<p>My teacher has been trying to get me interested in uva but i like william and mary. They both seem really similar to me other than the size, academically. I've heard stereotypes about both schools but it'd be really nice if students from both schools can tell me what its really like. Thanks</p>
<p>Many students choose UVa over William and Mary, and many choose William and Mary over UVa. It really is just personal preference. WM is about 1/3rd the size of UVa, and so has a lower student:professor ratio, and generally smaller class sizes (though there are still some larger classes). UVa is probably closer to the typical “college experience”, since Charlottesville is a great college town, and the school has a lot of school spirit. It does have a stereotype of generally being wealthy, preppy, white students, and while those students do exist, it is not the majority of the student body. Both schools are pretty much identical in terms of academics, though UVa might have the edge in name recognition, if that matters.</p>
<p>okay thank you! 
i’ll keep this in mind.</p>
<p>UVirginia is bigger, louder, Big time Greek system and ACC sports teams, research State U. Many students live off campus and riding the bus across campus is the norm.</p>
<p>W&M is an LAC, intellectual, non-conformist, residential campus. Social life is active but not in an Animal House way. Sports are nationally ranked in Football (1AA), Soccer. Improving Hoops but certainly not the ACC.</p>
<p>UVirginia has a larger alumni system esp in VA, but W&M has an Ivy-esque mystique that is more well known nationally.</p>
<p>Two very good but very different schools. Truly the only commonality is price, geography, and Jefferson.</p>
<p>Apply to both. Statistically, on the average, they are equally selective, but there are many students who get accepted by one, but not the other. I’ve read cases, too, where an in-state student received vastly different need-based financial aid offers from the two colleges. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that the aspects of a college that you think are very important to you before your senior year may change by the time May of the your senior year arrives. Therefore, apply to a range of choices. (At first, my son liked small colleges, but then he decided he definitely wanted a bigger college. Fortunately, he had applied to both.).</p>
<p>If you do a search, you will find much more discussion on this topic on this website, particularly on the UVa forum.</p>
<p>Also, W&M has been accused of discriminating against female students in admission to try to maintain a near 50-50 ratio. UVa does not discriminate by gender, and therefore has a 57% female undergrad population.</p>