Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would tread carefully WRT William and Mary. Students have heavy workloads and the profs have very high expectations. The freshman (non-Lemon, or the else Monroe Scholars’) dorms are in deplorable condition for the most expensive state-supported school in the country.
Please be aware that mental health issues can become an issue. https://flathatnews.com/2021/05/03/84-forced-hospitalizations-in-six-years-students-detail-negative-experiences-with-mental-health-services/

Is this true re: W&M? We're waiting to hear application status and were aware of the heavy workloads, but also heard it was a supportive environment. Didn't know the freshman dorms were also horrible - is that true?

They don't have air conditioning and are very old.

Back a few years ago, it, like Cornell, had an abnormally high suicide rate amongst students due to stress.

This is a rumor. It has far fewer suicides than you would predict based on its number of students. In the 2014-2015 academic they had several suicides (which sadly wouldn't be unexpected in a college of its size--and was still below what you would just predict on average) and they responded by more proactive prevention policies. Their policies drew attention so people wrote about it thinking the problem must be "worse" there than elsewhere. The reality is that they have a low rate and a responsive school (that raised concern and created prevention policies despite not having a major problem). The persistence of rumors like this though is a disincentive for schools to create preventative resources because then people think it must be a real problem there.

It is not a "rumor". It was a very big deal in 2014 and we all remember it. Here's a 2015 Wash. Post article on it. Same with the Cornell bridge. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2015/04/15/suicide-at-william-mary-fourth-this-year-triggers-concern-about-mental-health/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would tread carefully WRT William and Mary. Students have heavy workloads and the profs have very high expectations. The freshman (non-Lemon, or the else Monroe Scholars’) dorms are in deplorable condition for the most expensive state-supported school in the country.
Please be aware that mental health issues can become an issue. https://flathatnews.com/2021/05/03/84-forced-hospitalizations-in-six-years-students-detail-negative-experiences-with-mental-health-services/

Is this true re: W&M? We're waiting to hear application status and were aware of the heavy workloads, but also heard it was a supportive environment. Didn't know the freshman dorms were also horrible - is that true?

They don't have air conditioning and are very old.

Back a few years ago, it, like Cornell, had an abnormally high suicide rate amongst students due to stress.

This is a rumor. It has far fewer suicides than you would predict based on its number of students. In the 2014-2015 academic they had several suicides (which sadly wouldn't be unexpected in a college of its size--and was still below what you would just predict on average) and they responded by more proactive prevention policies. Their policies drew attention so people wrote about it thinking the problem must be "worse" there than elsewhere. The reality is that they have a low rate and a responsive school (that raised concern and created prevention policies despite not having a major problem). The persistence of rumors like this though is a disincentive for schools to create preventative resources because then people think it must be a real problem there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVA

+1
My introspective, very bright kid has found their tribe. Ignore the stereotypes.

Nope. I am an alum so no axe to grind but "kind and gentle?" it is not

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McDaniel College in Westminster, MD. My younger sister went there and it was incredibly supportive (she is very bright and has a mild learning difference). I visited her several times and could not get over how NICE, friendly, and caring everyone was - her friends were great, but this also included random people encountered around campus. It was a huge contrast to my competitive SLAC. I struggled with depression and anxiety during college and while I was able to get effective treatment quickly and was able to remain reasonably functional, it was clear that with kids who were in worse shape than I was, the school would quickly send them home until they could get it together. The health center was awesome but outside those walls, there was not much support from the school. Definitely a sense that if you couldn't hack it, there were plenty of transfer students out there who would love to take your place. I undoubtedly would have felt more supported at a school like McDaniel where they wouldn't let you fall through the cracks. It is definitely a college where anyone can feel safe and cared for. A great education too - my sister and her friends (very bright and dynamic people) went on to successful careers in education, nursing, and business. Unlike me, they all were employed in their fields very quickly after graduation.

McDaniel is one of those “colleges that change lives” (www.cycle.org). Glad to hear that it lives up to its billing.

Anonymous wrote:McDaniel College in Westminster, MD. My younger sister went there and it was incredibly supportive (she is very bright and has a mild learning difference). I visited her several times and could not get over how NICE, friendly, and caring everyone was - her friends were great, but this also included random people encountered around campus. It was a huge contrast to my competitive SLAC. I struggled with depression and anxiety during college and while I was able to get effective treatment quickly and was able to remain reasonably functional, it was clear that with kids who were in worse shape than I was, the school would quickly send them home until they could get it together. The health center was awesome but outside those walls, there was not much support from the school. Definitely a sense that if you couldn't hack it, there were plenty of transfer students out there who would love to take your place. I undoubtedly would have felt more supported at a school like McDaniel where they wouldn't let you fall through the cracks. It is definitely a college where anyone can feel safe and cared for. A great education too - my sister and her friends (very bright and dynamic people) went on to successful careers in education, nursing, and business. Unlike me, they all were employed in their fields very quickly after graduation.