DC can’t decide

[Anonymous]

I’m a W&M alum who studied abroad. Loved it. But it doesn’t sound like a fit for him at all.

The people saying it’s an obvious choice due to ranking are focused on the wrong thing - and don’t seem to be taking the particulars of this student into account at all.

To me, it’s JMU vs U of SC. Edge to South Carolina, because it seems he wants to stretch himself a bit, and I think you should honor that.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t pay more for U of SC than JMU.

[Anonymous]

I guess I'm going to be the odd one out here. I'd go with W&M or USC and then JMU.

My DC also had similar options including the spring admit for W&M and Honors College at JMU. I was hoping my DC would consider the W&M spring admit, but like your son, they weren't interested. I know students who have gone that path and it has turned out really well. Often those kids grow (mature) more than the kids who entered directly in the fall. It seems like there is a lot of switching around of friend groups that first semester/year, so I don't think the spring admits miss out on that much. And, they will have a strong cohort from their trip abroad. If you have Facebook, you can join the W&M Parents page and ask parents about their experience. I've heard very positive things. If your son could also check out the Instagram page for the Verto group: https://www.instagram.com/vertoeducation.

I also know several NoVA kids at USC who are very happy. We really liked the JMU Honors College but my DC wanted a change of pace from NoVA and wanted to be further away. I wouldn't worry too much about the politics of UofSC. Most college campuses and cities are going to be pretty liberal. South Carolina would be a fun place to visit too!

[Anonymous]

This is the first big decision of his adult life. You want him to own it. All choices are reasonable-enough. You have no crystal ball. It might be that he makes the decision based a hunch, a vibe, some intangible. Even if he can't explain, that's ok. Once he decides, and it's his decision, his alone, he will work hard to prove to everyone that it was a good decision. That's what you want above all else.

[Anonymous]

Trust his gut and go to UofSC. Darla Moore is an outstanding business school and they have a significant out of state population, so a DC kid isn’t going to feel out of place.

[Anonymous]

In case he's interested in medicine. Greatest exposure to a variety of Health Sciences is UofSC. I know you said he wasn't sure. For a student considering a medical profession, I would only send them to a national university with an affiliated teaching hospital. Among your choices, that's U of South Carolina. It's a 700-bed University hospital and research center. Training 3,000+ students and 700 residents. It has 6 colleges (Medicine, Dental Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions, and Graduate Studies). It's a pipeline.

[Anonymous]

My DS was a sophomore transfer to W&M. They do a terrific job at orienting new students. He met many other transfers and settled in nicely-- joined a frat and a club team, and is doing really well in school.

One of DS's friends from high school took the January admit option. He spent the fall semester abroad at one of the recommended programs, and made friends with several kids who were also headed to W&M, so he started in January with an established friend group.

Worked out great for both kids!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the first big decision of his adult life. You want him to own it. All choices are reasonable-enough. You have no crystal ball. It might be that he makes the decision based a hunch, a vibe, some intangible. Even if he can't explain, that's ok. Once he decides, and it's his decision, his alone, he will work hard to prove to everyone that it was a good decision. That's what you want above all else.

First big decision with $200k or more of the parents’ $.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In case he's interested in medicine. Greatest exposure to a variety of Health Sciences is UofSC. I know you said he wasn't sure. For a student considering a medical profession, I would only send them to a national university with an affiliated teaching hospital. Among your choices, that's U of South Carolina. It's a 700-bed University hospital and research center. Training 3,000+ students and 700 residents. It has 6 colleges (Medicine, Dental Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions, and Graduate Studies). It's a pipeline.

+100 This is a no-brainer.

[Anonymous]

My DD has similar options including JMU honors and has chosen W&M spring pathway, off to London in the fall. There is a FB group called William & Mary Spring Pathway, Class of 27 that you can join. I have found v helpful, many parents from last year's cohort weighing in, both the study abroad and CC pathways.

I've seen lots of great feedback on the Verto program and have gotten comfortable. It definitely gives them a lot more of a social experience in the fall than a CC semester would.

At the end of the day, she greatly prefers W&M to her other options, and glad she has this opportunity to make it happen!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the first big decision of his adult life. You want him to own it. All choices are reasonable-enough. You have no crystal ball. It might be that he makes the decision based a hunch, a vibe, some intangible. Even if he can't explain, that's ok. Once he decides, and it's his decision, his alone, he will work hard to prove to everyone that it was a good decision. That's what you want above all else.

This, learning to make these types of decisions is an important of growing up.

[Anonymous]

I think you should let your son go to Univ. of South Carolina. The business school is great and the school overall seems to have everything he is looking for. Otherwise, if he goes to W&M and it doesn't work out, then he may resent you for who knows how long. If he goes to UofSC and it doesn't work out, he only has himself to blame. Sometimes, kids just need to figure things out on their own. There is FAR less resentment and disappointment when a outcome is due to one's own decisions rather than when the decision was forced upon them by someone else. Again, the good news is that UofSC is a good school - particularly their business school, so it's not a bad choice.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Personally I would run, not walk towards W&M and not bother with the others.

This. WM is far and away the superior choice, even with the spring issue

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally I would run, not walk towards W&M and not bother with the others.

This. WM is far and away the superior choice, even with the spring issue

Not for a sporty kid.