I’m a current sophomore at University of Richmond entering junior year in Fall 2018. I’ve been considering transferring to WM (which I initially decided to turn down).
As of now, the only reason I could think of to stay at UR is getting piano lessons and playing in a jazz combo with a music professor I’ve come to respect and befriend. I initially expected UR’s atmosphere to be more academic, and yet I found that I was not satisfied. UR evidently lacks diversity incredibly and honestly I’m quite tired of encountering the same obnoxious preppy white party animals in class and in the dorms (UR is tiny). I was deciding whether to suffer through the remaining years or transfer for a possibly better college lifestyle than the one right now.
Please refrain from the “think it over” comments. I just want to get a gist of the general atmosphere at WM from students’ perspectives and/or chances. Also if transferring during junior year spring would be okay or not recommendable.
Sophomore
My Major: Comp Sci, minor in Math, Music
GPA: 3.82
Work on-campus job as part of a scholars program
Student conduct hearing board member
Some club participation
How’s it going boss, I’m currently a senior at WM majoring in Finance, normally don’t ever come on this website, but I’m sure I can provide you with at least some information as to how school’s like.
To be fair, I must say WM is very boring socially. I joined a good fraternity and even then there isn’t anything ever to do. Most kids say that study abroad was their most enjoyable time at WM, and I agree with that sentiment. I’ve visited Richmond before and while WM doesn’t have that annoying prep vibe, greek life is still a bit (lot) pretentious. It seems though that won’t be to big of a problem considering that you’re looking to avoid the party scene to begin with.
The school is academic enough, quite a few students are worldly and intellectual. Beware however that there are also a ton of guys who just smoke weed/abuse drugs especially in Greek life, and moreso WM is very segregated socially so you tend to end up being friends with the type of people who share your “extracurricular” interests.
Overall It’s been a pretty mediocre college experience. I have a good consulting job lined up, but being a child of a foreign diplomat I was exposed to enough that coming to Williamsburg Virginia was not a good call looking back.
Anyways apologies if this doesn’t answer any of your questions, I guess the main point I’m trying to make is that college is what you make of it, whether it be Richmond or WM, I certainly think WM is a bit more nerdy and intellectual than Richmond, but not to the extend some moronic kool-aid drinking parent may imagine it to be.
Regards