struggling with decision. Any kind advise is appreciated

[Anonymous]

We have a daughter at W&M and I think there is a solid amount of school spirit. Whenever we visit, students are always dressed in school logoed tees and sweatshirts. When students were allowed to attend football games (finally) last year, they had to parceled out tickets freshmen and seniors one weekend and sophomores and juniors the next. They had a full house. People showed up with their faces painted. They also seem to really support each other. Someone is in a play or a musical group and their friends all show up and bring others. Someone plays a sport and friends show up to games. And the students we have met are genuinely nice kids. Also, Williamsburg is lovely and the school has really ramped up its use of their outdoor spaces since the pandemic. So there are lots of outdoor spaces on campus and in Colonial Williamsburg that are great for studying, hanging out, exercising, etc.

I am sure UMD has lots to commend it too. We are Virginia residents so we really focused heavily on our in state options. One things to be aware of - the food at W&M is bad, like really bad. For some people it’s a deal breaker. Our kid eats out a lot and will be off campus next year with a reduced meal plan in large part bc the food is just not good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Not sure if it is true, but I was told that this year all freshman's dorms are going to have ACs. I also feel there is a ton of school spirit there.

Curious who told you that? Unfortunately I don't think it's accurate, though I know the College is working hard to update facilities. That said, my DC will be going to W&M and has a medical condition that makes AC pretty essential. I've been in touch with them about applying for an AC dorm room as an accommodation and I would think they would have told me if it was an unnecessary request. FWIW, the dorms all have AC in common areas, but not all have it in the rooms. My understanding is that upperclass dorm rooms all have AC, so really only a concern freshman year.

Don't want to discourage your DD as I think W&M is a great school otherwise!! Good luck with her decision.

I think they let people have a window unit if the dorm does not have AC and they have a medial condition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W&M may not be a big sports college but there is definitely a lot of school spirit, affectionately known as “Tribe Pride.”

Tribe Pride is the marketing terminology the school pushes, but it's not exactly used by the school population.

Moreso than school pride, there is school hate.

Disgruntled students have a very commonly used derogatory name for their own classmates - TWAMP, or Typical William and Mary Person.

It is very weird, because large public universities do have students complaining about the administration, dorms or having trouble registering for classes and what not. But they don't have hate towards their fellow students - moreso just apathy. And they almost always tend to universally love the school itself.

But W&M students seem to hate the student population and the school itself. It's like the disgruntled students were forced to go there due to it being in-state or because it's the highest ranked school they got into. And a very large proportion of the population is disgruntled.

TWAMP is a loving self-effacing term not a disgruntled term. You are way misguided. W&M is consistently among the highest donation rate among public schools in the country because alumni love their school enough to donate to it. Surveys consistently show students are happiest with their college. It's comical how off you are about this.

+1 on this.
As an alum and a parent to a current student, TWAMP is definitely not used as a derogatory term.
On the parent side, I hear a lot of disgruntled helicopter parents complaining about various aspects of campus life, but the students are happy and supportive of each other.

And for OP, W&M and UMD are very different. I'm in agreement that a visit to both campuses (accepted students day if it's still an option?) would be very helpful in finding the place that would be the best "fit" but you can't go wrong either way with 2 great choices.