<p>Namtrag - I agree with you 100% but she's also got good opportunities at two other schools and a possible 3rd this week (fingers crossed). If she didn't have other options then she would certainly be going to SC because she is a very practical child and did like many things about the school. But comparing it with the other scholarship offers that were just as good, she did not feel SC was right for her. That said, SC is a class act and we'll encourage our younger son to consider them carefully when he is ready for college. </p>
<p>Good luck with your decision. I loved W&M when we visited but their lack of merit scholarhip opportunities for OOS students made them financially unfeasible for us (plus they were pretty haughty about it).</p>
<p>pineapple
as the mom of a McNair, I would love to know what it was that turned your D off after the weekend.When we attended,it was the weekend that turned USC into S's first choice so I'm just curious.
Thanks</p>
<p>"There is no honors program at W&M because the whole school is an HC."</p>
<p>There is infact an honors program at W&M called Monroe Scholars. My older brother, who is a freshman there is in it. They have their own dorms and everything. There are some things about W&M that my brother doesn't like. He says that the food is not very good and that campus can get pretty boring. Transportation is also difficult and there are a lot of pressures on the students since it is a very academically driven school, and I mean VERY. He's doing much better this semester, however, because he has joined a frat and is really finding a niche in the school. </p>
<p>As for me, I'm about 75% sure that I'm going to be attending USC next fall. I like the fact that they've worked so hard to keep in touch with me. I hardly ever receive mail from the other schools I've applied to and got in to. I like that they're offering me money. I like that it's in a city, and I love the Carolina weather (just got back from a trip in Orlando and we stopped in SC...It just felt like home.) And I like their sports scene. W&M is very lacking in sports. </p>
<p>Ultimately, however, it's your son's decision but I thought I'd throw out my perspective on the schools. I wish you both good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for that info, JJ. I was thinking there was no Honors Program from the perspective that practically everyone at W&M would be eligible for USC's HC. My S is just a little above average at W&M with a 2100 SAT.</p>
<p>The Monroe Scholars and the McNair Scholars stats are probably very similar, but my S was not quite up in that rarified air.</p>
<p>I was in a frat at W&M, and it kept me sane. It also kept me from studying enough! lol</p>
<p>I enjoyed W&M, but it was 23 years ago that I graduated, and I am sure it is even more cutthroat now. I like the campus because it was small and I could walk everywhere, but then again, I lived on campus all 4 years, and didn't have to deal with parking, getting around by bus, etc. like the off campus students.</p>
<p>I also see that sports at W&M haven't changed since I was there: really good at the nonrevenue sports like tennis, cross country, gymnastics. Terrible at football and basketball.</p>
<p>I really don't think that "practically everyone at W&M would be eligible for USC's HC". JMO.
There are students at USC who have stats that are well within W&M admission stats that did not get accepted into the Honors College and I know students from our area that were accepted at W&M that did not have the kind of stats required to get into the Honors College at USC. You may be surprised at the number of intelligent students at USC that are in Capstone, or even not in any particular honor's program. Since it is a state flagship school their averages can be a little low as they admit many students with lower stats, however there is no shortage of talent there. I just think that since your son got into Honor's you may have a distorted view - there were many talented kids that did not make the cut for one reason or another. I'm not trying to be snarky - Sorry- but I do find it a little bit insulting to some of the USC kids.</p>
<p>I am not trying to convince you that USC is a better choice for your son by any means. Sorry if it sounds like that . I just wanted to point out that there are great students at most schools and each chooses their school for different reasons.
FWIW - My d's gc suggested she apply to W&M and after some research she decided it was definitely not where she would want to spend 4 years. I lived in Virginia for 6 years and know that many kids loved it there- just shows that the fit will be different for each kid.
I am sure your son will be fine either place - hopefully something will grab him and help him decide and once he does he will never look back!</p>
<p>Just looked up data - you may be more on than I thought - W& M has become a lot more competitive since I lived in Virginia many years ago!
Good Luck!</p>
<p>No offense taken. I actually would prefer my S go to USC, and my wife thinks W&M, but ultimately, the decision is up to my S. He's just lucky I am such a nice dad!</p>
<p>Yes, W&M is in the top 5 hardest public schools to get in. </p>
<p>You are right, it was not so hard to get into years ago. I am proof of that!</p>
<p>I talked to S some more last night, and he almost wishes W&M hadn't accepted him, so he wouldn't have a choice. He also really enjoyed the visit to USC Saturday, especially liked Dr. Buell of the CS Dept. He just is worried about the distance factor, and his ability to get along on his own so far from home.</p>
<p>I hope I didn't come across as anti-USC, because that is certainly not my intention. It's a great place!</p>
<p>Namtrag - It sounds like your son is the type of kid that would be able to handle the "stress" at W&M from how you have decsribed him. He seems to have very high goals set and a strong drive so he may love it.
It is funny how when you talk to people that went to schools years ago they say - "I'd never get in now" LOL I have heard that many times the last few years. I guess our kids generation has really pushed the stats up and now it's a whole different ball game. I kind of feel bad for the "average" kid today who would have been considered a shoe-in years ago.
If you take out the perceived or real differences in status, academic rigor, etc. , how does your son feel about the different campus environments? They are very different schools as far as the size of the student body, etc. Does he prefer the smaller, more LAC feel or does he prefer a large state U vibe? Could be a help in deciding as well.</p>
<p>Well they did recurve the SAT's a few years back, so the average is 100 points higher than when we took it.</p>
<p>I had a 1260 (which was the highest in my graduating class), 3.8 and no extracurriculars other than band, and I got into W&M and UVA. My high school was so bad, we didn't have honors, AP or anything like it. Our language choices in HS were French or Spanish. So the higher achieving kids today have to know more, but they also get a lot more chances to learn than we did.</p>
<p>I would be lucky to get into VT or JMU now with those stats, but it is a different era now. We just have to admit it: we are old!</p>
<p>My D has decided to go to USC next year. An interesting note: her friend's mom called today because she applied in January. The mom was told that they are not looking or accepting students whose applications were received after Dec. 1st, because they have never received so many applications, and all slots have been filled for acceptances</p>
<p>Cathymee - I don't want to get into specifics on what turned my daughter off of SC during the McNair weekend because I don't want to offend anyone. SC is a wonderful school with many fine attributes (as you know!). She went to three scholarship competitions in a row with SC in the middle. While at SC's weekend she said she didn't feel the fit was right in comparison to school we had just left. Then after she went to the third competition she really felt SC was not on her list anymore. </p>
<p>Everyone was very nice and friendly (except for a couple of admissions people who were downright unfriendly - they were probably stressed). It was a classy weekend. My only complaint on the orgnization was that Sunday was pretty much a waste of time. I would have preferred the interviews to have been on Sunday and then let the kids have Monday to explore various classes and departments. If she had had an opportunity to meet with professors and current students in her interest areas she might have had a different experience. </p>
<p>You've provided a lot of information for prospective students/parents on this forum and it is much appreciated.</p>
<p>Its so interesting,the idea of fit at a school.....
We had a totally different experience at the weekend..Admissions people were lovely and very helpful,S felt the extra time of Sunday was great for getting to know the other applicants and wandering the campus and he managed to arrange a meeting on Monday with the chair of his major,which turned into an hour and a half gabfest,from which we had to grab him to make it back to the airport! We know many applicants who had time during Monday to meet with drama,music,pharmacy and business depts.Weren't there students around to talk about their experiences?I know S volunteered to guide around a potential McNair in the same major he is in.
Too bad your timing couldn't have been arranged better,and maybe the admissions staff was more stressed this time around.Truly,it was the meeting with the dept head that sealed the deal for S.
Im sure your D has found the school thats right for her.Thats why the visits are so important (at least in my mind).Best of luck!</p>
<p>At the suggestion of a fellow forum member, we have offered to pay for our son to ride the train or bus to USC during his Easter break. He will have to arrange the particulars of overnighting with a host, arrange meetings with any profs, and find a class or two to attend. </p>
<p>He can also do the same thing with W&M. We would drop him off there, since he won't be able to take a car if he attends there.</p>
<p>We are leaving it up to him whether he wants to do it or not. But I think it's a good way for him to see how he feels on his own at USC without mom or dad! I am really encouraging him to do it.</p>
<p>Namtrag
Amtrak goes right near the campus,station is walkable I've heard
PM me if you want S to try to find him a spot in Maxcy(the Honors dorm on the Horseshoe) to crash for a night or two, he's done it before for other kids.</p>