<p>William and Mary looks like a good school for me, but I've heard that the surrounding area is mostly just Colonial Williamsburg and retirees and that there's not much to do. How much truth is there to this?</p>
<p>I haven't actually started at W&M yet, but seeing that no one else has answered your question, I'll try.</p>
<p>Yes, the surrounding area is Colonial Williamsburg and a lot of retirees. However, I'd say that, even though you're not in the middle of a big, happening city, you'll be able to find something to do, if you look for something to do. Parties will happen there. You can always go to sports games and cheer on the sports teams (even if some of the teams aren't so good). You can find a lot of clubs to join. You could join a frat. You could watch a movie or a play. You get the picture...</p>
<p>Williamsburg is not the most eventful place, but seeing that you're surrounded by over 5000 college kids, you should be able to find something to do.</p>
<p>Its not Animal House but there are tons of things to do on campus. Also Va Beach/Norfolk are very close. Richmond also close. The "boring" myth gets told by UVa/Va Tech kids who are justifying their decision. Same way the UNC kids talk about how much more fun and safe UNC is vs Duke/Wake</p>
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The "boring" myth gets told by UVa/Va Tech kids who are justifying their decision.
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<p>Plenty of W&M students complain about the lack of social scene. What are you talking about? This sounds more like something you've cooked up.</p>
<p>I was never bored there. I liked it being quiet and small and found plenty to do at my frat house and at the sporting events. It was fun to walk around in Colonial Williamsburg and look at the funny looking tourists. And the area is very beautiful right outside of campus, especially in the Fall.</p>
<p>It always kills me when people ask about the social scene: what do you want, a Rave bar on campus, or what?</p>
<p>It's true, Williamsburg is a town built around tourists (and retirees), and recreational opportunities off campus are limited. Combine that with lousy bus service, limited access to cars for underclassmen, and a giant parking nightmare... yuck.</p>
<p>It's also true that W&M is not the most happening place, compared to many other schools. However, that's not to say campus is entirely dead. There's usually something going on, and even if you can't find anything to your liking, there's always the favorite W&M pasttime: Swemming.</p>
<p>Besides, if you drink, there's at least three or four nights of the week taken care of. :-P</p>
<p>The social scene at William and Mary is great. I will be a Junior this year and have always found a lot of fun things to do both on and off campus. Frat parties, if you are into that. Bar scene, if you are into that. Colonial Williamsburg is a great place to hang. I don't get it. I have been having a blast the entire time. Students actually come here to get a top-notch education more so than a top-notch party experience. So, if your more interested in the latter, go to Tech.</p>
<p>How can you be bored at W&M? If you are, then either you're not looking hard enough for things to do or you're taking classes that are way too easy.</p>
<p>There are things to do there, but it's not going to be as exciting as the social scenes at some of Virginia's other schools (UVa, VT, JMU, etc). In fact, I wouldn't say it's exciting at all. I live 15 minutes away when I'm at home (York county) and whenever I go there there aren't really any parties or anything going on. The immediate surrounding area is crap, considering that it's just Colonial Williamsburg and then just a bunch of military bases. However, Norfolk and Richmond are only 45 minutes to an hour away if you're looking for some city action on occasion.</p>
<p>How's New Town coming along? Talk of the town a year or two ago. Hot **** or much ado about nothing?</p>
<p>sv3a- Thanks for proving my point to ghost</p>
<p>there's some good stuff in New Town. Mostly restaurants and such, along with the movie theater.</p>
<p>How far is New Town from campus?</p>
<p>Probably about 5 minutes away by car. I believe there is a bus stop there too.</p>
<p>fairly close, but not really walkable, though some people do it. I'd say maybe 2 miles?</p>
<p>update: mapmyrun.com agrees that it's about 2 miles</p>
<p>Is New Town the area with the Panera Bread?</p>
<p>Yes it is.</p>
<p>I've been out of college for a while, and I like Wm & Mary a lot more in retrospect than I did as an angst-ridden college student--but I suspect I would have viewed just about anywhere through that lens. </p>
<p>I was more liberal than my peers (although that's changed), I wasn't interested in a sorority, and at the time, Friday and Saturday nights revolved around Greek life or the delis. Williamsburg is a lot busier now than when I was there...hopefully, it's added a few more bars. </p>
<p>We did a lot of road trips. We found bands that traveled among the VA/NC schools and used seeing them as an excuse to travel and see friends who went to other schools. I think I've seen The Connells about 100 times. </p>
<p>Wm & Mary was like anywhere else....if you find the right people to be with, you'll have plenty of opportunities to invent whatever fun you need. </p>
<p>Education-wise, it couldn't be beat. Save a handful of larger intro science courses, my largest class as a freshman was 25, and my largest class as a senior was 15. I was a History major with more English classes than History (just not the right distribution to have a major), and I took all seminar classes for my last year. Law school was an absolute breeze after all the prep I had at Wm & M.</p>
<p>William and Mary is a great school with lots of fun to be had. Why is a UVA person commenting on the William and Mary scene. Quit trying to force a rivalry where there in none. Different strokes for different folks. UVA is no better in ANY respect than William and Mary. What kind of partying or "fun" are you looking for? Peace out.</p>