What’s wrong with William & Mary?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My senior has narrowed down his colleges to W&M and VT. He is leaning toward W&M because of the size and has heard great things about the Business School. He has heard there is not much school spirit and that campus life is boring compared to other colleges. Would love to get some input.

In my experience, W&M alumni are very loyal, but it more like Ivy loyalty, and less like big time sports school spirit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My senior has narrowed down his colleges to W&M and VT. He is leaning toward W&M because of the size and has heard great things about the Business School. He has heard there is not much school spirit and that campus life is boring compared to other colleges. Would love to get some input.

W&M students are very social in their own way. Students usually do lots of activities. They are joiners. The Greek system is quite large and active, with about 30% of students joining, but it isn't as dominant as it is at lots of schools.

Princeton Review has some good insights and ratings on W&M if you have access to it.

[Anonymous]

I did not go to W&M, but I spent A LOT of time there as my ex was doing her MS in Williamsburg. I met a lot of her colleagues and students (she was teaching chemistry and materials science along with doing bench research for her advisor before applying to PhD programs....she got into a top 5 materials science & engineering PhD program, FYI)

It's a small city. Like, really small once you cut out the tourist and military amenities. There isn't a lot to do off-campus. There really are no bars (you can only drink in restaurants or 'delis'), so the Greek scene is really big. Even if you're not in a frat, a lot of students frequent the frat party scene. There's also kids who live in off-campus housing, including full SFHs so a lot of partying will happen there.

Given the degree of boredom, you either become (1) super dedicated toward your studies or (2) really into the Greek and house party scene. My ex was teaching a hard science and her students were intensely focused on their work, getting ready to apply for graduate school or med school. Any students who get into partying, change their major to something less rigorous. She was tough as nails on her students and told me about the kids who would drop out.

In a certain sense, W&M doesn't coddle you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My senior has narrowed down his colleges to W&M and VT. He is leaning toward W&M because of the size and has heard great things about the Business School. He has heard there is not much school spirit and that campus life is boring compared to other colleges. Would love to get some input.

In my experience, W&M alumni are very loyal, but it more like Ivy loyalty, and less like big time sports school spirit.

I think there is a lot of school spirit and sense of belonging. The town is boring (touristy, small) but campus life is fun with plenty of parties and lots of activities. 6000 students is a good size--small enough to feel like a community, large enough for plenty of niches.

[Anonymous]

W&M students don’t do the town thing much. Williamsburg is not a college town in the sense that everything revolves around the school (like UVA) if you want that W&M may not be the right fit. But I know quite a few and they don’t seem bored.

[Anonymous]

The people in colonial garb freaked my kid out when we toured. Also, the phrase "demented and sad, but social" pretty much sums up the student body.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The people in colonial garb freaked my kid out when we toured. Also, the phrase "demented and sad, but social" pretty much sums up the student body.

Are you not American?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:W&M students don’t do the town thing much. Williamsburg is not a college town in the sense that everything revolves around the school (like UVA) if you want that W&M may not be the right fit. But I know quite a few and they don’t seem bored.

W&M students may jog or walk through the colonial part of Williamsburg, and it is very nice for that, but otherwise that area doesn't really come into play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The people in colonial garb freaked my kid out when we toured. Also, the phrase "demented and sad, but social" pretty much sums up the student body.

You sound like a wonderful family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:W&M students don’t do the town thing much. Williamsburg is not a college town in the sense that everything revolves around the school (like UVA) if you want that W&M may not be the right fit. But I know quite a few and they don’t seem bored.

Williamsburg has changed quite a bit. The population in that area has really grown. Here is an article from Southern Living, which named it the best Southern town.

https://www.southernliving.com/travel/virginia/williamsburg-va

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did not go to W&M, but I spent A LOT of time there as my ex was doing her MS in Williamsburg. I met a lot of her colleagues and students (she was teaching chemistry and materials science along with doing bench research for her advisor before applying to PhD programs....she got into a top 5 materials science & engineering PhD program, FYI)

It's a small city. Like, really small once you cut out the tourist and military amenities. There isn't a lot to do off-campus. There really are no bars (you can only drink in restaurants or 'delis'), so the Greek scene is really big. Even if you're not in a frat, a lot of students frequent the frat party scene. There's also kids who live in off-campus housing, including full SFHs so a lot of partying will happen there.

Given the degree of boredom, you either become (1) super dedicated toward your studies or (2) really into the Greek and house party scene. My ex was teaching a hard science and her students were intensely focused on their work, getting ready to apply for graduate school or med school. Any students who get into partying, change their major to something less rigorous. She was tough as nails on her students and told me about the kids who would drop out.

In a certain sense, W&M doesn't coddle you.

I think my kid, a recent WM grad, would agree with this.

[Anonymous]

Williamsburg is a terrible town for a college student. It is first and foremost:

1. For tourists
2. For wealthy retirees from the north
3. For suburbanite commuters who work in Richmond/Hampton Roads

The walkable area directly adjacent to campus has a lot of restaurants that are extremely high in price to the point that no college student can afford to even enter and is only frequented by the wealthy retirees.
The shops in that area are tourist merchandise, again extremely expensive goods.

Other areas of the town are simply a suburban hellscape similar to NOVA, where it is impossible to travel without a car.

It is indeed sad because the campus-adjacent walkable area is actually nice and could mirror the walkable areas of Charlottesville where many UVA students frequent, but the extremely high prices and catering to old retirees almost intentionally excludes college students. The old retirees have complete control of the town government and seem to hate the college students; it seems like they just want to live near a historical college more than anything.

The rest of the areas are inaccessible to students without a car and is more than anything just a suburban hellscape for middle-aged families with children.

Cue the current reputation of the college as an unattractive place to spend 4-years. And it certainly is unattractive.

College towns like Athens, Berkeley, Ann Arbor, Charlottesville, Chapel Hill, even Cambridge, grew around colleges and cater to the college population and faculty. Williamsburg simply does not.

Many younger faculty live in Richmond and commute to Williamsburg simply because the town is terribly deficient for non-retired individuals. The college students would probably do the same if they could.

[Anonymous]

I thought the tourist center would be a problem for my DC but it hasn’t. There are walkable places for food but many students have cars. The James river is nearby and has sailing and some beaches. It’s not a college town like Ann Arbor.
But some students surprisingly go there for an affordable education. Not a 4 year party. Strange I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Williamsburg is a terrible town for a college student. It is first and foremost:

1. For tourists
2. For wealthy retirees from the north
3. For suburbanite commuters who work in Richmond/Hampton Roads

The walkable area directly adjacent to campus has a lot of restaurants that are extremely high in price to the point that no college student can afford to even enter and is only frequented by the wealthy retirees.
The shops in that area are tourist merchandise, again extremely expensive goods.

Other areas of the town are simply a suburban hellscape similar to NOVA, where it is impossible to travel without a car.

It is indeed sad because the campus-adjacent walkable area is actually nice and could mirror the walkable areas of Charlottesville where many UVA students frequent, but the extremely high prices and catering to old retirees almost intentionally excludes college students. The old retirees have complete control of the town government and seem to hate the college students; it seems like they just want to live near a historical college more than anything.

The rest of the areas are inaccessible to students without a car and is more than anything just a suburban hellscape for middle-aged families with children.

Cue the current reputation of the college as an unattractive place to spend 4-years. And it certainly is unattractive.

College towns like Athens, Berkeley, Ann Arbor, Charlottesville, Chapel Hill, even Cambridge, grew around colleges and cater to the college population and faculty. Williamsburg simply does not.

Many younger faculty live in Richmond and commute to Williamsburg simply because the town is terribly deficient for non-retired individuals. The college students would probably do the same if they could.

Well that is your view. I loved my four years there. Most of my best friends are from my time there.

[Anonymous]

Lack of affordable college town does not mean lack of partying. It might lack of a decent life - food options, shopping options, living options all matter and are not related to partying. All very expensive for the area.