How to pick between UVA and W&M

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My concern with CS at William &Mary is that it is not well established, as it is a new program. I think they are building their own school, but that won't happen until next year.

CS is established. Data science is newer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My concern with CS at William &Mary is that it is not well established, as it is a new program. I think they are building their own school, but that won't happen until next year.

CS at W&M has been a thing since at least the 90s. It's definitely very established, although I would also make the argument with a fast moving field like CS that being newer is not a detriment.

CS at W&M has been a thing since the 1960s.

Perhaps its just that W&M isn't really known for CS, even if they had a program for a while. I believe W&M is mainly known for its humanities. In general, I don't think people choose W&M specifically because of their CS program(not to say that it is bad).

People who say WM isn’t known for STEM don’t know much about WM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My concern with CS at William &Mary is that it is not well established, as it is a new program. I think they are building their own school, but that won't happen until next year.

CS at W&M has been a thing since at least the 90s. It's definitely very established, although I would also make the argument with a fast moving field like CS that being newer is not a detriment.

CS at W&M has been a thing since the 1960s.

Perhaps its just that W&M isn't really known for CS, even if they had a program for a while. I believe W&M is mainly known for its humanities. In general, I don't think people choose W&M specifically because of their CS program(not to say that it is bad).

People who say WM isn’t known for STEM don’t know much about WM.

Honestly, I'm trying to figure this out - is W&M known for STEM? I honestly never thought that. We're going to go to admitted students day next week so hopefully we will learn more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My concern with CS at William &Mary is that it is not well established, as it is a new program. I think they are building their own school, but that won't happen until next year.

CS at W&M has been a thing since at least the 90s. It's definitely very established, although I would also make the argument with a fast moving field like CS that being newer is not a detriment.

CS at W&M has been a thing since the 1960s.

Perhaps its just that W&M isn't really known for CS, even if they had a program for a while. I believe W&M is mainly known for its humanities. In general, I don't think people choose W&M specifically because of their CS program(not to say that it is bad).

People who say WM isn’t known for STEM don’t know much about WM.

Honestly, I'm trying to figure this out - is W&M known for STEM? I honestly never thought that. We're going to go to admitted students day next week so hopefully we will learn more.

I'd say it's know for being a very good pre-med school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My concern with CS at William &Mary is that it is not well established, as it is a new program. I think they are building their own school, but that won't happen until next year.

CS at W&M has been a thing since at least the 90s. It's definitely very established, although I would also make the argument with a fast moving field like CS that being newer is not a detriment.

CS at W&M has been a thing since the 1960s.

Perhaps its just that W&M isn't really known for CS, even if they had a program for a while. I believe W&M is mainly known for its humanities. In general, I don't think people choose W&M specifically because of their CS program(not to say that it is bad).

People who say WM isn’t known for STEM don’t know much about WM.

Or international relations.

Honestly, I'm trying to figure this out - is W&M known for STEM? I honestly never thought that. We're going to go to admitted students day next week so hopefully we will learn more.

I'd say it's know for being a very good pre-med school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My concern with CS at William &Mary is that it is not well established, as it is a new program. I think they are building their own school, but that won't happen until next year.

CS at W&M has been a thing since at least the 90s. It's definitely very established, although I would also make the argument with a fast moving field like CS that being newer is not a detriment.

CS at W&M has been a thing since the 1960s.

Perhaps its just that W&M isn't really known for CS, even if they had a program for a while. I believe W&M is mainly known for its humanities. In general, I don't think people choose W&M specifically because of their CS program(not to say that it is bad).

People who say WM isn’t known for STEM don’t know much about WM.

Honestly, I'm trying to figure this out - is W&M known for STEM? I honestly never thought that. We're going to go to admitted students day next week so hopefully we will learn more.

Yes. Excellent pre-med, chemistry, marine bio, and geology, among others. As had been mentioned strong physics. And my kid went to TJ and has some friends who went to WM for CS and thought the program was great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My concern with CS at William &Mary is that it is not well established, as it is a new program. I think they are building their own school, but that won't happen until next year.

CS at W&M has been a thing since at least the 90s. It's definitely very established, although I would also make the argument with a fast moving field like CS that being newer is not a detriment.

CS at W&M has been a thing since the 1960s.

Perhaps its just that W&M isn't really known for CS, even if they had a program for a while. I believe W&M is mainly known for its humanities. In general, I don't think people choose W&M specifically because of their CS program(not to say that it is bad).

People who say WM isn’t known for STEM don’t know much about WM.

Honestly, I'm trying to figure this out - is W&M known for STEM? I honestly never thought that. We're going to go to admitted students day next week so hopefully we will learn more.

It's confusion around the word "STEM"--some people translate that to mean "engineering" and W&M doesn't have an engineering school. But it has really strong programs in core areas of STEM -- biology, chemistry, physics, math and CS as well as specialty programs in marine science, geology.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My concern with CS at William &Mary is that it is not well established, as it is a new program. I think they are building their own school, but that won't happen until next year.

CS at W&M has been a thing since at least the 90s. It's definitely very established, although I would also make the argument with a fast moving field like CS that being newer is not a detriment.

CS at W&M has been a thing since the 1960s.

Perhaps its just that W&M isn't really known for CS, even if they had a program for a while. I believe W&M is mainly known for its humanities. In general, I don't think people choose W&M specifically because of their CS program(not to say that it is bad).

People who say WM isn’t known for STEM don’t know much about WM.

Honestly, I'm trying to figure this out - is W&M known for STEM? I honestly never thought that. We're going to go to admitted students day next week so hopefully we will learn more.

It's confusion around the word "STEM"--some people translate that to mean "engineering" and W&M doesn't have an engineering school. But it has really strong programs in core areas of STEM -- biology, chemistry, physics, math and CS as well as specialty programs in marine science, geology.

William and Mary is 2nd among top 100 public universities for the percentage of graduates going on to get PhDs in STEM fields. Berkeley is #1, and it has an engineering school and a higher percentage of undergraduates in STEM programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My concern with CS at William &Mary is that it is not well established, as it is a new program. I think they are building their own school, but that won't happen until next year.

CS at W&M has been a thing since at least the 90s. It's definitely very established, although I would also make the argument with a fast moving field like CS that being newer is not a detriment.

CS at W&M has been a thing since the 1960s.

Perhaps its just that W&M isn't really known for CS, even if they had a program for a while. I believe W&M is mainly known for its humanities. In general, I don't think people choose W&M specifically because of their CS program(not to say that it is bad).

People who say WM isn’t known for STEM don’t know much about WM.

Honestly, I'm trying to figure this out - is W&M known for STEM? I honestly never thought that. We're going to go to admitted students day next week so hopefully we will learn more.

Yes. Excellent pre-med, chemistry, marine bio, and geology, among others. As had been mentioned strong physics. And my kid went to TJ and has some friends who went to WM for CS and thought the program was great.

Chemistry is top notch. Biology, Physics, and Geology are very strong, as are interdisciplinary areas like neuroscience. Medical school admission rate is significantly above the national average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA is ranked in 20’s and W&M ranked in 50’s. Wouldn’t ranking matter?

Only if you let a corporation like U.S. News make decisions for you. They are both strong academically.

[Anonymous]

You've gotten a lot of good responses that I won't rehash. I don't know how important extracurriculars are to your kid, but at UVA you have to apply for clubs and lots of freshmen don't get in to clubs they want. W&M has offered my freshman access to any club she has desired. So the smaller size is a pretty good benefit there. They are both excellent options - I doubt your kid will regret making either choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You've gotten a lot of good responses that I won't rehash. I don't know how important extracurriculars are to your kid, but at UVA you have to apply for clubs and lots of freshmen don't get in to clubs they want. W&M has offered my freshman access to any club she has desired. So the smaller size is a pretty good benefit there. They are both excellent options - I doubt your kid will regret making either choice.

This is false BTW. There are almost 900 clubs at UVA and probably less than 50 are competitive. All club sports usually are and some business related/investment clubs are, that’s it. So 800+ clubs are safe open to anyone interested.

that said I like both schools. Pick the one that feels right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA is ranked in 20’s and W&M ranked in 50’s. Wouldn’t ranking matter?

Why would ranking matter?

[Anonymous]

Maybe, just maybe, there is a difference between some college ranked 150 and one ranked 50, but there is no significant difference between these two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe, just maybe, there is a difference between some college ranked 150 and one ranked 50, but there is no significant difference between these two.

I am still blown away that William & Mary is not ranked higher.