What’s wrong with William & Mary?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Honestly, no college town in Virginia is anything like Ann Arbor. There isn't anything close to that in Charlottesville or Blacksburg. There is really very little at the Corner in Charlottesville and downtown is a couple of miles away. Downtown isn't a real college area. 29 North is dangerously close to strip mall territory. But although I enjoyed Ann Arbor on my visits, it would not be my ideal place to go to school. The school is huge and requires bus rides, there are some dodgy areas, students are pushed away from campus for housing, weather can be harsh. Austin has a lot of the same issues.

There is a tremendous amount there, but students can get pushed to areas that aren't so nice. Berkeley is similar, but isn't nearly as nice as Austin or Ann Arbor. Sure, there are things in San Francisco, etc., but is distant and expensive.

[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.

100% agree with this.

Williamsburg sucks as a "college town." However, the students keep coming because its an affordable, high quality education that rigorously prepares you for graduate school and in-demand professions.

[Anonymous]

I think the school relies less on the college town providing fun--they provide a lot of opportunities--for instance, nearly every weekend there are low-cost trips--backpacking, canoeing, caving, skiing, skydiving etc. and lots of day/evening events (day hikes, canoeing). In a way the boring town pushes students more to 'experiences' and group projects/activities supplemented by an ongoing supply of just hanging out and frat and house parties.

[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.

You seem to be omitting or forgetting a lot of things. There are four bar/restaurant/delis right across from the football stadium that entirely cater to students. If you go into Merchants Square directly across the corner from the Wren Building, there are some expensive restaurants and shops, but also ones like Cheese Shop (great sandwiches), Brickhouse Tavern, the bookstore, Aromas, Precarious Beer Project, etc. You can take a 5 minute bus or bike to New Town Williamsburg, which has a lot of shops, a big movie theater complex, etc.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps the town or W&M isn't for everyone, but somehow W&M is in top 3 for graduation rate and is top for alumni giving rate among national public universities. Among all colleges, it is number 6 for happiest students in Princeton Review surveys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps the town or W&M isn't for everyone, but somehow W&M is in top 3 for graduation rate and is top for alumni giving rate among national public universities. Among all colleges, it is number 6 for happiest students in Princeton Review surveys.

The alumni giving rate is more a function of W&M being a far smaller college compared to other public universities and having the wealthiest students (parent's wealth) of any public university.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You seem to be omitting or forgetting a lot of things. There are four bar/restaurant/delis right across from the football stadium that entirely cater to students. If you go into Merchants Square directly across the corner from the Wren Building, there are some expensive restaurants and shops, but also ones like Cheese Shop (great sandwiches), Brickhouse Tavern, the bookstore, Aromas, Precarious Beer Project, etc. You can take a 5 minute bus or bike to New Town Williamsburg, which has a lot of shops, a big movie theater complex, etc.

Yes, 4 establishments total (including all delis, bars, and restaurants) in the entire town catering to students. You're making my point that the town does not cater to the students.
Cheese Shop is rather expensive and is meant for tourists, not students.
Bookstore is the university's official bookstore, every college has one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You seem to be omitting or forgetting a lot of things. There are four bar/restaurant/delis right across from the football stadium that entirely cater to students. If you go into Merchants Square directly across the corner from the Wren Building, there are some expensive restaurants and shops, but also ones like Cheese Shop (great sandwiches), Brickhouse Tavern, the bookstore, Aromas, Precarious Beer Project, etc. You can take a 5 minute bus or bike to New Town Williamsburg, which has a lot of shops, a big movie theater complex, etc.

Yes, 4 establishments total (including all delis, bars, and restaurants) in the entire town catering to students. You're making my point that the town does not cater to the students.
Cheese Shop is rather expensive and is meant for tourists, not students.
Bookstore is the university's official bookstore, every college has one.

And its not a 5 minute bus, more like a 30 minute bus and it only comes every hour. To go to the residential suburban part of town where no student goes to because its way too far away from campus. New Town Williamsburg, again, caters to the middle-aged suburbanite families with kids, not to students. Not students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps the town or W&M isn't for everyone, but somehow W&M is in top 3 for graduation rate and is top for alumni giving rate among national public universities. Among all colleges, it is number 6 for happiest students in Princeton Review surveys.

The alumni giving rate is more a function of W&M being a far smaller college compared to other public universities and having the wealthiest students (parent's wealth) of any public university.

You are going out of your way to be dismissive. There are many public universities of a similar size to W&M. The top 20 national universities in alumni giving according to USNWR are:

Princeton, Dartmouth, Notre Dame, USC, Chicago, Johns Hopkins, Penn, MIT, Duke, Harvard, Northwestern, Brown, Georgetown, William & Mary, Columbia, Stanford, Rice, Villanova, Yale, Caltech.

W&M is the only public. I would argue it a pretty good list to be on.

[Anonymous]

"oh no, william and mary won't do"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"oh no, william and mary won't do"

Made us so sad as kids when we found out Annandale was Annandale-on-Hudson (Bard College), not Annandale VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps the town or W&M isn't for everyone, but somehow W&M is in top 3 for graduation rate and is top for alumni giving rate among national public universities. Among all colleges, it is number 6 for happiest students in Princeton Review surveys.

The alumni giving rate is more a function of W&M being a far smaller college compared to other public universities and having the wealthiest students (parent's wealth) of any public university.

You are going out of your way to be dismissive. There are many public universities of a similar size to W&M. The top 20 national universities in alumni giving according to USNWR are:

Princeton, Dartmouth, Notre Dame, USC, Chicago, Johns Hopkins, Penn, MIT, Duke, Harvard, Northwestern, Brown, Georgetown, William & Mary, Columbia, Stanford, Rice, Villanova, Yale, Caltech.

W&M is the only public. I would argue it a pretty good list to be on.

W&M is about 7000 students. How many public universities are of that size?
That list is certainly a good one to be on - also rather impressive of USC considering they are far larger undergraduate population than the others; but again USC is a school of very wealthy students. Regardless, I was responding to the person I quoted who said W&M was the top among public universities. I'm pointing out why thats the case: size and wealthy student population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps the town or W&M isn't for everyone, but somehow W&M is in top 3 for graduation rate and is top for alumni giving rate among national public universities. Among all colleges, it is number 6 for happiest students in Princeton Review surveys.

The alumni giving rate is more a function of W&M being a far smaller college compared to other public universities and having the wealthiest students (parent's wealth) of any public university.

You are going out of your way to be dismissive. There are many public universities of a similar size to W&M. The top 20 national universities in alumni giving according to USNWR are:

Princeton, Dartmouth, Notre Dame, USC, Chicago, Johns Hopkins, Penn, MIT, Duke, Harvard, Northwestern, Brown, Georgetown, William & Mary, Columbia, Stanford, Rice, Villanova, Yale, Caltech.

W&M is the only public. I would argue it a pretty good list to be on.

W&M is about 7000 students. How many public universities are of that size?
That list is certainly a good one to be on - also rather impressive of USC considering they are far larger undergraduate population than the others; but again USC is a school of very wealthy students. Regardless, I was responding to the person I quoted who said W&M was the top among public universities. I'm pointing out why thats the case: size and wealthy student population.

Unhappy alumni don't tend to give back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"oh no, william and mary won't do"

Made us so sad as kids when we found out Annandale was Annandale-on-Hudson (Bard College), not Annandale VA.

I think in a Rolling Stone interview he said the William & Mary syllables fit really well and that was why it was used. I always liked that song.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps the town or W&M isn't for everyone, but somehow W&M is in top 3 for graduation rate and is top for alumni giving rate among national public universities. Among all colleges, it is number 6 for happiest students in Princeton Review surveys.

The alumni giving rate is more a function of W&M being a far smaller college compared to other public universities and having the wealthiest students (parent's wealth) of any public university.

You are going out of your way to be dismissive. There are many public universities of a similar size to W&M. The top 20 national universities in alumni giving according to USNWR are:

Princeton, Dartmouth, Notre Dame, USC, Chicago, Johns Hopkins, Penn, MIT, Duke, Harvard, Northwestern, Brown, Georgetown, William & Mary, Columbia, Stanford, Rice, Villanova, Yale, Caltech.

W&M is the only public. I would argue it a pretty good list to be on.

W&M is about 7000 students. How many public universities are of that size?
That list is certainly a good one to be on - also rather impressive of USC considering they are far larger undergraduate population than the others; but again USC is a school of very wealthy students. Regardless, I was responding to the person I quoted who said W&M was the top among public universities. I'm pointing out why thats the case: size and wealthy student population.

The point I would make is that W&M undergraduate enrollment and percentage of students living on campus is actually very similar to a lot of schools many students view as the ideal. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown, Stanford, Rice, Chicago, etc. are all similar in undergraduate enrollment and residential percentages. W&M is not as prestigious as these schools, but it is pretty much the only highly-regarded public that would be similar in enrollment and residential nature. It is a unique public option.