<p>DD, a rising sr. from CA, is considering majoring in public policy and will apply to W&M or UVA, but not both. (App list is too long already and we're trying to shorten not lengthen the list.) Which school do you recommend and why? (X-posting on UVA site.)</p>
<p>I have 2 daughters who graduated from W&M, and one who is currently at UVA’s Law School. I think highly of both schools - faculty, student body, employment prospects, and college experience are strong at both institutions. </p>
<p>The Public Policy major at W&M is strong, as well. I can think of several friends of both daughters who found excellent jobs right after graduation working for the Census Bureau, State Department, other Cabinet departments, state government agencies, and a variety of NPOs.</p>
<p>That said, the major is very good at UVA, too. Your daughter has probably already checked out the website for more information. [Undergraduate</a> Academic Policies | Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, U.Va.](<a href=“http://batten.virginia.edu/content/academics/academic-policies/undergraduate]Undergraduate”>http://batten.virginia.edu/content/academics/academic-policies/undergraduate) One difference between the programs appears to be that admission to this major is by application at UVA: [Apply</a> to the Undergraduate Major | Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, U.Va.](<a href=“http://batten.virginia.edu/content/admissions/apply-undergraduate-major]Apply”>http://batten.virginia.edu/content/admissions/apply-undergraduate-major). Both schools offer accelerated BA/MPP degree programs. Both schools have strong ties to the DC area for internships and jobs. Does your daughter hope to return to CA after graduation? </p>
<p>There are lots of smart, focused, engaged people on both campuses. This decision truly does come down to the issue of fit. If your d would want big-time sports and a large school experience, she’ll prefer UVA. W&M is smaller, and I don’t think it’s wrong to use the word “quirkier.” I can understand wanting to cut down on the application list, and I know you don’t want to visit until decisions are in. Good luck choosing!</p>
<p>Agree with the above. You will hear over and over that UVA is the big sporty/pretty school and W&M is the quirky intellectual school. That said…there are plenty of quirky intellectuals at UVA and sporty/preppy kids at W&M (more than you hear about). It is a shame you cannot visit the area so that she can experience both. I think one can really only get a feel for fit by visiting the campus. After all, all the posts you read are just everyone else’s opinion. But for what it’s worth, both are great schools 
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<p>One idea is for her to talk to directly to current students at each school. Kid to kid, away from parents. I’m sure there are students here or through the schools directly to connect to someone.</p>
<p>@frazzled -
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<p>DD wants to go into law and eventually politics. She loves DC and I think that’s where she’ll end up, not back in CA. Neither school seems to be well known here on the west coast. When DD mentioned W&M to her GP’s, they had never heard of it.</p>
<p>@momneeds -
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<p>DD’s passion is mock trial and she wants to compete in college. I’m going to encourage her to make contact with students on the mock trial teams through the teams’ Facebook pages and hopefully she can get some valuable insight about the schools that way.</p>
<p>p.s. thanks for the info!</p>
<p>The correct answer when someone hasn’t heard of W&M is: you know, the place where Thomas Jefferson and Jon Stewart went to college.</p>
<p>I’m not sure what a “GP” is- a guidance counselor or principal?- but I would think anyone involved in the education field would surely know William and Mary !! Its one of the eight Public Ivys, alma mater to three Presidents, home of the nations oldest law school and the founding chapter of Phi Beta Kappa (1776), founded in 1693 and the second oldest college in the nation. Even in California they would know that, right?!?</p>
<p>Depending on who you talk to there are excellent schools on the opposite coasts that draw a blank. I would guess there are plenty of people on the east coast unfamiliar with Pamona/CMC for example. They may know that Berkeley is in California but not be aware it’s a top rated public in the nation. What really matters is where your DD is going to receive the education most fitting to her, and that is going to be viewed valuable to employers. Both UVa and W&M will do that for her.</p>
<p>The schools definitely have distinct personalities and although there is a lot of cross applications you may be surprised that there is not as much cross acceptance as one might think. If she really wants the luxury of choice between the two I would consider keeping both on the list if possible. I’m not trying to knock your DDs credentials (I don’t know them so that’s not possible), but OOS admits are especially tight at both. To be blunt, if she decides to apply only to one she may not get that acceptance. I would cut one only if she decides via research that it is truly not a good fit. The decision you are going through now…which one has the most benefits and which should she choose…is usually done after one has acceptance(s) in hand. </p>
<p>Best of luck to her!!</p>
<p>That is very true for oos students - many get into one but not the other, and visa versa.</p>
<p>I know that charlie mentioned the issue of transportation on the OP’s similar thread comparing the schools in the UVA forum. I will say that air travel between Williamsburg and our home near Syracuse was never easy and convenient. In fact, we kept track of how often flying actually took less time than driving would have taken, and it wasn’t very often. If the OP’s d is at W&M, she can see which flights might get her home quickest from either Richmond or Norfolk - they’re about equidistant from campus. We never found a decent deal out of the Newport News airport, so never tried it.</p>
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<p>I wouldn’t worry about that - both are very well-known where it will count for your daughter - on the East Coast - both schools have strong PP offerings, and both offer resources beyond the curriculum, such as internships and alumni networks - benefits that even the most well-known schools, like UCB, UMich, etc, will be hard-pressed to match. There are benefits to simple geography, and being physically near DC has its own advantages.</p>
<p>As for most potential students, I’d say the decision between UVA and W&M would come down to the environment - both are very strong academic schools, and making a decision based on academics is usually not much of a consideration - one doesn’t have to compromise for either school. Of course, there are fields of study where one school or the other may have some advantages, but in general, and in this case, I don’t think it’s all that relevant. DD has attended both, (UG and post-grad), and feels that there are rather distinct differences in the respective cultures and characters of these schools - but “quality” isn’t one of those differences.</p>
<p>I think it comes down to which school a student will feel most at-home; and if the intention is to visit prior to deciding to attend, I’d apply to both, and if both are acceptances, visit both, and see which environment suits her personality better. They’re not that far apart, and I think the small incremental cost will be worth it.</p>
<p>The other thing I’d mention is that, if she’s interested in IR, the St. Andrews JDP sounds pretty compelling.</p>
<p>@Squiddy - Thanks for the nice assessment and sound advice.</p>
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<p>So far her interest in politics and government seems to be more domestic than international, though I suppose that could change.</p>
<p>I noticed that W&M has a semester and/or summer in DC program. This is attractive. DD loves DC and is applying to G-Town. Frankly, if she was accepted to G-Town that is probably where she would go. But she is not really interested in other DC schools so we are looking for good options somewhat near DC and/or with good DC connections for internships, etc.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t make a decision based on which school has a stronger PP program. Both programs are good, and somewhat different. More important is that UVa and W&M are quite different colleges/universities. Those differences matter far more. Both have excellent networks in the DC area.</p>