<p>I was lucky enough to be accepted into both UVA and W&M! :)</p>
<p>I'm 100% set on UVA pre-med w/bio major, but my parents want me to look around and consider W&M for pre-med. </p>
<p>So basically, could you guys post here on why UVA would be the better choice? Basically just brag about UVA haha :)</p>
<p>I've been on these forums for about 3 years and I know that I could search the many threads on CC about this, but my parents want to see some current news/info/student thoughts.</p>
<p>Thank you so much!</p>
<p>Hopefully I'll see some of you guys on the 18th or 22nd for Days on the Lawn!</p>
<p>One is not better than the other, but they are very different. If you give us a better idea of what type of experience you are looking for, people can give you a more informed answer.</p>
<p>I’m interested in this comparison as well. My D is faced with the same choice. Having UVA hospital is a big plus if you are considering medicine. But, W&M small classes are also a draw for her.</p>
<p>The small class sizes, of course are enticing, but small classes are only an advantage at W&M for 2 years. After 2 years, students at both colleges go into their majors, so class sizes are small for both after second-year. I wouldn’t say its a big advantage at all. And besides, UVA classes that have the largest class sizes typically have the best professors, simply because they can handle the size and maintain a good structure and learning environment. UVA has great TA’s, and I’m sure W&M does too.</p>
<p>Things that UVA, arguably, have advantages:</p>
<p>-More social of an environment (More relaxed students, not as competitive in nature)
-Cville is better than Wburg (Duh. =] )
-Cville has the hospital right there, many opportunities for internships, etc.
-UVA has better sports teams, even though they aren’t that great anyway (Still exists).
-Some people don’t like the whole “Colonial Wburg is right there, I hate the tourists.”
-UVA has a lot of historical importance, as does W&M. UVA has a little more in my opinion.
-UVA is steeped in tradition that is really fun and exciting (streaking on the lawn (Thomas Jefferson started this, I think)).
-Etc.</p>
<p>A lot of the things I have asserted are personal opinions, but I will also assert that many people also agree with me on them.</p>
<p>Because if you sound out UVA it means grape in Spanish. I made a thread awhile ago about everything I love about UVA. I’ll try to find it. I’m working on my 20 page research paper right now. AHH!!!</p>
<p>It’s not, and vice versa.
You and your parents should be thankful that you have such a choice and that you’re in state. DS had the exact same decision to make - it was very difficult to rule out one over the other. The list of pro’s for both goes on and on and the list of cons is almost nonexistent.
In the end it came down to something as simple as school size. He’d attended a small high school and thought he should be exposed to the rigor of a large competitive institution vs a small competitive institution.</p>
<p>You will notice that people instantly recognize UVA and not W&M, at least on the West Coast…I’m telling you this as someone who went to both schools.</p>
<p>S was accepted to both last year and decided on UVA was better fit:</p>
<ul>
<li>Larger school; more choice/opportunity for academic and social</li>
<li>Prefer UVA or W&M campus (he attended summer enrichment programs on both campus)</li>
<li>Prefers Charlottesville over Williamsburg </li>
<li>Many friends and his brother go there</li>
<li>Better name recognition (lot of people, mainly non-academics) out outside of VA have not heard of W&M)</li>
</ul>
<p>Should visit both school before deciding what is a better fit for you. No wrong decision to attend either.</p>
<p>We have ties to both W&M and UVA, and love both. A couple of random thoughts in comparing the two:</p>
<ol>
<li> W&M’s generally has more smaller classes</li>
<li> UVA is more than 2x bigger than W&M, so do you want a larger or smaller school?</li>
<li> UVA sports is bigger, better and more significant than at W&M</li>
<li> Both campuses are beautiful, but the lawn edges the sunken garden in overall attractiveness</li>
<li> Charlottesville has more going on than Williamsburg, but the 'burg has its own unique benefits and greater historic significance</li>
<li> Although kind of a generalization, UVA is somewhat “preppier” while W&M is a little more laid back and accepting socially, and UVA has more of a party scene</li>
<li> On-campus housing is guaranteed at W&M for 3 years, and I think only 2 at UVA…I think at W&M most students can get on-campus housing for a full 4 years if they desire…in the same vein, W&M is more of a residential campus</li>
<li> If your interest is engineering, I would think that UVA is a better fit</li>
<li> W&M has some great study abroad options and arrangements, and a higher percentage of W&M students study abroad than at UVA</li>
</ol>
<p>Anyway, a few thoughts. Both are wonderful options.</p>
<p>UVa doesn’t explicitly say you can live on Grounds all four years, but there is enough room for those who want on Grounds housing to have it. In fact, there’s enough housing here that we’re able to offer it to transfer students who want it, too.</p>
<p>You might not always get your first pick of rooms, of course. If the entire student population suddenly decided to live on Grounds, there wouldn’t be enough room, but off Grounds apartments and houses are plentiful and sometimes less expensive, so plenty of students opt to leave on Grounds housing after the first year (the only year that is required).</p>
<p>The study abroad options here are spectacular. The International Studies folks have a nice search engine on their website that will help you sort the programs by different criteria.</p>
<p>According to CollegeBoard data, UVA has 24,400 students (15,600 of which are undergrads) while W&M is around 8,000 (5,900 undergrads). So, UVA is really 3 W&M’s put together in terms of the “feel” of the crowd walking around the grounds, streets, and stadiums.</p>
<p>Also, UVA will grow it’s undergrad population by an additional 1,500 over the next 4-5 years! That’s bigger than the entire freshman class at W&M. W&M is only growing by a modest 200 students over that same time period.</p>
<p>Bigger can be better for many students (e.g., energy, vibe, opportunities). However, there could be some downsides in terms maintaining the charming feel of the Liberal Arts enviornment that Jefferson envisioned. Today, UVA is nearly 15% bigger than it was in 1992. I don’t think more growth is very wise.</p>
<p>As Dean J says, I’m sure UVA’s study abroad programs are excellent. Just sayin’ though:</p>
<p>W&M named top public institution in study abroad participation
by Erin Zagursky | November 18, 2009</p>
<p>The College of William and Mary has a greater percentage of undergraduates who participate in study abroad programs than any other public institution offering doctoral degrees in the United States, according to a recent study by the Institute of International Education.</p>
<p>The IIE’s Open Doors 2009 Report on International Educational Exchange ranks William & Mary as 17th among the top 40 doctorate institutions, with 46.3 percent of the College’s undergraduates participating in study abroad programs. That percentage is up from last year’s report, which had 46.1 percent of William & Mary’s undergraduates participating in study abroad programs. The College also ranks above all other Virginia institutions - public and private – in the report.</p>
<p>I realize that this is the UVA board and full of passionate UVA supporters. Each school can make a strong case for being better in some area, but here is my opinion as someone who has two daughters, one at both schools. D1 is a first year at UVA and D2 is a freshman at W&M. Both schools are excellent academically in my opinion and the above points are all good to considered. I have had to contact both schools with questions during the last year and in each case they responded very quickly and courteously, which considering the tight budgets state schools are under is an impressive accomplishment. Both Ds like their schools and would not want to switch places. I would highly recommend going to “Days on the Lawn” and “Admitted Students Day” and if possible maybe even line up a stay over on both campuses to get a feel for each if possible (don’t know if it is possible but it would time well spent). It’s hard to get the vibe of a school during the open house with all of the other admitted students also asking questions. Just comes down to best “fit” which only your son or daughter can decide on as “right” for them. I think the answer is the best place for your student. Either way, congratulations on getting the opportunity to choose between two excellent schools!</p>
<p>Even though W&M has a greater percentage of students who study abroad than UVA has, it is still possible for UVA students but my advice is plan early. I have a first year S at UVA and a junior D at W&M. My D thought of doing a study abroad semester as a junior but in the end decided to do undergrad research with a professor. She will stay at W&M and do a summer fellowship with this particular professor and will continue in his lab next year. S is an engineering student at UVA and is furiously working to complete his application to study engineering in Madrid in fall of 2011. The application was not simple as he had to get approval from numerous professors at UVA in order to take engineering courses in Spain. He also had to meet with a Spanish professor so she could evaluate his spoken and written Spanish. Interesting challenge for him since it has been two years since he took AP Spanish. Hoping it works out for him.</p>
<p>As previous posters said: Go and visit both schools b/c they are very different places. D knew W&M was right for her from 7th grade when we visited Colonial Williamsburg. She has experienced ups and downs but overall is very happy she picked W&M. She works very hard in her courses, has a job with a few hours/week and is a member of a club sport which is her main group of friends. Son had a much more difficult time deciding between UVA and an out of state school that offered him a lot of money in merit scholarship. Ultimately, he is very glad he chose UVA.</p>
<p>Now my third is accepted at W&M and UVA and we will visit both. She is leaning more towards W&M b/c of the size differences. I am in agreement with her b/c I think she would be lost at UVA but we will see what she decides in the next few weeks. From a parental perspective and I think many students’ perspectives as well, it isn’t difficult to see and feel the differences between UVA and W&M once you have visited both schools.</p>
And passionate W&M supporters, it seems! We can find rankings and articles that extol the virtues of both schools, but the campus visit can trump both. After all, what good are all of these great resources if the student isn’t happy and engaged at school?</p>
<p>Both schools are fabulous. Some students would be happy at either, some students would be better served by one. Many realize which school is right for them when they make a visit.</p>
We can find rankings and articles that extol the virtues of both schools, but the campus visit can trump both. After all, what good are all of these great resources if the student isn’t happy and engaged at school?</p>