How would one compare the student body, academic culture and campus feel of William and Mary to Tufts, Brandeis, orGeorgetown? Any one with kids at 2 of these schools or who transferred between them? Obviously, more out of staters at privates but wondering beyond that. Thanks in advance for any serious responses.

My D is a senior at W & M. I don't know as much about UVA, of course, but the two are very different, as others have already explained. I would think that most high school seniors would have a clear preference.

My D is very happy there, and it was a great choice for her.

Many people out west have heard of W & M, and know that it is the second oldest college in the country, etc., but I would most certainly not encourage your D to make her decision on that basis. She could change her mind between now and when she graduates from college about where she wants to live. It's 4 years of her life, and possibly the last of the most formative years. I wouldn't try to push her towards UVA, but neither would I try to push someone towards W & M as first choice if he/she preferred UVA.

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know anything about the joint degree program with St Andrews in Scotland?

It's super tiny, with only a handful of students in it and highly competitive.

Does anyone know anything about the joint degree program with St Andrews in Scotland?

I can only report that I keep meeting extraordinary people who went to W&M, ranging from recent grads to people who were among my intellectual heroes. Seems like they're doing something right there, and it seems like they're small enough to have a robust alumni network of great people doing cool things - a major plus for a college, in my book.

Anonymous wrote:12:08 it's a superb in-state school. The problem for you DC, if you live in NoVA is getting in. The competition from NoVA kids for slots at the VA schools is fierce.

Actually, that depends. W&M gets almost twice as many female applications as male, so to keep things relatively even the school accepts a surprisingly high share of in-state male applicants.

Anonymous wrote:W&M is a very good school, my own sense in visiting some time ago (not with a kid interested in going there) was that it was very weird to be so close to Colonial Williamsburg and I was quite surprised by the actors in their costumes walking around. Nationally I don't think it has the name recognition or educational quality of VA and I would say the two are not close, but I suspect others disagree. I also think nationally many people would be surprised to find out it is a state school since it has a non-obvious name.

W&M grad here. Unless you leave campus and actually walk into Colonial Williamsburg, you don't see actors in costumes. They rarely if ever come on campus.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this a joke?

It doesn't seem like a joke question to me...?

OP - William & Mary and UVA are both great schools. It depends on what your DD wants to study and what kind of environment she wants in a school. W&M is much smaller and tends to attract a lot of creative types - artists, aspiring performers. It's definitely a much quieter and, from my impression, more studious school in general. UVA is larger, with a much more prominent fraternity/sorority scene, and feels more "southern." Life on campus at UVA involves a lot more drinking and bars - the typical party and sports scenes.

Have your DD both campuses - they're both strong choices!

I am a graduate of one of these schools, and I think this is a good description of both.

12:08 it's a superb in-state school. The problem for you DC, if you live in NoVA is getting in. The competition from NoVA kids for slots at the VA schools is fierce.

Only know one kid who went and was happy there but said its surprisingly progressive, very liberal which was a surprise to all of us. I expect anything but given the flavor of Williamsburg.

W&M is a very good school, my own sense in visiting some time ago (not with a kid interested in going there) was that it was very weird to be so close to Colonial Williamsburg and I was quite surprised by the actors in their costumes walking around. Nationally I don't think it has the name recognition or educational quality of VA and I would say the two are not close, but I suspect others disagree. I also think nationally many people would be surprised to find out it is a state school since it has a non-obvious name.

WM grad here. UVA probably edges out wm in terms of national cachet, they just have a bigger presence, but not enough to really sway the decision one way or another. As you know, at either school she needs to set herself apart and rise to the top for the best prospects post grad. IMO it's easier to do this at a smaller school albeit one that offers the major she is interested in. Williamsburg, however, is a little less student friendly than Charlottesville when it comes to nightlife etc. though I embraced the artsy side of campus and loved the scene.

As an engineering major, I know very little about W&M.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That a parent of a high school kid, presumably in Virginia, would honestly NOT KNOW anything about William and Mary.

I call bullshit.

Calm down, you are over reacting like nobody's business. OP did not indicate that she doesn't know anything about William and Mary, she's asking for opinions about subjective matters which is what every does in most posts on these forums. All her questions are perfectly legitimate. I hope you're just having a bad day and aren't this hostile all the time.

+1. The factors that make W&M an unknown quantity in some parts of the country are precisely why some people end up there. It's a lower-key, academically focused school that's strong in the arts. No point in going crazy as if everyone's frame of reference is their fourth grade Virginia history class.

It's definitely the type of school to visit to explore one's interests. Some would find it perfect; some would find it a bit too precious. To me, it felt like a really big high school full of all the "good kids" who were teachers' pets in elementary school, so I didn't apply there, but most people who end up going there are very happy. It's very selective, but there's also a fair amount of self-selection in terms of who applies and goes there.