//My username is hoyadawg because I had family members at Georgetown//
To begin, I never had a very traditional college path. I started at the University of Richmond and hated how exclusive the Greek life culture felt when I dropped out of rush during a bad break up. Immediately, I was differently and most of friends hated Richmond and felt depressed. Over time, more and more of my friends dropped out of college completely or transferred. I decided to study abroad to get away from Richmond and I knew that Richmond was not the university I was meant to graduate from and be a proud alum. I needed a change and knew I was going to struggle staying at Richmond to begin with. I got accepted as a finance major to Lehigh and William&Mary and I am very fortunate and blessed. I put down deposits at both because I had trouble deciding and still am having trouble deciding.
I did not like the exclusiveness of Richmond and its social life. It was difficult to join Greek life as a transfer student and sophomore instead of a freshman. At Richmond, I felt people were not connected to a community and were not involved in anything besides Greek life, even club sports or community service. I also consider myself a party person (I managed to keep good grades at Richmond while going out quite several nights a week).
I love the pride, campus, alumni connections and the work hard, play hard life at Lehigh. However, I am worried it is too similar than different to Richmond, which is where I was trying to leave and has little transfer support. I am also low income, but managed to get need-based scholarships to both universities to the point they are the same price. I have learned from Richmond how to be okay around people of all economic classes. I am in-state for William and Mary, so it would be great to have a lot of Virginia people to potentially be friends with. My only concerns with William & Mary are the lack of direct connections to finance as William & Mary is much more liberal arts based, the intense workload and the more limited options for going-out compared to Lehigh. I recognize college is definitely a lot more than just parties, but all-in-all, I know I will succeed at either university academically, but the social aspect and culture between the two is too different to not take into consideration.
I wanted to join Greek life if I could because it would be an easier way to make friends at a new place. Lehigh would be a stretch because I am starting in the spring (cannot rush until after one semester at Lehigh) and were not very open to upperclassmen from word of mouth, while William & Mary has a much more inclusive Greek life atmosphere due to the high volume of transfer students.
My heart was leaning toward Lehigh because I have always loved it and wanted to go there for some reason or another, but my head knows it’s similar to Richmond for many, many reasons. I think William & Mary would probably be the better and more inclusive choice as the school is a lot more transfer friendly and accepting, so I am looking for advice or any personal experiences at either school, given my situation.
Lehigh has a very heavy Greek influence. Not a bad thing, just a fact. W&M much less so (more of an activity than a way of life). They are both quite challenging academically. Decide what is most important to you.
They both place well professionally. Lehigh perhaps has the edge in Finance related jobs in NYC if that’s the goal but you can do quite well from W&M.
In that UR maintains a policy of not considering need in admissions decisions while meeting the full financial need of all of those accepted, you should be proud to have attended a college with such decidedly egalitarian principles.
"My heart was leaning toward Lehigh because I have always loved it and wanted to go there for some reason or another, but my head knows it’s similar to Richmond for many, many reasons. " Why did you pick Richmond? You have learned that Richmond wasn’t a good fit for you, so if Richmond and Lehigh were your “old favorites” or your tops, then perhaps it is true that Lehigh isn’t right either. Perhaps you should think about what you have always loved about Lehigh in your new lens having had a year in school and at Richmond. It kind of sounds like you know which school is better for you but are needing some confirmation and/or nudges to let go of Lehigh.
I agree that W&M is a great school to have on the resume and wouldn’t worry about post grad career options for a W&M grad.
I actually applied to Richmond on a whim thinking I would not get in and I did and got financial aid that I was very fortunate for. In order to not slip into student debt, I only applied to full-need universities and Lehigh and William&Mary were my top 2 among a bunch, which is why I’m struggling to decide between the two. Normally I’d pick on where I want to end up with my career but I cannot say at this point.
Primarily looking for insight to the social life at both, knowing my previous background at Richmond. Academically, I know both are awesome and I cannot go wrong so all else equal on that front, alumni and culture are my focus areas
If you thought Richmond was too Greek, and want to leave for that reason, Lehigh does not seem like it would be a good fit. It’s Greek Life is much more pronounced, and a part of the culture there than at Richmond, IMO.
What is your timing for transferring? Fall 2020?
This will be the second time transferring for you? I thought you started at Richmond? What year will you be when transferring? Does Lehigh or William & Mary even allow sophs/juniors to rush? If they are allowed, do they tend to get offers?
So you will you transfer immediately? Are you a junior? Senior? You mention having done study abroad, and that usually isn’t done until junior year. You also mention being a transfer at Richmond, but that doesn’t make sense (transfers usually don’t get huge financial aid). I find your posts confusing…they ramble and repeat without establishing some basic facts that would help us to answer your question. If you have little time left in college, establishing a social life/partying will be less important than academics and finding opportunities for internships etc.
I transferred to Richmond after a semester at community college and will be starting at Lehigh or W&M Spring 2020, so in a couple weeks. Put deposits at both. I will be a sophomore at Lehigh and junior at W&M based on transfer credits. Both gave me significant financial aid so money is not an issue, as it was the same way at Richmond.
It doesn’t make a lot od sense to me to leave Richmond for Lehigh.
If you like W&M, I would not worry about it’s impact on jobs- it is well regarded. It is certainly not a party school, but it’s big enough that you will find people to party with.
Plus you can start there as a Junior? That can be a significant cost savings…