<p>I have the money to apply to one of the these schools. Does anyone have any opinions about the schools? How do they compare in Liberal Arts Undergraduate education? Is there any important differences to consider in applying for either one?</p>
<p>My daughter is a recent W & M grad. She had a great experience there, and she did find a liberal arts feel to the campus, though it's categorized as a national university. The core curriculum is wide-ranging and fairly exacting (and always confused me when I'd hear my d talk about it). My d and her friends found the faculty to be absolutely top-notch and very focused on undergrad education. There are many opportunities there, for research, internships, independent study, whatever - but, because it's a state school, you'll have to be more proactive about them than you might at a private college.</p>
<p>I love the campus atmosphere at W & M - it's a beautiful place, and being adjacent to Colonial Williamsburg makes it a unique spot. Some kids absolutely hate the town and find it dull beyond words - my d always enjoyed it and just went to Richmond, DC, or Norfolk when she wanted a jolt of city life. I recommend visiting, overnight if possible. The student body always gave me the vibe of being bright and focused but irreverent and quirky.</p>
<p>Look up the posts by soccerguy315 - he's a W & M student who is enthusiastic about the school and really knows it well.</p>
<p>I don't know anything about Wake except that it has an excellent reputation. There are benefits and drawbacks to both private and public schools, of course. W & M is expensive for a public school, but still cheaper than Wake. Good luck!</p>
<p>After a couple of bizarro visits ...</p>
<p>If your idea of the good life is to see 20-year old guys walking around in white, button-down shirts, crisply ironed khakis and tasseled loafers with toned and buffed wifely wannabees dutifully hovering nearby in perky sundresses -- Wake's the place. </p>
<p>If you want to be around normal 18-22 year olds -- Wake ain't the place.</p>
<p>I suppose Wake Forest is for tossers then!</p>
<p>William & Mary costs about $30,000 OOS. With financial aid, it's doubtful that it would be much cheaper than Wake. </p>
<p>I didn't even think about applying to William & Mary, so I can't really compare the two. I do know a lot about Wake, though- it's an awesome school.
Several current Wake students post in the WFU forum if you have specific questions.</p>
<p>A quick check of the schools' websites shows approximate costs of $32K for tuition (and 1 fee?) at Wake; $25K for tuition and a whole lotta fees at W & M for OOS students. R & B at Wake is listed as $8800; a double at W & M, with 14 meals/week, comes to $7100. The costs are fairly close, but our family could afford the ~$32K at W & M, and couldn't manage the ~$41K at Wake.</p>
<p>I used to think Wake was too good to be true, and then I found out that it IS too good to be true: in the 1950s it moved from the town of Wake Forest to its present site. So all those buildings that look so old and quaint are about as old as Howard Stern. William and Mary, on the other hand, is the real deal.</p>
<p>Does it really matter? Honestly, Wake has the charming feel of old campus. So what the buildings are only 50 years old? If this deters you from applying to a great school like Wake, then I think your priorities are out of place.</p>
<p>In response to the original poster, I will be attending Wake Forest next year. I love everything about it; it's perfect for me. This doesn't mean that the same can necessary be said for you. One of the things I love about Wake is the genuine friendliness of the student body. I didn't meet a snob or stuck-up person. Everyone, yes everyone, was sincerely friendly.</p>
<p>stf, no it's not a BIG deal...I guess some people think that something that is 50 years old IS old. And esteemed places like Yale and Chicago took extra pains to look older than they are, so Wake is not alone. So if it doesn't bother you, go for it--Wake seems like a wonderful place.</p>
<p>I visited Wake, and as a northerner, I was shocked when every single person said "hi" and smiled at me. William and Mary, as well as Wake, seem increidbly homogenous. If you want any sort of diversity, go elsewhere. I had to look 5 times at a girl at W&M to realize she was asian. She was the only one I saw... And the only Blaack person was a tour guide... How convenient :)</p>
<p>Also, this whole thing about William and Mary students being quirky... don't buy it. I visited for the first time last Spring, and all the girls were tanning outside with their string bikinis or walking outside to set up to tan in their belly shirts, designer sunglasses, and painted toenails. I saw one girl who was not, though she had been in running clothes, probably to prepare for the string bikini. The guys seemed a bit more of the quirky W&M students I had heard about, though they were very preppy in general (button down for the most part) and neither the boys nor the girls seemed at all friendly.</p>
<p>I actually visited W&M a second time, because I had read such wonderful things about the school in every single guide book and online source. However, I got the same exact vibe the next time, which was a huge dissappointment, considering the fact that the location would have been perfect for me (incredibly beautiful and I love colonial williamsburg).</p>
<p>Wake seemed too fratty, though there were a lot of normal people (those with more than beer on their minds). My mom pretty much assaulted some gilr who was speaking on her cell phone and wound up talking to her for a recorded 14 minutes. The girl actually told the person that she would call them back later after she ahd been speaking to my mom for 3 minutes. However, the people in general were not what I want, so I decided against Wake for ED. I would defiantely apply for RD thugh, if I'm not accepted to the University of Rochester for my ED.</p>
<p>If you didn't get a friendly vibe from the W&M campus and students... I don't know what to say.</p>
<p>Very preppy? Definitely not as much as at least 3 other schools in the state.</p>
<p>If you have any questions about WM, feel free to PM or make your way to the WM board, usually I just quickly skim the topics in this fourm =)</p>