<p>Ignore all the talks of prestige, who knows what college where, and who happened to transfer from one college to another. It’s meaningless B.S. Both schools are “prestigious”; UVA probably more so nationally because it’s a major research university with strong graduate programs and ~4x the number of students. But prestige shouldn’t be driving your decision. Both schools have strong reputations and will be known by academics and those recruiting for jobs. You’ll get where you want to go, whether it be grad school or somewhere in the workforce, at either school.</p>
<p>What should be driving your decision is fit. W&M is a small public university that strongly focuses on undergraduate education. UVA is a large research university with numerous graduate programs. Both offer a fantastic education at a cheap price for instate students. Visit each one and make your deposit to the school that seems right. Don’t let talks of prestige and rankings cloud your decision making.</p>