What’s wrong with William & Mary?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

And alumni with student debt because their parents weren't able to put them through college without loans don't tend to give back either. And large universities need far more alumni to give back to make it into a list based on percentages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

And alumni with student debt because their parents weren't able to put them through college without loans don't tend to give back either. And large universities need far more alumni to give back to make it into a list based on percentages.

Well then, they can solicit it from their larger alumni base. Unless of course those alumni aren't happy. . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

And alumni with student debt because their parents weren't able to put them through college without loans don't tend to give back either. And large universities need far more alumni to give back to make it into a list based on percentages.

Well then, they can solicit it from their larger alumni base. Unless of course those alumni aren't happy. . .

The parents of the median student at W&M makes $180k. At UVA its $140k despite being known as a wealthy, preppy school. All the other public universities are lower. I'm sure you can understand the effect of wealthier alumni base (based on parental income/wealth) on alumni donations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

And alumni with student debt because their parents weren't able to put them through college without loans don't tend to give back either. And large universities need far more alumni to give back to make it into a list based on percentages.

Well then, they can solicit it from their larger alumni base. Unless of course those alumni aren't happy. . .

The parents of the median student at W&M makes $180k. At UVA its $140k despite being known as a wealthy, preppy school. All the other public universities are lower. I'm sure you can understand the effect of wealthier alumni base (based on parental income/wealth) on alumni donations.

In top 1% families, UVA is second only to Michigan among public universities according to NYT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

And alumni with student debt because their parents weren't able to put them through college without loans don't tend to give back either. And large universities need far more alumni to give back to make it into a list based on percentages.

Well then, they can solicit it from their larger alumni base. Unless of course those alumni aren't happy. . .

The parents of the median student at W&M makes $180k. At UVA its $140k despite being known as a wealthy, preppy school. All the other public universities are lower. I'm sure you can understand the effect of wealthier alumni base (based on parental income/wealth) on alumni donations.

In top 1% families, UVA is second only to Michigan among public universities according to NYT.

Median income/wealth of parents is better indication than % of top 1% wealth students for something like percentage of alumni that donate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

And alumni with student debt because their parents weren't able to put them through college without loans don't tend to give back either. And large universities need far more alumni to give back to make it into a list based on percentages.

Well then, they can solicit it from their larger alumni base. Unless of course those alumni aren't happy. . .

The parents of the median student at W&M makes $180k. At UVA its $140k despite being known as a wealthy, preppy school. All the other public universities are lower. I'm sure you can understand the effect of wealthier alumni base (based on parental income/wealth) on alumni donations.

In top 1% families, UVA is second only to Michigan among public universities according to NYT.

Median income/wealth of parents is better indication than % of top 1% wealth students for something like percentage of alumni that donate

How did this topic become about UVA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

And alumni with student debt because their parents weren't able to put them through college without loans don't tend to give back either. And large universities need far more alumni to give back to make it into a list based on percentages.

Well then, they can solicit it from their larger alumni base. Unless of course those alumni aren't happy. . .

The parents of the median student at W&M makes $180k. At UVA its $140k despite being known as a wealthy, preppy school. All the other public universities are lower. I'm sure you can understand the effect of wealthier alumni base (based on parental income/wealth) on alumni donations.

In top 1% families, UVA is second only to Michigan among public universities according to NYT.

Median income/wealth of parents is better indication than % of top 1% wealth students for something like percentage of alumni that donate

Well, it is probably a factor, but there are likely many factors. UVA has a median family income of $155,500 according to NYT. Columbia has median income of $150,900. But Columbia has a higher giving rate than UVA according to USNWR.

[Anonymous]

Because Columbia has a smaller undergraduate student population than UVA.
As I said, things that increase % of alumni donation when talking about W&M:
1. Undergrad student population size
2. Undergrad student population median family income/wealth

You are literally making my argument for me.

[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.

I count at least six college friendly bar/restaurants within walking distance. Your hatred of the place is really weird.

[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.

JFC, what’s wrong with you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I count at least six college friendly bar/restaurants within walking distance. Your hatred of the place is really weird.

I doubt that there is 6, but the fact that you think 6 restaurants in a college town is impressive rather shows how pathetic of a college town Williamsburg is. It's not hatred, it's criticism. The town caters around tourists and wealthy retirees, not students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I count at least six college friendly bar/restaurants within walking distance. Your hatred of the place is really weird.

I doubt that there is 6, but the fact that you think 6 restaurants in a college town is impressive rather shows how pathetic of a college town Williamsburg is. It's not hatred, it's criticism. The town caters around tourists and wealthy retirees, not students.

There are dozens and dozens of bars and restaurants in Williamsburg. I can think of at least six that are within walking distance. That's obviously not impressive compared to, say, Madison, WI or Ann Arbor, MI, or the like. Your stereotype is outdated. Town and gown relations have improved a lot. It's not your cup of tea, clearly. We get that. But your vehemence is, again, weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because Columbia has a smaller undergraduate student population than UVA.
As I said, things that increase % of alumni donation when talking about W&M:
1. Undergrad student population size
2. Undergrad student population median family income/wealth

You are literally making my argument for me.

How does showing an example that violates one of your two arguments make your argument for you?

OK. Cornell has about the same undergraduate enrollment as UVA and has a lower median family income yet it has a higher alumni giving rate. That violates both of your rules.

Your factors may be valid, but I'm sure there are others. I suspect the most significant from a statistical standpoint is whether or not the school is private. The USNWR alumni giving list is dominated by private schools. W&M is public but still ranks pretty high. Why can't you give it a little credit for this one thing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I count at least six college friendly bar/restaurants within walking distance. Your hatred of the place is really weird.

I doubt that there is 6, but the fact that you think 6 restaurants in a college town is impressive rather shows how pathetic of a college town Williamsburg is. It's not hatred, it's criticism. The town caters around tourists and wealthy retirees, not students.

There are dozens and dozens of bars and restaurants in Williamsburg. I can think of at least six that are within walking distance. That's obviously not impressive compared to, say, Madison, WI or Ann Arbor, MI, or the like. Your stereotype is outdated. Town and gown relations have improved a lot. It's not your cup of tea, clearly. We get that. But your vehemence is, again, weird.

Again, since you lack reading comprehension. Sure, there might be 'dozens and dozens' of restaurants in Williamsburg. The vast majority of those are no where near walking distance. Of the very small subset that are in walking distance, those cater to wealthy retirees and tourists.

You seem rather sensitive about any criticism of Williamsburg. Again, its not a good college town. Perhaps its a good town to retire in because there's a lot of wealthy retirees from the north. Perhaps its a good town to visit sometimes because there are a lot of tourists. Perhaps its a good town to raise your children in because there are a lot of middle-aged families withl children. But its not a good town to be a college student in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because Columbia has a smaller undergraduate student population than UVA.
As I said, things that increase % of alumni donation when talking about W&M:
1. Undergrad student population size
2. Undergrad student population median family income/wealth

You are literally making my argument for me.

How does showing an example that violates one of your two arguments make your argument for you?

OK. Cornell has about the same undergraduate enrollment as UVA and has a lower median family income yet it has a higher alumni giving rate. That violates both of your rules.

Your factors may be valid, but I'm sure there are others. I suspect the most significant from a statistical standpoint is whether or not the school is private. The USNWR alumni giving list is dominated by private schools. W&M is public but still ranks pretty high. Why can't you give it a little credit for this one thing?

Cornell has lower undergraduate pop. than UVA.
Again, I have never compared W&M to privates.
The person I was responding to stated that W&M has the highest alumni giving of public universities. My statement was that that is highly due to the small undergrad student population and very high median income/wealth of the students' parents. This is really not a hard argument to understand and generally seems to hold.