A Tough Decision

Colleges and Universities A-Z College of William and Mary
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<p>Hey everyone! So I have a small problem I was hoping you guys could help me with… Actually, it’s a pretty big problem. I’ve luckily (and gratefully) been accepted to both the College of William and Mary and Cornell University’s College of Human Ecology as a Human Development Major. First off, I would like to say that I was a bit biased towards Cornell from the beginning because I have an older sister who is graduating from there this year, and she loves it there. I applied to William and Mary on whim because I love their blog and it helped me a lot during the college application process.</p>

<p>Let me begin by talking about my interests. I love music and culture and will definitely be involved in both types of activities. I plan on being a surgeon (pediatric or general), so at Cornell, I would be a Human Development major on a pre-med track. At W&M, I would most likely be a mathematics major on a pre-med track because I love math as well.</p>

<p>This past week, I visited both schools (W&M for the first time) for their admitted students’ day. Cornell’s admitted students’ day was a bit disappointing because there wasn’t much planned, but luckily, I stayed with my sister so she was able to take me around and I really got a feel of “college life.” I visited Cornell first, and when I left I was 95% sure that I was going to attend. Having grown up in the Northeast, I am used to cold weather, and the campus is absolutely beautiful. I love the feel of the nature surrounding me, and it is a place I can see myself getting lost in (in a good way). My only fear is that the classes will be too large. I sat in on a fairly large class, and it got a bit boring (to the point that I fell asleep). The academics are, without a doubt, top-notch, there is a new Human Ecology building which is super cool, diverse student body, the people are fairly nice, and it is a mere four hours from home. Needless to say, it is awesome.</p>

<p>I decided to visit William and Mary as a formality more than anything. I was curious to see what the campus is like, and I honestly had nothing better to do. I didn’t know that I would fall in love. Again. Though very (VERY) different from Cornell, W&M is beautiful in its own way. It’s so rich with history, and I love Williamsburg (but at the same time sort of disliked the semi-touristy feel and it’s a bit TOO small). The weather seems to be always nice, but what really got me was how welcoming and nice every single student there is. Everyone was smiling all the time and just seemed to really love being there. Their admitted students’ day was fantastic with tons of stuff for us to do. The place is just so rich with history and just so so so gorgeous. Though not as diverse as Cornell, it had a very nice home-y feeling to it. The only two big complaints I had were that it’s an eight hour drive, and the campus is a tad too small for my liking, but my 95% had gown down to a 51%.</p>

<p>So what is that 1%, you ask? Well, as much as I hate to admit it, there is a lure for Cornell in its name. Being of Asian descent, my family in Asia is very much into the “name brand” things. I wonder the things Cornell can do for me just through its name. I hear it has an excellent and powerful alumni network. What is holding me back, however, is the feeling W&M gave me that Cornell did not – home. It was comforting to be there among so many friendly students, and I didn’t really get that vibe from Cornell (whether because it doesn’t exist or it takes a while to develop). At this point, I could really see myself at either university. I just have to decide. There are pros and cons to both colleges, and I can’t decide which outweigh the other. The prices for both schools are fairly similar, so money is not an issue. What I guess I’m really asking is: why did you choose William and Mary?</p>

<p>I just don’t want to make a decision that I will regret later on, and as of now, I’m really just at a lost. Tell me why you fell in love with the school and why I should go there! Thank you so much for your help :D</p>

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<p>It’s not surprising that you should have two excellent choices - you write very well!</p>

<p>Responding as a parent. My oldest d chose W&M over Cornell, primarily because she didn’t want to be too close to home (within 90 minutes), or at a school attended by an appreciable number of grads from her high school (though 45-ish people don’t mean much in a student body that large). She is well-launched in a career in the DC area, where her big break came from a manager who decided to try her out despite a lack of experience because, in part, of the name on her diploma. This didn’t happen when she returned to NY soon after graduation; when she relocated to VA/DC, it became clear that the W&M name was more of an asset in that area.</p>

<p>Because our high school is a sort-of feeder school for Cornell, I know many people who are alums, parents of students, and even staffers there. I know kids who’ve had a difficult initial time at Cornell - BUT they’ve eventually found their niches and their peer groups, and they’ve grown to love it. </p>

<p>You seem to be responding to the strong feeling of community at W&M, which certainly exists. As another parent here said recently, it truly is a Tribe (though there are a few discontented students, some of whom may be along shortly to disagree with me :)). There is a diversity of opinion on campus, but a mutual respect, as well. However - I’m sure you can find the same feeling at Cornell. There are a lot of friendly people there, too.</p>

<p>If you continue on the track to med school, there are great opportunities at both places. Both have a strong rate of med school acceptances. You’ll need a good GPA, though, and neither school is known for forgiving grading. If you change your mind about a career, the Cornell name will mean more on a diploma in most areas of the country. Good luck with an enviable choice!</p>

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<p>In my opinion, Cornell will not offer anything in the medical school admissions process that W&M does not. In fact, there might (don’t know the situation at Cornell) be more opportunities for undergraduate research at W&M. While W&M obviously has some respectably ranked graduate programs, it has built its reputation on its undergraduate education. You don’t find graduate students teaching classes (again, don’t know if this happens at Cornell). I, personally, have friends from W&M at a wide variety of very well respected medical schools (many of them are graduating from med school this year).</p>

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<p>IMO, W&M is a community that you don’t necessarily find a lot of other schools. People are generally very nice and always helpful. The professors are happy to talk to students anytime, and some even invite their classes to their houses or out for coffee.</p>

<p>You are deciding where you will spend 4 years of your life, and most of that time will not be in the classroom. You felt at “home” at W&M and there is a reason for it, even if you can’t exactly put your finger on it right now. You aren’t the only one. W&M has that affect on a lot of people. You mentioned that perhaps W&M is too small, and I would suggest that being smaller might have something to do with the stronger feeling of community that you got. There was a phrase developed a few years ago, in an effort to raise money to create a scholarship in the name of a W&M alum who was KIA in Afghanistan, and the phrase has expanded in use, but represents W&M positively and accurately. It is simply: “One Tribe. One Family.” In essence, I think that is what you felt when you were on campus this weekend.</p>

<p>I can’t tell you how many people at W&M also had Ivy League acceptances, but I can tell you that you will be far from the only one.</p>

<p>Of course, some people hate W&M and don’t like it there. But there will always be someone that is unhappy.</p>

<p>I think you have picked up on one of W&M’s big strengths that may not be apparent from reading about it online. Is the feeling of home enough that you want to spend your next 4 years in Williamsburg instead of Ithaca? Only you can decide that.</p>

<p>Personally, I chose W&M because I felt at home as soon as I got on campus as a high school junior. Additionally, as an instate student, there was no way to justify going out of state with such great options close to home.</p>

<p>Hope that helps some… good luck with your decision.</p>

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<p>Wow, thanks for such an in-depth answer (and for the compliment heh, I try). I love that they are so different, but that also makes it even harder because I feel like I’m giving up a whole other experience.</p>

<p>Did your daughter ever feel a bit of regret in choosing W&M over Cornell? Also, did she ever feel that she lost out on the advantages Cornell has over W&M in terms of diversity, especially because most of W&M students are Virginians?</p>

<p>I would appreciate input from others too! Thanks.</p>

<p>@soccerguy315: “Is the feeling of home enough that you want to spend your next 4 years in Williamsburg instead of Ithaca?”</p>

<p>I see pros and cons to the feeling of “home.” While it’s great that I felt so comfortable right off the bat, I’m also one to challenge myself and reach out of my comfort zone. Ithaca, however, can be a bit intimidating, and I’m not sure if I will really ever get the feeling of home there either.</p>

<p>Haha… this is my problem. I see pros and cons to every aspect. Even though W&M is mostly white, it could also be a good opportunity to reach out of my comfort zone and could end up being an amazing cultural experience!</p>

<p>Help O___O</p>

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<p>I don’t know if you’ve decided yet, but here’s my advice: go with where you feel most at home. Last year when I was choosing colleges, I didn’t do this, and now I’m unhappy and probably going to transfer out of my current school (hopefully to W&M!). </p>

<p>Here’s a trick to figuring out what you really want: pick a college name out of a hat. If you feel even a bit disappointed when you read that college name, don’t go there!!!</p>

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<p>

She has never regretted the decision to choose W&M. She feels as if she received a rigorous education that launched her well. She’d tell you that she can’t imagine having gone anywhere else, in large part because of her cohort of friends. </p>

<p>soccerguy is right that you wouldn’t be the only student to choose W&M over an Ivy League acceptance. In my d’s case, her roommate was accepted at Yale (turned down for financial reasons), and her college boyfriend was accepted at Princeton (turned down to annoy his parents). The roommate went on to UVA Law and is now clerking for a federal judge; the (thankfully ex-) boyfriend has made a name for himself in certain political circles as a blogger and activist, and he isn’t 30 yet. Though the less said about that guy, the better. :D</p>

<p>As for the diversity question, W&M is far more diverse in every respect than her high school ever was; almost anywhere would be. Her friends, teammates, etc., were from a variety of backgrounds. Virginia’s a diverse state, and the student body reflected that. And the 35% of students who were OOS were a diverse bunch, as well.</p>