Anonymous
04/15/2026 12:33
Subject: W&M DFAS
Another parent of a current student who loves the school. It is a very friendly and social place.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 12:20
Subject: W&M DFAS
I was there in the 80s and remember all types. Only a few who i thought were VERY quirky. Most were smart, mainstream students at that time.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 09:59
Subject: W&M DFAS
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:PP I leaned over to my kid at DFAS and said everyone looks really normal and he said “What are you even talking about?!?” So not the kid perception or the reality that everyone is “quirky.” And he had a visceral NO reaction to a SLAC that I perceived to be a very similar student body where he did not apply after visiting. Important to remember schools change!
And that a school’s reputation can be way off or incomplete the whole time. WM has never been majority quirky. But there are some on this board who seem interested in perpetuating that idea.
I will say some of the alums from the 2000s and 2010s love to describe it as really quirky so maybe it was more of a thing back then. It's definitely become a much more social student body since COVID.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 09:44
Subject: W&M DFAS
Anonymous wrote:PP I leaned over to my kid at DFAS and said everyone looks really normal and he said “What are you even talking about?!?” So not the kid perception or the reality that everyone is “quirky.” And he had a visceral NO reaction to a SLAC that I perceived to be a very similar student body where he did not apply after visiting. Important to remember schools change!
And that a school’s reputation can be way off or incomplete the whole time. WM has never been majority quirky. But there are some on this board who seem interested in perpetuating that idea.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 09:04
Subject: W&M DFAS
PP I leaned over to my kid at DFAS and said everyone looks really normal and he said “What are you even talking about?!?” So not the kid perception or the reality that everyone is “quirky.” And he had a visceral NO reaction to a SLAC that I perceived to be a very similar student body where he did not apply after visiting. Important to remember schools change!
Anonymous
04/14/2026 15:38
Subject: Re:W&M DFAS
My kid is choosing another school, but I wish they would go to W&M. It’s like the perfect school, size, location, friendly student body.
Anonymous
04/14/2026 14:59
Subject: W&M DFAS
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Did anyone else get the giant marketing book for current HS juniors they mailed out today? Very beautiful and well put together. You can tell they are trying to drive away outdated perceptions and highlight all that makes the school great plus remind people it's a place to have fun and enjoy traditional college things like athletic events and Greek life. The "quirky" reputation can only last so long at schools where a more traditional mix of students haven't gone onto W&M. It's certainly fascinating to me as a parent at a Fairfax County HS where the commits these last two years have regularly been mainstream sporty girls who chose to ED to W&M but would have been just as happy at UVA.
W&M’s marketing team has joined the chat.
Why do we make comments liek this? The marketing team isn't lurking here. I am not the pp but easily could have written this. It also closely aligns with the comments above for the DFAS event many just attended. C'mon be better.
Anonymous
04/13/2026 21:11
Subject: W&M DFAS
W & M hits that sweet spot- mid-sized school with a historic vibe, better weather than colleges in the Northeast/Midwest, and filled with smart, well-rounded students with regular high school careers/experiences/interests.
Anonymous
04/13/2026 21:00
Subject: Re:W&M DFAS
Anonymous wrote:Current WM parent and we love the school. Especially in-state it is really offering a great value for a different kind of state school experience.
It’s not that quirky. That’s the rep at my kids’ school also and I don’t quite get it. It is certainly quieter than UVA or Tech or JMU. I think that’s where the problem is - if someone looking for the big state school experience looks at WM it probably doesn’t appeal.
It’s for the kid that might like BC or Wake or Emory or Wash U or Case or Tufts but is looking for another option (or, for in-staters, to pay a lot less or a similar option)
Also for out-of-staters! W&M is $17,000 a year cheaper (per kid!) than the LAC my kids were looking at as their alternate to W&M.
Anonymous
04/13/2026 20:45
Subject: W&M DFAS
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Did anyone else get the giant marketing book for current HS juniors they mailed out today? Very beautiful and well put together. You can tell they are trying to drive away outdated perceptions and highlight all that makes the school great plus remind people it's a place to have fun and enjoy traditional college things like athletic events and Greek life. The "quirky" reputation can only last so long at schools where a more traditional mix of students haven't gone onto W&M. It's certainly fascinating to me as a parent at a Fairfax County HS where the commits these last two years have regularly been mainstream sporty girls who chose to ED to W&M but would have been just as happy at UVA.
W&M’s marketing team has joined the chat.
Didn't know I wasn't allowed to express my opinions on here. There's no need to be rude.
Anonymous
04/13/2026 20:34
Subject: W&M DFAS
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Did anyone else get the giant marketing book for current HS juniors they mailed out today? Very beautiful and well put together. You can tell they are trying to drive away outdated perceptions and highlight all that makes the school great plus remind people it's a place to have fun and enjoy traditional college things like athletic events and Greek life. The "quirky" reputation can only last so long at schools where a more traditional mix of students haven't gone onto W&M. It's certainly fascinating to me as a parent at a Fairfax County HS where the commits these last two years have regularly been mainstream sporty girls who chose to ED to W&M but would have been just as happy at UVA.
W&M’s marketing team has joined the chat.
+1
Seriously!
Anonymous
04/13/2026 20:23
Subject: W&M DFAS
Anonymous wrote:Did anyone else get the giant marketing book for current HS juniors they mailed out today? Very beautiful and well put together. You can tell they are trying to drive away outdated perceptions and highlight all that makes the school great plus remind people it's a place to have fun and enjoy traditional college things like athletic events and Greek life. The "quirky" reputation can only last so long at schools where a more traditional mix of students haven't gone onto W&M. It's certainly fascinating to me as a parent at a Fairfax County HS where the commits these last two years have regularly been mainstream sporty girls who chose to ED to W&M but would have been just as happy at UVA.
W&M’s marketing team has joined the chat.
Anonymous
04/13/2026 20:09
Subject: Re:W&M DFAS
Anonymous wrote:Current WM parent and we love the school. Especially in-state it is really offering a great value for a different kind of state school experience.
It’s not that quirky. That’s the rep at my kids’ school also and I don’t quite get it. It is certainly quieter than UVA or Tech or JMU. I think that’s where the problem is - if someone looking for the big state school experience looks at WM it probably doesn’t appeal.
It’s for the kid that might like BC or Wake or Emory or Wash U or Case or Tufts but is looking for another option (or, for in-staters, to pay a lot less or a similar option)
Agreed. My kid who’s at Emory really liked W & M.
Anonymous
04/13/2026 20:08
Subject: W&M DFAS
Did anyone else get the giant marketing book for current HS juniors they mailed out today? Very beautiful and well put together. You can tell they are trying to drive away outdated perceptions and highlight all that makes the school great plus remind people it's a place to have fun and enjoy traditional college things like athletic events and Greek life. The "quirky" reputation can only last so long at schools where a more traditional mix of students haven't gone onto W&M. It's certainly fascinating to me as a parent at a Fairfax County HS where the commits these last two years have regularly been mainstream sporty girls who chose to ED to W&M but would have been just as happy at UVA.
Anonymous
04/13/2026 13:24
Subject: Re:W&M DFAS
Current WM parent and we love the school. Especially in-state it is really offering a great value for a different kind of state school experience.
It’s not that quirky. That’s the rep at my kids’ school also and I don’t quite get it. It is certainly quieter than UVA or Tech or JMU. I think that’s where the problem is - if someone looking for the big state school experience looks at WM it probably doesn’t appeal.
It’s for the kid that might like BC or Wake or Emory or Wash U or Case or Tufts but is looking for another option (or, for in-staters, to pay a lot less or a similar option)
It’s not that quirky. That’s the rep at my kids’ school also and I don’t quite get it. It is certainly quieter than UVA or Tech or JMU. I think that’s where the problem is - if someone looking for the big state school experience looks at WM it probably doesn’t appeal.
It’s for the kid that might like BC or Wake or Emory or Wash U or Case or Tufts but is looking for another option (or, for in-staters, to pay a lot less or a similar option)