W&M has an outstanding reputation for serious academics. So my question is, with all those intellectual, study focused students, what happens on the campus just for fun? When they take a break from their studies, what are they doing with their free time? Would love to hear from current/former students/parents. Thank you!
One of the things I like about W&M is that there’s a culture of doing lots of activities. Because it is larger than the tiny LACs but smaller than public universities, there are enough students to support the activities the students come up with, as well as the school-sponsored entertainments, but events are not wildly crowded.
My daughter is a freshman. She is on the staff of the student newspaper The Flat Hat, the founder of a club that meets weekly, a member of a color guard group (flags), has participated with several volunteer projects, done stand-up comedy for the first time, worked on a 48-hour film project, is an officer of her dorm’s council, attended football and basketball games, participated in a political organization, and has a part-time campus job. Her roommate is in a sorority so she has attended some parties and activities there. And there’s some kind of group that watches science fiction movies once a week.
I was wondering the same thing considering the town seems sleepy. But i wanted to say we visited in mid feb and went to their theater production held at the theater across the street in the pedestrian mall. The acting was outstanding. There were plenty of college kids in the audience. I think tix are free for W and M students.
If I went to W&M, I would spend all my free time in Colonial Williamsburg. I love that place. I would work there if I lived closer.
Ha ha. I was thinking of saying the same thing and was worried it might come across as “flip”, but a mod beat me to it. Colonial Williamsburg is awesome. Edit: Anyway, this is probably more a “parent” answer than a student answer.
^My parents took my sister and me there when we were in high school. I enjoyed the trip so much I planned a trip for our family when our kids were the same age. I reserved a timeshare condo close to Williamsburg for a week. I was so excited! Let’s just say my kids did not share my enthusiasm. I dragged them around for a couple of days, and then gave up and let them play video games in the hotel room while I enjoyed CW by myself! I have heard that CW attendance has gone way down - I guess kids today aren’t as interested.
I know a current student. They are very involved in clubs, Greek life, and work on campus–very busy. Like mentioned above, in reference to the size of the school, Greek life, I think, is in a middle sweet spot–big enough of a thing if you are interested, but not the dominant center of social life. There are now a fair number of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, sandwich shops, etc. around Colonial Williamsburg/DOG Street–Brickhouse Tavern, Paul’s, College Delly, Green Leafe, Aromas, Lokal, Cheese Shop, etc. Mellow Mushroom recently opened near campus. Amber Ox/Precarious Beer Project is opening a game room, pub, with a taco truck inside, also right off DOG street. Virginia Beer Company is nearby, and Aleworks and Brass Cannon. Billsburg farther away. I see students at the Farmer’s Market on DOG Street on Saturday mornings (kombucha stand). Weather is nice; campus is nice, so lots of students outside in the fall and spring. There may be off-campus parties, just sayin’.The student has been to Richmond for an evening and done a beach retreat. Students often go to the Outer Banks for beach week after exams.