<p>If you plan on going to some form of graduate school, I'd take the free ride. Debt can really, really mess you up. BUT--if you don't really want to go to graduate school or you can afford the $40,000--hey, why not??</p>
<p>since most of us here will be attending WM, we think it is a terrific school. it has its faults but we all love it and have chosen it for the next four years. $40,000 is a lot of money and personally I would take it if I weren't completely and utterly in love with another school. nonetheless it is your decision, and I don't think any of us can tell you anything about WM that you don't already know. if you're leaning away, you're leaning away - just don't make a decision you'll regret in four years</p>
<p>I just transferred OUT of W&M and I would like to tell you that I have noticed that the student body is divided in 4 parts, a fourth LOVES the school, a fourth HATES the school, a fourth HATES the school enough to want to transfer out, a fourth are willing to stick it out bc of the name. That tells you a lot about the student body.</p>
<p>wmrocks - you have said different things at different times about WM - can you give us an idea of what you think the drawbacks to WM are? We are from MA and it's hard to get the real perspective for this school from this area.</p>
<p>You guys are all right, at different times I have said different things about W&M, but I think it was more of a defense mechanism to not get my feelings hurt in case I didn't get into the school I was trying to transfer to. I am transferring to UVA by the way, along with 5 other people I know, kinda of strange, huh?! Don't get me wrong, I will miss W&M's small classes, great professors and down to earth people, however, W&M is BORING. If you don't mind studying on the weekends, not doing anything and going to the ocasional lame dry frat party where they have themes like (Vietnam War theme-very offensive by the way) then you will like William & Mary. They are expanding the rec center and the caf, but this year the rec center had like 20 machines for more than 5,000 undergrads and the food was just plain disguisting. I'll keep typing later</p>
<p>Thanks - my son applied ED but since being accepted I am afriad we have heard a similar point of view from a number of sources. We visited 3 times to be sure he really wanted to apply ED but I guess it is really hard to know much about a school that is so far away! I hope you enjoy UVA. Do you have any suggestions for new, committed freshmen?</p>
<p>Well, basically a lot of freshmen I met went in with a pessimistic attitude ("This isn't my first choice, it will get better") type of attitude. Having a positive and sincere attitude towards the people one meets and the school will help tremendously. I would suggest that your son doesn't take his freshmen seminar (required for all freshmen) in the fall semester because for one, it is a writing intensive 4 credit course that being the first semester in college and still adjusting, might be a little tough to do well in and number two he will most likely get to register early in the spring if he hasn't taken a freshman seminar.</p>
<p>it's a little difficult to get a feel for you statements when you recently said "you should enroll at W&M...is such an amazing school,". I do understand that you may have been wanting to protect your feelings. But I guess the same could be true of your decision for UVA. There are so few comments here from WM students that they do weigh heavily on the minds of incoming freshmen.</p>
<p>Rileydog---Here's a positive point of view from the mother of a rising senior and an incoming freshman at W&M. My oldest applied ED--instate--and has loved the school. Many of his friends are from out of state, and most, if not all, don't view W&M as their "second choice." Williamsburg is not exactly a hotspot in terms of nightlife, but the kids never seem to have trouble keeping themselves busy and happy (and I don't think they're spending their weekends at Swem library). I think WMrocks' description of W&M...especially the part about down to earth kids...mirrors what our family has found. Basically, if you like the people you're with--if they're good, friendly people--I think you tend to like the place, too. Sorry that WMrocks seemed to meet so many malcontents, but from my limited experience that seems to be the exception rather than the rule (and I'm skeptical of his 25-25-25-25 analysis above). At any rate, Rileydog, I hope your son (and my rising freshman) have the positive experience of my oldest son.</p>
<p>Thanks. His interest in W&M came from a sidetrip to Wmburg after viewing the DC schools. We were strickly in Wmburg for vacation and to keep his younger brother happy after dragging him around DC - but Mom (me!), seeing a college there, just had to look at WM and dragged the family through yet another tour and admissions session. We never dreamed that he would love it or apply there, never mind apply ED! As time marches on I am becoming quite anxious about him going so far away and so out of New England (yikes! you know how provincial we all are!). I am worried to hear some of these comments as we didn't have this impression and I am worried that we were too far away to get a good feel for this school despite our research. Add in the dorm fires and some things I have read about the frats - well, I am concerned. I am also surprised by how few comments there are from W & M students. They must be studying!</p>
<p>Rileydog--Amazing...our family had a similar experience. We were on a jaunt to Busch Gardens and I insisted that we visit W&M (amidst grumbling along the lines of "I would NEVER go to school in a town like Williamsburg.") An hour and a half later and he was sold. Who knows what did it....but he's never lost his enthusiasm. He's in a fraternity (big surprise to his Dad and me), and that works for him. All of the fraternities and sororities there are big into community service projects; in fact, volunteer work seems to be a big part of the culture there. W&M officials have taken a proactive stance of late on the frats and underage drinking, though I've never had the impression that the parties there get out of hand (relatively speaking). We've learned in the past three years that W&M is a well-run school--the administration is on top of most things and keeps the kids informed. The dorm fire was scary, but on the plus side I understand that the administration immediately swept through all the dorms to check on safety/smoke detectors/sprinklers. And the community outpouring (both in Williamsburg and at the school) to help the kids who lost their things in the fire was really incredible. No place is perfect, but thus far we've been impressed by W&M, by the folks who run it, by the folks who teach there, and by the kids who attend. It seems to have a nurturing environment, which was evident from the day my son moved in as a freshman. I don't know if they still do this, but we were met at our car by a phalanx of friendly, helpful (and strong) students who had my son moved up to his third floor room in a pair of seconds. I sympathize with your distance concerns....I feel so lucky that I can get to my son in less than 3 hours. The Amtrak station is about two blocks from campus, if that works at all for your son. Air travel is not quite so convenient....either out of Richmond or Norfolk, I believe. Sorry for the rambling, but I wanted you to know that the positive impression we got from our initial visit to W&M has never changed. And yes---the last two weeks the kids have been in finals, so maybe that explains the dearth of student comments!</p>
<p>Sorry but I've never thought of William and Mary as being a "second choice" school..................Most students who can get into William and Mary can get into UVA, at least in state students. It just seems to me that it's a personal and personality preference.........both great schools. I got into both schools and UVA wasn't my second choice, but my third. I guess a smaller college just appeals more to me at this point. I am looking forward to William and Mary. It was my first choice. I do respect WMRocks opinion though, because he has given his honest assessment based on actually having been a student at William and Mary, but I don't let that opinion or any other opinions about William and Mary influence me beyond just that (what a run-on sentence!!!). I'm optimistic and excited. For every person unhappy with their experience at William and Mary, there are certainly many at UVA with their own complaints.</p>