Common Dilemma - UVA vs. W&M

<p>I was admitted into both the University of Virginia and The College of William & Mary and I'm having an exceptionally difficult time deciding between them. I'm not sure what I will major in, but most likely something like English, Women's Studies, or Media Studies, though I've become increasingly interested in Pre-Med.</p>

<p>At W&M I was offered a scholarship - the price of tuition for 4 years (not including room/board or other fees) - and at UVA I was offered the distinction of an Echols Scholar, but no money (and as an international student I'm not eligible for any financial aid). </p>

<p>Echols Scholars at UVA are "free from all distribution and area requirements within the College of Arts and Sciences". Also, Echols Scholars receive priority registration for courses, which means that they register before anyone in their class.</p>

<p>I recently visited both schools. Admittedly, I'm more familiar with the UVA campus because I have family that attends the school, so I've visited it about 3 times and I'm very comfortable on-campus. I visited W&M only once, but stayed the weekend. My main gripe about the W&M campus is that it feels like a park with its out-of-the-way paths; it feels isolated, like I'd be walking to class and to my dorm alone or with very few people around. </p>

<p>I come from a low-income family, so if I go to either school I will have to take out a loan, but a significantly bigger one if I go to UVA. Despite not totally feeling the campus environment, is it better to go to W&M and graduate with $45,000 in debt or UVA, where I feel more comfortable but will graduate with $80,000 in debt?</p>

<p>$80,000 is WAY too much debt to graduate with, especially if you end up pre-med. Can you imagine trying to take out more money for Graduate school to become a doctor while you’re already $80,000 in debt? </p>

<p>That’s ridiculous.</p>

<p>Either way you go, it’s a lot of money, but $45,000 is definitely better than $80,000.</p>

<p>When did you visit W&M?</p>

<p>Sure, it’s a wooded area, but most of the time, there should be tons of people around campus. It’s a small school, but there are still a few thousand people, and the campus is in one big block, so all those few thousand are crammed in there.</p>

<p>I doubt there’d be “no one.” Everywhere I’ve been on campus, there were other people milling about.</p>

<p>UVA and W&M are very different schools.</p>

<p>If you really want to UVA and can handle the debt, go for it. But I would sacrifice some mild difference in “campus comfort” for $35,000 less in debt any day.</p>

<p>Absolutely go with the less debt. I’m biased and would choose W&M over UVA anyway, but in this situation, there is nothing about UVA to make it worth the difference in debt.</p>

<p>when were you walking around at W&M? If it was a Saturday or Sunday morning, then it was probably pretty empty. Most college kids sleep late then.</p>

<p>During the week though, classes are in full swing and the paths are crowded with students headed to class. You will often pass by people that you know going too and from class, due to the size of the student body and fairly compact nature of campus. Most W&M students live on campus, so walking is the primary means of transportation. W&M also owns a lot of land that isn’t as crowded though, down by the lake and such.</p>

<p>The extra $35000 in debt is $6000/year for 6 years from the time you start paying.</p>

<p>W&M for less money?! Say a prayer of thanks and go to W&M without any second thoughts.</p>

<p>Both schools as good but not worth $45K in debt.</p>

<p>I would go W&M.</p>

<p>Undergrad debt for a pre-med isn’t really tenable - if you borrow $80k for undergrad @ 8%, then defer payments to attend medical school for 4 years, and then take a 4 year residency and a 1 year fellowship, you’ll be looking at an undergrad debt of nearly $160k, not counting the $200k+ debt you’ll owe for med school. </p>

<p>If I were you, I’d try to graduate as close to debt-free as possible, I’d find me a job, or sell water or maps to tourists or something. Med school is a long haul, and, unless your loans are subsidized, that principal will keep piling up …</p>

<p>But on the other hand, to be brutally frank with you, if you’re going to be miserable in Williamsburg, I’d say turn down the money and go to UVA. Then, you get to go to a school you like better, and that scholarship money and slot will then go to someone whose dream school is W&M, and who will likely add more to the school than someone who “settled” and is unhappy about it. You’re going to be at school for 4 years, so wherever you go, you’re going to need to learn to at least like it, if not love it. Otherwise, it’ll be a long 4 years, both for you, and those around you. (Not meaning to sound harsh, but no other way to say it.) </p>

<p>By the way, were you offered Monroe? Very commonly, Monroe and Echols’ scholars are the same pool, though Monroe > Echols, imo.</p>

<p>English or Women’s Studies…you’d fare better at WM…more LAC than UVA. And pre-med is fantastic, too. Have to agree with the majority of posters. When it comes down to dollars and cents, as I told my own children…go with the money!</p>

<p>Just checked your post on UVA’s site…seems even they agree not worth the extra loan money!</p>

<p>I think you will find more middle class people at W&M. UVA is filled with a lot of upper middle class kids from NOVA and what not. So if you are low income, you might be more comfortable with W & M.</p>

<p>I know this is a generalization but those of you who disagree, feel free to throw eggs, etc.</p>

<p>I went to college and grad school at UVA and after many years now live there and teach on the faculty. If you were my kid I’d tell you to go to W & M. They are both great schools. You will get a fantastic education (assuming that you work hard) at either place. Both are full of interesting people. The vibes are similar and they are both in historic and beautiful communities. Unless you visit W & M and don’t like it, going to UVA isn’t worth the financial difference.</p>

<p>I forgot to mention that W & M is highly regarded by the medical school faculty although I can’t speak for the admissions committee.</p>

<p>80k. No. Just no. When I visited the campus was bustling with people, definitely not a ghost town. UVA is a bit more alcohol heavy and less intellectual if that makes a difference. They have a lot more money though and a bigger name.</p>

<p>This is not a hard choice: go to W&M. The extra debt from UVa will constrain your choices after graduation. Classes are smaller and professors care more about teaching at W&M.</p>

<p>My daughter got a larger grant from UVA (and an Echols invitation) but is most likely choosing W&M for a lot of the reasons set out above.</p>

<p>W&M is definitely a suburban campus. Yes Williamsburg is a small city but it’s surrounded by larger metropolitan areas (Richmond to the west and Hampton Roads to the east). Additionally, W&M has a beautiful campus so that may account for the park feel but it’s not very spread out. It takes 15 minutes to walk from further end to furthest end and no one uses motorized transportation to get to and from class.</p>

<p>It is very common for students to bump into their friends on the way to class or dining halls. The Sadler Center Terrace is a place where students can sit for an entire day and simply see everyone they know. </p>

<p>W&M is a place most students call their home because of the community feel. No matter which school you choose you’ll have a great four years but we hope it’s W&M!</p>

<p>I’d say W&M is better for English or Women’s Studies, and UVA for pre-med. However, in your case I don’t think the difference in quality is really enough to justify the extra cost, and the campus is usually much less isolated than when you visited.</p>

<p>I would actually advise you against taking out $45K in loans for any undergrad school. However, it appears that may be as cheap as it can get for an international student, so I guess you should go ahead and go to W&M. </p>

<p>However, on another topic…</p>

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<p>I just finished my third year at W&M and would like to say that this is categorically false. USNews had a list of colleges by the amount of Pell Grant students attending. Both UVA and W&M were near the very bottom of the list with figures of 8% and 7%, respectively, if I recall correctly. </p>

<p>In my own experience at W&M, most kids come from incredibly well-to-do families with most of their parents working in professional fields. </p>

<p>Rich kids from NoVA make up just as much of our student body as it does at UVa. Also both schools reserve 1/3 of seats for OOS students, who are almost entirely upper-middle class kids. Largely from NY/NJ/PA/MD.</p>

<p>All I’m saying is this would not be a good reason to pick W&M over UVa. </p>

<p>Regardless, with the difference in debt, he really should pick W&M.</p>

<p>I agree with Datkid that mom4college is clueless. The entering class at U-Va had a LOWER percentage of in state students coming from NOVA (44.5 percent) than William and Mary did (46.7).</p>