<p>Is Latin offered?</p>
<p>tmc… as W&M Admissions said, there are club teams that travel and play against other schools. These teams generally have a tryout process. There are also intramural teams, which anyone can play. Often times people get together with their freshman hall to form a team. Some clubs on campus have teams, as well as fraternities and sororities.</p>
<p>Generally the intramurals workout so that you play a “regular season” and then they group the teams by records for the “playoffs” (I think). So, all the teams that don’t win a game get grouped together in a bracket, and all the teams that won all their games get grouped together, etc. This way it kind of evens it out. Sometimes there are very lopsided games, if you have a team loaded with HS varsity players vs. a group of friends who just got together to kick the ball around and have fun, but the playoffs make it so everyone can compete for a coveted “IM Champions” tshirt.</p>
<p>Overall, the IM sports scene at W&M is pretty big, IMO. Lots of people involved.</p>
<p>There is a running club that goes running together a few times a week also.</p>
<p>Yes, Latin is offered through out Classical Studies Department (<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/as/classicalstudies/index.php[/url]”>http://www.wm.edu/as/classicalstudies/index.php</a>)</p>
<p>Do you know anything about the club volleyball team? I love playing but I’m not good enough for varsity. I still want the competitive edge and I feel club would do that for me.</p>
<p>Individual club teams vary in the level of competitiveness and competition. There is a club team for both men’s and women’s volleyball ([William</a> & Mary - Directory Page Title](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/offices/recsports/sportclubs/mensvolleyball.php]William”>http://www.wm.edu/offices/recsports/sportclubs/mensvolleyball.php) and [William</a> & Mary - Directory Page Title](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/offices/recsports/sportclubs/womensvolleyball.php]William”>http://www.wm.edu/offices/recsports/sportclubs/womensvolleyball.php)). We encourage you to contact the team to learn more about their particular team</p>
<p>W&M is diverse in all senses of the word. It is our job to ensure that we create a diverse incoming class in terms of race, ethnicity, religion, geography, socioeconomic status, talent, and all diverse forms perspectives and lifestyles.</p>
<p>About 25% of our students self-identify as students of color and we have students representing every religion you can think of. Those races and religions represented in our student body generally have cultural student groups such as the Filipino Student Association and the Balfour Hillel just to give a few examples.</p>
<p>We have students from 49 states and 54 countries, first-generation college students, first-generation Americans, and students from all kinds of socioeconomic backgrounds (because we do not capture information on a family’s income we cannot give percentages for this).</p>
<p>We also have students on campus who run the gammet politically from conservative to liberal to apolitical to everything in between and again, corresponding interest groups exist.</p>
<p>Some of you asked questions about politics. </p>
<p>From what I have seen, students who take an active, vocal role in politics are in the minority, and are mostly liberal. Workers’ rights activists, environmental activists and the lgbtq community have a really strong presence on campus. From what I can see, the conservative voice on campus comes mostly in the form of angry editorials. Most students fall somewhere in between, very moderate both in political leanings and in behavior. All things considered, I would describe W&M as a liberal institution, but not a particularly political institution. Still, if you want to march for something, you’ll have the chance, I promise. :)</p>
<p>Another way of looking at it is that W&M students are active for a cause rather than a particular party. The Roach to Richmond is a good example of this. Students, regardless of party affiliation, join together each January to lobby the state government on behalf of higher education needs. ([William</a> & Mary - Students go on the ‘Road to Richmond’](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2010/students-go-on-the-road-to-richmond-123.php]William”>Students go on the 'Road to Richmond' | William & Mary))</p>
<p>This is not to say that the College Democrats and College Republicans aren’t active but W&M students tend to be more cause-oriented than straight party-oriented</p>
<p>S3 is still going back and forth between WM and VTech, most likely with a business major but of course that can change ‘on a dime.’ </p>
<p>We (parents) think that the benefits of WM outweigh those of VT on many levels. However, his major contention is that going to VT will provide him with more of a ‘well rounded’ college experience, given the huge ‘Hokie’ following, in terms of the quality of athletics, school spirit, things to do on and off campus, etc. On the same token he recognizes the outstanding academic experience he will have at WM (but does worry about ‘grade deflation’ and its effect on his ultimate GPA as he applies to grad/professional schools, depending on the direction he takes major-wise). </p>
<p>What would you say to him regarding his final decision? It is ultimately HIS decision, but we want him to make as informed a decision as possible, and we don’t want him to look back and say, ‘If only…’</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>lastof3,</p>
<p>D just went through what appears to be the same decision your S3 is going through. D has a gregarious personality, is school and community leader, and an athlete. D had similar criteria for choosing as school (school spirit, athletics, the “whole college experience”) and similar concerns (grade deflation, GPA for grad school, “to have a fun”). We visited both campus, during Hokie Focus for Tech and Day for Admitted Students for W&M. </p>
<p>VT: Our only D loved the campus, the Hokie spirit, students were very friendly and outgoing, West End Market has great food, Lane stadium is impressive. However, D is also considering business but is mostly interested in psychology. Since D is not sure what she wants to study, D applied to University Studies to “buy” some time before declaring a major. During Hokie focus we learned that Tech’s business major is restricted, meaning D would have to compete for one of the few spots available after the freshman year. D felt pressured and went to the Registrar’s desk to change her major to business just “to be safe”. No problem, change accepted. D later takes a closer look at Tech’s business curriculum and realized she would have to take business classes from day 1, which is quite a commitment for something D is not quite sure she wants. Mixed feelings about VTEch sink in. </p>
<p>W&M: D best friend (much more extroverted than D) is a freshman at W&M. BF had a tough first semester but she is doing excellent now!. D listened to BF’s “agonies and miseries” for an entire semester, so D became “scared” of W&M (quote: “I feel like W&M will be like IB on massive amounts of steroids”). D went to W&M’s King and Queen Ball with BF last Friday, met current W&M students, and had a great time. D learns that at W&M she does not have to declare a major until junior year, which gives her time to “figure things out”. W&M curriculum allows student to explore areas of interest while fulfilling the pre-requisites for both psychology and business. Although applying to the Mason School of Business is also competitive, the process is based on merit not on limited space availability. W&M has a strong study abroad program which is at the top of my daughter’s list. Finally, in trying to squeeze too many activities during the Day for Admitted Students we missed the Psychology Department presentation. When we got to the room the professor giving the presentation was still there answering questions from other admitted students. When everybody was gone she did not hesitate to go over the presentation again for D and another admitted student, just the two of them. D got a very warm feeling and realized that W&M school spirit shows in unconventional ways. </p>
<p>At the end, D realized W&M is a much better fit for her. D plans to create the “whole college experience” by proudly wearing W&M apparel, support W&M athletics, participate in community service and maybe, just maybe, join greek life. Good Luck!!</p>
<p>PS: Sorry for the long reply! :-)</p>
<p>BlueCrab, </p>
<p>Wow, what an amazing post on so many levels! Everything you said rang true to me even though I graduated so many years ago! People who erroneously believe that W&M doesn’t provide the “whole college experience” (meaning—partying, school pride, etc.) are clueless and misinformed. There is always something to do (e.g., frat houses, which will be amazing when the 12 new ones come on line in fall '13; the bar scene (called deli’s); New Towne dining/shopping; the soon to come Tribe Square; canoeing at Lake Matoka, tanning at Yorktown beach 13 miles away, etc.). And, for sports lovers, we have one of the best Football programs for a school our size (even for a school the size of ACC schools). The basketball program is on the rise too. I came to W&M from the North East and absolutely LOVED it! A students main objective in college should be to receive a world-class education! W&M delivers that in spades. At the same time, W&M is so much fun! Great location, engaging people, approachable profs–all wrapped up in a safe, secure location!</p>
<p>lastof3,</p>
<p>W&M students are plenty well rounded, IMO. The quality hokies just lost to James Madison in football. W&M students volunteer, join clubs, go to sporting events, go to the delis (bars), go to mug night (sunday night at green leafe, this is an institution at W&M), throw frisbees in the sunken gardens, play IM sports.</p>
<p>Regarding things to do on campus, W&M is very contained. This means that the majority of the students live on campus, so things are centered around campus. There is a big concert every semester. There are smaller concerts when the weather is nice on the Sadler Center terrace (“fridays at 5”). There are a cappella concerts (free) every Wednesday night at the Wren building.</p>
<p>The fraternity parties are generally open to anyone, which is not always the case at other schools. Also, clubs on campus host parties for their members. As do club sports teams (and likely varsity sports teams as well).</p>
<p>Many top high school students come to W&M. They cannot all graduate at the top of the class at W&M. It’s just not possible. That said, W&M has a superb relationship with graduate schools. W&M students are accepted to top programs every year in virtually every discipline you could imagine. Not all of these students have 3.8 GPAs. W&M has a very good reputation among employers also. I literally just talked to someone yesterday (about a fall internship) who said “one of the reasons we really liked your application was that you went to W&M; obviously a very strong school.”</p>
<p>As far as school spirit, W&M has tons. You will always see people decked out in W&M gear. If you made it to admitted students day, you would’ve seen lots of students in “I am W&M” tshirts. You would’ve had the chance to stop any student who would’ve been happy to tell you why they love W&M. Over 3000 students show up for some W&M football games. While the 3000 is not a lot compared to VTech, you must remember that 3000 W&M students is over 50% of the undergraduate student body. This is a huge percentage. Additionally, I feel pretty confident that W&M will make the NCAA basketball tournament for the first time in the next few years. Your kid will be able to witness history.</p>
<p>As far as off campus stuff, I’m not sure how VT can win in this category, unless by “stuff to do off campus” you mean “bars to get drunk at.” W&M is very close to Busch Gardens, and there is even a day in the fall where W&M students get discounted tickets. There are go karts, a great minigolf place, Sno to Go (a Williamsburg icon), multiple movie theaters, New Town with great restaurants, the bars right next to campus (and a few further away, like the Leafe at New Town and Library Tavern), outlet stores, Jamestown, Yorktown, the beach, great restaurants in Merchant Square and on Richmond Road.</p>
<p>Also, it doesn’t take 45 minutes to walk across the W&M campus.</p>
<p>hope something in there helped… I know it’s kind of ramble-ish. My mind is slightly fried from leaving for my internship at 7am and getting back from my grad class at 9:30 at night.</p>
<p>All previous posters have added great points. W&M is full of school spirit, or Tribe Pride as we call it. You can’t pass a car on campus not adorned with a W&M decal of some form and our Day for Admitted Students was staffed almost entirely by volunteer students which shows just how much W&M students love their school…so much so they get up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday after a campus-wide formal the previous night to help welcome our admitted students and families.</p>
<p>As for business, W&M’s Mason School is top-tier and climbing in the rankings each year. It is part of our liberal arts curriculum; not separate from it so students are still able to pursue other academic interests in addition to business rather than pursue business and business only. Their new building in Miller Hall is state-of-the art too.</p>
<p>As for grade deflation, that’s somewhat of an overblown rumor. W&M simply admits a lot of very high-achieving students not all of whom can graduate college with a 4.0 and that’s simply something they need to adjust to but learning that one can still be successful even without straight As is a great life lesson to learn and W&M helps students learn that lesson in a supportive and non-cutthroat environment.</p>
<p>VT and W&M are two very different schools especially in size and location so one will likely be a better fit for your student than the other. Both provide excellent opportunities. We’re obviously going to encourage your student to go with the Tribe however!</p>
<p>Can anyone speak to the bio program at W&M, esp. in terms of the professors, and the students’ success in getting into good grad programs (in the sciences, not pre-med). Are most bio majors pre-med?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>While certainly pre-meds are often bio majors there are many bio majors (and majors in the other sciences too) who are not pre-med specifically. Some are looking into other health sciences (pre-vet, pre-pharmacy, physical/occupational therapy) while others are looking into research opportunities post undergrad (one of our senior interns is graduating with a neuroscience degree this year and is hoping to work for the Human Genome Project). And yet we’ve had student volunteers who’ve recently graduated with science degrees who’ve pursued philantrhopic endeavors like Teach for America and Peace Corps. That’s the beauty of liberal arts.</p>
<p>You can read about the bio faculty and there areas of expertise here: [William</a> & Mary - People](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/as/biology/people/index.php]William”>People | William & Mary)</p>
<p>You can also investigate undergraduate research opportunities in the department which are great experiences for any student considering graduate work in the field ([William</a> & Mary - Research](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/as/biology/research/index.php]William”>Research | William & Mary))</p>
<p>Since this thread has a ridiculously large amount of useful information in it, and perhaps the most accurate depiction of life at William and Mary so far, I thought I’d bump up this thread so new or prospective freshmen could see it. Most of what’s written is pretty much in line with what I have observed on campus</p>
<p>I am a newly admitted student to the Class of 2019 of W&M. I am wanting to know more about Greek Life at the College, specifically the pledge process. I am not a drinker, so I am wondering does every pledge process involve forced drinking? I wanted to come to W&M because I felt such a strong community while I visited (like a family), so it is hard to imagine heavy hazing, if any, happens there. So does hazing happen? If yes, how extreme? Any stories? Also, when does pledging happen, and how long does it typically last for? I really want to join a frat to get involved, be social, and have a family on campus. If any current W&M students (if you’re in a frat, even better) could help me out and give me some info. Thank you so much!</p>