I’m between Colorado College and William & Mary. I like both for different reasons, but it’s difficult for me to decipher which is better academically because CC is an LAC and William & Mary is a university… Any insight?
I’d say they’re academic peers.
On your other thread you say that outdoorsy is important to you. W&M is not outdoorsy. Academically, W&M is more intense (as in there is more of a ‘work hard’ vibe to the school). W&M is Velma to Colorado College’s Fred if that helps.
Colorado also has the block system, which might add to academic “intensity.”
@usualhopeful, block system can get intense in bursts, but based on the reports I am hearing from the students that I know at each college, W&M (& W&M students) are more ‘work hard’ more of the time than CoCo.
OP think carefully if you want a school with a block system.
If you’re “outdoorsy” definitely go to Colorado College. I love W&M don’t get me wrong, but outdoorsy they are not.
Seriously…Williamsburg vs. Rockies, come on. I have a relative that goes to Colorado College, loves it. The block system is pretty awesome.
Academically I’d lean towards W&M. It’s undergraduate teaching is unmatchable, and it’s entire campus aura is academic. Prestige wise I’d say even playing field…depending where you plan to work. W&M might as well be Cambridge to Virginia & DC companies. People know what a degree from there is worth. My father (who works as a government recruiter for ----) prefers W&M degrees to HYP. That’s not unusual in the DC-VA area.
Meanwhile, people think I’m talking about the glorious revolution when I talk about W&M in California.
In the same way, Colorado College has a pretty stellar reputation on the west coast; it’s not as well known on the east.
W&M has 65% of the kids from Virginia. Colorado College draws from all over and is also much more selective in terms of acceptance rates. CC is more innovative and an up and comer.
What happened to Whitman as an option?
Given that you’re outdoorsy and into environmental studies along with the math / economics, I’d go for Colorado College. It’s the alma mater of more than one prof I can think of, so don’t worry about grad school that way. W & M is also impressive academically but would it give you what you want in terms of enviro studies / outdoors? Which for you seems to not be just a “this is what I want to do for extracurriculars” kinda thing but part of your career orientation – so, in math / economics, you probably want profs who can connect with your envt’l interests and/or connect you with grad schools with a focus that way. Which, realistically, may also be in the West. So to me that reads like Colorado College more than W & M. If you were into US history, well that’d be different … 
Yes, CC is more selective in terms of acceptance rates (18% v. 33%).
CC is only slightly more selective in terms of test scores; W&M has slightly higher entering GPAs.
I don’t think you’ll see a big difference in the academic abilities of CC v. W&M students.
Nor do I think “academic prestige” is a major distinguishing feature.
If cost isn’t a factor, then the big distinguishers for me would be the block plan, geographic setting, and size (in that order.) If you don’t think you could adapt well to the block plan, don’t choose CC. Colorado College does have a more attractive location, in my opinion.