<p>pathetic ;) selection problem: i know that this has to come down to my own decision, but it looks as if i have a chance to BARELY make it into william and mary (one of the best and hardest public schools in the country) or go to james madison university (a good public school, but a party school). of course, i would get the best education at william and mary and i would probably have more opportunities after college because of it.</p>
<p>here's the problem in a nutshell: although i'm not really a party type, i confess that i don't know if i'm mature and disciplined enough to handle all of the hard work at william & mary. i like both schools, but jmu would be easier and more fun, i think. any comments/advice/things to think about that might help me make a decision? thanks.</p>
<p>I’m assuming you are a rising senior? Why not apply to both and see what happens - why do you have to make a choice now?</p>
<p>My son was accepted at William & Mary and we were extremely impressed with the school. If W & M has the major you want - by all means - apply. I have recently visited JMU and have spent a lot of time researching the school and one thing I have learned is that the party rep is a bit overblown. Some of the departments - like business - are very challenging - I would not assume that the academics at JMU would be a walk in the park.</p>
<p>I would focus on the differences between the 2 - JMU obviously being much bigger - more students live off campus - that type of thing. But unless you are saying that you want to apply ED - why not just apply to both and make your decision once you have your acceptance(s) in hand?</p>
<p>rockvillemom, many thanks for your reply. good insights into school size, etc. you’re right to raise question about acceptance(s) (that i might be gettiing ahead of myself). the shorthand response is that i’m not…and coupled with why i’m trying to decide now would both take many paragraphs and get into family matters.</p>
<p>as far as majors, i’m a liberal arts guy. i’m not thinking that jmu would be easy…just that w&m would be harder to the point where i’m scared i might not respond with the motivation required. i guess i just don’t know myself well enough to know if i would start letting things slip (my history is a bit checkered). ok, what i need is counseling i was writing hoping that someone might miraculously say something that would turn on a light in my dimly lit head.</p>
<p>William & Mary is a selective enough school that if you’re not qualified, you won’t get in. If they take you, they believe that you can do the work. Go ahead and apply, you’ll be fine if you get in.</p>
<p>I agree with the previous poster - if you have some reason that you have to choose - go for W & M. Most would agree it is the more prestigious of the 2 schools and most would agree it is the better choice for liberal arts. You are better off trying W & M - and if it does prove to be too much - you could always transfer to JMU.</p>
<p>One caveat - I do read/hear anecdotally about W & M being much more stressful and intense. JMU students are always described as being happy. This is where fit > prestige. You know yourself - if a stressful academic environment is going to cause you to shut down or check out - rather than motivate you to work even harder - then maybe your pick should be JMU. And I don’t in any way mean that as a slap at JMU. You just have to think how you would respond to challenging academics - and then decide accordingly.</p>
<p>rockvillemom: thank you. the first two sentences of your caveat are exactly what i’ve heard. w&m’s intensity is not me, but feel i should go there because of the superior education (again, i’m not getting ahead of myself…in short, i have a nonacademic skill that w&m has said should get me in).</p>
<p>i’m no slacker, but jmu would be a better fit, but it’s less prestigious and seems too big for me. given my lack of emotional academic competitiveness, jmu is clearly the safer bet. argh ;)</p>
<p>What you seem to be saying is that you think you SHOULD go to W & M - but I don’t read much in your posts saying that you WANT to go there - that something about W & M has sparked your interest. But you also say JMU is too big - does it have to be either of these 2 or nothing else? Have you visited both? Done an overnight at both? Assuming you are a recruited athlete or something of that nature - talk to the coach at W & M about your concerns (or the coach equivalent if your hook is not a sport) and do an overnight - attend some classes - talk to some current students - that might help you to decide.</p>
<p>my sport puts me at these two schools. i didn’t mention my sport because the time it takes is not the issue at all.</p>
<p>i want to go to w&m but feel i’m not academically driven enough to fit there. heck, i’m very happy with my Bs in ap classes. that’s not the type of person i’ve met from w&m. they are both smart and driven.</p>
<p>i’ve stayed overnight at both. jmu had a lot of fun distractions, maybe too many for me. </p>
<p>but you’re right, i need to keep getting more info in whatever form it comes.</p>
i was writing hoping that someone might miraculously say something that would turn on a light in my dimly lit head.</p>