they would have preferred (I recall Dartmouth, Penn, and Georgetown among close friends), but they were very happy once they settled in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a good place for brainy kids who aren't into getting drunk several times a week. My Kid who went there liked to go hiking and camping, went to parties occasionally but preferred hanging out with friends, playing games or watching movies. I think my kid wished Williamsburg was more of a college town, like Charlottesville, but he was turned off by the fratty UVA culture.

W&M has a greater no. of students participating in frats than UVA. Also, you can go to UVA for four years and never once step into a greek house - they are all off campus.

I am curious if anyone really turned down UVA to go to W&M if admitted to both?

Yes. UVA is very large and extremely competitive. Not everyone loves UVA contrary to popular opinion.

I literally don’t know anyone who has turned down UVA for W&M. Not. One.

My DS did it 2 years ago as did many of his current classmates. UVa is a fine school, but not for everyone. I know it's hard for some to imagine that.

Yea what a silly and factually inaccurate comment. Obviously many students apply to both schools, and while more who are accepted to both choose UVA many many many do not.

Yes, they appeal to very different students. I don't think someone who wants to go to W&M would be happy at UVA and vice-versa. According to Parchment's data, when choosing between the two, most do pick UVA but about a quarter pick W&M.

https://www.parchment.com/c/college/tools/college-cross-admit-comparison.php?compare=College+of+William+and+Mary&with=University+of+Virginia


FWIW, my DD wants a smaller school where she can have more exposure to science research as an undergrad (wants a PhD). She'll be applying to other SLACs too to see what merit $$ she can get but W&M is her first-choice for in-state. Not interested in UVA.

You won't see it on Parchment, but I've always suspected that many that apply to UVA don't apply to W&M and vice versa. You can see that this is correct for applicants to UVA not applying to W&M because the in-state UVA application numbers are larger than W&M. I think the opposite is true as well, based on what I've heard. I find this a bit odd because from my perspective, in-state, it really makes sense to apply to both (unless you have a course of study like engineering that isn't available at the other).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a good place for brainy kids who aren't into getting drunk several times a week. My Kid who went there liked to go hiking and camping, went to parties occasionally but preferred hanging out with friends, playing games or watching movies. I think my kid wished Williamsburg was more of a college town, like Charlottesville, but he was turned off by the fratty UVA culture.

W&M has a greater no. of students participating in frats than UVA. Also, you can go to UVA for four years and never once step into a greek house - they are all off campus.

I am curious if anyone really turned down UVA to go to W&M if admitted to both?

Yes. UVA is very large and extremely competitive. Not everyone loves UVA contrary to popular opinion.

I literally don’t know anyone who has turned down UVA for W&M. Not. One.

Well, if you could get access to the W&M alumni list, you could probably find thousands and thousands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a good place for brainy kids who aren't into getting drunk several times a week. My Kid who went there liked to go hiking and camping, went to parties occasionally but preferred hanging out with friends, playing games or watching movies. I think my kid wished Williamsburg was more of a college town, like Charlottesville, but he was turned off by the fratty UVA culture.

W&M has a greater no. of students participating in frats than UVA. Also, you can go to UVA for four years and never once step into a greek house - they are all off campus.

I am curious if anyone really turned down UVA to go to W&M if admitted to both?

Yes. UVA is very large and extremely competitive. Not everyone loves UVA contrary to popular opinion.

I literally don’t know anyone who has turned down UVA for W&M. Not. One.

I do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a good place for brainy kids who aren't into getting drunk several times a week. My Kid who went there liked to go hiking and camping, went to parties occasionally but preferred hanging out with friends, playing games or watching movies. I think my kid wished Williamsburg was more of a college town, like Charlottesville, but he was turned off by the fratty UVA culture.

W&M has a greater no. of students participating in frats than UVA. Also, you can go to UVA for four years and never once step into a greek house - they are all off campus.

I am curious if anyone really turned down UVA to go to W&M if admitted to both?

Yes. UVA is very large and extremely competitive. Not everyone loves UVA contrary to popular opinion.

I literally don’t know anyone who has turned down UVA for W&M. Not. One.

I'm another parent whose DS turned down UVA for W&M. He wanted a smaller school. He thought UVA was too big and wanted to be at a school where a large percentage of students live on campus all four years.