<p>Hi! I'm a PA resident, and I'm looking into applying to UVA or William and Mary or maybe even both. The thing is, I already have a list of about 10 colleges and I don't really want to write the essays for 2 more, so I'm trying to apply to just one. I need financial aid, and I want to major in International Relations. I interviewed at William and Mary over the summer in addition. Any advice?</p>
<p>I have a 34 ACT/2220 SAT, I'm ranked 1/160, and I have a 95/100 uw GPA, in case that affects any advice.</p>
<p>I agree with yeswecan (except that I voted for McCain).
AnyHoo, you will probably get accepted to both, and you should choose large or small. My personal bias is for UVA, and I'm OOS. Word on the street (from OOS-my sources) is that Wm. and Mary is kind of stuffy, a little bit prudish, and boring. Now, I'm conservative (hey, I voted McCain), but Wm. and Mary was putting me to sleep even just listening to their media spiels. I visited their campus. It certainly is beautiful, and historic, but I found that, for me, there is so much more at UVA. I ultimately didn't even apply to Wm. and Mary; just wasn't my style.
I like the bigger University setting, along with sports, and the history of UVA. OF COURSE, Wm. and Mary rivals UVA in terms of history and academic status, but it just didn't click with me.
Trust your gut. You'll know if it is right for you.</p>
<p>Well, I'm a first year here who visited both schools, and here's my experience: </p>
<p>I visited W&M twice. I drove down from MD with my mom, and when we got there the first time the admissions session was poorly run, it was crappy weather, and we ended up leaving halfway through the tour because 1) it was boring 2) we just weren't feeling it 3) the tour guides weren't engaging or good at public speaking and 4) there was an outlet mall nearby. Outlet mall > boring rainy tour. </p>
<p>So a few months later we were thinking, "Okay, so W&M was bad the first time, but maybe it was just an off day. We should give it another chance." So we did. We didn't even <em>get</em> to the tour. I was sitting in the cafeteria a few hours before the tour and finally just said "I hate it here. Let's leave." So we did. And yes, we went to the mall again. My dad had a fit. </p>
<p>My two visits to UVA, on the other hand, were AMAZING. I was streaked on the first one (middle of the day, our entire tour group, five naked frat boys). So that was interesting. And then on my second, in April, I loved it so much I just made my decision right then and there. </p>
<p>I think for me it came down to size, culture (WM felt a bit prudish and homogeneous compared to the diversity of UVA), and the surrounding area. Williamsburg was a little too "Ye olde" for me. </p>
<p>All of that said, I am obviously very baised. :) Good luck!</p>
<p>this is going to sound stalker-ish but I looked through some of the other forums you posted in and based upon those schools, I recommend you apply to UVa. UVa is much more similar to schools like UPenn, Georgetown, and BU than W/M is. If you can, I would visit the two schools and see which one you like better.</p>
<p>P.S. doctorb, your post makes no sense. Streaking was associated with UVa while outlet mall shopping was associated with W/M. and what does style vs. class have to do with anything? Both schools have both of those qualities.</p>
<p>Well thanks everyone for the input. I'm thinking of maybe just applying to both, because there are aspects of both that really appeal to me. I have visited both, but for an older sibling who was looking at the colleges, and I can't remember it too well.</p>
<p>Well, my impression of W&M comes from that one time I stayed over for a parly debate tournament. Basically, it's a good school (or at least the W&M parly debaters I met there were all amazing) and I was impressed by the student body.</p>
<p>Some plusses:</p>
<p>W&M tends to have better, classier bathrooms for their dorms. And even better housing in general. Envious.</p>
<p>Though not UNESCO heritage site, W&M rivals UVA in the sense of history you get by walking around and going into buildings.</p>
<p>W&M kids seem to be cool and laid-back.</p>
<p>Negs:</p>
<p>UVA has the Lawn. W&M has the "Sunken Gardens". </p>
<p>The UVA streaking tradition includes making various greetings to Mr. Jefferson. W&M's tradition involves some dreadful swimming through very muddy pondwater. [While naked, I believe. Ugh!]</p>
<p>I found W&M's cultural diversity to be a bit lacking ... it felt a lot like the racial makeup of Maine -- it seemed 95% white, etc. [Probably not exactly 95% but that's the vibe I got.] UVA seems to have way more multicultural elements -- and it's not just a matter of race either. For example, in the IRC nearly my entire hall consists of kids with diverse backgrounds one way or another -- e.g. even the Caucasians had histories like "born in Japan, grew up in Argentina". You can often catch various foreign languages being spoken (or shared/practiced) in the dining halls. Didn't get that vibe at W&M.</p>
<p>Also, remember that your planned major is a poor decision-making factor when it comes to choosing between colleges -- since you are likely to change a few plans around over the course of your college career.</p>