<p>Love them both! Planning on Pre-Med. Live in Maryland so W&M is closer than Wake. Thoughts on academics, workload, extra-curriculars like band and tennis.</p>
<p>I made this very decision myself, albeit many years ago, and before Wake leapfrogged W&M in the US News rankings. I chose W&M OOS, based largely on its cost and generosity in financial aid (another sign of changing times). I also got the sense that Wake was more Southern in sensibility and culture and Winston-Salem wasn’t described to me in very glowing terms. Not that Williamsburg is any great shakes as a college town, mind you, but this apparently made a difference to a clueless 17-year-old (that would be me, not you). Anyway, I didn’t regret my decision and would make the same one today. </p>
<p>A W&M classmate’s younger brother ended up attending Wake, and while he enjoyed his experience, he confirmed that Wake was indeed Southern in feel, somewhat homogenous, more regional, and Greek life dominated the social scene. There was also a minor scandal while he was there regarding a racist yearbook story, though, to be fair, there was an immediate outcry from the student body and the university. </p>
<p>As for the rest of your questions, pre-med at W&M is rigorous and there are plenty of threads here that discuss the curriculum and outcomes for aspiring medical students. The workload can be heavy across all concentrations, though with a little time management and common sense it’s not difficult to maintain a good GPA while having a robust social or extra-curricular life. While I liked some professors more than others, and some were more difficult than others, I never for a moment felt like I had an underqualified or lazy professor. They were all really smart, invested as teachers, accessible, and eager to challenge and be challenged by ambitious students. Most of my classes–and all of my upper level classes–were small and very interesting. </p>
<p>There are plenty of tennis courts, with lights, though the varsity teams have priority on the complex near the rec center. There’s a great six-court indoor facility next to the law school; again, varsity teams have priority. Club tennis tends to wax and wane depending on how invested the current student leadership is. It appears to be pretty well organized right now: [William</a> & Mary Club Tennis](<a href=“http://wmpeople.wm.edu/site/page/tennisclub/home]William”>http://wmpeople.wm.edu/site/page/tennisclub/home)</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision!</p>