<p>poor, sv3a. I know how the truth can hurt sometimes. For you, I never agree with your ignorance, but I will always defend your right to have it. For myself, I believe in the truth, but for the sake of your feelings, I can sacrifice my obligation to express it. I know your heart is fragile; I shall be merciful. Plus, I need a break. Furthermore, if it gives you pleasure to THINK that this is my de facto surrender, then by all means enjoy this pleasure. YOU BEAT A TROLL AT COLLEGE CONFIDENTIAL! BE PROUD! FEEL SUPERIOR! Don't feel inferior. </p>
<p>PS: the rest of you, what's your excuse? Do UVA ppl simply have no sense of quirky humor? blah</p>
<p>How hard is it to get an A here? Compared to W&M? I heard W&M is more academically rigorous. Is there any grade inflation or deflation to an extent? What is the average GPA here? How is the workload? Is the atmosphere really competitive? A friend of mine goes to UVA, and she told me that the classes are really too big and that people don't like to work together. Is that true? Would you feel out of place if you don't like sport games since it contributes to social life at UVA?</p>
<p>It's not impossible. It may or may not be a myth that w&m is more rigorous than UVA, but W&M classes certainly are not significantly more difficult than their c'ville counterparts. Science classes tend to be grade deflated, but most other disciplines are sort of in the middle. I don't think the classes are too big at all - most of mine compare very well in size to those that my friends are taking at other top universities. People do like to work together...they do it all the time. Maybe in your friend's limited experience, he/she hasn't seen it. You probably wouldn't feel out of place if you didn't like "sport games," but the only sport that really contributes to social life here is football. I highly recommend that you go to at least a couple of games in the fall - they're a lot of fun.</p>
<p>
[quote]
W&M produced four presidents. UVA only 1 (Law School). In fact, the very founder of UVA, Mr. TJ, was actually a W&M grad; so was GEORGE WASHINGTON, AMERICAN HERO AND FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>zhonggong, UVA did not exist at that time, so trying to argue that it's a better school because George Washington went there is completely moot. Besides, if Thomas Jefferson had been so enamoured with W&M, he wouldn't have felt the need to found UVA, now would he? Clearly there was something TJ felt needed a little fixin' in the state of VA.</p>
<p>And africa12--there's a lot more to college than academics. In fact, I would argue that the academics may indeed be the least important part. It's important to do well and pay attention in class, but ultimately, it's really unimportant what you major in. You won't remember what grade you got on your Intro to Bio final. But you WILL remember all the good times you had driving out to the beach with your friends, drinking yourself silly at a fraternity party, painting your face orange and blue to cheer on the Wahoos as they beat Florida State, and streaking across the lawn in your freshman year. : ) That's why sports are important. Because some of us actually want to have FUN in college. And learn something too. ; )</p>
<p>I'm a W&M grad and am appalled by some of the comments above. At any rate, W&M is the most selective US public university. However, UVa would be a good choice for graduate school. Their law school is excellent.</p>
<p>Yeah W&M! Oh and please ignore zhongdong, he's the type of WM kid I don't like...the pretentious intellectuals...</p>
<p>But hey. I got in to UVA as a transfer, but decided not to go. I made some amazing friendships this past year @ WM, and I decided in the end that those surpassed the problems I had with the school. UVA might have had better soil to plant my seed in, but why would I transplant over there when I have already started to grow at W&M?</p>
<p>And I realized WM kids do know how to have fun, they just have to be more creative than the UVA kids who have a multitude of options to choose from. Next semester I'm planning on selling water balloons for a fundraiser next fall (with the help of my frat)...so we'll see how it turns out.</p>
<p>I believe UCB and Illinois/Michigan (and maybe UNC?) have lower acceptance rates than WM. WM's is lower than UVA's, but UVA has a much higher retention</p>
<p>"At any rate, W&M is the most selective US public university. However, UVa would be a good choice for graduate school. Their law school is excellent."</p>
<p>I'm not sure I entirely understand what you are saying here. UVA would be a good choice for undergraduate school as well.</p>
<p>Well I'll say something positive about the troll, he's opened my eyes to what type of weirdos I'll see in the States and how to deal. </p>
<p>By now I'm afraid I've forgotten who the originial poster is, but a couple campus tours should do the trick. Visit both campuses a couple times if you haven't already, you should know which is better for you when you set foot on it. Obviously if you have an immediate urge to throw up, don't attend the school. =)</p>
<p>Wah! Don't bash my 'country'! =P But yes, the current political situation is a mess and even more so if anyone's been following local news. Anyways..</p>
<p>Cav I guess it'd depend on your definition of weirdo. We're a pretty conservative Asian society here so any radicals we have are so not compared to ones in the States.</p>
<p>Melli...people will not fundamentally be different in the US. There will be weirdos and normal people, liberals and conservatives, short people and tall people, etc, etc, etc. I'm confused about how a ranting troll on an online message board is something you'd only find in america.</p>
<p>"Though I may not know much, from what I have read or heard W & M is better in the sciences than UVA, though I prefer UVA myself. But then in other programs UVA has a slight edge over W & M. So if its medical school go W & M ( read somewhere 80% of their med school applicants get accepted) which is awesome."</p>
<p>^^
This is some pretty terrible advice. W&M is notorious for grade deflation, and it is very difficult to make high marks. However, they do have a linkage program with Eastern VA Medical school that doesn't require you to take the MCAT, so if you want a sure thing, go there and apply for that program. UVA has one of the best hospitals in the country on its campus. The opportunities there are unparalled - UVA is absolutely huge.</p>
<p>"I just want everyone to know that Zhongdong's views do not reflect the opinions of all W&M students...</p>
<p>I can't say anything about UVA, but I've gone to W&M for a year and here is my impression of it:</p>
<p>If you like to drink, party, go to sports games, have free time, and not be stressed out, don't go to W&M. Most kids at W&M are very polite and approachable, though. Kids constantly complain about the school, the workload, lack of hot girls, and I get the impression that many kids (including myself) battle with depression daily. W&M is definitely a good fit for some people (ie. people who like to devote themselves to their work,) but if you want to have the "typical college experience," go to UVA. That's just my two cents.</p>
<p>btw I applied to UVA for transfer"</p>
<p>^^^
Let me summarize the Virginia schools for everyone...</p>
<p>If you want to have the typical college experience, apply to JMU. If you want a kick-dick education, go to UVA, but be warned there are a lot of jerks and snobs in the undergrad program. If you want to be seriously depressed all the time, go to W&M. If you want a crappy education and to hang out with crack dealers every night, goto CNU. If you want a good education, but still want to hang out with crack dealers, go to VCU. If you like football and mechanical engineering, go to VT. If you like artsy stuff and traffic, go to GMU. If you like sexually transmitted diseases, go to Radford. If you want to meet friends who will make you incredibly wealthy, go to Washington and Lee. If you want to go to heaven and like having the same freedoms as North Korean prisoners of war, go to Liberty Univeristy.</p>