<p>College of William and Mary, University of Maryland, or Northeastern University.</p>
<p>Due to financial aid URichmond went from a place I only applied to because of my college counselor, to my top choice. I have to visit all of the above places but from the experiences of those of you who went/know people who went/etc, which school is the best choice. If you need to know about me: I'm not sure what I want to do. I'm a black male from New Jersey. I come from a small private school.</p>
<p>It really depends on what you are looking for…Maryland has a lot of advantages, but is HUGE. You’ll have classes with 300+ people in them.</p>
<p>William and Mary is a rock solid school, one of the absolute best in the country. Beautiful environment in Williamsburg, but there is minimal partying done. So, if you are looking for some of the collegiate atmosphere, just be sure you are 100% serious all the time.</p>
<p>I know very little about Northeast: Easy to get back and for to NJ. Boston is one of the coolest towns in the USA. But, the school is big…No, not as big as Maryland, but you’ll be in a large urban setting.</p>
<p>Richmond has only 3000 under graduates and is absolutely beautiful. It is small enough to put your hands into everything that you want to try. Faculty is super engaged with their students.</p>
<p>My best advice to you is to actually go see each of the schools while they are still in session. Talk to professors, talk to students, eat at the dining hall. Just hang out in the Student Commons Buildings…Can you see your self walking amongst these students? What does your gut tell you? I’ve seen it too, too many times where someone decides on where they are going to go to school without ever stepping foot on the campus until move in day/ It is a recipe for disaster.</p>
<p>In the grand scheme of things, your happiness and belonging in the right community is worth a lot more than some $in scholarships. Listen to your gut, it will pay off.</p>
<p>'Hope this helps a little bit. Good Luck!</p>
<p>The above is great advice.</p>
<p>Thank you your post definately helps especially for William and Mary. Academics and prestige etc is important but I’m looking for a full college experience from sports to social to academics. I am visiting them all next week which will help with the decision.</p>
<p>Higher, I’d love it if you could revisit this after your trips to give an update. I’m particularly interested in a compare/contrast between UR/WM.</p>
<p>Hi - all the schools you mentioned are great schools. I am not a student, but a parent of two. I have been to all but Maryland. You have been given great advice…but I did literally laugh out loud at the following statement regarding William and Mary:</p>
<p>So, if you are looking for some of the collegiate atmosphere, just be sure you are 100% serious all the time</p>
<p>Clearly the author has limited knowledge of this school’s social side. Yes there is one. And it is anything but serious! I suppose it comes down to how one defines “collegiate atmosphere”. </p>
<p>For your consideration:
[YouTube</a> - On Assignment: Campus Golf](<a href=“On Assignment: Campus Golf - YouTube”>On Assignment: Campus Golf - YouTube)</p>
<p>Having looked at W&M myself, a wife that is from Williamsburg, and five social friends who went to W&M, I’d have to disagree with you about “anything but serious.”</p>
<p>W&M is a fantastic school, but is known for having an imbalance in the work/play relationship. Using youtube to show one day out of the year as evidence of a “fun” campus is a bit comical.</p>
<p>All the W&M grads I know are very successful and look upon their school fondly, but would also be the first to tell you that it was rough socially.</p>
<p>I suppose everyone has their unique perspectives/experiences!</p>
<p>Glad you found the video comical :D</p>
<p>167 Undergraduate reviewers (both satisfied and dissatisfied) rated both Social Life and the surrounding community (Williamsburg) as the two worst aspects of William and Mary (Google “william mary social life” and click the first link). </p>
<p>Interestingly enough over 17% of respondents classify the students as “broken spirited.”</p>
<p>Just one man’s opinion, which isn’t worth much, but UR is more work hard/play hard whereas W&M is work hard/study harder.</p>
<p>William and Mary was the weirdest school I visited. Many people seemed timid and the campus tour was VERY boring. The gym is very far from the majority of the buildings we looked at and was pretty much empty. The upside was the dorms which were the largest and nicest of all of the schools I visited.</p>
<p>Richmond was great. Everyone was nice and helpful. I talked to some students who gave me truthful answers that I couldnt get on the tour. The food is great.</p>
<p>Maryland was huge. I personally did not feel any sense of community during my tour. The facilities were great. However the food was not up to par with Richmond and overall the tour guided my decision not to attend UMaryland. </p>
<p>I never even looked at Northeastern…</p>
<p>Higher, thanks for the follow-up. When I toured W&M a decade or so ago something just felt…off. I could never really put my finger on it, but I was greatly disappointed. Everyone I know who has gone there has enjoyed their experience, but I just think it wasn’t a good cultural fit for me.</p>
<p>Urichmond is probably where I’ll be entering this fall (I’m hearing from the financial aid office on Friday, cutting it close much?). It really seemed to have a world of it’s own on campus, for only 3000 students, there was a ton going on.</p>