W&M good fit for my outdoorsy CA S?

<p>I am helping my rising Senior S with his research for colleges. So far he narrowed down some of his criteria. He wants a somewhat small school with an unpretentious, but intellectual student body. He is a a free-thinker, socially independent, likes to be involved in MANY things and just an all around great kid. He is also looking for a school with an active outdoor club and that is environmentally conscious. He is an Eagle Scout, First Responder, rescue diver, OA Chapter Chief and Lodge Chief in the regional scouts office. He has over 1000 CS working on trails and conservation all over US with scouts and the SCA. He went to a school in VT on an organic farm last Spring semester. He is a competitive rock climber and a avid Alpinist. As you can see, his passions are obvious. He would like to major in ES, but it doesn't look like W&M has that as a major, only a minor so don't know if W&M would be right for him. He has a ton of academic initersts so he may be able to major in something else and then minor in ES.</p>

<p>Any thoughts would be most appreciative, as he is really trying to put his list together.</p>

<p>Sounds like your son could be a good fit for W&M. We assume by ES you mean Environmental Studies. W&M does have a major in Environmental Science and Policy ([William</a> & Mary - Environmental Science and Policy](<a href=“Environment & Sustainability Program | William & Mary”>Environment & Sustainability Program | William & Mary)). It’s a secondary major (meaning you have to double major) but it is absolutely a major.</p>

<p>We also have a very active Student Environmental Action Coalition on campus that works closely with sustainability efforts. Our students actually voted, several years ago to impose a green fee on themselves to provide grants to students doing research on sustainable projects. We even have sustainability fellows. We were also the first campus in the country to launch a campus-wide DOT campaign and hope that our campus DOT (an eco village) comes to fruition in the coming years. W&M was listed in The Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges (or two newest academic buildings are LEED Gold certified as an example).</p>

<p>There are numerous walking and wooded trails around campus as well as a beautiful lake which is home to our amphitheatre and many outdoor water activities. We also have an Outdoors Club (a student organization).</p>

<p>We’d definitely encourage your S to come to campus, take a tour, meet with faculty from ES and also contact some sustainability fellows. We think there are likely some great opportunities for him but of course, he’ll have to determine if we’re a good fit for himself.</p>

<p>Well, from your description of a school and your kid, W&M absolutely fits the bill.</p>

<p>There are active environmental groups on campus. There is also a rock climbing wall in the gym. There are no large mountains though.</p>

<p>Based on what you wrote, it sounds like W&M would be a nice fit for your son’s personality and criteria. As previous posters have stated, the College is a very environmentally conscious place, and has consistently been a leader in sustainability, which I think can be seen as a reflection of the student body. The academic and extracurricular offerings are terrific. Greg Capelli’s courses on aquatic ecology were some of the most interesting, enjoyable, and memorable ones I took at W&M. Don’t forget that VIMS (the Virginia Institute of Marine Science), one of the best in the country, is both part of the College and nearby, and offers opportunities for undergraduates. Lately, I’ve also seen a number of students getting involved in organic/sustainable food projects, which you can read about here ([William</a> & Mary -<em>back-to-the-farm](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2010/back-to-the-farm.php]William”>back-to-the-farm | William & Mary)), here ([William</a> & Mary -</em>Let the garden grow](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2010/let-the-garden-grow-123.php]William”>Let the garden grow | William & Mary)), and here ([William</a> & Mary -*Monroe Scholars get jumpstart on research experience](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2011/monroe-scholars-get-jumpstart-on-research-experience-123.php]William”>Monroe Scholars get jumpstart on research experience | William & Mary)).</p>

<p>However, I’m a little less certain that W&M will satisfy some of your son’s passions, namely competitive climbing and mountaineering. I went to W&M from the Rockies, and Williamsburg simply doesn’t compare in either changes in elevation (there isn’t a 14er within a couple thousand miles) or outdoorsy zeitgeist (the nearest REI is in Richmond). There is certainly an effort made by the College and its students to be active, and there are certainly avid outdoorsmen and women on campus, but the majority of the students tend to be on the recreational level. Enthusiasm within the outdoors club, like most student organizations, waxes and wanes depending on the current leadership. </p>

<p>It took me a while to get used to the scale of Virginia mountains (and muzzle my snobbery), but I eventually did learn to appreciate what this new and unique topography had to offer. It’s also possible to access more dramatic changes in elevation; W&M is a 3.5-hour drive from the Shenandoah Valley, where opportunities for fly fishing, whitewater rafting, and climbing abound. Old Rag Mountain is a popular climbing site, and while it’s no El Cap (the longest routes are about 100 feet), it offers 5.12s and lots of bouldering problems. </p>

<p>I know this is a heretical thing to say in this forum, but has your son considered UVA? It’s bigger than W&M, but there are plenty of unpretentious and intellectual people there, it’s at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and an hour from Old Rag, and its outdoors program appears to be more robust than W&M. If your son plans on visiting W&M (and I agree that he should), it may be worth taking the (very pretty) drive to UVA.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone for the reponses and info about the school and their Environmental Science programs. Unfortunately we will be unable to visit because we live in CA and it is just too far. That is why we are trying to research the schools that interest him as much as we can before application time. I think the closest REI being all the way in Richmond may be a deal breaker…LOL!! But, he really wants a very active outdoor club, and not just hiking and river rafting. hxhsux… mt S also has Colorado College at the foot of the Rockies on his list. Once we visit there in Fall, he may be done looking. I will have him look into UVA though… WE were definitely impressed with the Environmental awareness of C OF W&M though, looks like they are doing some great stuff there, and stuff my S would love to be involved with.</p>

<p>Had to reply because I was in a similar situation. I am a sophmore at William and Mary and am from Southern California. I scuba dive also and am a pretty big outdoor lover. I am extremely happy with the choice to come to William and Mary, I am going to be living in the Eco House (a dorm for sustainable living) and am a member of the Outdoor Club. The Outdoor Club plans activities for almost every weekend and they are always new and exciting. I didn’t get to visit WM until I was accepted and went for admitted students day, but I think visiting is extremely important. Hope your son considers WM, we always need more Californians!</p>

<p>of course you should look at UVA also (it is way bigger), but no one in Virginia would describe the UVA student body as “unpretentious”</p>

<p>Amen 315. “Grounds”, “First year”, secret societies, not “frats but Fraternities”, Mr Jefferson. The University is the definition of pretentiousness.</p>

<p>I don’t see how the OP’s son would find a wealth of outdoorsy things and people at W&M other than the Coast Guard volunteer program available to students which might relate to his rescue diver experience.</p>

<p>Williamsburg is very flat. There are no mountains nearby. </p>

<p>OTOH: the OP’s son might wind up pretty busy with classes and friends and what not and may not have a lot of time for rock climbing and Boy Scouts during the school year.</p>

<p>Rember this IS college. Your son may be a good fit for W&M, being outdoorsy, free-thinking, social, etc. It is a very physically fit student body, and the weather is conducive to outdoor play year round in the burg. Outdoor club will happily receive your son as a leader! The outdoor club trips are fun, and a great way to let off steam from academics. The area is a kayaker’s dream, and fantastic for cross-country running & biking. Many students train for the Colonial Half-Marathon which has a finish line on campus. </p>

<p>As the student becomes an adult, all that fantastic energy they have expended on their hobbies and lifestyles in high school can and should evolve into learning to contribute to society in a more meaningful way through stewardship. W&M teaches you to channel your passion into more productive endeavors; you’ll be encouraged to get involved, expand your mind, teach others & lead the way. You will learn to be a fun “maker” not a fun “taker”…that is the W&M difference in philanthropy that our student picked up on when visiting this campus…our tour guide was from CA. Whatever you love doing, find a way to make it productive to more than just oneself, go beyond the experience and make a difference, so to speak. </p>

<p>Honestly, your W&M student’s time will be at a premium and much more focused on challenging academics during college as compared to high school, so they will need to embrace that change too.</p>

<p>At W&M you can volunteer in Williamsburg as an EMT with local rescue. You can coordinate or participate in a Branch Out local, national and international student volunteer trips during winter and spring break. You can do lab and field research for credit, work study, and experience. W&M can help you find excellent internships related to your studies. Check out the Kineseology activities and the Rec Center for various fitness-related certification courses, scheduled classes and equipment for the Outdoor Club. </p>

<p>What better time than during the college years to learn to advocate for the experience you desire to create…</p>

<p>Great post, martha!</p>

<p>Love this:</p>

<p><strong><em>You will learn to be a fun “maker” not a fun “taker”.</em></strong></p>

<p>Second the GREAT post Martha… my S read this and has now decided to apply to W&M… sounds like his kind of place. My S is definitely the fun maker type… as one of his leadership positions in scouting is activities coordinator. He is in charge of fun making for all of the region. I think on of the things that stood out for him was the description of all the ways he can get involved. He does like outdoorsy things, but also likes to get involved and try as many new things as he can. If the student body is as active as descibed, even without the mountains, he would be in heaven. </p>

<p>My S knows that academics will have to be prioritized, but he is used to that. He now has a 3 hour commute to school every day, 3 leadership positions in scouting, volunteers every weekend for search and rescue and helping senior citizens with their various house and yard repairs, and also still has time for his outdoor passions and keeping his grades up. Sometimes I don’t know how he does it all. He has a vorocious hunger for life and everything that it has to offer. He is just looking for the right college to embrace his excitment for life.</p>