<p>I know that eventually I'll have to just choose a school and take my losses, but...this recent debate has been unbearable. As I begin to think I'm feeling good about one school, the other one seems to gain my favour.</p>
<p>If you had the choice, which school would you choose and for what reasons?</p>
<p>I think of myself as a fairly academic and individualistic student. From what I've read it seems like that would make me more suited for William and Mary. Is this stereotype correct?</p>
<p>UVA. Because it seems like more fun, and Thomas Jefferson is my favorite historical figure.</p>
<p>I’m like you, and I’d choose W&M.</p>
<p>UVA just takes the frat/preppy thing over the top in my book.</p>
<p>UVA IS SO PREPPY. I’d go with W & M</p>
<p>I prefer the size and intimateness of W&M over UVA</p>
<p>W & M
it just seems like a friendlier environment in which to learn!</p>
<p>My goodness to have had the problems of upper-tier VA highschool students when I was looking at colleges…</p>
<p>Well, I had to make this exact same decision . . . 30 years ago! I chose William & Mary - for me it was no contest. My three best friends all went UVa.</p>
<p>My son is at W&M now (a junior) and his decision came down to W&M or Ithaca College Parke School of Communications (for journalism with a 1/2 tuition scholarship so it would have been less expensive than W&M OOS). He was torn and I told him to spend one day as if he had chosen one over the other and then reverse it for the next day. Wear a W&M sweatshirt on the W&M day and an Ithaca on the Ithaca day. Tell his friends he was choosing the college of that day. Really try to get into the mindset that he was going to that college for the day. He said it actually helped make the choice clear in his head. </p>
<p>Of course, let’s remember that William & Mary was the first university of virginia and it was a William & Mary alum who founded UVa, just another example of a selfless, caring William & Mary alum helping those who cannot help themselves.</p>
<p>ahhh what a tough decision. two schools im also looking at.</p>
<p>I’d go with UVA, but that’s for me personally. I’ve wanted to go there since the first time I was on campus when I was 9 and my sister was taking a tour. </p>
<p>Really though, from what little info you gave I’d say W&M might be better</p>
<p>I would choose UVa.</p>
<p>Pros of UVa: a) national top 25 ranking, b) larger student population, c) national brand name, d) ACC athletics, e) beautiful and safe campus, f) top-notch academics</p>
<p>Pros of W&M: a) beautiful campus, b) Williamsburg is a very safe town, c) Outlet Malls are less than 10 mins away (hello Nike Outlet! lmao), d) Busch Gardens is in Williamsburg (I LOVE BG!), e) good academics</p>
<p>UVa students seem to be more well-rounded and like to have fun. W&M seems like it’s a school full of bookworms and nerds. The sports scene and school spirit at W&M doesn’t compare to UVa’s. W&M is a good school academically, but it doesn’t hold a candle to UVa…</p>
<p>Thanks. I’ve been beginning to lean more towards William and Mary. I’m a wicked nerd, and a big history buff which would make living in Williamsburg amazing. I think I would prefer the small liberal arts feel and I like that its relatively close to the ocean (I live in Alberta, about the most land-locked place you can get to).</p>
<p>I’m also not too hip on the greek life, and I’m not much of a party animal, both of which I have heard abound UVa. William and Mary is starting to feel like a better fit.</p>
<p>As for athletics, I currently attend a high school that is top in the province for athletics and…I find it a little obnoxious. Its nice, simply because it gets your school’s name out there, but otherwise I could care less.</p>
<p>Lawsco, you really can’t go wrong with either choice. I will say have heard nothing but positive reviews about W&M from W&M alumni. They often talk about how the students supported each other and how the environment was very collaborative. The alumni network is very strong as well. If you think you will fit in at W&M, then I’m sure you will enjoy it and will be successful there. However, it’s not for everyone…</p>
<p>UVa is, in my opinion and from my impression, really pretentious. I don’t know much about W&M except that they had a health or physical requirement or something - uh, no, I graduated from high school, thanks.</p>
<p>Lawsco - I would personally choose W&M for exactly the same reasons that you cited. As far as the name brand issue, UVa for all its glory is still a state flagship - there are many folks out there who would assume that the U of VA and the U of WV would be equivalent. I bet 90% of Americans who’ve heard of W&M think that it’s an elite private school.</p>
<p>Your decision should really break along the lines of: Williams vs. Penn or Haverford vs. Cornell, or Carleton vs. Northwestern.</p>
<p>LAC vs. Research Uni.</p>
<p>UVA has more in common with UCLA, Berkeley UNC, etc., and W&M different from Davidson or Bucknell, or another LAC than they do with each other.</p>
<p>Oh, and I think W&M has a slightly lower midpoint GPA.</p>
<p>Entering GPA? Or average attending student GPA? Because I know that William and Mary has very low grade inflation that might contribute to that.</p>
<p>Either way, thanks for all the help so far. I think I’m starting to get more a feel for each. I’m going to see if I can’t get out to William and Mary before I need to make the decision. I’ve been to UVA, but not William and Mary as of yet.</p>
<p>If PREPPY scares you then either way you are out of luck… But honestly, as intimate and small as W&M is, something draws me personally to UVA. The size is big, but not huge. The faculty are great, but not too intimate with you. The social life is amazing, but can be overwhelming. The sports are good, but are not championship caliber. But overall UVA is just amazing.</p>
<p>It is kind of the preppy thing that scares me. I don’t really want to become a walking AE ad. I’d much rather listen to my experimental folk, wear wrinkly plaid, and play my bongo drum.</p>
<p>How is preppy…bad? I’ve always had the impression that the type-A “ideal” person would be preppy – basically good at so many things. Smart, good looking, fit, social – how is that so terrible?</p>